bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deconstructing Negative Symptoms in Individuals at Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis: Evidence for Volitional and Diminished Emotionality Subgroups That Predict Clinical Presentation and Functional Outcome
Authors: Gupta Tina , Cowan Henry R , Strauss Gregory P , Walker Elaine F , Mittal Vijay A
Published: June 2020

Negative symptoms are characteristic of schizophrenia and closely linked to numerous outcomes. A body of work has sought to identify homogenous negative symptom subgroups—a strategy that can promote mechanistic understanding and precision medicine. However, our knowledge of negative symptom subgroups among individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis is limited. Here, we investigated distinct negative symptom profiles in a large CHR sample (N = 244) using a cluster analysis approach. Subgroups were compared on external validators that are (1) commonly observed in the schizophrenia literature and/or (2) may be particularly relevant for CHR individuals, informing early prevention and prediction. We observed 4 distinct negative symptom subgroups, including individuals with (1) lower symptom severity, (2) deficits in emotion, (3) impairments in volition, and (4) global elevations. Analyses of external validators suggested a pattern in which individuals with global impairments and volitional deficits exhibited more clinical pathology. Furthermore, the Volition group endorsed more disorganized, anxious, and depressive symptoms and impairments in functioning compared to the Emotion group. These data suggest there are unique negative symptom profiles in CHR individuals, converging with studies in schizophrenia indicating motivational deficits may be central to this symptom dimension. Furthermore, observed differences in CHR relevant external validators may help to inform early identification and treatment efforts.
Integrating Parasite Eradication with Family Planning: The Colonial Legacy in Post-War Medical Cooperation in East Asia
Authors: Homei Aya , DiMoia John P
Published: June 2020

This article depicts how anti-parasite and family planning campaigns developed in Japan and Korea independently after the Second World War, as specifically domestic public health initiatives that directly contributed to the post-war reconstruction (Japan) and nation-building (South Korea) exercises, and examines how they were later incorporated into development aid projects from the 1960s. By juxtaposing domestic histories of Japan as a former coloniser, and South Korea as its former colony, the article explores colonial legacies in post-war medical cooperation in East Asia. Furthermore, by clarifying how Japanese and South Korean development aid projects both grew from the links that existed in their respective domestic histories, the article aims to highlight complexities engrained in the history and to shed new light on a historiography that often locates the origins of development aid in colonial history.
The Effects of a Pain Psychology and Neuroscience Self-Evaluation Internet Intervention
Authors: Kohns David J. , Urbanik Christopher P. , Geisser Michael E. , Schubiner Howard , Lumley Mark A.
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

Many patients’ chronic musculoskeletal pain is strongly influenced by central nervous system processes such as sensitization or amplification. Education about pain neuroscience can change patients’ beliefs but has less consistent effects on pain outcomes. Patients may have greater clinical benefits if the educational intervention is personalized, and they evaluate various psychosocial risk factors with respect to their pain. We developed and tested a brief, internet-based Pain Psychology and Neuroscience (PPN) self-evaluation intervention.

Materials and Methods:

From a patient registry, 104 adults reporting chronic musculoskeletal pain were randomized to the PPN intervention or a matched, active, education control condition. At baseline and 1-month (primary endpoint) and 10-month follow-ups, participants reported pain severity (primary outcome) and multiple secondary outcomes. Primary analyses compared the 2 experimental conditions using analyses of covariances; post hoc exploratory analyses compared the effects of PPN in subgroups of patients who met criteria for fibromyalgia (FM; n=50) or who did not (n=54; primarily spinal pain).

Results:

At 1-month follow-up, compared with the control condition, PPN led to significantly lower pain severity (ηp
2=0.05) and interference (ηp
2=0.04), greater brain (ηp
2=0.07) and psychological (ηp
2=0.07) attributions for pain, and greater readiness for pain self-management (ηp
2=0.08). Effects on distress, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and life satisfaction were not significant. Exploratory analyses showed that the PPN intervention was especially beneficial for patients without FM but was of less benefit for those with FM. Most of the effects (except attributions) were lost at 10 months.

Discussion:

A brief PPN self-evaluation intervention, presented on-line, can yield short-term improvements in musculoskeletal pain severity and interference, especially for people with spinal/localized pain rather than FM, perhaps because the psychology/neuroscience perspective is more novel for such patients.
Effect of IV Push Antibiotic Administration on Antibiotic Therapy Delays in Sepsis
Authors: Gregorowicz Alex J. , Costello Patrick G. , Gajdosik David A. , Purakal John , Pettit Natasha N. , Bastow Samantha , Ward Michael A.
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

Timeliness of antibiotic administration is recognized as an important factor in reducing mortality associated with sepsis. According to guidelines, antibiotics should be administered within 1 hour of sepsis presentation and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mandates administration within 3 hours. This study evaluates the difference in time from sepsis diagnosis to first-dose completion of β-lactam antibiotics between IV push and IV piggyback administration.

Design:

Single-center, retrospective analysis.

Setting:

Urban, tertiary-care emergency department.

Patients:

Inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) adult patients (n = 274) diagnosed with severe sepsis or septic shock per Sepsis-2 criteria from September to November 2016 and from September to November 2017 and 2) received β-lactam antibiotic.

Interventions:

Initial β-lactam agent administered as either IV push or IV piggyback.

Measurements and Main Results:

Median time (interquartile range) from sepsis diagnosis to administration of a β-lactam antibiotic was 48 minutes (19–96 min) versus 72 minutes (8–180 min) and to administration of the complete broad-spectrum regimen was 108 minutes (66–144 min) versus 114 minutes (42–282 min) in the IV push (n = 143) versus IV piggyback (n = 131) groups, respectively. When controlling for time to sepsis diagnosis and other factors, IV push was associated with approximately 32-minute time savings to β-lactam (β = –0.60; 95% CI, –0.91 to –0.29) and approximately 32-minute time savings to broad-spectrum (β = –0.32; 95% CI, –0.62 to –0.02) antibiotic administrations. The IV push group was less likely to fail the goal of β-lactam antibiotics within 1 hour (44.6% vs 57.3%; odds ratio, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.34–3.86) and 3 hours (7.6% vs 24.5%; odds ratio, 4.31; 95% CI, 2.01–10.28) of sepsis diagnosis compared with IV piggyback. The IV push strategy did not affect mortality, need for ICU admission, or ICU length of stay. No adverse events, including infusion reactions, were found in either arm.

Conclusions:

Use of an IV push strategy may safely facilitate more rapid administration of β-lactam antibiotics and may allow for better compliance with sepsis management guidelines.
Development of an Integer-based Risk Score to Predict 90-Day Mortality After Hepatectomy in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Qi Yongyue , LeVan Tricia D. , Haynatzki Gleb , Are Chandrakanth , Farazi Paraskevi A.
Published: June 2020

Background:

The incidence of liver cancer has more than tripled since 1980. Hepatectomy represents the major curative treatment for liver cancer. The risk factors associated with 90-day mortality after hepatectomy are not well understood and there are currently no good prediction models for this outcome. The objectives of the current study were to identify risk factors of 90-day mortality after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and to develop an integer-based risk score using the National Cancer Database.

Methods:

Hepatectomies recorded in the National Cancer Database during 2004-2012 were reviewed for 90-day mortality. Risk factors were identified by multivariate logistic regression models. An integer-based risk score was developed using the β coefficients derived from the logistic regression model and tested for discriminatory ability. According to the total risk score, patients were grouped into 4 risk groups.

Results:

The overall 90-day mortality was 10.2%. Ten risk factors were identified, which included sex, age, race/ethnicity, insurance status, education, annual hospital volume, stage, tumor grade, Charlson-Deyo Score, and surgical procedure. The risk of 90-day mortality was stratified into 4 groups. The calculated 90-day mortality rates were 2.47%, 5.88%, 12.58%, and 24.67% for low-risk, medium-risk, high-risk, and excessive-risk groups, respectively. An area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.69 was obtained for model discrimination.

Conclusions:

The integer-based risk score we developed could easily quantify each patient’s risk level and predict 90-day mortality after hepatectomy. The stratified risk score could be a useful addition to perioperative risk management and a tool to improve 90-day mortality after hepatectomy.
Impact of choosing the closest rather than the mean auscultatory blood pressure value on the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol device validation results
Authors: Padwal Raj , Wood Peter W. , McLean Donna , Ringrose Jennifer S.
Published: June 2020

Objective

When calculating the difference between alternating auscultatory reference standard (ARS) and the automated device-under-test (DUT) blood pressure (BP) measurements, the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol (ESH-IP) allows investigators to choose the closest ARS value to the DUT value, rather than using the mean of the ARS readings [which is mandated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)]. The impact of this rule on ESH-IP validation study results is unknown and was assessed.

Design and methods

Nine alternating BP measurements performed according to the ISO protocol were obtained in 94 subjects. The impact of using the closest rather than the mean ARS reading on mean error, SD of the difference, and proportion of readings with DUT-ARS differences within 5, 10, and 15 mmHg was determined.

Results

Mean age was 58.6 ± 18.3 years, screening BP was 126.4/77.7 mmHg, and arm circumference was 32.0 ± 4.7 cm. DUT-ARS difference was 0.0 ± 5.3/−0.5 ± 5.0 mmHg using the closest ARS and −0.2 ± 6.5/−0.7 ± 5.9 mmHg using the mean ARS. When using the closest rather than the mean ARS value, the proportion of systolic readings with absolute DUT-ARS differences ≤5 mmHg was 73% (vs. 60% for the mean ARS method), ≤10 mmHg was 93% (vs. 88%), and ≤15 mmHg was 99% (vs. 98%). Corresponding values for diastolic BP were 73% (vs. 62%) for differences ≤5 mmHg, 94% (vs. 91%) for ≤10 mmHg, and 99% (vs. 99%) for ≤15 mmHg.

Conclusion

Using the closest rather than the mean ARS value results in more favourable validation study results and increases likelihood of passing.
New updates in the world of hepatitis C virus infected organ transplantation
Authors: Prakash Katya , Aslam Saima
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

With the advent of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, the use of organs from hepatitis C virus infected (HCV+) donors is gaining more traction. In this review, we aim to: provide an overview of recent literature that supports the use of HCV+ organs, outline ongoing challenges to the use of these organs, and highlight the areas within this field where active investigation is ongoing.

Recent findings

The present review describes clinical outcomes related to the transplantation of both HCV+ nonviremic and viremic organs and the distinction between hepatic and nonhepatic transplants. It also discusses the current debate pertaining to the ideal treatment strategy for donor-derived HCV infection, that is pre-emptive therapy versus prophylaxis therapy.

Data suggest that the use of HCV+ organs is an effective and relatively well tolerated strategy to combat the organ scarcity. However, clinicians must be vigilant to a signal of increased inflammation as HCV+ organ transplantation becomes more universal. Recent studies suggest that shorter courses of DAA may sufficiently treat donor-derived HCV infection, however the best treatment approach to minimize risk, cost, and toxicity is still under investigation.
Gastroepiploic Lymph Node Flap Harvest for Patients With Lymphedema
Authors: Manrique Oscar J. , Bustos Samyd S. , Kuruoglu Doga , Yan Maria , Ciudad Pedro , Forte Antonio J. , Chen Hung-chi
Published: June 2020

Background

Vascularized gastroepiploic lymph node flaps have become a popular option to treat patients with extremity lymphedema. Overall, 2 surgical approaches to harvest this flap have been described: laparoscopic and open. In this study, we analyzed complications, harvesting time, and patient satisfaction scores, comparing these 2 techniques.

Methods

Between 2012– and 2018, all patients with extremity lymphedema and candidates for the gastroepiploic flap harvest were included. Two groups were compared: open and laparoscopic approaches. Flap harvest time, postoperative pain, complications, return of gastrointestinal motility, time to discharge, and patient satisfaction scores were assessed.

Results

A total of 177 patients were included, of which 126 underwent laparoscopic harvest and 51 patients underwent open approach. Only 2 patients in the laparoscopic group had prior abdominal surgery not related to cancer treatment compared with 7 patients in the open approach (P < 0.01). Average surgical completion time for the laparoscopic versus open approach was 136 and 102 minutes, respectively (P < 0.02). Postoperative complications for the laparoscopic versus open were as follows: 1 patient developed pancreatitis and 2 developed ileus in the laparoscopic approach, whereas 3 patients developed ileus, 1 developed small bowel obstruction, 2 developed superficial site infection, and 1 developed minor wound dehiscence in the open approach. No patient required further surgical intervention. Average return of gastrointestinal function was 1 day (laparoscopic) and 2 days (open), respectively. On a pain scale, pain scores at postoperative day 1 and upon discharge were on average 3 versus 7 and 2 versus 5, respectively (P < 0.05). Lengths of hospital stay were on average 2 days in the laparoscopic group and 5 days in the open group (P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction scores based on pain and scars were significantly better in the laparoscopic group versus open group (P < 0.03).

Conclusions

These data support that a minimal invasive approach is ideal and efficient when resources are available. In addition, the lower complication rate and high patient satisfaction scores give promising feedback to continue offering this technique.
Blunt cerebrovascular injury: The case for universal screening
Authors: Leichtle Stefan W. , Banerjee Debolina , Schrader Robin , Torres Beth , Jayaraman Sudha , Rodas Edgar , Broering Beth , Aboutanos Michel B.
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Current evidence-based screening algorithms for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) may miss more than 30% of carotid or vertebral artery injuries. We implemented universal screening for BCVI with computed tomography angiography of the neck at our level 1 trauma center, hypothesizing that only universal screening would identify all clinically relevant BCVIs.

METHODS

Adult blunt trauma activations from July 2017 to August 2019 underwent full-body computed tomography scan including computed tomography angiography neck with a 128-slice computed tomography scanner. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of common screening criteria. We determined independent risk factors for BCVI using multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 4,659 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 2.7% (n = 126) of which had 158 BCVIs. For the criteria outlined in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Best Practices Guidelines, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 72.2%, 64.9%, 6.8%, 98.5%, and 65.2%, respectively; for the risk factors suggested in the more extensive expanded Denver criteria, they were 82.5%, 50.4%, 5.3%, 98.9%, and 51.4%, respectively. Twenty-three percent (n = 14) of patients with BCVI grade 3 or higher would not have been captured by any screening criteria. Cervical spine, facial, and skull base fractures were the strongest predictors of BCVI with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 8.1 (5.4–12.1), 5.7 (2.2–15.1), and 2.7 (1.5–4.7), respectively. Eighty-three percent (n = 105) of patients with BCVI received antiplatelet agents or therapeutic anticoagulation, with 4% (n = 5) experiencing a bleeding complication, 3% (n = 4) a BCVI progression, and 8% (n = 10) a stroke.

CONCLUSION

Almost 20% of patients with BCVI, including a quarter of those with BCVI grade 3 or higher, would have gone undiagnosed by even the most extensive and sensitive BCVI screening criteria. Implementation of universal screening should strongly be considered to ensure the detection of all clinically relevant BCVIs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic study, level III.
Physical Exercise and Longitudinal Trajectories in Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and Cognitive Functioning
Authors: Stojanovic Marta , Jin Yuxuan , Fagan Anne M. , Benzinger Tammie L. , Hassenstab Jason , Cruchaga Carlos , Morris John C. , Head Denise
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

Associations of physical exercise with Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers and cognitive functioning have been observed cross-sectionally. However, the effects of exercise on longitudinal change in AD biomarkers have not been thoroughly investigated. The current study examined whether individuals with higher baseline exercise exhibited less longitudinal change in AD biomarkers and cognitive functioning, and whetherAPOEand/or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotypes moderated the effects of exercise on longitudinal changes.

Methods:

Clinically normal individuals completed a questionnaire on physical exercise over the prior 10-year period at baseline. Ninety-five individuals had serial cerebrospinal fluid samples collected to examine Aβ42, ptau181and total tau; 181 individuals underwent multiple assessments of amyloid positron emission tomography imaging with Pittsburgh Compound-B; 327 individuals underwent multiple cognitive assessments, including measures of episodic memory, executive functions, verbal fluency, and processing speed.

Results:

Greater exercise was associated with less steep decline in processing speed. Baseline exercise did not robustly impact longitudinal change for any other outcomes. NeitherAPOEnorBDNFgenotype robustly moderated the effect of exercise on trajectories of AD biomarkers or cognitive decline.

Interpretation:

Results suggest that self-reported physical exercise may be limited as a moderator of changes in AD biomarkers.
MR imaging and spectroscopy in degenerative ataxias: toward multimodal, multisite, multistage monitoring of neurodegeneration
Authors: Öz Gülin , Harding Ian H. , Krahe Janna , Reetz Kathrin
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

Degenerative ataxias are rare and currently untreatable movement disorders, primarily characterized by neurodegeneration in the cerebellum and brainstem. We highlight MRI studies with the most potential for utility in pending ataxia trials and underscore advances in disease characterization and diagnostics in the field.

Recent findings

With availability of advanced MRI acquisition methods and specialized software dedicated to the analysis of MRI of the cerebellum, patterns of cerebellar atrophy in different degenerative ataxias are increasingly well defined. The field further embraced rigorous multimodal investigations to study network-level microstructural and functional brain changes and their neurochemical correlates. MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy were shown to be more sensitive to disease progression than clinical scales and to detect abnormalities in premanifest mutation carriers.

Magnetic resonance techniques are increasingly well placed for characterizing the expression and progression of degenerative ataxias. The most impactful work has arguably come through multi-institutional studies that monitor relatively large cohorts, multimodal investigations that assess the sensitivity of different measures and their interrelationships, and novel imaging approaches that are targeted to known pathophysiology (e.g., iron and spinal imaging in Friedreich ataxia). These multimodal, multi-institutional studies are paving the way to clinical trial readiness and enhanced understanding of disease in degenerative ataxias.
Immunotherapy in progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Vaswani Pavan A. , Olsen Abby L.
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive adult-onset neurodegenerative disease. Abnormally, phosphorylated forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau containing four repeat domains (4R-tau) aggregate in neurons. Additionally, increasing evidence suggests that secretion and uptake of fragments of abnormal 4R-tau may play a role in disease progression. This extracellular tau is a natural target for immunotherapy.

Recent findings

Three monoclonal antibodies targeting extracellular tau are in clinical stages of development. ABBV-8E12 and BIIB092 were safe in Phase 1, but both Phase two studies recently failed futility analyses. UCB0107 recently reported (in abstract form) Phase 1 safety results, and a Phase 2 study is under consideration. Stem cell therapy and the infusion of plasma are also being explored clinically.

The likely role of extracellular tau in the progression of PSP makes tau a natural target for targeted immunotherapy. Clinical trials are still in early stages, and although tau immunotherapy has largely been shown to be safe, efficacy has yet to be demonstrated.
Genotype-by-genotype epistasis for exploratory behaviour inD. simulans
Authors: Jaffe Allison , Burns Madeline P. , Saltz Julia B.
Published: June 2020

Social interactions can influence the expression and underlying genetic basis of many traits. Yet, empirical investigations of indirect genetic effects (IGEs) and genotype-by-genotype epistasis—quantitative genetics parameters representing the role of genetic variation in a focal individual and its interacting partners in producing the observed trait values—are still scarce. While it is commonly observed that an individual's traits are influenced by the traits of interacting conspecifics, representing social plasticity, studying this social plasticity and its quantitative-genetic basis is notoriously challenging. These challenges are compounded when individuals interact in groups, rather than (simpler) dyads. Here, we investigate the genetic architecture of social plasticity for exploratory behaviour, one of the most intensively studied behaviours in recent decades. Using genotypes ofDrosophila simulans, we measured genotypes both alone, and in social groups representing a mix of two genotypes. We found that females adjusted their exploratory behaviour based on the behaviour of others in the group, representing social plasticity. However, the direction of this plasticity depended on the identity of group members: focal individuals were more likely to emerge from a refuge if group members who were the same genotype as the focal remained inside for longer. By contrast, focal individuals werelesslikely to emerge from a refuge if partner-genotype group members remained inside for longer. Exploratory behaviour also depended on the identities of both genotypes that composed the group. Together, these findings demonstrate genotype-by-genotype epistasis for exploratory behaviour both within and among groups.
Climate drivers of plague epidemiology in British India, 1898–1949
Authors: Tennant Warren S. D. , Tildesley Mike J. , Spencer Simon E. F. , Keeling Matt J.
Published: June 2020

Plague, caused byYersinia pestisinfection, continues to threaten low- and middle-income countries throughout the world. The complex interactions between rodents and fleas with their respective environments challenge our understanding of human plague epidemiology. Historical long-term datasets of reported plague cases offer a unique opportunity to elucidate the effects of climate on plague outbreaks in detail. Here, we analyse monthly plague deaths and climate data from 25 provinces in British India from 1898 to 1949 to generate insights into the influence of temperature, rainfall and humidity on the occurrence, severity and timing of plague outbreaks. We find that moderate relative humidity levels of between 60% and 80% were strongly associated with outbreaks. Using wavelet analysis, we determine that the nationwide spread of plague was driven by changes in humidity, where, on average, a one-month delay in the onset of rising humidity translated into a one-month delay in the timing of plague outbreaks. This work can inform modern spatio-temporal predictive models for the disease and aid in the development of early-warning strategies for the deployment of prophylactic treatments and other control measures.
Chemical signals from eggs facilitate cryptic female choice in humans
Authors: Fitzpatrick John L. , Willis Charlotte , Devigili Alessandro , Young Amy , Carroll Michael , Hunter Helen R. , Brison Daniel R.
Published: June 2020

Mate choice can continue after mating via chemical communication between the female reproductive system and sperm. While there is a growing appreciation that females can bias sperm use and paternity by exerting cryptic female choice for preferred males, we know surprisingly little about the mechanisms underlying these post-mating choices. In particular, whether chemical signals released from eggs (chemoattractants) allow females to exert cryptic female choice to favour sperm from specific males remains an open question, particularly in species (including humans) where adults exercise pre-mating mate choice. Here, we adapt a classic dichotomous mate choice assay to the microscopic scale to assess gamete-mediated mate choice in humans. We examined how sperm respond to follicular fluid, a source of human sperm chemoattractants, from either their partner or a non-partner female when experiencing a simultaneous or non-simultaneous choice between follicular fluids. We report robust evidence under these two distinct experimental conditions that follicular fluid from different females consistently and differentially attracts sperm from specific males. This chemoattractant-moderated choice of sperm offers eggs an avenue to exercise independent mate preference. Indeed, gamete-mediated mate choice did not reinforce pre-mating human mate choice decisions. Our results demonstrate that chemoattractants facilitate gamete-mediated mate choice in humans, which offers females the opportunity to exert cryptic female choice for sperm from specific males.
Tip dating supports novel resolutions of controversial relationships among early mammals
Authors: King Benedict , Beck Robin M. D.
Published: June 2020

The estimation of the timing of major divergences in early mammal evolution is challenging owing to conflicting interpretations of key fossil taxa. One contentious group is Haramiyida, the earliest members of which are from the Late Triassic. Many phylogenetic analyses have placed haramiyidans in a clade with multituberculates within crown Mammalia, thus extending the minimum divergence date for the crown group deep into the Triassic. A second taxon of interest is the eutherian
Juramaia
from the Middle–Late Jurassic Yanliao Biota, which is morphologically very similar to eutherians from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota and implies a very early origin for therian mammals. Here, we apply Bayesian tip-dated phylogenetic methods to investigate these issues. Tip dating firmly rejects a monophyletic Allotheria (multituberculates and haramiyidans), which are split into three separate clades, a result not found in any previous analysis. Most notably, the Late Triassic
Haramiyavia
and
Thomasia
are separate from the Middle Jurassic euharamiyidans. We also test whether the Middle–Late Jurassic age of
Juramaia
is ‘expected’ given its known morphology by assigning an age prior without hard bounds. Strikingly, this analysis supports an Early Cretaceous age for
Juramaia
, but similar analyses on 12 other mammaliaforms from the Yanliao Biota return the correct, Jurassic age. Our results show that analyses incorporating stratigraphic data can produce results very different from other methods. Early mammal evolution may have involved multiple instances of convergent morphological evolution (e.g. in the dentition), and tip dating may be a method uniquely suitable to recognizing this owing to the incorporation of stratigraphic data. Our results also confirm that
Juramaia
is anomalous in exhibiting a much more derived morphology than expected given its age, which in turn implies very high rates of evolution at the base of therian mammals.
Sounds of sickness: can people identify infectious disease using sounds of coughs and sneezes?
Authors: Michalak Nicholas M. , Sng Oliver , Wang Iris M. , Ackerman Joshua
Published: June 2020

Cough, cough. Is that person sick, or do they just have a throat tickle? A growing body of research suggests pathogen threats shape key aspects of human sociality. However, less research has investigated specific processes involved in pathogen threat detection. Here, we examine whether perceivers can accurately detect pathogen threats using an understudied sensory modality—sound. Participants in four studies judged whether cough and sneeze sounds were produced by people infected with a communicable disease or not. We found no evidence that participants could accurately identify the origins of these sounds. Instead, the more disgusting they perceived a sound to be, the more likely they were to judge that it came from an infected person (regardless of whether it did). Thus, unlike research indicating perceivers can accurately diagnose infection using other sensory modalities (e.g. sight, smell), we find people overperceive pathogen threat in subjectively disgusting sounds.
Tannerella serpentiformis sp. nov., isolated from the human mouth
Authors: Ansbro Katherine , Wade William G. , Stafford Graham P.
Published: June 2020

Three strains representing the previously uncultured human oral

Tannerella

taxon HMT-286 were recently isolated from the subgingival plaque of a patient with chronic periodontitis. The phenotypic and genetic features of strain SP18_26T were compared to those of the type species of

Tannerella

,

Tannerella forsythia

. A genome size of 2.97 Mbp (G+C content 56.5 mol%) was previously reported for SP18_26T, compared to a size of 3.28 Mbp (47.1 mol%) in

T. forsythia

ATCC 43037T. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons also revealed 94.3 % sequence identity with

T. forsythia

ATCC 43037T. Growth was stimulated by supplementation of media with N-acetyl muramic acid, as seen with

T. forsythia

, but the cells displayed a distinctive snake-like morphology. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis revealed a profile differing from

T. forsythia

, chiefly in the amount of 3-OH-16 : 0 (four-fold lower in SP18_26T). Overall, metabolic enzyme activity also differed from

T. forsythia

, with enzyme activity for indole present, but the complement of glycoside hydrolase enzyme activity was smaller than

T. forsythia

, for example, lacking sialidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase – evidence backed up by analysis of its gene content. On the basis of these results, a new species Tannerella serpentiformis is proposed for which the type strain is SP18_26T (=DSM 102894T=JCM 31303T).
Duplication and diversification of a unique chromosomal virulence island hosting the subtilase cytotoxin in Escherichia coli ST58
Authors: Wyrsch Ethan R. , Chowdhury Piklu Roy , Jarocki Veronica M. , Brandis Kate J. , Djordjevic Steven P.
Published: June 2020

The AB5 cytotoxins are important virulence factors in

Escherichia coli

. The most notable members of the AB5 toxin families include Shiga toxin families 1 (Stx1) and 2 (Stx2), which are associated with enterohaemorrhagic

E. coli

infections causing haemolytic uraemic syndrome and haemorrhagic colitis. The subAB toxins are the newest and least well understood members of the AB5 toxin gene family. The subtilase toxin genes are divided into a plasmid-based variant, subAB1, originally described in enterohaemorrhagic

E. coli

O113:H21, and distinct chromosomal variants, subAB2, that reside in pathogenicity islands encoding additional virulence effectors. Previously we identified a chromosomal subAB2 operon within an

E. coli

ST58 strain IBS28 (ONT:H25) taken from a wild ibis nest at an inland wetland in New South Wales, Australia. Here we show the subAB2 toxin operon comprised part of a 140 kb tRNA–Phe chromosomal island that co-hosted tia, encoding an outer-membrane protein that confers an adherence and invasion phenotype and additional virulence and accessory genetic content that potentially originated from known virulence island SE-PAI. This island shared a common evolutionary history with a secondary 90 kb tRNA–Phe pathogenicity island that was presumably generated via a duplication event. IBS28 is closely related [200 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)] to four North American ST58 strains. The close relationship between North American isolates of ST58 and IBS28 was further supported by the identification of the only copy of a unique variant of IS26 within the O-antigen gene cluster. Strain ISB28 may be a historically important

E. coli

ST58 genome sequence hosting a progenitor pathogenicity island encoding subAB.
Efficacy of therapies in the treatment of Guillain-Barre Syndrome: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Jingfeng , Gao Qiang , Xiao Kang , Tian Danfeng , Hu Wenyue , Han Zhenyun
Published: June 2020

Background

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute, paralyzing, inflammatory peripheral nerve disease. For treatments of the Guillain-Barre Syndrome, there are many kinds of therapies for this diseases. For comparing all of the therapies, such as immunoglobulin, plasma exchanging, etc. in the treatment of Guillain-Barre Syndrome(GBS) to better inform clinical practice, we used Network meta analysis to get the outcome of the Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The protocol had been submitted to PROSPERO:CRD: 42019119178.

Methods

Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for related articles. We identified citations and of these included 28 trials comprising 2474 patients and control group human beings. Network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed with two kinds of outcomes. We carried on R software with gemtc package and JAGS software to calculate results for different therapies. The consistency of direct and indirect evidence was also assessed by R software.

Results

Concerning for two outcomes, there were no improvement observed in methylprednisolone and prednisolone compared with placebo. PE and IVIg were illustrated to be effective over Placebo. There was no significant difference between different doses and times of PE and IVIg. On consistency examination between direct and indirect evidences, there were no obvious heterogeneity between all of therapies. Funnel plots indicates the possibility of publication bias in this study is small.

Conclusion

PE or IVIg have a significant efficiency for GBS patients. The effect of some combination treatments should be further explored. Corticosteroids have no significant effects on GBS.
Altered small-world functional network topology in patients with optic neuritis: A resting- state fMRI study
Authors: Song Ke , Li Juan , Zhu Yuanqiang , Ren Fang , Cao Lingcan , Shao Yi , Huang Zi-Gang
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study investigated changes in small-world topology and brain functional connectivity in patients with optic neuritis (ON) by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and based on graph theory.

Methods

A total of 21 patients with ON (8 males and 13 females) and 21 matched healthy control subjects (8 males and 13 females) were enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University and underwent rs-fMRI. Data were preprocessed and the brain was divided into 116 regions of interest. Small-world network parameters and area under the integral curve (AUC) were calculated from pairwise brain interval correlation coefficients. Differences in brain network parameter AUCs between the 2 groups were evaluated with the independent sample t-test, and changes in brain connection strength between ON patients and control subjects were assessed by network-based statistical analysis.

Results

In the sparsity range from 0.08 to 0.48, both groups exhibited small-world attributes.

Compared to the control group, global network efficiency, normalized clustering coefficient, and small-world value were higher whereas the clustering coefficient value was lower in ON patients. There were no differences in characteristic path length, local network efficiency, and normalized characteristic path length between groups. In addition, ON patients had lower brain functional connectivity strength among the rolandic operculum, medial superior frontal gyrus, insula, median cingulate and paracingulate gyri, amygdala, superior parietal gyrus, inferior parietal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus, lenticular nucleus, pallidum, superior temporal gyrus, cerebellum_Crus1_L, and left cerebellum_Crus6_L compared to the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The brain network in ON has a small-world attributes but shows reduced and abnormal connectivity compared to normal subjects. These findings provide a further insight into the neural pathogenesis of ON and reveal specific fMRI findings that can serve as diagnostic and prognostic indices.
Tracking and Classifying Global COVID-19 Cases by using 1D Deep Convolution Neural Networks
Authors: Amo-Boateng Mark
Published: June 2020

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and pandemic has taken the world by surprise and simultaneously challenged the health infrastructure of every country. Governments have resorted to draconian measures to contain the spread of the disease despite its devastating effect on their economies and education. Tracking the novel coronavirus 2019 disease remains vital as it influences the executive decisions needed to tighten or ease restrictions meant to curb the pandemic. One-Dimensional (1D) Convolution Neural Networks (CNN) have been used classify and predict several time-series and sequence data. Here 1D-CNN is applied to the time-series data of confirmed COVID-19 cases for all reporting countries and territories. The model performance was 90.5% accurate. The model was used to develop an automated AI tracker web app (AI Country Monitor) and is hosted on https://aicountrymonitor.org. This article also presents a novel concept of pandemic response curves based on cumulative confirmed cases that can be use to classify the stage of a country or reporting territory. It is our firm believe that this Artificial Intelligence COVID-19 tracker can be extended to other domains such as the monitoring/tracking of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in addition to monitoring and tracking pandemics.
A retrospective study investigating requests for self-citation during open peer review in a general medicine journal
Authors: Peebles Erin , Scandlyn Marissa , Hesp Blair R.
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Peer review is a volunteer process for improving the quality of publications by providing objective feedback to authors, but also presents an opportunity for reviewers to seek personal reward by requesting self-citations. Open peer review may reduce the prevalence of self-citation requests and encourage author rebuttal over accession. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-citation requests and their inclusion in manuscripts in a journal with open peer review.

Methods

Requests for additional references to be included during peer review for articles published between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018 in BMC Medicine were evaluated. Data extracted included total number of self-citations requested, self-citations that were included in the final published manuscript and manuscripts that included at least one self-citation, and compared with corresponding data on independent citations.

Results

In total, 932 peer review reports from 373 manuscripts were analysed. At least one additional citation was requested in 25.9% (n=241) of reports. Self-citation requests were included in 44.4% of reports requesting additional citations (11.5% of all reports). Requests for self-citation were significantly more likely than independent citations to be incorporated in the published manuscript (65.1% vs 52.1%; chi-square p=0.003). At the manuscript level, when requested, self-citations were incorporated in 76.6% of manuscripts (n=72; 19.3% of all manuscripts) compared with 68.5% of manuscripts with independent citation requests (n=102; 27.3% of manuscripts). A significant interaction was observed between the presence of self-citation requests and the likelihood of any citation request being incorporated (100% incorporation in manuscripts with self-citation requests alone versus 62.7–72.2% with any independent citation request; Fisher’s exact test p<0.0005).

Conclusions

Requests for self-citations during the peer review process are common. The transparency of open peer review may have the unexpected effect of encouraging authors to incorporate self-citation requests by disclosing peer reviewer identity.
Predictors of household food insecurity in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lauren Brianna N. , Silver Elisabeth R. , Faye Adam S. , Woo Baidal Jennifer A. , Ozanne Elissa M. , Hur Chin
Published: June 2020

Objective

To examine associations between sociodemographic and mental health characteristics with household food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Design

Cross-sectional online survey analyzed using univariable tests and a multivariable logistic regression model.

Setting

The United States during the week of March 30, 2020.

Participants

Convenience sample of 1,965 American adults using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) platform. Participants reporting household food insecurity prior to the pandemic were excluded from analyses.

Results

1,517 participants reported household food security before the COVID-19 outbreak. Among this subset, 30% reported food insecurity after the COVID-19 outbreak, 53% were women and 72% were white. On multivariable analysis, race, income, relationship status, anxiety, and depression were significantly associated with incident household food insecurity. Black respondents, Hispanic/Latino respondents, and respondents with annual income less than $100,000 were significantly more likely to experience incident household food insecurity. Individuals experiencing incident household food insecurity were 2.09 (95% CI 1.58–2.83) times more likely to screen positively for anxiety and 1.88 (95% CI 1.37–2.52) times more likely to screen positively for depression.

Conclusions

Food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic is common, and certain populations are particularly vulnerable. There are strong associations between food insecurity and anxiety/depression. Public health interventions to increase the accessibility of healthful foods, especially for Black and Hispanic/Latino communities, are crucial to relieving the economic stress of this pandemic.
Seasonal trends in colchicine prescriptions in England 2014-2019
Authors: Gibson Mark
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To examine seasonal trends in the prescription of colchicine

Methods

A retrospective cohort study using a population level dataset of all community prescriptions for colchicine dispensed in England between December 2014 and November 2019.

Results

Significant seasonal variation exists in colchicine prescriptions (p<0.0001). Colchicine prescriptions were maximal in the summer months (June, July) in each of the years studied and lowest in the winter. Significant variation in colchicine prescriptions was observed between the summer and the winter(p<0.001), spring (p=0.0177) and autumn(p<0.001) months.

Conclusion

Seasonal trends in colchicine prescribing closely mirror previously observed seasonal trends in acute gout incidence providing further evidence that acute gout demonstrates seasonality and, in England, is more common in the summer.
Crystal structure of 4-methyl-N-propylbenzenesulfonamide
Authors: Stenfors Brock A. , Collins Rachel C. , Duran Jonah R. J. , Staples Richard J. , Biros Shannon M. , Ngassa Felix N.
Published: June 2020

The crystal structure of the title sulfonamide, C10H15NO2S, comprises two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The S=O bond lengths of the sulfonamide functional group range from 1.428 (2) to 1.441 (2) Å, with S—C bond lengths of 1.766 (3) Å (for both molecules in the asymmetric unit), and S—N bond lengths of 1.618 (2) and 1.622 (3) Å, respectively. When both molecules are viewed down the N—S bond, the propyl group is gauche to the toluene moiety. In the crystal structure, molecules of the title compound are arranged in an intricate three-dimensional network that is formed via intermolecular C—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure was refined from a crystal twinned by inversion.
Reflections on the progress in accounting for people and some observations on the prospects for a more successful future
Authors: Flamholtz Eric G. , Johanson Ulf , Roslender Robin
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The paper celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Flamholtz’s seminal paper on the Human Resource Accounting approach to taking people into account, providing a critical review of its progress since that time and offering some thoughts on how the project might now be beneficially shaped.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an authoritative review of the progress of the accounting for people project to date.

Findings

The continuing exploration of how it might be possible to take people into account is identified to be entering a new and exciting phase.

Research limitations/implications

The authors readily acknowledge that what the paper provides is an account of the evolution of the accounting for people field, which they argue is currently extending into a new and important phase relating to employee health and wellbeing.

Originality/value

The paper’s principal contribution lies in bringing together three authors who have made significant contributions to the topic of accounting for people over the past 50 years.