bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The course of asthma: A population‐based 10‐year study examining asthma remission in children diagnosed with asthma in preschool
Authors: Oluwole Oluwafemi , Rennie Donna C. , Goodridge Donna , Blackburn David , Litzenberger Trent , Penz Erika , Lawson Joshua A.
Published: June 2020

Background

The natural course of asthma may differ depending on the age of onset.

Objective

To investigate predictors of asthma remission with a focus on the age of asthma onset.

Methods

The study was a retrospective birth cohort of children with asthma in Saskatchewan, Canada. Using the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health databases, we identified children with a diagnosis of asthma in the first 6 years of life and who had at least 10 years of follow‐up after diagnosis (n = 22 563). Of these, we included 6393 children either with persistent asthma (≥1 physician visit or hospitalization for asthma [PVHA] during each year of follow‐up) and those who had remission (had PVHA in the first year after diagnosis but at some point during the follow‐up no longer received PVHA until end of the study). We used survival analysis to examine associations between remission and age of asthma onset.

Results

Of the study participants, 87.2% had early‐onset (≤3 years) and 12.8% had late‐onset (4‐6 years) asthma. Over the 10‐years of follow‐up, the rate of asthma remission was 37 per 100 person‐years. Early‐onset asthma (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.10; 95%confidence interval [CI]: 1.01‐1.20), being female (HR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.07‐1.18), living in a rural (HR = 1.20; 95%CI: 1.14‐1.27) and medium urban (HR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.08‐1.26) location were positively associated with remission while history of atopy decreased likelihood of remission (HR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.54‐0.97).

Conclusion

Most children with asthma experienced remission, especially those with the onset of symptoms within the first 3 years of life.
Evaluating the combined effect of a systemic phenylpyrrole fungicide and the plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria Paraburkholderia phytofirmans (strain PsJN::gfp2x) against the grapevine trunk pathogen Neofusicoccum parvum
Authors: Wu Hanxiang , Spagnolo Alessandro , Marivingt‐Mounir Cécile , Clément Christophe , Fontaine Florence , Chollet Jean‐François
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

A new chemical control strategy for grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) is to develop site‐targeted fungicides to protect grapevine vascular tissues. Due to the complexity of GTDs, the effectiveness of a single method is limited. Investigation of the interactions between chemical and biological agents is an essential requirement for integrated control strategies. The effect of a phloem‐mobile derivative of the fungicide fenpiclonil (SM 26) in combined use with the plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria, Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN on the Neofusicoccum parvum strain Bourgogne (NpB) was evaluated.

RESULTS

SM 26 was found to be translocated to the shoot apices and roots of grapevines through both xylem and phloem after foliage application. In vitro studies demonstrated that SM 26 exhibited no inhibitory effect on the growth of PsJN and could be largely absorbed into the bacterial cells. In vivo evaluation showed that the combined use of SM 26 and PsJN was the most effective following artificial inoculation of NpB on the stems of rooted Chardonnay and Sauvignon cuttings. Finally, the expression of defence‐related genes, including the genes associated with secondary metabolism (ANTS, PAL, STS, Vv17.3), defence proteins (GLUC, PR1, PGIP), redox status (GTS1) and ethylene synthesis (ACC), was found to be strongly upregulated in PsJN + SM 26 cotreated plants compared to non‐treated plants (controls), especially for Chardonnay.

CONCLUSION

The systemic profungicide SM 26 interacts with the biocontrol agent PsJN to stimulate some plant defence responses, and their combined use may present a potential integrated control strategy against GTDs. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Classification of human physical activity based on raw accelerometry data via spherical coordinate transformation
Authors: Kos Michał , Bogdan Małgorzata , Glynn Nancy W. , Harezlak Jaroslaw
Published: June 2020

Human health is strongly associated with person's lifestyle and levels of physical activity. Therefore, characterization of daily human activity is an important task. Accelerometers have been used to obtain precise measurements of body acceleration. Wearable accelerometers collect data as a three‐dimensional time series with frequencies up to 100 Hz. Using such accelerometry signal, we are able to classify different types of physical activity. In our work, we present a novel procedure for physical activity classification based on the raw accelerometry signal. Our proposal is based on the spherical representation of the data. We classify four activity types: resting, upper body activities (sitting), upper body activities (standing), and lower body activities. The classifier is constructed using decision trees with extracted features consisting of spherical coordinates summary statistics, moving averages of the radius and the angles, radius variance, and spherical variance. The classification accuracy of our method has been tested on data collected on a sample of 47 elderly individuals who performed a series of activities in laboratory settings. The achieved classification accuracy is over 90% when the subject‐specific data are used and 84% when the group data are used. Main contributor to the classification accuracy is the angular part of the collected signal, especially spherical variance. To the best of our knowledge, spherical variance has never been previously used in the analysis of the raw accelerometry data. Its major advantage over other angular measures is its invariance to the accelerometer location shifts.
Delayed increase of acetylcholine quantal size induced by the activity‐dependent release of endogenous CGRP but not ATP in neuromuscular junctions
Authors: Bogacheva Polina , Balezina Olga
Published: June 2020

In mouse motor synapses tetanic neuromuscular activity (30 Hz, 2 min) led to a delayed posttetanic potentiation of amplitude and duration of spontaneous miniature endplate potentials (MEPPs). Microelectrode recordings of MEPPs before and after nerve stimulation showed an increase in MEPP amplitude and time course by 30% and 15%, respectively, without changes in their frequency. Peak effect was detected 20 min after tetanic activity and progressively faded throughout the next 40 min of recording. The revealed potentiation of MEPPs was fully preserved in preparations from pannexin 1 knockout mice. It means, that myogenic ATP released via pannexin 1 channels from contracting muscle fibers is not likely to participate in the described phenomenon. But posttetanic potentiation of MEPPs was fully prevented by competitive antagonist of calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) receptors CGRP8‐37, ryanodine receptors inhibitor ryanodine and by vesicular acetylcholine transporter inhibitor vesamicol. It is suggested that the combination of intensive synaptic and contractile activity in neuromuscular junctions is required to induce Ca2+‐dependent exocytosis of endogenous CGRP. The accumulation of CGRP in the synaptic cleft and its presynaptic activity may induce posttetanic potentiation of MEPP amplitude due to CGRP‐stimulated acetylcholine loading into vesicles and subsequent increase of quantal size.
Length-change patterns of the medial collateral ligament and posterior oblique ligament in relation to their function and surgery
Authors: Willinger Lukas , Shinohara Shun , Athwal Kiron K. , Ball Simon , Williams Andy , Amis Andrew A.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To define the length-change patterns of the superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL), deep MCL (dMCL), and posterior oblique ligament (POL) across knee flexion and with applied anterior and rotational loads, and to relate these findings to their functions in knee stability and to surgical repair or reconstruction.

Methods

Ten cadaveric knees were mounted in a kinematics rig with loaded quadriceps, ITB, and hamstrings. Length changes of the anterior and posterior fibres of the sMCL, dMCL, and POL were recorded from 0° to 100° flexion by use of a linear displacement transducer and normalised to lengths at 0° flexion. Measurements were repeated with no external load, 90 N anterior draw force, and 5 Nm internal and 5 Nm external rotation torque applied.

Results

The anterior sMCL lengthened with flexion (p < 0.01) and further lengthened by external rotation (p < 0.001). The posterior sMCL slackened with flexion (p < 0.001), but was lengthened by internal rotation (p < 0.05). External rotation lengthened the anterior dMCL fibres by 10% throughout flexion (p < 0.001). sMCL release allowed the dMCL to become taut with valgus rotation (p < 0.001). The anterior and posterior POL fibres slackened with flexion (p < 0.001), but were elongated by internal rotation (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The structures of the medial ligament complex react differently to knee flexion and applied loads. Structures attaching posterior to the medial epicondyle are taut in extension, whereas the anterior sMCL, attaching anterior to the epicondyle, is tensioned during flexion. The anterior dMCL is elongated by external rotation. These data offer the basis for MCL repair and reconstruction techniques regarding graft positioning and tensioning.
Additive manufacturing of bimetallic structures
Authors: Bai Shuang , Liu Jian
Published: June 2020

Metals of 12Cr2Si and 9Cr1Mo are investigated with femtosecond fiber laser additive manufacturing. A smooth phase transition is found at the interface of the two gradated composition metals, indicating a strong bonding. In contrast, the comparison group of SS316L and SA508 shows an abrupt transition.
Optimizing Routine and Disaster Prehospital Care Through Improved Emergency Medical Services Oversight
Authors: Abir Mahshid , Forman Jane , Taymour Rekar K. , Brent Christina , Nallamothu Brahmajee K. , Scott Jaqueline , Wahl Kathy
Published: June 2020

Objective:

To identify modifiers of emergency medical services (EMS) oversight quality, including facilitators and barriers, and inform best practices and policy related to EMS oversight and system performance.

Methods:

We used a qualitative design, including 4 focus groups and 10 in-depth, 1-on-1 interviews. Primary data were collected from EMS stakeholders in Michigan from June to July 2016. Qualitative data were analyzed using the rapid assessment technique.

Results:

Emergent themes included organizational structure, oversight and stakeholder leadership, interorganizational communication and relationships, competition or collaboration among MCA stakeholders, quality improvement practices, resources, and needs specific to rural communities.

Conclusions:

EMS is a critical component of disaster response. This study revealed salient themes and modifiers, including facilitators and barriers, of EMS oversight quality. These findings were evaluated in the context of current evidence and informed state policy to improve the quality of EMS oversight and prehospital care for both routine and disaster settings. Some were particular to geographic regions and communities, whereas others were generalizable.
Optimization of load introduction points in sandwich structures with additively manufactured cores
Authors: Schwenke Johann , Krause Dieter
Published: June 2020

This paper presents how numerical optimization methods, like topology optimization, and new design possibilities through additive manufacturing (AM) can be used for structural improvements of the load introduction points in sandwich structures. A new design approach is presented, which allows a direct load-path optimized integration of the load introduction point into the sandwich core. The corresponding methodical procedure is shown and the application is demonstrated exemplarily for a sandwich structure with a honeycomb core. The advantages for design science are that the new design possibilities of AM can be considered and used when designing the load introduction points. Thus, the additional reinforcements of the sandwich structures to absorb locally introduced forces in the lightweight structure can be minimized. This enables a meaningful technical comparison and it can be decided in the future whether such a design can be used for sandwich structures under economic aspects. In addition, the influence of the initial and boundary conditions on the design is presented and discussed in this paper. The challenges of optimizing multiple load introduction points simultaneously as well as the special aspects to be considered when transferring the design approach to larger sandwich structures are also highlighted.
Glucose control upon waking is unaffected by hourly sleep fragmentation during the night, but is impaired by morning caffeinated coffee
Authors: Smith Harry A. , Hengist Aaron , Thomas Joel , Walhin Jean-Philippe , Heath Philippa , Perkin Oliver , Chen Yung-Chih , Gonzalez Javier T. , Betts James A.
Published: June 2020

Morning coffee is a common remedy following disrupted sleep, yet each factor can independently impair glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in healthy adults. Remarkably, the combined effects of sleep fragmentation and coffee on glucose control upon waking per se have never been investigated. In a randomised crossover design, twenty-nine adults (mean age: 21 (sd 1) years, BMI: 24·4 (sd 3·3) kg/m2) underwent three oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). One following a habitual night of sleep (Control; in bed, lights-off trying to sleep approximately 23.00–07.00 hours), the others following a night of sleep fragmentation (as Control but waking hourly for 5 min), with and without morning coffee approximately 1 h after waking (approximately 300 mg caffeine as black coffee 30 min prior to OGTT). Individualised peak plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were unaffected by sleep quality but were higher following coffee consumption (mean (normalised CI) for Control, Fragmented and Fragmented + Coffee, respectively; glucose: 8·20 (normalised CI 7·93, 8·47) mmol/l v. 8·23 (normalised CI 7·96, 8·50) mmol/l v. 8·96 (normalised CI 8·70, 9·22) mmol/l; insulin: 265 (normalised CI 247, 283) pmol/l; and 235 (normalised CI 218, 253) pmol/l; and 310 (normalised CI 284, 337) pmol/l). Likewise, incremental AUC for plasma glucose was higher in the Fragmented + Coffee trial compared with Fragmented. Whilst sleep fragmentation did not alter glycaemic or insulinaemic responses to morning glucose ingestion, if a strong caffeinated coffee is consumed, then a reduction in glucose tolerance can be expected.
Are legume-based recipes an appropriate source of nutrients for healthy ageing? A prospective cohort study
Authors: Caballero Francisco Félix , Ballesteros Juan Manuel , García-Esquinas Esther , Struijk Ellen A. , Ortolá Rosario , Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando , Lopez-Garcia Esther
Published: June 2020

Although legumes are rich in protein and fibre, and low in saturated fat and Na, traditional legume-based recipes include substantial amounts of processed meat, salt and potatoes, which could counteract the potential benefits of legumes. This prospective study aimed to assess the longitudinal association of consumption of different types of legumes, and traditional legume-based recipes, with unhealthy ageing in older adults. Data were taken from 2505 individuals aged ≥60 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort. Habitual legume consumption was assessed in 2008–2010 with a validated diet history. Unhealthy ageing was measured in the 2013, 2015 and 2017 follow-up waves, with a fifty-two-item multidimensional health deficit accumulation index (DAI) which ranges from 0 (best) to 100 (worst health). The mean age was 68·7 years, with 53·1 % of women. Among study participants, 78·4 % reported consumption of legumes, with a mean intake of 57·9 g/d. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models did not show an association between total legume consumption and the DAI over a 7-year follow-up (non-standardised coefficient for the second and highestv. the lowest tertile of consumption: 0·94 (95 % CI −0·30, 2·17) and 0·18 (95 % CI −1·07, 1·43), respectively;Ptrend= 0·35). Similar results were observed for the 3-year and 5-year follow-ups and, separately, for lentils, beans, chickpeas and traditional legume-based recipes. According to the results obtained, consumption of legumes and traditional legume-based recipes is not associated with unhealthy ageing and can be part of a healthy diet in old age.
Possessing Christianity in Northeast India: Kelkang, 1937
Authors: JACKSON KYLE
Published: June 2020

In 1937, a spirit moved in the mountains of Northeast India. It presented local villagers with a visceral anticolonial vision, laicized religious practices, and offered alternative definitions of expertise and literacy that sidelined colonial and missionary authorities. Its message pulled together a complex range of clans, pilgrims, and roadworkers, and reconciled them according to contemporary local logics. This article uses the ‘Kelkang incident’ of the Lushai Hills District (today: Mizoram) to reverse the polarity of conventional writings on prophetic rebellion in two ways. First, it asks not how the colonial state dealt with a prophetic rebellion, but how a prophetic rebellion dealt with the state. Second, it asks not what the moving spirit of Kelkang symbolized, but what it did and how people interacted with it. Placing upland spirits, humans, terminology, and concepts at the centre of the analysis, the article argues that a more open-minded approach to the history of religion can better reveal processes of mediumship and rapidly indigenizing Christianities as well as the much broader malleability of concepts like ‘conversion’, ‘revival’, and ‘Christianity’.
Resilience to mental disorders in a low-income, non-Westernized setting
Authors: Scott Kate M. , Zhang Yang , Chardoul Stephanie , Ghimire Dirgha J. , Smoller Jordan W. , Axinn William G.
Published: June 2020

Background

Cross-national studies have found, unexpectedly, that mental disorder prevalence is higher in high-income relative to low-income countries, but few rigorous studies have been conducted in very low-income countries. This study assessed mental disorders in Nepal, employing unique methodological features designed to maximize disorder detection and reporting.

Methods

In 2016–2018, 10714 respondents aged 15–59 were interviewed as part of an ongoing panel study, with a response rate of 93%. The World Mental Health version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI 3.0) measured lifetime and 12-month prevalence of selected anxiety, mood, alcohol use, and impulse control disorders. Lifetime recall was enhanced using a life history calendar.

Results

Lifetime prevalence ranged from 0.3% (95% CI 0.2–0.4) for bipolar disorder to 15.1% (95% CI 14.4–15.7) for major depressive disorder. The 12-month prevalences were low, ranging from 0.2% for panic disorder (95% CI 0.1–0.3) and bipolar disorder (95% CI 0.1–0.2) to 2.7% for depression (95% CI 2.4–3.0). Lifetime disorders were higher among those with less education and in the low-caste ethnic group. Gender differences were pronounced.

Conclusions

Although cultural effects on reporting cannot be ruled out, these low 12-month prevalences are consistent with reduced prevalence of mental disorders in other low-income countries. Identification of sociocultural factors that mediate the lower prevalence of mental disorders in low-income, non-Westernized settings may have implications for understanding disorder etiology and for clinical or policy interventions aimed at facilitating resilience.
A map of desire: multidimensional scaling of men's sexual interest in male and female children and adults
Authors: Bailey J. Michael , Blanchard Ray , Hsu Kevin J. , Revelle William
Published: June 2020

Background

Men sexually interested in children of a specific combination of maturity and sex tend to show some lesser interest in other categories of persons. Patterns of men's sexual interest across erotic targets' categories of maturity and sex have both clinical and basic scientific implications.

Method

We examined the structure of men's sexual interest in adult, pubescent, and prepubescent males and females using multidimensional scaling (MDS) across four datasets, using three large samples and three indicators of sexual interest: phallometric response to erotic stimuli, sexual offense history, and self-reported sexual attraction. The samples were highly enriched for men sexually interested in children and men accused of sexual offenses.

Results

Results supported a two-dimensional MDS solution, with one dimension representing erotic targets' biological sex and the other dimension representing their sexual maturity. The dimension of sexual maturity placed adults and prepubescent children on opposite ends, and pubescent children intermediate. Differences between men's sexual interest in adults and prepubescent children of the same sex were similar in magnitude to the differences between their sexual interest in adult men and women. Sexual interest in adult men was no more associated with sexual interest in boys than sexual interest in adult women was associated with sexual interest in girls.

Conclusions

Erotic targets' sexual maturity and biological sex play important roles in men's preferences, which are predictive of sexual offending. The magnitude of men's preferences for prepubescent children v. adults of their preferred sex is large.
Neuronal network mechanisms associated with depressive symptom improvement following electroconvulsive therapy
Authors: Takamiya Akihiro , Kishimoto Taishiro , Hirano Jinichi , Nishikata Shiro , Sawada Kyosuke , Kurokawa Shunya , Yamagata Bun , Kikuchi Toshiaki , Mimura Masaru
Published: June 2020

Background

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective antidepressant treatment for severe depression. Although recent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have consistently reported ECT-induced hippocampal volume increases, most studies did not find the association of the hippocampal volume changes with clinical improvement. To understand the underlying mechanisms of ECT action, we aimed to identify the longitudinal effects of ECT on hippocampal functional connectivity (FC) and their associations with clinical improvement.

Methods

Resting-state functional MRI was acquired before and after bilateral ECT in 27 depressed individuals. A priori hippocampal seed-based FC analysis and a data-driven multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) were conducted to investigate FC changes associated with clinical improvement. The statistical threshold was set at cluster-level false discovery rate-corrected p < 0.05.

Results

Depressive symptom improvement after ECT was positively associated with the change in the right hippocampus-ventromedial prefrontal cortex FC, and negatively associated with the right hippocampus-superior frontal gyrus FC. MVPA confirmed the results of hippocampal seed-based analyses and identified the following additional clusters associated with clinical improvement following ECT: the thalamus, the sensorimotor cortex, and the precuneus.

Conclusions

ECT-induced change in the right frontotemporal connectivity and thalamocortical connectivity, and changes in the nodes of the default mode network were associated with clinical improvement. Modulation of these networks may explain the underlying mechanisms by which ECT exert its potent and rapid antidepressant effect.
Dealing with heterogeneity of cognitive dysfunction in acute depression: a clustering approach
Authors: Vicent-Gil Muriel , Portella Maria J. , Serra-Blasco Maria , Navarra-Ventura Guillem , Crivillés Sara , Aguilar Eva , Palao Diego , Cardoner Narcís
Published: June 2020

Background

Heterogeneity in cognitive functioning among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients could have been the reason for the small-to-moderate differences reported so far when it is compared to other psychiatric conditions or to healthy controls. Additionally, most of these studies did not take into account clinical and sociodemographic characteristics that could have played a relevant role in cognitive variability. This study aims to identify empirical clusters based on cognitive, clinical and sociodemographic variables in a sample of acute MDD patients.

Methods

In a sample of 174 patients with an acute depressive episode, a two-step clustering analysis was applied considering potentially relevant cognitive, clinical and sociodemographic variables as indicators for grouping.

Results

Treatment resistance was the most important factor for clustering, closely followed by cognitive performance. Three empirical subgroups were obtained: cluster 1 was characterized by a sample of non-resistant patients with preserved cognitive functioning (n = 68, 39%); cluster 2 was formed by treatment-resistant patients with selective cognitive deficits (n = 66, 38%) and cluster 3 consisted of resistant (n = 23, 58%) and non-resistant (n = 17, 42%) acute patients with significant deficits in all neurocognitive domains (n = 40, 23%).

Conclusions

The findings provide evidence upon the existence of cognitive heterogeneity across patients in an acute depressive episode. Therefore, assessing cognition becomes an evident necessity for all patients diagnosed with MDD, and although treatment resistant is associated with greater cognitive dysfunction, non-resistant patients can also show significant cognitive deficits. By targeting not only mood but also cognition, patients are more likely to achieve full recovery and prevent new relapses.
Meta-analysis of neurocognitive deficits in unaffected relatives of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): comparison with healthy controls and patients with OCD
Authors: Bora Emre
Published: June 2020

Background

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with cognitive deficits, particularly with executive functions. These findings support fronto-striatal dysfunction in OCD. However, it is not certain whether these findings are trait features of OCD. In recent years, a number of studies have investigated cognitive functions in unaffected relatives of OCD (OCDrel) but the findings of these studies are contradictory.

Methods

A systematic review in Pubmed and Scopus databases was performed until 18 March 2019, to locate the studies comparing cognitive functions of OCDrel with healthy controls and OCD patients (OCDpt). A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted.

Results

Current meta-analysis included 16 studies including 527 OCDrel, 445 OCDpt and 639 healthy controls. Healthy controls overperformed OCDpt in all cognitive domains (d= 0.36–0.86). OCDrel underperformed healthy controls in inhibition (d= 0.58, CI = 0.29–0.86), planning (d= 0.45, CI = 0.28–0.63), decision-making (d= 0.58, CI = 0.19–0.98). OCDrel also had small-sized deficits in set-shifting (d= 0.37, CI = 0.04–0.69) and visual memory (d= 0.28, CI = 0.08–0.49). OCDpt underperformed OCDrel in visual memory (d= 0.45, CI = 0.22–0.67) and set-shifting (d= 0.23, CI = 0.04–0.42).

Conclusions

Current findings suggest that abnormalities in inhibition, planning/problem solving and reward-based decision-making are shared features of OCDrel and OCDpt and might be trait markers related to vulnerability for developing OCD. Visual memory and set-shifting deficits might potentially be biomarkers of incipient illness or subthreshold OCD presentation among OCDrel. Further exploration of cognitive heterogeneity in OCDrel and investigating the effects of the subtypes of OCD in probands on cognitive impairment in OCDrel are needed.
BIRNBAUM CRITICALITY AND IMPORTANCE MEASURES FOR MULTISTATE SYSTEMS WITH REPAIRABLE COMPONENTS
Authors: Huseby Arne Bang , Kalinowska Martyna , Abrahamsen Tobias
Published: June 2020

We suggest four new measures of importance for repairable multistate systems based on the classical Birnbaum measure. Periodic component life cycles and general semi-Markov processes are considered. Similar to the Birnbaum measure, the proposed measures are generic in the sense that they only depend on the probabilistic properties of the components and the system structure. The multistate system model encodes physical properties of the components and the system directly into the structure function. As a result, calculating importance is easy, especially in the asymptotic case. Moreover, the proposed measures are composite measures, combining importance for all component states into a unified quantity. This simplifies ranking of the components with respect to importance. The proposed measures can be characterized with respect to two features: forward-looking versus backward-looking and with respect to how criticality is measured. Forward-looking importance measures focus on the next component states, while backward-looking importance measures focus on the previous component states. Two approaches to measuring criticality are considered: probability of criticality versus expected impact. Examples show that the different importance measures may result in unequal rankings.
Violence exposure, posttraumatic stress, and affect variability among African American Youth: A time sampling approach
Authors: Deane Kyle , Richards Maryse , Santiago Catherine DeCarlo
Published: June 2020

The current study examines the immediate and short-term impact of daily exposure to community violence on same-day and next-day levels of posttraumatic stress symptomatology and various affective states (i.e., dysphoria, hostility, and anxiety), in a sample of 268 African American adolescents living in urban, low-income, high-violence neighborhoods (Mage = 11.65; 59% female). In addition, the moderating role of affective state variability on this relationship was examined. This study utilized experience sampling method and a daily sampling approach, which contributes a more robust investigation of the short-term effects of violence exposure in youth. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that community violence exposure was positively associated with same-day and next-day symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Violence exposure also exhibited an immediate effect on dysphoria, anxiety, and hostility levels. Youth variability in dysphoria exacerbated the effect of violence exposure on concurrent or next-day posttraumatic stress, dysphoria, and hostility. Moreover, variability in anxiety and hostility exacerbated the experience of next-day hostility. The clinical implications relating to these findings, such as the importance of implementing screening for posttraumatic stress following exposure, the incorporation of preventative treatments among those at risk of exposure, and the targeting of emotion regulation in treatments with adolescents, are discussed.
Implementation of a “threat and error” model in complex neonatal cardiac surgery patients to identify quality improvement opportunities
Authors: Todd Tzanetos Deanna R. , Montgomery Vicki , Harrington William , Calhoun Aaron
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

Neonates undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease are vulnerable to adverse events. Conventional quality improvement processes centring on mortality and significant morbidity leave a gap in the identification of systematic processes that, though not directly linked to an error, may still contribute to adverse outcomes. Implementation of a multidisciplinary “flight path” process for surgical patients may be used to identify modifiable threats and errors and generate action items, which may lead to quality improvement.

Methods:

A retrospective review of our neonatal “flight path” initiative was performed. Within 72 hours of a cardiac surgery, a meeting of the multidisciplinary patient care team occurs. A “flight path” is generated, graphically illustrating the patient’s hospital course. Threats, errors, or unintended consequences are identified. Action items are generated, and a working group is formed to address the items. A patient’s flight path is updated weekly until discharge. The errors and action items are logged into a database, which is analysed quarterly to identify trends.

Results:

Thirty one patients underwent flight path review over a 1-year period; 22.5% (N = 7) of patients had an error-free “flight.” Eleven action items were generated – four from identified errors and seven from identified threats. Nine action items were completed.

Conclusions:

Flight path reviews of congenital cardiac patients can be generated with few resources and aid in the detection of quality improvement opportunities. The regular multidisciplinary meetings that occur as a part of the flight path review process can promote inter-professional teamwork.
Misclassification of stunting, underweight and wasting in children 0–5 years of South Asian and Dutch descent: ethnic-specific v. WHO criteria
Authors: de Wilde JA , Peters-Koning M , Middelkoop BJC
Published: June 2020

Objective:

Several authors have questioned the suitability of WHO Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) for all ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to identify potential misclassification of stunting, underweight and wasting in children of Surinamese Asian Indian, South Asian (Pakistan/India) and Dutch descent.

Design:

A series of routine cross-sectional measurements, collected 2012–2015. South Asian-specific normative growth references for weight-for-age and weight-for-length/height were constructed using the LMS method based on historic growth data of Surinamese Asian Indians born between 1974 and 1976. WHO-CGS and ethnic-specific references were applied to calculate z-scores and prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting.

Setting:

Youth HealthCare, providing periodical preventive health check-ups.

Participants:

11 935 children aged 0–5 years.

Results:

Considerable deviations from WHO-CGS were found, with higher-than-expected stunting rates, especially in the first 6 months of life. Surinamese Asian Indian children showed stunting rates up to 16·0 % and high underweight and wasting over the whole age range (up to 7·2 and 6·7 %, respectively). Dutch children consistently had mean WHO-CGS z-scores 0·3–0·5 sd above the WHO baseline (>6 months). The application of ethnic-specific references showed low rates for all studied indicators, although South Asian children were taller and larger than their Surinamese Asian Indian counterparts.

Conclusions:

WHO-CGS misclassify a considerable proportion of children from all ethnic groups as stunted in the first 6 months of life. Underweight and wasting are considerably overestimated in Surinamese Asian Indian children. Ethnic-specific growth references are recommended for Surinamese Asian Indian and Dutch children. The considerable differences found between South Asian subpopulations requires further research.
City food flow analysis. A new method to study local consumption
Authors: Moschitz Heidrun , Frick Rebekka
Published: June 2020

The aim of this paper is to present and discuss a new approach to assess a city's supply with food from the nearby region: the city food flow analysis. In view of the growing challenges of the global food system, the local level has increasingly been identified—both by citizen-consumers and city administrations—as a relevant scale to develop sustainable alternatives. Although different actors often agree on the aim to increase local food supply, the discussions and initiatives convey the lack of knowledge and data about the actual origin of food supplied to cities. Without knowing where food comes from and through which channels it reaches the consumer, it is difficult to develop alternatives that could eventually change the food system. This paper presents and discusses the city food flow analysis as a methodology to close this lack of information. It consists of a four-step approach that leads to a clear picture on the local food production around a city, the consumption of local food in a city and the importance of different supply chains for local food in the city, including retail and gastronomy. The methodology is illustrated with the example of two cases (cities). The city food flow analysis provides detailed information about the current situation of urban food provisioning, which city stakeholders can use to start an informed discussion process about necessary changes in the food system, re-embedding of cities into their territorial context. However, data are not always fully available, which is a result in itself that illustrates the challenges of re-localizing local food provisioning.
The plane H-polarized electromagnetic wave scattering by pre-fractal grating of impedance strips
Authors: Koshovy George I.
Published: June 2020

The problem of the plane H-polarized electromagnetic wave scattering by flat pre-fractal impedance strips' gratings is examined. For this purpose, a mathematical model in the form of the first kind singular integral equation system is modified for correct usage. Considerable attention is focused on the asymptotic model of the H-polarized electromagnetic wave scattering by sparsely filled grating, which has an explicit solution. The scattered electromagnetic field in the far-zone is considered in details. Dependences of scattering integral characteristics on values of the strip impedance and angles of the plane H-polarized electromagnetic wave incidence upon the grating are studied.
The efficient implementation of IE-FFT algorithm with combined field integral equation for solving electromagnetic scattering problems
Authors: Seo Seung Mo
Published: June 2020

An integral equation-fast Fourier transform (IE-FFT) algorithm is applied to the electromagnetic solutions of the combined field integral equation (CFIE) for scattering problems by an arbitrary-shaped three-dimensional perfect electric conducting object. The IE-FFT with CFIE uses a Cartesian grid for known Green's function to considerably reduce memory storage and speed up CPU time for both matrix fill-in and matrix vector multiplication when used with a generalized minimal residual method. The uniform interpolation of the Green's function on an equally spaced Cartesian grid allows a global FFT for field interaction terms. However, the near interaction terms do not take care for the singularity of the Green's function and should be adequately corrected. The IE-FFT with CFIE does not always require a suitable preconditioner for electrically large problems. It is shown that the complexity of the IE-FFT with CFIE is found to be approximately O(N1.5) and O(N1.5log N) for memory and CPU time, respectively.
Is Love Triarchic or Monarchical-Hierarchical? A Proposal of a General Factor of Love and a Scale to Measure it
Authors: Merino M. D. , Privado J.
Published: June 2020

One of the most widely used measures for evaluating love is the Triangular Love Scale (TLS) by Sternberg (1986) based on his Triarchic theory according to which, love is comprised of three reasonably independent components (intimacy, passion and commitment). However, different investigations contradict this idea. The purpose of the present investigation is to verify whether the structure of love is triarchic, with three independent factors, or monarchical-hierarchical, with a first level where the three components of love would be located, and a second higher level where they would be grouped together in a general factor of love. In order to do this, in addition to the use of the TLS scale, another equivalent called Quality Partner Relationship Scale (QPRS) was developed to test the stability of the results found, and to propose a measure of love based on the Sternberg components, but simpler and without problems of overlap between items. To test this question, we used a sample of 610 people matched by sex, age and social class, all of whom were partnered at the time of the evaluation. Confirmatory Factor Analyses were used to test the research objective, something that had not been done so far, and it was found that the structure that best fitted the data was monarchical-hierarchical in the case of the TLS as well as in the one of the QPRS. We can then state that love is structured around a general factor in which the three components are grouped: Intimacy, passion and commitment.
Characterization of Aerosol Type Over East Asia by 4.4 km MISR Product: First Insight and General Performance
Authors: Tao Minghui , Wang Jun , Li Rong , Chen Liangfu , Xu Xiaoguang , Wang Lunche , Tao Jinhua , Wang Zifeng , Xiang Juan
Published: June 2020

The lack of aerosol type information has largely hindered satellite products from further applications such as constraining model simulations and quantifying aerosol climate effects. The recent Version (V) 23 Multi‐angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) aerosol products with an enhanced spatial resolution at 4.4 km enable an unprecedented chance to explore aerosol types and associated processes in the regional scale. Here we provide a comprehensive insight into the characterization of MISR aerosol optical and microphysical properties, as well as their performance, over East Asia. Ground validation shows a remarkable improvement in the accuracy of V23 MISR aerosol optical depth (AOD) with ~80% of its retrieval bias within ±(0.05 + 20%AODAERONET). However, an underestimation of MISR AOD is still prevalent in the high‐AOD (>0.6) conditions, due to the surface‐atmosphere separation problem and insufficient absorbing aerosol mixtures being selected. MISR AOD of different size bins agrees well with AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) results, demonstrating an evident advantage in discriminating natural dust from anthropogenic particles. Although MISR nonspherical and absorbing retrievals display a consistent variation with the AERONET inversions, their component AODs have a poor reliability over East Asia due to the inappropriate aerosol component models or their mixtures as in V22. In particular, the most striking problem is the sparse and discrete MISR absorbing retrievals with spatial discontinuity. Generally, the high‐resolution V23 MISR products exhibit a great potential in characterizing the regional variations of aerosol type, which can be further refined by considering the prior aerosol knowledge over East Asia.
Voltage-controlled NiO/ZnO p–n heterojunction diode: a new approach towards selective VOC sensing
Authors: Dey Sayan , Nag Swati , Santra Sumita , Ray Samit Kumar , Guha Prasanta Kumar
Published: June 2020

Metal oxide resistive gas sensors suffer from poor selectivity that restricts their practical applicability. Conventional sensor arrays are used to improve selectivity which increased the system complexity. Here, we have proposed a novel NiO/ZnO-based p–n junction single-diode device for selective sensing of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) simultaneously by tuning bias voltage. The operating voltage was varied between 3 and 5 volts to achieve selective sensing of 2-propanol (19.1 times for 95 ppm with response and recovery times of 70 s and 55 s respectively‚ at 3 volts), toluene (20.1 times for 95 ppm with response and recovery times of 100 s and 60 s respectively, at 4 volts), and formaldehyde (11.2 times for 95 ppm with response and recovery times of 88 s and 54 s respectively, at 5 volts). A probable mechanism of the tunable selectivity with operating bias voltage due to increase in surface carriers with increasing voltage was hence put forth. Thus, this device may play an important role to develop future selective multiple VOC sensor thereby replacing standard sensor arrays.
GLIS2 promotes colorectal cancer through repressing enhancer activation
Authors: Yao Jie , Lei Pin-Ji , Li Qing-Lan , Chen Ji , Tang Shan-Bo , Xiao Qiong , Lin Xiang , Wang Xiang , Li Lian-Yun , Wu Min
Published: June 2020

Gene transcription is coordinately regulated by multiple transcription factors. However, a systematic approach is still lacking to identify co-regulators for transcription factors. Here, we performed ChIP-Seq analysis and predicted the regulators for p53-mediated transcription process, from which we confirmed the roles of GLIS2, MAZ and MEF2A in regulating p53 target genes. We revealed that GLIS2 selectively regulates the transcription of PUMA but not p21. GLIS2 deficiency caused the elevation of H3K27ac and p53 binding on the PUMA enhancer, and promoted PUMA expression. It increased the rate of apoptosis, but not cell cycle. Moreover, GLIS2 represses H3K27ac level on enhancers, regulates the gene expression related with focal adhesion and promotes cell migration, through inhibiting p300. Big data analysis supports GLIS2 as an oncogene in colon cancer, and perhaps other cancers. Taken together, we have predicted candidates for p53 transcriptional regulators, and provided evidence for GLIS2 as an oncogene through repressing enhancer activation.
PNO1, which is negatively regulated by miR-340-5p, promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression through Notch signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Dongming , Lin Li , Wang Yajie , Chen Lu , He Yuchao , Luo Yi , Qi Lisha , Guo Yan , Chen Liwei , Han Zhiqiang , Li Guangtao , Li Qiang , Liu Zhiyong , Chen Peng , Guo Hua
Published: June 2020

Many studies have shown that the hyperactivation of ribosome biogenesis plays essential roles in the initiation and progression of cancers. As a ribosome assembly factor, PNO1 plays an important role in ribosome biogenesis. However, little is known about the expression and function of PNO1 in human tumors. In our present study, we aimed to explore the functional roles and the underlying molecular mechanisms of PNO1 in human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Both bioinformatics databases and tumor tissues demonstrated that the expression of PNO1 in LUAD tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues and predicted poor survival in LUAD patients. In vitro and in vivo assays suggested that downregulation of PNO1 expression suppressed LUAD cell proliferation and invasion. Further studies found that miR-340-5p depressed PNO1 expression via direct binding to the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of PNO1. PNO1 expression was negatively correlated with miR-340-5p expression in LUAD cells and tissue samples. Moreover, upregulation or downregulation of miR-340-5p expression reversed the effects of PNO1 inhibition and overexpression, respectively. Meanwhile, downregulation of PNO1 inhibited Notch signaling pathway which modulated epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). These results indicate that PNO1, negatively regulated by miR-340-5p, played an important role in LUAD progression via Notch signaling pathway. The miR-340-5p/PNO1/Notch axis might be a potential target for individualized and precise treatment of LUAD patients in the future.
Systematic review and meta-analysis: effects of maternal separation on anxiety-like behavior in rodents
Authors: Wang Daniel , Levine Jessica L. S. , Avila-Quintero Victor , Bloch Michael , Kaffman Arie
Published: June 2020

The mechanisms by which childhood maltreatment increases anxiety is unclear, but a propensity for increased defensive behavior in rodent models of early life stress (ELS) suggests that work in rodents may clarify important mechanistic details about this association. A key challenge in studying the effects of ELS on defensive behavior in rodents is the plethora of inconsistent results. This is particularly prominent with the maternal separation (MS) literature, one of the most commonly used ELS models in rodents. To address this issue we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, examining the effects of MS on exploratory-defensive behavior in mice and rats using the open field test (OFT) and the elevated plus maze (EPM). This search yielded a total of 49 studies, 24 assessing the effect of MS on behavior in the EPM, 11 tested behavior in the OFT, and 14 studies provided data on both tasks. MS was associated with increased defensive behavior in rats (EPM: Hedge’s g = −0.48, p = 0.02; OFT: Hedge’s g = −0.33, p = 0.05), effect sizes that are consistent with the anxiogenic effect of early adversity reported in humans. In contrast, MS did not alter exploratory behavior in mice (EPM: Hedge’s g = −0.04, p = 0.75; OFT: Hedge’s g = −0.03, p = 0.8). There was a considerable amount of heterogeneity between studies likely related to the lack of standardization of the MS protocol. Together, these findings suggest important differences in the ability of MS to alter circuits that regulate defensive behaviors in mice and rats.