bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A moderating mediation model of the antecedents of being driven to work: The role of inclusive leaders as change agents
Authors: Fatima Tasneem , Majeed Mehwish , Zulfiqar Ali Shah Syed
Published: March 2021

With support from social exchange theory, the current study tested the mediating role of employee readiness for organizational change between inclusive leadership and driven to work behaviour. Moreover, collective self‐concept has been suggested as a moderating variable in the proposed mediation model. Data for the current study were collected in three‐time lags from employees (N = 215) of Pakistan's service sector. The results revealed that inclusive leadership is positively associated with being driven to work and employee readiness for organizational change mediates this relationship. Further, collective self‐concept moderates the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee readiness for organizational change; and employee readiness for organizational change and being driven to work. This study offers valuable insights into recruitment and retention decisions.
Disrupted eye and head development in rainbow trout with reduced ultraviolet (sws1) opsin expression
Authors: Novales Flamarique Iñigo , Fujihara Ryo , Yazawa Ryosuke , Bolstad Kennedy , Gowen Brent , Yoshizaki Goro
Published: March 2021

Visual opsins are proteins expressed by retinal photoreceptors that capture light to begin the process of phototransduction. In vertebrates, the two types of photoreceptors (rods and cones) express one or multiple opsins and are distributed in variable patterns across the retina. Some cones form opsin retinal gradients, as in the mouse, whereas others form more demarcated opsin domains, as in the lattice‐like mosaic retinas of teleost fishes. Reduced rod opsin (rh1) expression in mouse, zebrafish, and African clawed frog results in lack of photoreceptor outer segments (i.e., the cilium that houses the opsins) and, in the case of the mouse, to retinal degeneration. The effects of diminished cone opsin expression have only been studied in the mouse where knockout of the short‐wavelength sensitive 1 (sws1) opsin leads to ventral retinal cones lacking outer segments, but no retinal degeneration. Here we show that, following CRISPR/Cas9 injections that targeted knockout of the sws1 opsin in rainbow trout, fish with diminished sws1 opsin expression exhibited a variety of developmental defects including head and eye malformations, underdeveloped outer retina, mislocalized opsin expression, cone degeneration, and mosaic irregularity. All photoreceptor types were affected even though sws1 is only expressed in the single cones of wild fish. Our results reveal unprecedented developmental defects associated with diminished cone opsin expression and suggest that visual opsin genes are involved in regulatory processes that precede photoreceptor differentiation.
A dual adaptive explicit time integration algorithm for efficiently solving the cardiac monodomain equation
Authors: Mountris Konstantinos A. , Pueyo Esther
Published: March 2021

The monodomain model is widely used in in‐silico cardiology to describe excitation propagation in the myocardium. Frequently, operator splitting is used to decouple the stiff reaction term and the diffusion term in the monodomain model so that they can be solved separately. Commonly, the diffusion term is solved implicitly with a large time step while the reaction term is solved by using an explicit method with adaptive time stepping. In this work, we propose a fully explicit method for the solution of the decoupled monodomain model. In contrast to semi‐implicit methods, fully explicit methods present lower memory footprint and higher scalability. However, such methods are only conditionally stable. We overcome the conditional stability limitation by proposing a dual adaptive explicit method in which adaptive time integration is applied for the solution of both the reaction and diffusion terms. We perform a set of numerical examples where cardiac propagation is simulated under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Results show that the proposed method presents preserved accuracy and improved computational efficiency as compared to standard operator splitting‐based methods.
Maladaptive metacognitive beliefs mediated the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on depression
Authors: Chen Jing , Tan Youguo , Cheng Xiaotong , Peng Zhenlei , Qin Cheng , Zhou Xinyi , Lu Xingzi , Huang Anqi , Liao Xiaoyuan , Tian Mingyuan , Liang Xuemei , Huang Chaohua , Zhou Jia , Xiang Bo , Liu Kezhi , Lei Wei
Published: March 2021

Both elevated intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and maladaptive metacognitive beliefs (MBs) were associated with depression. However, the relationship between MBs and IU in clinical depression is unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the putative impairment of MBs and IU in major depressive disorder (MDD) and explore the relationship between these two factors with depressive symptoms. Metacognition Questionnaire—30 Items (MCQ‐30), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale—Short Form (IUS‐12) and clinical rating scales were administered to 53 patients with MDD and 56 healthy controls (HCs). Stepwise regressions were performed to explore independent contributions of MBs and IU on depression. Mediation analysis was used to examine associations among variables. Patients with MDD reported higher IUS‐12 and MCQ‐30 scores than HCs. Stepwise regressions revealed a unique contribution of negative MBs concerning the consequences of not controlling thoughts (MCQ‐NC) on depression symptoms while controlling the effects of age, gender, anxiety symptoms and IU. MCQ‐NC and negative MBs concerning the uncontrollability and danger of negative thinking (MCQ‐NEG) completely mediated the effects of IU on depression and anxiety symptoms. Our results provided clear evidence that maladaptive negative MBs are directly associated with depression symptoms, and mediated the effect of IU on depression and anxiety symptoms, suggesting that IU and MBs influence clinical symptoms in a hierarchical manner.
Singlet Fission in Dideuterated Tetracene and Pentacene
Authors: Zeiser Clemens , Moretti Luca , Reicherter Florian , Bettinger Holger F. , Maiuri Margherita , Cerullo Giulio , Broch Katharina
Published: March 2021

The impact of molecular vibrations on singlet fission, which is the spontaneous fission of a singlet exciton into two triplet excitons, is studied using ultrafast optical spectroscopy for the prototypical singlet fission chromophores tetracene and pentacene. We modify the frequency of intramolecular vibrations by deuteration, without impacting thin film structure and molecular arrangement, and study the resulting changes in exo‐ and endothermic singlet fission rates by comparing the deuterated and parent chromophores. We find that changes in the frequency of the C−C deformation modes of Δω=6 cm−1 and the occurrence of C−D vibrational modes do not lead to significant modifications in the singlet fission time constants. We conclude that the changes in the frequency of phonon modes induced by deuteration are too small to significantly impact the electron–phonon coupling that drives the singlet fission process.
Congenital Deafness and Recent Advances Towards Restoring Hearing Loss
Authors: Renauld Justine M. , Basch Martin L.
Published: March 2021

Congenital hearing loss is the most common birth defect, estimated to affect 2‐3 in every 1000 births. Currently there is no cure for hearing loss. Treatment options are limited to hearing aids for mild and moderate cases, and cochlear implants for severe and profound hearing loss. Here we provide a literature overview of the environmental and genetic causes of congenital hearing loss, common animal models and methods used for hearing research, as well as recent advances towards developing therapies to treat congenital deafness. © 2021 The Authors.
Gene Set Knowledge Discovery with Enrichr
Authors: Xie Zhuorui , Bailey Allison , Kuleshov Maxim V. , Clarke Daniel J. B. , Evangelista John E. , Jenkins Sherry L. , Lachmann Alexander , Wojciechowicz Megan L. , Kropiwnicki Eryk , Jagodnik Kathleen M. , Jeon Minji , Ma'ayan Avi
Published: March 2021

Profiling samples from patients, tissues, and cells with genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics ultimately produces lists of genes and proteins that need to be further analyzed and integrated in the context of known biology. Enrichr (Chen et al., 2013; Kuleshov et al., 2016) is a gene set search engine that enables the querying of hundreds of thousands of annotated gene sets. Enrichr uniquely integrates knowledge from many high‐profile projects to provide synthesized information about mammalian genes and gene sets. The platform provides various methods to compute gene set enrichment, and the results are visualized in several interactive ways. This protocol provides a summary of the key features of Enrichr, which include using Enrichr programmatically and embedding an Enrichr button on any website. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Analyzing lists of differentially expressed genes from transcriptomics, proteomics and phosphoproteomics, GWAS studies, or other experimental studies

Basic Protocol 2: Searching Enrichr by a single gene or key search term

Basic Protocol 3: Preparing raw or processed RNA‐seq data through BioJupies in preparation for Enrichr analysis

Basic Protocol 4: Analyzing gene sets for model organisms using modEnrichr

Basic Protocol 5: Using Enrichr in Geneshot

Basic Protocol 6: Using Enrichr in ARCHS4

Basic Protocol 7: Using the enrichment analysis visualization Appyter to visualize Enrichr results

Basic Protocol 8: Using the Enrichr API

Basic Protocol 9: Adding an Enrichr button to a website
A linear group delay filter with tunable positive slope for analog signal processing
Authors: Avignon‐Meseldzija Emilie , Anastasov Jelena , Milic Dejan
Published: March 2021

This article describes the design of a tunable positive slope linear group delay filter dedicated to analog signal processing applications. The designed filter is composed of eight second‐order all‐pass cells which have been optimized to obtain a highly linear global group delay characteristic over a specified bandwidth for a specified dispersion. Each of these second‐order cells is designed with a dedicated Gm‐C topology to fit the ideal group delay characteristic with a high efficiency. Based on the sensitivity analysis of the topology, the possibility of tuning the group delay slope is highlighted. The design has been achieved with the ST CMOS 55 nm technology and has a maximum bandwidth of 2.5 GHz, a maximum reachable delay of 5.12 ns, and a group delay maximum variation of 2.5 ns. The positive slope of the group delay can be tuned in the range from 1.48 ns/GHz up to 2.03 ns/GHz. The concept of slope tunability is validated through post‐layout statistical analysis.
Identifying biotic drivers of population dynamics in a benthic–pelagic community
Authors: Forsblom Louise , Lindén Andreas , Engström‐Öst Jonna , Lehtiniemi Maiju , Bonsdorff Erik
Published: March 2021

Benthic species and communities are linked to pelagic zooplankton through life‐stages encompassing both benthic and pelagic habitats and through a mutual dependency on primary producers as a food source. Many zooplankton taxa contribute to the sedimentary system as benthic eggs. Our main aim was to investigate the nature of the population level biotic interactions between and within these two seemingly independent communities, both dependent on the pelagic primary production, while simultaneously accounting for environmental drivers (salinity, temperature, and oxygen conditions). To this end, we applied multivariate autoregressive state‐space models to long (1966–2007) time series of annual abundance data, comparing models with and without interspecific interactions, and models with and without environmental variables included. We were not able to detect any direct coupling between sediment‐dwelling benthic taxa and pelagic copepods and cladocerans on the annual scale, but the most parsimonious model indicated that interactions within the benthic community are important. There were also positive residual correlations between the copepods and cladocerans potentially reflecting the availability of a shared resource or similar seasonal dependence, whereas both groups tended to correlate negatively with the zoobenthic taxa. The most notable single interaction within the benthic community was a tendency for a negative effect of Limecola balthica on the amphipods Monoporeia affinis and Pontoporeia femorata which can help explain the observed decrease in amphipods due to increased competitive interference.
Development and testing of an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for endangered Atlantic sturgeon to assess its potential as a monitoring and management tool
Authors: Plough Louis V. , Bunch Aaron J. , Lee Benjamin B. , Fitzgerald Catherine L. , Stence Chuck P. , Richardson Brian
Published: March 2021

Significant declines in Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus oxyrhynchus) abundances along the US east coast have spurred major research efforts and management actions over the last 50 years, yet information on spawning stock abundances and habitat use is still lacking for many river systems, including in the Chesapeake Bay, USA. Here, we developed and tested a new quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to detect Atlantic sturgeon environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples with the goal of providing an alternative method to monitor presence and relative abundance. We also examined Atlantic sturgeon eDNA shedding rates in laboratory experiments. A qPCR‐probe assay targeting Cytochrome B was developed and showed no amplification of other related and co‐occurring fishes. Pond trials at a density of ~0.2 g/L sturgeon produced relatively strong eDNA detections (~1,000–25,000 copies/L) in all seven water samples assayed. Water samples taken from two river systems in the Chesapeake Bay produced zero eDNA detections in the summer, while fall sampling during sturgeon spawning produced positive eDNA detections in 26% of samples, though at much lower concentrations (400–1,800 copies/L) compared with the pond (mesocosm) detections. Acoustic detections of sturgeon near river sampling sites were positively associated with eDNA detections. However, the eDNA assay failed to detect the presence of sturgeon in some samples when abundances were very low or when fish were in deep water. Finally, Atlantic sturgeon eDNA shedding rates were estimated to be on the order of estimates for other fish species, which suggests that relatively weak detections in the field are not necessarily driven by low rates of eDNA shedding. Overall, eDNA analysis represents a promising new monitoring tool for Atlantic sturgeon. Applying these methods in other rivers along the US east coast is an important next step in documenting Atlantic sturgeon distribution for management and conservation purposes.
Multiplexed measurement of candidate blood protein biomarkers of heart failure
Authors: Tonry Claire , McDonald Ken , Ledwidge Mark , Hernandez Belinda , Glezeva Nadezhda , Rooney Cathy , Morrissey Brian , Pennington Stephen R. , Baugh John A. , Watson Chris J.
Published: March 2021

Aims

There is a critical need for better biomarkers so that heart failure can be diagnosed at an earlier stage and with greater accuracy. The purpose of this study was to design a robust mass spectrometry (MS)‐based assay for the simultaneous measurement of a panel of 35 candidate protein biomarkers of heart failure, in blood. The overall aim was to evaluate the potential clinical utility of this biomarker panel for prediction of heart failure in a cohort of 500 patients.

Methods and results

Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) MS assays were designed with Skyline and Spectrum Mill PeptideSelector software and developed using nanoflow reverse phase C18 chromatographic Chip Cube‐based separation, coupled to a 6460 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Optimized MRM assays were applied, in a sample‐blinded manner, to serum samples from a cohort of 500 patients with heart failure and non‐heart failure (non‐HF) controls who had cardiovascular risk factors. Both heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients were included in the study. Peptides for the Apolipoprotein AI (APOA1) protein were the most significantly differentially expressed between non‐HF and heart failure patients (P = 0.013 and P = 0.046). Four proteins were significantly differentially expressed between non‐HF and the specific subtypes of HF (HFrEF and HFpEF); Leucine‐rich‐alpha‐2‐glycoprotein (LRG1, P < 0.001), zinc‐alpha‐2‐glycoprotein (P = 0.005), serum paraoxanse/arylesterase (P = 0.013), and APOA1 (P = 0.038). A statistical model found that combined measurements of the candidate biomarkers in addition to BNP were capable of correctly predicting heart failure with 83.17% accuracy and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90. This was a notable improvement on predictive capacity of BNP measurements alone, which achieved 77.1% accuracy and an AUC of 0.86 (P = 0.005). The protein peptides for LRG1, which contributed most significantly to model performance, were significantly associated with future new onset HF in the non‐HF cohort [Peptide 1: odds ratio (OR) 2.345 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.456–3.775) P = 0.000; peptide 2: OR 2.264 95% CI (1.422–3.605), P = 0.001].

Conclusions

This study has highlighted a number of promising candidate biomarkers for (i) diagnosis of heart failure and subtypes of heart failure and (ii) prediction of future new onset heart failure in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that multiplexed measurement of a combined biomarker signature that includes BNP is a more accurate predictor of heart failure than BNP alone.
Dipyrromethane‐Based PGeP Pincer Methylgermyl and Methoxidogermyl Nickel and Palladium Complexes
Authors: Cabeza Javier A. , García‐Álvarez Pablo , Laglera‐Gándara Carlos J. , Pérez‐Carreño Enrique
Published: March 2021

The dipyrromethane‐based chloridogermyl complexes [MCl{κ3P,Ge,P‐GeCl(pyrmPiPr2)2CMe2}] (1M; M=Ni, Pd; (pyrmPiPr2)2CMe2=5,5’‐dimethyl‐2,2’‐bis(di‐isopropylphosphanylmethyl)dipyrromethane‐1,1’‐diyl) reacted with one or more equivalents of LiOMe to give the monosubstituted complexes [MCl{κ3P,Ge,P‐Ge(OMe)(pyrmPiPr2)2CMe2}] (2M−OMe; M=Ni, Pd). However, analogous treatments of complexes 1M with LiMe afforded the dimethyl complexes [MMe{κ3P,Ge,P‐GeMe(pyrmPiPr2)2CMe2}] (3M−Me; M=Ni, Pd). The monomethyl complexes [MCl{κ3P,Ge,P‐GeMe(pyrmPiPr2)2CMe2}] (2M−Me; M=Ni, Pd), which were identified as intermediates in the syntheses of 3M−Me, were satisfactorily prepared by treating 3M−Me with HCl. The regioselectivities of these reactions have been rationalized with DFT calculations.
Leith Mullings, Agent of Change
Authors: Nadasen Premilla
Published: March 2021

In both her personal and professional life, Leith Mullings dedicated her life to understanding structural inequality, the ever‐changing character of racism, and the promises of political resistance. As a social change agent and a community builder, she was deeply committed to Black feminism and radical social transformation.
Leith, a Transnational Tribute
Authors: Furani Khaled
Published: March 2021

In memoriam of Professor Leith Mullings, my teacher, I raise questions she can no longer answer, although her deeds can speak still. She provides a model of scholarship, mentoring, and activism infused with courage, humility, and nurturance. In her final years and days, she worked with Palestinian anthropologists to form an independent association and forge ties with Black anthropologists. May they remain enduring testaments to a life striving for Truth and Justice.
A generating‐absorbing boundary condition for dispersive waves
Authors: Borsboom Mart , Jacobsen Niels G.
Published: March 2021

The detailed modeling of free‐surface waves and their interaction with bottom‐mounted or floating structures requires large computational resources, which is why efficient boundary conditions with low spurious reflection are desirable. The present work presents a review of existing generating‐absorbing boundary conditions (GABCs) for dispersive waves and their reflection characteristics. Hereafter, an adaptation of the classical Sommerfeld condition is proposed by using a depth‐varying coefficient to improve absorption efficiency over a range of wave numbers. An analytical model is proposed to analyse the reflection characteristics for both propagating and evanescent modes, and a considerable improvement in comparison to the Sommerfeld condition is documented over a broad frequency range (reflection coefficients below 5% for nondimensional wave numbers in the range [0, 10]). The new boundary condition is implemented in OpenFoam (waves2Foam) and the functioning for regular, irregular, solitary, and phase‐focused waves is presented.
Phytochemical profiles of lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora H.B.K.) and its potential application to cookie enrichment
Authors: Hematian Sourki Abdollah , Ghani Askar , Kiani Farzaneh , Alipour Azar
Published: March 2021

In this research, phytochemical properties of lemon verbena and oxidative stability of the fat component in cookies (contain lemon verbena powder and EO) were investigated. The essential oil (EO) profile and polyphenol compounds were identified by GC/MS and HPLC, respectively. Different concentrations of lemon verbena powder and EO were added to the cookies in comparison with TBHQ. The oxidative stability of fat component in cookies (peroxide value, p‐Anisidine, TOTOX value), along with the physicochemical (pH, acidity, weight loss, and moisture content) and sensory properties of the cookies were evaluated over a period of 6 months during storage at room temperature. The main constituents of EO are geranial (27.21%), neral (20.01%), spathulenol (7.28%), and limonene, while trans‐Ferulic acid (6.71 mg/g), Hesperidin (1.87 mg/g), and ρ‐Coumaric acid (0.04 mg/g) were measured as main phenolic compounds. The peroxide value increased in all samples for the first 2 months of storage and then decreased as hydroperoxide was converted to secondary oxidation products. The p‐Anisidine value increased in all samples during storage. This parameter was lower in cookies containing lemon verbena EO and TBHQ treatments. Sensory evaluations of cookies showed that lemon verbena EO had positive effects on the aroma and taste of cookies during storage, whereas lemon verbena powder had adverse effects on mouthfeel and consumer acceptance. The results showed that lemon verbena can increase the eating quality, prolong the shelf life, and maintain the integrity of bakery products with high‐fat content.
Survival outcomes for head and neck patients with Medicaid: A health insurance paradox
Authors: Pannu Jaibir S. , Simpson Matthew C. , Adjei Boakye Eric , Massa Sean T. , Cass Lauren M. , Challapalli Sai D. , Rohde Rebecca L. , Osazuwa‐Peters Nosayaba
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Privately insured patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) typically have better outcomes; however, differential outcome among Medicaid versus the uninsured is unclear. We aimed to describe outcome disparities among HNC patients uninsured versus on Medicaid.

Methods

A cohort of 18–64‐year‐old adults (n = 57 920) with index HNC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database (2007–2015) was analyzed using Fine and Gray multivariable competing risks proportional hazards models for HNC‐specific mortality.

Results

Medicaid (sdHR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.58, 1.72) and uninsured patients (sdHR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.46, 1.65) had significantly greater mortality hazard than non‐Medicaid patients. Medicaid patients had increased HNC mortality hazard than those uninsured.

Conclusion

Compared with those uninsured, HNC patients on Medicaid did not have superior survival, suggesting that there may be underlying mechanisms/factors inherent in this patient population that could undermine access to care benefits from being on Medicaid.
Risk of HCC With Hepatitis B Viremia Among HIV/HBV‐Coinfected Persons in North America
Authors: Kim H. Nina , Newcomb Craig W. , Carbonari Dena M. , Roy Jason A. , Torgersen Jessie , Althoff Keri N. , Kitahata Mari M. , Reddy K. Rajender , Lim Joseph K. , Silverberg Michael J. , Mayor Angel M. , Horberg Michael A. , Cachay Edward R. , Kirk Gregory D. , Sun Jing , Hull Mark , Gill M. John , Sterling Timothy R. , Kostman Jay R. , Peters Marion G. , Moore Richard D. , Klein Marina B. , Lo Re Vincent ,   for the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research, Design of IeDEA
Published: March 2021

Background and Aims

Chronic HBV is the predominant cause of HCC worldwide. Although HBV coinfection is common in HIV, the determinants of HCC in HIV/HBV coinfection are poorly characterized. We examined the predictors of HCC in a multicohort study of individuals coinfected with HIV/HBV.

Approach and Results

We included persons coinfected with HIV/HBV within 22 cohorts of the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (1995‐2016). First occurrence of HCC was verified by medical record review and/or cancer registry. We used multivariable Cox regression to determine adjusted HRs (aHRs [95% CIs]) of factors assessed at cohort entry (age, sex, race, body mass index), ever during observation (heavy alcohol use, HCV), or time‐updated (HIV RNA, CD4+ percentage, diabetes mellitus, HBV DNA). Among 8,354 individuals coinfected with HIV/HBV (median age, 43 years; 93% male; 52.4% non‐White), 115 HCC cases were diagnosed over 65,392 person‐years (incidence rate, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.5‐2.1] events/1,000 person‐years). Risk factors for HCC included age 40‐49 years (aHR, 1.97 [1.22‐3.17]), age ≥50 years (aHR, 2.55 [1.49‐4.35]), HCV coinfection (aHR, 1.61 [1.07‐2.40]), and heavy alcohol use (aHR, 1.52 [1.04‐2.23]), while time‐updated HIV RNA >500 copies/mL (aHR, 0.90 [0.56‐1.43]) and time‐updated CD4+ percentage <14% (aHR, 1.03 [0.56‐1.90]) were not. The risk of HCC was increased with time‐updated HBV DNA >200 IU/mL (aHR, 2.22 [1.42‐3.47]) and was higher with each 1.0 log10 IU/mL increase in time‐updated HBV DNA (aHR, 1.18 [1.05‐1.34]). HBV suppression with HBV‐active antiretroviral therapy (ART) for ≥1 year significantly reduced HCC risk (aHR, 0.42 [0.24‐0.73]).

Conclusion

Individuals coinfected with HIV/HBV on ART with detectable HBV viremia remain at risk for HCC. To gain maximal benefit from ART for HCC prevention, sustained HBV suppression is necessary.
Incidence, diagnosis, and outcome of immune‐mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: A nationwide survey by the Spanish registry of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Pascual‐Izquierdo Cristina , del Rio‐Garma Julio , de la Rubia Javier , Viejo Aurora , Mingot Eva , Cid Joan , Solanich Xavier , Fernández‐Sojo Jesús , Martín‐Sánchez Jesús , Hernández Luis , García‐Gala José María , Alonso Nieves , González Victoria , Oliva Ana , Gómez‐Seguí Inés , Goterris Rosa , Guerra Luisa , García‐Candel Faustino , Fernández‐Docampo Marta , Antelo María Luisa , Salgado‐Barreira Ángel , Salinas Ramón ,   Spanish Apheresis Group (GEA) and Spanish Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Registry (REPTT)
Published: March 2021

Background

Immune‐mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of anti‐ADAMTS13 autoantibodies. Achieving accurate information on incidence and customary disease management is important to provide appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic resources. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and outcomes of iTTP in Spain.

Study design and methods

A cross‐sectional survey was carried out among Spanish hospitals, focused on iTTP patients ≥16 years old attended between 2015 and 2017, and those at follow‐up before that interval. Incidence, prevalence, mortality, refractoriness, exacerbations, treatment complications, relapses, and sequelae were estimated.

Results

Forty‐two hospitals covering roughly 20 million inhabitants answered the survey and reported 203 episodes (138 newly‐diagnosed and 65 relapses), of which 193 (95.1%) were treated. Incidence was 2.67 (95% CI 1.90‐3.45) patients per million inhabitants per year and prevalence 21.44 (95% CI% 19.10‐23.73) patients per million inhabitants. At diagnosis, ADAMTS13 activity and anti‐ADAMTS13 autoantibody were measured in 97% and 84.3% of reported episodes, respectively. Fifteen patients (7.4%) died as a direct consequence of iTTP, 6 of them before receiving any iTTP‐specific treatment. Thirty‐one (16.1%) of the 193 treated episodes were refractory to plasma exchange and corticosteroids, and 51 (26.4%) suffered at least one exacerbation.

Conclusion

iTTP incidence and prevalence were somewhat higher than those documented in neighboring countries. Together with data on treatments and outcomes, this information will allow us to better estimate what is needed to improve diagnosis and prognosis of iTTP patients in Spain.
Ethnic group and social support contribution to posttraumatic growth after sudden spousal loss among Jewish, Muslim, and Druze widows in Israel
Authors: Khatib Anwar , Ben‐David Vered , Gelkopf Marc , Levine Stephen Z.
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to examine the contribution of ethnic group status and social support to posttraumatic growth (PTG) among widows after sudden spousal loss. Participants included 184 widows from three ethnic groups: 59 (32.3%) Jewish, 58 (31.7%) Muslim, and 66 (36%) Druze. Information was gathered via a demographic questionnaire, PTG Inventory, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Analysis of covariance was used to test ethnic group status differences in social support, controlling for demographic variables. Hierarchical linear models were used to assess groups differences in the study outcome variables. The results showed that the PTG total score was higher for Jewish widows than for Muslim and Druze widows, with a null difference between the latter two, and social support contributed to increased PTG among Jewish widows more than among Muslim and Druze widows, with no significant association between social support and PTG among Druze widows. The highest PTG levels were observed among widows from modern individualistic cultural backgrounds, compared with traditional collectivist, cultural backgrounds after sudden spousal death. The social support system may be a pathway to enhance PTG among widows in traditional collectivist societies.
The Underrated Role of Ultrasound in Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Granata Antonio , Rahbari Elnaz , Di Nicolò Pierpaolo , Battaglia Yuri , Campo Irene , Fresilli Daniele , Pacini Patrizia , Lucatelli Pierleone , Barr Richard G. , Cantisani Vito , Zeiler Matthias
Published: March 2021

Ultrasound is very effective in performing procedures and assessment of complications in peritoneal dialysis. The ultrasound examination can be applied for preoperative assessment, during the peritoneal catheter placement, for the detection and monitoring of infection, as well as for the evaluation of the catheter malfunction. Despite being not only a cost‐ and time‐saving technique but also a bedside procedure, ultrasonography remains an underrated clinical tool in the field of peritoneal dialysis. This publication wants to explain and reinforce the clinical utility of US in PD and to expand the diagnostic equipment for the clinician.
Solutions of Heun's general equation and elliptic Darboux equation
Authors: Figueiredo Bartolomeu D. B.
Published: March 2021

New solutions for the elliptic Darboux equation are obtained as particular cases of solutions constructed for Heun's general equation. We consider two groups of power series expansions and two new groups of expansions in series of Gauss hypergeometric functions. The convergence of one group in power series is determined by means of ratio tests for infinite series, while the other groups are designed to solve problems which admit finite‐series solutions. Actually, we envisage periodic quasi‐exactly solvable potentials for which the stationary one‐dimensional Schrödinger equation is reduced to the Darboux equation. In general, finite‐ and infinite‐series solutions are obtained from power series expansions for Heun's equation. However, we show that the Schrödinger equation admits additional finite‐series expansions in terms of hypergeometric functions for a family of associated Lamé potentials used in band theory of solids.For each finite‐series solution, we find as well four infinite‐series expansions which are bounded and convergent for all values of the independent variable.
On the lowest frequencies of strongly inhomogeneous multicomponent beams
Authors: Şahin Onur
Published: March 2021

The paper considers harmonic vibration modes of multicomponent beams having high‐contrast mechanical properties. The analysis is focused on the low frequencies because of their omnipresent characters. An asymptotic procedure is developed to obtain explicit expressions for the eigenfrequencies and eigenforms, which reveals that only under certain conditions on the ratios of material parameters, low‐frequency and rigid body motions are possible. Comparisons of the derived asymptotic formulae with exact ones are presented for examples of three‐ and five‐component beams, showing a remarkable agreement for high‐contrast beam components.
On asymptotically lacunary statistical equivalent of order α˜ of difference double sequences
Authors: Et Mikail , Kandemir Hacer Şengül , Çinar Muhammed
Published: March 2021

In this article, we introduce and investigate the concepts of ‐asymptotically statistical equivalent of order and strong ‐asymptotically equivalent of order of double sequences. Also, we give some relationships related to these concepts.
Fast‐adaptive weighted constellation designs based on hybrid constellation shaping for long‐haul optical fiber communication systems
Authors: Zhou Wenmao , Zhang Qi , Gao Ran , Xin Xiangjun , Liu Bingchun , Wang Xishuo , Tian Feng , Tian Qinghua , Sheng Xia , Wang Yongjun , Chang Huan , Yang Leijing
Published: March 2021

A novel fast‐adaptive weighted hybrid‐shaped M‐ary quadrature amplitude modulation (HS‐MQAM) format is proposed in this paper. By introducing a fast‐adaptive weighting factor array related to geometric shaping and probabilistic shaping, the non‐linear impairment is mitigated and the bit error rate (BER) and mutual information (MI) performances are further improved. The simulation results show that the proposed HS‐61QAM outperforms both geometric‐shaped 61 quadrature amplitude modulation (GS‐61QAM) and regular 64QAM, and has more obvious advantages in the long‐haul optical transmission system. For a 120‐Gb/s optical communication system over 10 × 75 km fiber transmission link, compared with GS‐61QAM and regular 64QAM, the proposed approach can achieve about 4.2 and 8 dB OSNR gain at the BER of 10−2, and 0.21 and 0.55 bits/symbol MI gain at the OSNR of 22 dB.
Report of Task Group 201 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine: Quality management of external beam therapy data transfer
Authors: Siochi R. Alfredo , Balter Peter , Bloch Charles D. , Santanam Lakshmi , Blodgett Kurt , Curran Bruce H. , Engelsman Martijn , Feng Wenzheng , Mechalakos James , Pavord Daniel , Simon Thomas , Sutlief Steven , Zhu X. Ronald
Published: March 2021

With the advancement of data‐intensive technologies, such as image‐guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the amount and complexity of data to be transferred between clinical subsystems have increased beyond the reach of manual checking. As a result, unintended treatment deviations (e.g., dose errors) may occur if the treatment system is not closely monitored by a comprehensive data transfer quality management program (QM). This report summarizes the findings and recommendations from the task group (TG) on quality assurance (QA) of external beam treatment data transfer (TG‐201), with the aim to assist medical physicists in designing their own data transfer QM. As a background, a section of this report describes various models of data flow (distributed data repositories and single data base systems) and general data test characteristics (data integrity, interpretation, and consistency). Recommended tests are suggested based on the collective experience of TG‐201 members. These tests are for the acceptance of, commissioning of, and upgrades to subsystems that store and/or modify clinical treatment data. As treatment complexity continues to evolve, we will need to do and know more about ensuring the quality of data transfers. The report concludes with the recommendation to move toward data transfer open standards compatibility and to develop tools that automate data transfer QA.
Slicing Wi‐Fi links based on QoE video streaming fairness
Authors: de Oliveira Mauricio , Macedo Daniel F.
Published: March 2021

Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HyperText Transfer Protocol (DASH) video streaming is one of the dominant sources of traffic on the Internet, and this traffic is often delivered to users via Wi‐Fi access points. This makes the quality of experience (QoE) of the service susceptible to degradation when the Wi‐Fi link is underperforming, and it can also inflict QoE unfairness, creating situations where users connected to the same Wi‐Fi network feel different levels of QoE. This article presents a system that improves the QoE fairness of DASH video transmission network slicing in the context of Wi‐Fi networks. The proposed system slices the wireless resources unevenly among flows, taking into account the characteristics of the video and the QoE demands for each user. Experimental results show that fairness improves by 56% when compared to an unmanaged network, while the mean QoE is reduced by only 5%.
Sex differences in age‐related bone loss and antemortem tooth loss in East‐Central Arizona (AD 1200–1450)
Authors: Mountain Rebecca V. , Wilson Jordan A. , McPherson Cait B. , Blew Robert M. , Watson James T.
Published: March 2021

Previous archaeological research on dental health in the New World has documented significant sex differences in antemortem tooth loss (AMTL), with a much higher rate of AMTL in females versus males, particularly during the transition to agriculture. While AMTL can be caused by multiple factors, including periodontal disease, attrition, trauma and cultural influences, sex differences are often attributed to the impact of female reproductive biology on oral health. Clinical research on osteoporosis has documented a significant relationship between AMTL and age‐related bone loss, which disproportionately affects women. However, this relationship has not been systematically investigated in prehistoric populations. This study aims to address this issue by investigating the relationship between sex, AMTL and age‐related bone loss in an archaeological sample from East‐Central Arizona. AMTL, dental caries and radial and femoral cortical and trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in individuals from Point of Pines Pueblo, Arizona (AD 1200–1450). Our results revealed that while there was no statistically significant difference in AMTL between males and females in this sample, there were notable sex differences in the relationship between AMTL, caries, age and BMD. There was a significant association between caries, age and AMTL in females, but not in males. Conversely, while age had a significant effect on caries in males, there was no corresponding relationship in females. Cortical BMD had a moderate effect on AMTL in females, comparable to the effect of age, although this did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant effect of BMD on AMTL in males. The results suggest that biocultural processes differentially affected oral health in males and females at Point of Pines Pueblo, and that age‐related cortical bone loss potentially impacted AMTL in females in this population, but further research is needed.
Intracranial Foreign Body Granuloma Mimicking Brain Tumor Recurrence: A Case Series
Authors: Winter Sebastian F. , Forst Deborah A. , Oakley Derek H. , Batchelor Tracy T. , Dietrich Jorg
Published: March 2021

Background

Intracranial foreign body granuloma (FBG) is a rare inflammatory reaction to retained foreign material, manifesting acutely or months to years following neurosurgical procedures. Radiographically, FBG can mimic tumor progression, and tissue biopsy may be required to guide management.

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective case series, we present unique clinico-radiographic and histopathological features of six neuro-oncological patients diagnosed with FBG between 2007 and 2019.

Results

All six patients (4 women and 2 men, aged 29–54 [median, 30.5] years) had undergone surgical resection of a low- (n = 4) or high-grade (n = 2) glioma. FBG manifestation postsurgery ranged from 1 day to 4 years and was predominantly asymptomatic (n = 5/6). Magnetic resonance imaging universally demonstrated one or multiple peripherally enhancing lesion(s) adjacent to the resection cavity. Histopathology in all (n = 4/4) resected specimens demonstrated an inflammatory reaction to foreign material, confirming FBG.

Conclusion

Intracranial FBG constitutes a rare but challenging treatment-related condition effectively managed by surgery, with important therapeutic implications in neuro-oncology.
Re‐examining the link between collaborative interorganisational relationships and synergistic outcomes in public–private partnerships: Insights from the Punjab Education Foundation's school partnerships
Authors: Irfan Sidra
Published: March 2021

Previous research has argued that public–private partnerships (PPPs) need collaborative interorganisational relationships (IORs) in order to deliver synergistic benefits: combined benefits that are greater than the sum of which each partner could have achieved alone. In contrast, this study of the Punjab Education Foundation's assisted school PPPs has found that despite the absence of many of the indicators of collaboration, the partnerships have delivered some synergistic benefits. This article explores how this has been achieved and highlights the importance of ‘cooperative IORs' in the assisted school partnerships. These findings thus question the necessity for collaboration in PPPs. They also suggest that a binary distinction between contractual and collaborative relationships in PPPs—prominent in the existing PPP literature—needs to be reconsidered. The article does not aim to decisively refute a body of existing research based on case study findings but rather questions some of the conclusions of this body of research, which seem to be worthy of further consideration.
Beyond participation: How to achieve the recognition of local communities’ value‐systems in conservation? Some insights from Mexico
Authors: Guibrunet Louise , Gerritsen Peter Rijnaldus Wilhelmus , Sierra‐Huelsz José Antonio , Flores‐Díaz Adriana Carolina , García‐Frapolli Eduardo , García‐Serrano Eligio , Pascual Unai , Balvanera Patricia
Published: March 2021

In this article, we explore why conservation schemes that have positive outcomes through the participation of local communities cannot necessarily be deemed as just. We observe that recognition (understood as inclusion and respect) of local communities’ value‐systems, a key factor towards environmental justice, is not often achieved in conservation governance.

We build our argument on the authors’ extensive research on four Mexican forest areas and contrast our insights with the literature on environmental justice and conservation. All four cases are characterised by positive conservation outcomes as well as the inclusion of local communities in conservation governance, and as such are typically considered best‐practice conservation initiatives in Mexico. Yet, in all cases, our engagement with local community members leads us to believe that their value‐systems fail to be recognised in conservation governance.

Three main factors appear to hinder recognition: (a) the dominant knowledge‐system underpinning conservation action prevails in legal frameworks; (b) financial resources heavily determine power relations in decision‐making, and (c) a lack of sensitiveness to local cultural norms affects local stakeholders’ capacity to communicate with external actors that design and implement conservation action.

We conclude that achieving meaningful recognition of local communities’ value‐systems requires: (a) developing awareness of the structural political and economic factors impacting on decision‐making in conservation, and (b) an epistemological transformation, permeating conservation governance, in which local communities’ value‐systems are considered one of various legitimate knowledge‐systems.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
A common classification framework for histone sequence alterations in tumours: an expert consensus proposal
Authors: Leske Henning , Dalgleish Raymond , Lazar Alexander J , Reifenberger Guido , Cree Ian A
Published: March 2021

The description of genetic alterations in tumours is of increasing importance. In human genetics, and in pathology reports, sequence alterations are given using the human genome variation society (HGVS) guidelines for the description of such variants. However, there is less adherence to these guidelines for sequence variations in histone genes. Due to early cleavage of the N‐terminal methionine in most histones, the description of histone sequence alterations follows their own nomenclature and differs from the HGVS‐compliant numbering by omitting this first amino acid. Next generation sequencing reports, however, follow the HGVS guidelines and as a result, an unambiguous description of sequence variants in histones cannot be provided. The coexistence of these two nomenclatures leads to confusions for pathologists, oncologists, and researchers. This review provides an overview of tumour entities with sequence alterations of the H3‐3A gene (HGNC ID = HGNC:4764), highlights the problems associated with the coexistence of these two nomenclatures, and proposes a standard for the reporting of histone sequence variants that allows an unambiguous description of these variants according to HGVS principles. We hope that scientific journals will adopt the new notation, and that both geneticists and pathologists will include it in their reports. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.