bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing AB plasma utilisation through the AB plasma appropriateness index
Authors: Al Khan S. , Rosinski K. , Petraszko T. , Dawe P. , Hwang B. W. , Sham L. , Hudoba M. , Roland K. , Shih A. W.
Published: October 2019

Objectives

We hypothesised that there was inappropriate group AB plasma used in our hospital, identifiable by a novel key quality indicator (KQI) and mitigable through massive transfusion protocol (MTP) modification.

Background

Group AB plasma is a scarce resource strained by increasing usage worldwide when used as universal donor plasma in non‐group AB patients. To reduce inappropriate use and to promote benchmarking to the best practice, we developed the AB plasma appropriateness index (ABAI). ABAI is the ratio of AB plasma transfused to group AB or unknown blood group patients to all AB plasma utilised, where values closer to 1 are better.

Methods

Data collected included AB plasma disposition by blood group, indications for transfusion, total blood utilisation, patient clinical characteristics and outcomes. ABAI during a 12‐month period was retrospectively assessed, which led to implementation of pre‐thawed group A plasma instead of group AB plasma for trauma patients starting in July 2017.

Results

The ABAI retrospectively showed inappropriate use in non‐group AB patients in our hospital, the majority used to avoid expiry after thaw. When comparing 1‐year pre‐ and post‐implementation periods, ABAI improved from 0·464 to 0·900 (P < 0·0001). After exclusion of therapeutic plasma exchange, ABAI still improved (0·486–0·720, P < 0·0001). No differences in the length of stay or mortality associated in 32 patients receiving group A plasma for emergency release were observed.

Conclusion

The ABAI is a novel KQI to indicate inappropriate AB plasma usage for quality improvement. This led to thawed A plasma use for MTPs, reducing inappropriate AB plasma usage.
Formation of exoplanetary satellites by pull-down capture
Authors: Hansen Bradley M. S.
Published: October 2019

We show that large moons around extrasolar planets can be captured during the rapid growth of a gas giant envelope.
Enhancing functional abilities and cognitive integration of the lower limb prosthesis
Authors: Petrini Francesco Maria , Valle Giacomo , Bumbasirevic Marko , Barberi Federica , Bortolotti Dario , Cvancara Paul , Hiairrassary Arthur , Mijovic Pavle , Sverrisson Atli Örn , Pedrocchi Alessandra , Divoux Jean-Louis , Popovic Igor , Lechler Knut , Mijovic Bogdan , Guiraud David , Stieglitz Thomas , Alexandersson Asgeir , Micera Silvestro , Lesic Aleksandar , Raspopovic Stanisa
Published: October 2019

Recreated missing leg sensations, connected to the prosthesis sensors, restored leg functional abilities and promoted its cognitive integration.
A trojan horse targeting bone metastasis
Authors: Kerr Bethany A.
Published: October 2019

Nanoparticle delivery of a Gli2 inhibitor prevents tumor-induced bone degradation in mice.
U-Pb evidence for a 2.15 Ga orogenic event in the Archean Kaapvaal (South Africa) and Pilbara (Western Australia) cratons
Authors: Rasmussen Birger , Zi Jian-Wei , Muhling Janet R.
Published: October 2019

There is geological evidence for widespread deformation in the Kaapvaal craton, South Africa, between 2.2 and 2.0 Ga. In Griqualand West, post-Ongeluk Formation (ca. 2.42 Ga) and pre-Mapedi Formation (>1.91 Ga) folding, faulting, and uplift have been linked to the development of a regional-scale unconformity, weathering horizons, and extensive Fe-oxide mineralization. However, the lack of deformational fabrics and the low metamorphic temperatures (<300 °C) have hampered efforts to date this event. Here we show that metamorphic monazite in Neoarchean shales from four stratigraphic intervals from the Griqualand West region grew at ca. 2.15 Ga, >400 m.y. after deposition. Combined with previous studies, our results show that sedimentary successions across the Kaapvaal craton deposited before ca. 2.26 Ga record evidence for crustal fluid flow at ca. 2.15 Ga, which is locally associated with thrust faulting, folding, and cleavage development. The style of the deformation is similar to that of the Ophthalmian orogeny in the Pilbara craton, Australia, which is interpreted to reflect the northeast-directed movement of a fold-thrust belt between 2.22 and 2.15 Ga. Our results suggest that the Kaapvaal and Pilbara cratons, which some paleogeographic reconstructions place together as the continent Vaalbara, experienced an episode of synchronous folding and thrusting at ca. 2.15 Ga. Deformation was followed by uplift and the development of unconformities that are associated with some of Earth’s oldest oxidative weathering and with the onset of Fe-oxide mineralization.
Progressive tilting of salt-bearing continental margins controls thin-skinned deformation
Authors: Ge Zhiyuan , Warsitzka Michael , Rosenau Matthias , Gawthorpe Rob L.
Published: October 2019

As a primary driving force, margin tilting is crucial for gravity-driven thin-skinned salt tectonics. We investigated how instant versus progressive margin tilting mechanisms influence salt tectonics using an analogue modeling setup where tilting rate could be controlled. Instant tilting resulted in initially high deformation rates, triggering widely distributed upslope extension and downslope contraction. Later, both the extensional and contractional domains migrated upslope as early extensional structures were successively deactivated, while deformation rates decreased exponentially. In contrast, progressive tilting led to downslope migration of the extensional domain by sequentially formed, long-lived normal faults. Contraction localized on a few, long-lived thrusts before migrating upslope. We attribute the distinct structural evolution of thin-skinned deformation, especially in the extensional domain, in the two tilting scenarios mainly to mechanical coupling between the brittle overburden and underlying viscous material. The coupling effect in turn is largely controlled by the deformation rate. By demonstrating the spatiotemporal variations of structural style and kinematic evolution associated with instant versus progressive tilting, we suggest that such variation is identifiable in nature and therefore can provide a new way to analyze margin tilting histories.
Sea-level driven acceleration in coastal forest retreat
Authors: Schieder Nathalie W. , Kirwan Matthew L.
Published: October 2019

Ghost forests, consisting of dead trees adjacent to marshes, are a striking feature of low-lying coastal and estuarine landscapes, and they represent the migration of coastal ecosystems with relative sea-level rise (RSLR). Although ghost forests have been observed along many coastal margins, rates of ecosystem change and their dependence on RSLR remain poorly constrained. Here, we reconstructed forest retreat rates using sediment coring and historical imagery at five sites along the Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States, a hotspot for accelerated RSLR. We found that the elevation of the marsh-forest boundary generally increased with RSLR over the past 2000 yr, and that retreat accelerated concurrently with the late 19th century acceleration in global sea level. Lateral retreat rates increased through time for most sampling intervals over the past 150 yr, and modern lateral retreat rates are 2 to 14 times faster than pre-industrial rates at all sites. Substantial deviations between RSLR and forest response are consistent with previous observations that episodic disturbance facilitates the mortality of adult trees. Nevertheless, our work suggests that RSLR is the primary determinant of coastal forest extent, and that ghost forests represent a direct and prominent visual indicator of climate change.
Once-weekly semaglutide for patients with type 2 diabetes: a cost-effectiveness analysis in the Netherlands
Authors: Hunt Barnaby , Malkin Samuel J P , Moes Robert G J , Huisman Eline L , Vandebrouck Tom , Wolffenbuttel Bruce H R
Published: October 2019

Objective

Choosing therapies for type 2 diabetes that are both effective and cost-effective is vital as healthcare systems worldwide aim to maximize health of the population. The present analysis assessed the cost-effectiveness of once-weekly semaglutide (a novel glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist) versus insulin glargine U100 (the most commonly used basal insulin) and versus dulaglutide (an alternative once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist), from a societal perspective in the Netherlands.

Research design and methods

The IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model was used to project outcomes for once-weekly semaglutide 0.5 mg and 1 mg versus insulin glargine U100, once-weekly semaglutide 0.5 mg versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg, and once-weekly semaglutide 1 mg versus dulaglutide 1.5 mg. Clinical data were taken from the SUSTAIN 4 and SUSTAIN 7 clinical trials. The analysis captured direct and indirect costs, mortality, and the impact of diabetes-related complications on quality of life.

Results

Projections of outcomes suggested that once-weekly semaglutide 0.5 mg was associated with improved quality-adjusted life expectancy by 0.19 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) versus insulin glargine U100 and 0.07 QALYs versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg. Once-weekly semaglutide 1 mg was associated with mean increases in quality-adjusted life expectancy of 0.27 QALYs versus insulin glargine U100 and 0.13 QALYs versus dulaglutide 1.5 mg. Improvements came at an increased cost versus insulin glargine U100, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios from a societal perspective of €4988 and €495 per QALY gained for once-weekly semaglutide 0.5 mg and 1 mg, respectively, falling below Netherlands-specific willingness-to-pay thresholds. Improvements versus dulaglutide came at a reduced cost from a societal perspective for both doses of once-weekly semaglutide.

Conclusions

Once-weekly semaglutide is cost-effective versus insulin glargine U100, and dominant versus dulaglutide 0.75 and 1.5 mg for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and represents a good use of healthcare resources in the Netherlands.
Investigate predictive capacity of in-hospital mortality of four severity score systems on critically ill patients with acute kidney injury
Authors: Gong Yu , Ding Feng , Zhang Fen , Gu Yong
Published: October 2019

Although significant improvements have been achieved in the renal replacement therapy of acute kidney injury (AKI), the mortality of patients with AKI remains high. The aim of this study is to prospectively investigate the capacity of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation version II (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score version II (SAPS II), Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Tubular Necrosis Individual Severity Index (ATN-ISI) to predict in-hospital mortality of critically ill patients with AKI. A prospective observational study was conducted in a university teaching hospital. 189 consecutive critically ill patients with AKI were selected according Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, or End-stage kidney disease criteria. APACHE II, SAPS II, SOFA and ATN-ISI counts were obtained within the first 24 hours following admission. Receiver operating characteristic analyses (ROCs) were applied. Area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated. Sensitivity and specificity of in-hospital mortality prediction were calculated. In this study, the in-hospital mortality of critically ill patients with AKI was 37.04% (70/189). AUC of APACHE II, SAPS II, SOFA and ATN-ISI was 0.903 (95% CI 0.856 to 0.950), 0.893 (95% CI 0.847 to 0.940), 0.908 (95% CI 0.866 to 0.950) and 0.889 (95% CI 0.841 to 0.937) and sensitivity was 90.76%, 89.92%, 90.76% and 89.08% and specificity was 77.14%, 70.00%, 71.43% and 71.43%, respectively. In this study, it was found APACHE II, SAPS II, SOFA and ATN-ISI are reliable in-hospital mortality predictors of critically ill patients with AKI. Trial registration number: NCT00953992.
Lop‐eared rabbits have more aural and dental problems than erect‐eared rabbits: a rescue population study
Authors: Johnson Jade C , Burn Charlotte C
Published: October 2019

This research aimed to assess whether rabbits having lop ears, an artificially selected conformation, compromises welfare. We investigated the occurrence of aural and dental pathology in lop‐eared compared with erect‐eared rabbits. Thirty rabbits (15 lop‐eared and 15 erect‐eared) from a rabbit‐only rescue shelter were examined. An otoscope was used to visualise the ear canals and mouth. Samples were taken from each ear to examine for mites, bacteria and yeast. Medical records were also examined. Lop‐eared rabbits showed statistically significantly more frequent ear canal stenosis, higher scores of cerumen and erythema and more frequent potential pain response during ear examination, compared with erect‐eared rabbits. We also found statistically significantly more frequent incisor pathology, molar overgrowth, molar sharpness, molar spurs and history of veterinary dental treatment in lop‐eared compared with erect‐eared rabbits. The effect sizes were often large. Age was not statistically significant between the lop‐eared and erect‐eared rabbit groups. Thus, lop‐eared rabbits were at an increased risk of aural and dental pathology in this study. This brings into debate the ethics of breeding and buying lop‐eared rabbits, as they are more likely to suffer conditions that negatively impact welfare, such as pain, and potentially deafness and difficulty eating.
A von Neumann algebraic approach to self-similar group actions
Authors: Yoshida Keisuke
Published: October 2019

We study some relations between self-similar group actions and operator algebras. We see that [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] denotes the Bernoulli measure and [Formula: see text] the set of [Formula: see text]-generic points. In the case [Formula: see text], we get a unique KMS state for the canonical gauge action on the Cuntz–Pimsner algebra constructed from a self-similar group action by Nekrashevych. Moreover, if [Formula: see text], there exists a unique tracial state on the gauge invariant subalgebra of the Cuntz–Pimsner algebra. We also consider the GNS representation of the unique KMS state and compute the type of the associated von Neumann algebra.
Optimal devoted resource strategies to epidemic extinction by increasing recovery rate
Authors: Xie Jiarong , Meng Fanhui , Huang Yiwen , Fan Zhengping , Ma Xiao , Hu Yanqing
Published: October 2019

Epidemic extinction requires substantial resources over the period of outbreak. It is crucial to have an efficient strategy to assign resources due to the limited budget. In this paper, on the basis of epidemic spreading model proposed in [Chen et al., PRE, 2019], we investigate how to allocate resources in different periods of epidemics. Our results show that due to the resource moderately concentrated during the period of outbreak, the epidemics become extinct with much fewer resources. Specifically, we found that the optimal devoted resource strategy saves total devoted resource several times. This study is helpful to understand the impact of devoted resources on epidemic extinction and to design epidemic strategies under limited budget.
SURE-based optimum-length S-G filter to reconstruct NDVI time series iteratively with outliers removal
Authors: Tang Liang , Zhao Zhongming , Tang Ping , Yang Haijun
Published: October 2019

Savitzky–Golay (S-G) filter is a method of local polynomial regression, and iterative filtering with S-G filter can be used to smooth out random noise and outliers of cloud noise in NDVI time series. It involves a continuous approximation to the upper envelope of NDVI time series. In this paper, the optimum-length of S-G filter was estimated based on Steinc’s unbiased risk estimator theory when S-G filtering was conducted iteratively, and the reconstruction result was presented. Reconstruction experiments on the simulated data and MODIS NDVI time series of the year 2010–2014 showed that the optimum-length S-G filter can outperform the fixed bandwidth S-G filter.
Regioselective reduction of 5-aryl-10,15,20-tris(pyridyl) porphyrin to 5-aryl-10,15,20-tris(pyridyl)dihydroporphyrin (chlorin)
Authors: Brégier Frédérique , Godard Jérémy , Thiais Jordan , Bouramtane Soukaina , Moulin Alexia , Champavier Yves , Mailleau Alexis , Chaleix Vincent , Sol Vincent
Published: October 2019

Dihydroporphyrins or chlorins differ from porphyrins only by saturation of a peripheral double bond of the macrocycle. However, this small structural difference leads to a significant increase of the absorption band at approximately 650 nm, which makes them very interesting candidates for photodynamic therapy applications. The reduction of porphyrins bearing two, three or four pyridyl substituents with tin(II) chloride has been developed for the synthesis of dihydroporphyrins in yields of 15–73%. The reduction of 5-(aryl)-10,15,20-tris(2 or 4-pyridyl)porphyrin with tin(II) chloride dihydrate demonstrated good regioselectivity. Porphyrins with one meso-aryl bearing one electron-donating group (EDG) gave 5-aryl-10,15,20-tris(2- or 4-pyridyl)-17,18-dihydroporphyrins in 17–72% yield. Porphyrins with one meso-aryl bearing one or more electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) gave 5-aryl-10,15,20-tris(4-pyridyl)-17,18-dihydroporphyrins or 5-aryl-10,15,20-tris(4-pyridyl)-7,8-dihydroporphyrins in 15–21% yield and isobacteriochlorin. We have also proven the possibility of functionalizing these compounds to design new regioisomerically pure photosensitizers.
Game of Patience: Is Complete Denuclearisation of North Korea Possible?
Authors: YANG Chun Hee , PARK Hahnkyu
Published: October 2019

North Korea watchers on denuclearisation negotiations from Singapore to Hanoi have been brought on a roller coaster ride. Although the recent fiasco at Hanoi seemed to justify North Korean experts’ predictions that the idea of North Korean denuclearisation is “a pie in the sky”, this paper explores both its possibilities of success and failure, and makes recommendations for those involved on how they should deal and view the current North Korean situation.
Southeast Asia’s Roles in Inter-Korean Affairs
Authors: MOBRAND Erik , KIM Hyejin
Published: October 2019

Southeast Asia’s significance to the Korean peninsula is growing. South Korea has deepening trade, investment and assistance relationships in the region, while ASEAN’s non-judgmental approach to diplomacy is useful in dealing with Pyongyang. Beyond hosting summits between American and North Korean leaders, Southeast Asia is in a position to mediate North Korea’s greater international engagement and to assist in the acceleration of interaction between the North and the South.
Airside Performance of Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchangers Having Nonrepeating Nonsymmetrical Slit Fins under Wet Condition
Authors: Kim Nae-Hyun
Published: October 2019

In this study, heat-transfer and friction characteristics of newly developed nonsymmetric slit-finned-tube heat exchangers are experimentally investigated. The newly developed slit fin had more slits in the second row than the first row. As a result, different row effect on [Formula: see text] factor than that of conventional enhanced finned-tube heat exchangers was observed. In other words, two-row configuration yielded larger [Formula: see text] factor than the one-row configuration. Comparison with conventional louver fin or slit fin heat exchangers revealed that the present slit fin heat exchangers show superior heat-transfer characteristics, especially at the second row. The reason was attributed to the many narrow slits that formed at the second row, which maintain thin water film along the slits and smooth the condensate flow.
Simulation of Acoustic Propagation in 3D Viscoelastic Inhomogeneous Media with Application to Medical Shear Wave Elastography
Authors: Bidari Pooya Sobhe , Assi Hisham , Cobbold Richard S. C. , Alirezaie Javad , Tavakkoli Jahan
Published: October 2019

This paper proposes a new numerical framework to simulate ultrasound wave propagation in 3D viscoelastic heterogeneous media based on the elastodynamic wave equation including a 3D second-order time-domain perfectly matched layer formulation. A finite difference discretization of this formulation is presented, along with a stability analysis. The resulting model is capable of simulating 3D shear and longitudinal acoustic waves for arbitrary source geometries and excitations, together with arbitrary initial and boundary conditions. A simulation example is provided to show the application of our proposed method for tissue elastography imaging. Specifically, the propagation of shear waves from a localized lesion to the surrounding normal tissue is examined.
Strategic Implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): The Case of Bangladesh
Authors: Titumir Rashed Al Mahmud , Rahman Md. Zahidur
Published: October 2019

The paper presents a new framework in explaining the geostrategic compulsions arising out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with particular emphasis on finding the implications on Bangladesh amidst a translation of erstwhile pacifist Indo-Pacific region to a point of strategic importance. The framework, on the contrary to the exuberances of voluminous literature by liberals and realists, analyzes the internal compulsions stemming from a particular political settlement of the countries involved. While most available accounts typically urge to strike a “delicate balance”, but hardly any exercise has been carried out on how to achieve such balance. The paper makes an attempt to work out the balancing mechanism. The paper also identifies the conditions for mutual stability and growth by outlining equiangular development diplomacy — the optimal outcome that can be reached if there is an alignment of necessary, sufficient and sustainability conditions amongst the collaborating and/or contending partners. The sustenance of such partnership is dependent upon normative legitimacy arising from broad-based social approval along the lines of particular political settlement.
A whole body characterization of individual strategies, gender differences, and common styles in overarm throwing
Authors: Maselli Antonella , Dhawan Aishwar , Russo Marta , Cesqui Benedetta , Lacquaniti Francesco , d’Avella Andrea
Published: October 2019

Overarm throwing is a fundamental human skill. Since paleolithic hunter-gatherer societies, the ability of throwing played a key role in brain and body co-evolution. For decades, throwing skill acquisition has been the subject of developmental and gender studies. However, due to its complex multijoint nature, whole body throwing has found little space in quantitative studies of motor behavior. In this study we examined how overarm throwing varies within and between individuals in a sample of untrained adults. To quantitatively compare whole body kinematics across throwing actions, we introduced a new combination of spatiotemporal principal component, linear discrimination, and clustering analyses. We found that the identity and gender of a thrower can be robustly inferred by the kinematics of a single throw, reflecting the characteristic features in individual throwing strategies and providing a quantitative ground for the well-known differences between males and females in throwing behavior. We also identified four main classes of throwing strategies, stable within individuals and resembling the main stages of throwing proficiency acquisition during motor development. These results support earlier proposals linking interindividual and gender differences in throwing, with skill acquisition interrupted at different stages of the typical developmental trajectory of throwing motor behavior.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Unconstrained throwing, because of its complexity, received little attention in quantitative motor control studies. By introducing a new approach to analyze whole body kinematics, we quantitatively characterized gender effects, interindividual differences, and common patterns in nontrained throwers. The four throwing styles identified across individuals resemble different stages in the acquisition of throwing skills during development. These results advance our understanding of complex motor skills, bridging the gap between motor control, motor development, and sport science.
Implementing the chick embryo model to study vestibular developmental disorders
Authors: Seal Hayley E. , Lilian Sigmund J. , Popratiloff Anastas , Hirsch June C. , Peusner Kenna D.
Published: October 2019

Children with congenital vestibular disorders show delayed motor development and challenges in maintaining posture and balance. Computed tomography images reveal that these children have abnormal inner ears in the form of a sac, with the semicircular canals missing or truncated. Little is known about how this inner ear abnormality affects central vestibular development. At present, mice with the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 7 mutation are the most common model for studying congenital vestibular disorders, despite forming multiple diverse inner ear phenotypes and inducing abnormal cerebellar and visual system development. To identify the effects of a sac-like inner ear on central vestibular development, we have designed and implemented a new model, the anterior-posterior axis rotated otocyst (ARO) chick, which forms a sac-like inner ear in 85% of cases. The ARO chick is produced by anterior-posterior rotation of the otocyst at embryonic day 2. Here, we describe for the first time the 15% of ARO chicks that form three small semicircular canals and rename the ARO chicks forming sacs (ARO/s chicks). The basic features of the vestibular sensory organs in ARO/s chicks are similar to those found in patients’ sacs, and ARO/s hatchlings experience balance and walking problems like patients. Thus, ARO/s chicks have a reproducible inner ear phenotype without abnormalities in vestibular-related structures, making the model a relatively simple one to evaluate the relationship between the sac-like inner ear pathology and formation of the central vestibular neural circuitry. Here, we describe unpublished details on the surgical approaches to produce ARO chicks, including pitfalls and difficulties to avoid.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This paper describes simple techniques for chick otocyst rotation resulting in a sac-like inner ear (85%), the common phenotype in congenital vestibular disorders. We now describe anterior-posterior axis rotated otocyst chicks, which form three small canals (15%), and rename chicks forming a sac (ARO/s chicks). Basic protocols and potential complications of otocyst rotation are described. With the use of ARO/s chicks, it will be possible to determine how the vestibular neural circuit is modified by sac-like inner ear formation.
Hepatocellular Adenoma in a Patient with Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency
Authors: Cheng Lin , Liu Yajuan , Wang Wenjing , Merritt J. L. , Yeh Matthew
Published: October 2019

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is an X-linked recessive disorder that leads to hyperammonemia and liver damage. Hepatocellular adenoma in OTC deficiency patients has not been previously described. Here we report the first such case to be described in the English language scientific literature.
An Unusually Short Latent Period of Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasm Harboring a Rare MLL-EP300 Rearrangement: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Takeda Reina , Yokoyama Kazuaki , Kobayashi Seiichiro , Kawamata Toyotaka , Nakamura Sousuke , Fukuyama Tomofusa , Ito Mika , Yusa Nozomi , Shimizu Eigo , Ohno Nobuhiro , Yamaguchi Rui , Imoto Seiya , Miyano Satoru , Uchimaru Kaoru , Tojo Arinobu
Published: October 2019

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (t-MN) is a late and lethal complication induced by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Hematological malignancy is one of the most common primary diseases in patients with t-MN. However, the occurrence of t-MN in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) patients is rarely reported, possibly due to the dismal prognosis of ATL per se. Here, we report a 62-year-old female who developed t-MN only three months after the completion of conventional chemotherapy and anti-CCR4 antibody for ATL acute type. The patient presented with persistent fever and monocytosis without any evidence of infectious diseases. Bone marrow examinations revealed chronic myelomonocytic leukemia-like disease with a chromosomal translocation of t(11;22)(q23;q13) as a solo cytogenetic abnormality, resulting in the diagnosis of t-MN. Next-generation sequencing analysis identified a rare chimeric transcript, MLL-EP300, without any additional somatic mutations. Although the patient underwent allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, she died of viral encephalomyelitis at 7 months after diagnosis of t-MN. Since recent therapeutic advances have extended the survival of patients with ATL, further evaluation of the long-term risks of developing t-MN in these patients is warranted.
Aumento de casos de infección por VIH en Chile
Authors: Pérez Carlos
Published: October 2019

El primer paciente con Infección por VIH en Chile fue atendido en el Hospital Clínico UC en 1984. Desde esa época, más de 72000 personas han sido diagnosticadas y cerca de 10000 han fallecido a consecuencia de esta enfermedad. De acuerdo al reporte 2019 de ONUSIDA, a diciembre del 2018 vivían en Chile 71000 personas portadoras del virus, de las cuales 61000 estarían ya diagnosticadas. Según el mismo informe, en el 2018 se reportaron 5000 nuevas infecciones, cifra que ha ido en aumento desde el 2010, año en que se confirmaron 3700 casos. Por otra parte, de acuerdo a información entregada por el Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP) de Chile, el 2018 se confirmaron 6948 nuevas infecciones, mientras que en el año 2010 se diagnosticaron 3218 pacientes. Esta diferencia entre los datos nacionales y de ONUSIDA se debería a que este último organismo efectúa una estimación basada en los casos reportados oficialmente por el Ministerio de Salud (MINSAL) y la predicción que efectúa el software Spectrum y no considera necesariamente todas las confirmaciones de laboratorio que efectúa el ISP.  En cualquiera de los dos escenarios, no cabe duda que el número de nuevos diagnósticos en Chile ha crecido de manera exponencial en los últimos años, en contraste con el descenso que se observa en la mayoría de los países. Ello nos sitúa entre las diez naciones con mayor aumento en la infección por VIH/SIDA a nivel global.
Presbytis neglectus or P. femoralis, Colobine Molecular Phylogenies, and GenBank Submission of Newly Generated DNA Sequences
Authors: Nijman Vincent
Published: October 2019

Great progress has been made in unravelling the evolutionary history of Asian colobines, largely through the use of dated molecular phylogenies based on multiple markers. The Presbytis langurs are a case in point, with more allopatric species being identified, recognition of Presbytis thomasi from Sumatra rather than P. potenziani from the Mentawai Islands as being the most basal species of the group, and the discovery that P. rubicunda from Borneo is nested among the Sumatran species and only made it to Borneo in the last 1.3 million years. Based on variation in mitochondrial d-loop, it has recently been argued that Malaysia’s P. femoralis femoralis is actually P. neglectus neglectus. Unfortunately, despite being available, sequences from the type locality, Singapore, were excluded from the analysis, and none of the newly generated sequences was deposited in GenBank. I manually reconstructed these sequences, which allowed me to present a molecular phylogeny that includes 8 additional sequences from West Malaysia and Singapore. P. neglectus from Malaysia and P. femoralis from Singapore form one monophyletic clade, with minimal divergence. I conclude that recognition of P. neglectus is erroneous and the name is a junior synonym of P. femoralis. Colobine taxonomy and systematics have advanced, and continue to advance, mostly by considering evidence from a wide range of individuals, species and data sets (molecular, behavioural and morphological) rather than focusing on single molecular markers from 1 or 2 species from one small geographic area. For an orderly taxonomic debate where evidence can be evaluated and reinterpreted it is essential that newly generated sequences are deposited in public repositories.
Baicalin Alleviates Age-Related Macular Degeneration via miR-223/NLRP3-Regulated Pyroptosis
Authors: Sun Hong-Jing , Jin Xiu-Ming , Xu Jia , Xiao Qing
Published: October 2019

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major eye degenerative disease, ultimately causes irreversible vision loss. Baicalin was identified to attenuate laser-induced chorodial neovascularization, indicating a therapeutic role in AMD. However, the exact mechanisms for baicalin in AMD remain unknown. Methods: MTT assay was performed to access the suitable concentration of baicalin or Aβ for treating ARPE-19 cells. CCK-8, morphology, and flow cytometry analysis were performed to evaluate cell viability and pyroptosis of baicalin in Aβ-envoked ARPE-19 cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were subjected to measure the correlation between miR-223 and NLRP3. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine their direct relationship. Western blot analysis was subjected to determine pyroptosis-related proteins. Results: Baicalin inhibited Aβ-envoked pyroptosis in ARPE-19 cells. Mechanistically, baicalin significantly induced upregulation of miR-223 and downregulation of NLRP3, thus suppressing pyroptosis triggered by NLRP3 inﬂammasome signaling, yet such beneficial effects were reversed by miR-223 knockdown. Additionally, MCC950, a NLRP3 inhibitor, restored anti-pyroptosis activity of baicalin under miR-223 silencing. Conclusion: Baicalin alleviates intracellular pyroptosis and viability damage resulted from Aβ inducement in human retinal pigment epithelium cells via negative crosstalk of miR-223/NLRP3 inﬂammasome signaling, indicating that baicalin may be considered as a potential candidate for AMD therapy.
Cetuximab in Pancreatic Cancer Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Forster Tobias , Huettner Felix J. , Springfeld Christoph , Loehr Matthias , Kalkum Eva , Hackbusch Matthes , Hackert Thilo , Diener Markus K. , Probst Pascal
Published: October 2019

Introduction: The present study evaluated the potential benefit of adding cetuximab to neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative standard therapy for pancreatic cancer. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of adding cetuximab to standard chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer were included. Evaluated outcomes were overall survival, progression-free survival, objective response, and toxicity. For overall survival and progression-free survival, hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were chosen as effect measure. For objective response, odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI were used. Analysis was based on a random effects model. Results: After screening 568 publications, a total of 4 RCTs with 924 patients were included. In all trials, patients were adequately randomised with balanced intervention and control groups. There was no significant difference in overall survival (HR 1.04; 95% CI: 0.90–1.19; p = 0.60), progression-free survival (HR 1.06; 95% CI: 0.93–1.22; p = 0.36), or objective response (OR 0.99; 95% CI: 0.66 –1.49; p = 0.96) when adding cetuximab to a standard therapy. Toxicity was the same or higher in each of the included trials. According to GRADE, the certainty of the evidence is high. Therefore, adding cetuximab to pancreatic cancer therapy has no clinically relevant benefit. Conclusion: In the presence of no survival benefit, increased toxicity, and higher costs, a decreased cost-benefit ratio compared to the standard care must be suggested. Conducting further RCTs in unselected pancreatic cancer populations is unlikely to change this conclusion.
Targeting Extracellular Heat Shock Protein 70 Ameliorates Doxorubicin‐Induced Heart Failure Through Resolution of Toll‐Like Receptor 2–Mediated Myocardial Inflammation
Authors: Liu Peng , Bao Hua‐Yan , Jin Cai‐Cai , Zhou Ji‐Chao , Hua Fang , Li Ke , Lv Xiao‐Xi , Cui Bing , Hu Zhuo‐Wei , Zhang Xiao‐Wei
Published: October 2019

Background

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality for the cardiovascular risk population. We found previously that extracellular HSP70 (heat shock protein) is an important trigger in cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, which are associated with the development of heart dysfunction. However, the potential role of HSP70 in response to HF and whether it could be a target for the therapy of HF remain unknown.

Methods and Results

An HF mouse model was generated by a single IP injection of doxorubicin at a dose of 15 mg/kg. Ten days later, these mice were treated with an HSP70 neutralizing antibody for 5 times. We observed that doxorubicin treatment increased circulating HSP70 and expression of HSP70 in myocardium and promoted its extracellular release in the heart. Blocking extracellular HSP70 activity by its antibody significantly ameliorated doxorubicin‐induced left ventricular dilation and dysfunction, which was accompanied by a significant inhibition of cardiac fibrosis. The cardioprotective effect of the anti‐HSP70 antibody was largely attributed to its ability to promote the resolution of myocardial inflammation, as evidenced by its suppression of the toll‐like receptor 2–associated signaling cascade and modulation of the intracellular distribution of the p50 and p65 subunits of nuclear factor‐κB.

Conclusions

Extracellular HSP70 serves as a noninfectious inflammatory factor in the development of HF, and blocking extracellular HSP70 activity may provide potential therapeutic benefits for the treatment of HF.
The Allographic Use of Hebrew and Arabic in the Samaritan Manuscript Culture
Authors: Schorch Stefan
Published: October 2019

In the 10th/11th century, Arabic became both the vernacular and literary language of the Samaritan community, along with the two languages of the liturgy: Samaritan Hebrew and Samaritan Aramaic; Samaritan Neo Hebrew was also employed at this time mainly for the composition of religious poems. Together with the introduction of the Arabic language, the Samaritans started to use the Arabic script, along with the Samaritan Hebrew formal and cursive scripts. In comparison with the use of the Arabic script, the Samaritan Hebrew script served mostly for more sacred texts or was employed in order to mark certain textual passages with a higher degree of sacredness. Allography of Arabic in Samaritan Hebrew letters is attested in Samaritan manuscripts since the beginning of the 13th century, although it was introduced most probably at an earlier date. This allography is employed mainly for the Arabic translation of the Samaritan Torah, for the Arabic translations of prayers, and for Samaritan Hebrew or Samaritan Aramaic quotes in Arabic texts. The replacement of Arabic by Modern Israeli Hebrew as the primary vernacular among the Samaritans living in the State of Israel led to a revival of Samaritan Hebrew allography for Arabic texts in the 20th century, mainly in festival poems in Arabic language, which are performed at certain occasions, although not all congregants are still familiar with the Arabic language and script. A close analysis demonstrates that Samaritan Hebrew allography of Arabic is the result of an intense contact between two scribal cultures, both of which were well established amongst the Samaritans. The allographic use of the Samaritan Hebrew script for writing Arabic texts originally did not aim to make these texts more accessible to Samaritan readers, but rather was employed to mark Arabic texts as belonging to the realm of the sacred.
Orchidaceae occurring in white-sand ecosystems of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve in Central Amazon

Authors: KLEIN VIVIANE PAGNUSSAT , PIEDADE MARIA TERESA FERNANDEZ
Published: October 2019

We studied the Orchidaceae flora of white-sand ecosystems (campinaranas) in the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve, Amazonas State, Brazil. The family was represented by 60 species and 31 genera, with Maxillaria (10 spp.), Epidendrum (9 spp.) and Octomeria (6 spp.) being the most rich genera. Among the listed species, approximately 40% have a restricted distribution in the Amazonian domain, ocurring in different ecosystems. Four species, Cattleya wallisii, Maxillaria brasiliensis, Octomeria sagittata and Prosthechea vespa are known only from Brazil. Epiphytism was the most common habit, and Aldina heterophylla (Fabaceae) was the preferential phorophyte, with 67% of the total taxa occurring associated with this tree species. Taxonomic descriptions, illustrations, ecological comments, phenological information, geographical distribution and an identification key of the taxa are provided.
Morphological and phylogenetic characterization of novel Metarhizium species in Guizhou, China

Authors: CHEN WAN-HAO , HAN YAN-FENG , LIANG JIAN-DONG , LIANG ZONG-QI
Published: October 2019

Two new species, Metarhizium lepidopterorum and Metarhizium rongjiangense, which are both parasitic on lepidopteran pupae, are reported. Both the morphological characteristics and DNA-based phylogenies from a multigene dataset-based analysis supported the identification of two new species. Both species can be distinguished from other species of Metarhizium by their lecanicillium-like conidiophores, longer phialides and the presence of only one type of conidium, which is smaller and fusiform in M. lepidopterorum and smaller and of subwedge shape in M. rongjiangense. The combined dataset (ITS, RPB1, RPB2 and TEF) was analysed phylogenetically in Metarhizium spp. The new species described herein are clearly distinct from other Metarhizium species.
Notes on Indian Neolitsea (Lauraceae)—two new varietal combinations under N. cassia and N. foliosa and typification of five names

Authors: CHAKRABARTY TAPAS
Published: October 2019

During the course of revision of the genus Neolitsea (Bentham 1880: 161) Merrill (1906: 56) for India and adjoining countries it was found that N. foliosa (Nees 1831: 64) Gamble (1925a: 1240) and N. cassia (Linnaeus 1753: 369) Kostermans (1952: 85) are two closely related species, the former differing from the latter “by having much broader, coriaceous leaves with a pronounced areolation, the completely glabrous terminal buds and branches, and the glabrous outer bud scales of the flower umbels.” (Kostermans 1995: 169). Further, both these species have two types of fruits, mostly globose to subglobose but occasionally oblong, oblong-ellipsoid to ovoid-oblong. The present study revealed that these two forms of fruits merit recognition as distinct varieties in each species, having no intergradations. The variety of N. cassia, characterized by such oblong fruits has been described previously as Litsea zeylanica (Nees & T. Nees 1823: 58, pl. 5) var. rigescens Meissner (1864: 226), which therefore is transferred to N. cassia here with designation of a lectotype. In N. foliosa, an isolectotype (G00694474: image!) bears oblong to oblong-ellipsoid fruits but the common form with globose to subglobose fruits has been described previously as Litsea scrobiculata (Meissner 1864: 223), treated in Indian Floras (e.g. Gamble 1925a, Saldanha & Ramesh 1984, Vajravelu 1990, Mohanan & Henry 1994) as Neolitsea scrobiculata (Meisn.) Gamble (1925a: 1240), eventually reduced to a synonym of N. foliosa by Kostermans (1995: 168–169). Hence Litsea scrobiculata is reinstated here and treated as a distinct variety of N. foliosa with designation of a lecotype. Furthermore, lectotypes are also designated for the names Tetradenia foliosa Nees (1831: 64), basionym of Neolitsea foliosa, N. fischeri Gamble (1925b: 132) and Tetradenia umbrosa Nees (1831: 64), basionym of Neolitsea umbrosa (Nees) Gamble (1914: 79).
Eddy Activity Response to Global Warming–Like Temperature Changes
Authors: Yuval Janni , Kaspi Yohai
Published: October 2019

Global warming projections show an anomalous temperature increase both at the Arctic surface and at lower latitudes in the upper troposphere. The Arctic amplification decreases the meridional temperature gradient, and simultaneously decreases static stability. These changes in the meridional temperature gradient and in the static stability have opposing effects on baroclinicity. The temperature increase at the upper tropospheric lower latitudes tends to increase the meridional temperature gradient and simultaneously increase static stability, which have opposing effects on baroclinicity as well. In this study, a dry idealized general circulation model with a modified Newtonian cooling scheme, which allows any chosen zonally symmetric temperature distribution to be simulated, is used to study the effect of Arctic amplification and lower-latitude upper-level warming on eddy activity. Due to the interplay between the static stability and meridional temperature gradient on atmospheric baroclinicity changes, and their opposing effect on atmospheric baroclinicity, it is found that both the Arctic amplification and lower-latitude upper-level warming could potentially lead to both decreases and increases in eddy activity, depending on the exact prescribed temperature modifications. Therefore, to understand the effect of global warming–like temperature trends on eddy activity, the zonally symmetric global warming temperature projections from state-of-the-art models are simulated. It is found that the eddy kinetic energy changes are dominated by the lower-latitude upper-level warming, which tends to weaken the eddy kinetic energy due to increased static stability. On the other hand, the eddy heat flux changes are dominated by the Arctic amplification, which tends to weaken the eddy heat flux at the lower levels.
Hybridisation of human resources management practices: the case of local government in France
Authors: Desmarais Céline , Dubouloz Sandra , Bichon Arnaud
Published: October 2019

The dissemination of New Public Management principles is transforming human resources management practices in the public sector. The transformations that have taken place follow four logics: the logics of formalisation, contractualisation, individualisation and politicisation. The article examines the consequences of the interplay of these logics on the hybridisation of human resources management practices. To this end, two complementary methodologies were used: a quantitative methodology based on a survey of 223 local authorities within a French department; and a qualitative methodology based on interviews conducted with 25 of these authorities. The results show that these logics coexist, raising questions about the micro-negotiations that allow this coexistence.

Points for practitioners

Human resources management practices in public organisations are the composite outcome of a set of different, even contradictory, logics: the logics of individualisation, contractualisation, formalisation and politicisation. There is no common shift towards a single new human resources management model within French local authorities. The fact that these logics are always present in different combinations is explained mainly by the internal dynamics between the stakeholders (elected officials, human resources professionals, management, etc.).