bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Number of Self-Harm Events Not Identified by Encounter Diagnoses in Health Records
Authors: Simon Gregory E , Shortreed Susan M , Boggs Jennifer M , Clarke Gregory N , Rossom Rebecca C , Richards Julie E , Beck Arne
Published: September 2020

Background

Public health and research assessment of self-harm or suicide attempts must sometimes rely on health system records. Previous research regarding accuracy of encounter or billing diagnoses to identify self-harm or suicide attempt has yielded mixed results.

Methods

Using data from a large pragmatic trial of outreach to prevent suicide attempt, investigators identified ICD-10-CM diagnostic codes in categories where suicide attempt or self-harm might be missed or misclassified: injuries and poisonings coded as having “undetermined intent, injuries and poisonings coded as accidental, and injuries with no coding of intent. For injury and poisoning events with these selected codes, relevant text was extracted from full-text electronic health records and rated by a blinded panel of investigators as indicating or not indicating self-harm

Results

Diagnostic codes selected for review include 43 codes for injuries and poisonings with undetermined intent, 26 codes for accidental injuries and poisonings, and 46 codes for injuries without coding of intent. Among injury and poisoning events in this sample, full-text records were available for review for 60 coded as undetermined intent, 173 coded as accidents, and 288 with no coding of intent. After review of text, raters judged 46 (77%), 152 (88%), and 275 (95%) respectively as having adequate text documentation for confident rating of self-harm intent. Among those with adequate text for confident rating, the proportions of events classified as due to self-harm were 19% for injuries and poisonings coded as undetermined intent, 6% for injuries and poisonings coded as accidents, and 15% for injuries without coding of intent.

Conclusions

In this sample of people at high risk for self-harm or suicide attempt, we low rates of misclassified self-harm events among injuries and poisonings coded as having undetermined intent, accidental intent, or no coding of intent. In this sample, inclusion of all misclassified events identified through this search process would increase the total number of self-harm events identified by approximately 10%.
Deciphering the genetic and epidemiological landscape of mitochondrial DNA abundance
Authors: Hägg Sara , Jylhävä Juulia , Wang Yunzhang , Czene Kamila , Grassmann Felix
Published: September 2020

Somatically acquired whole chromosome loss in nucleated blood cells is an indicator of immune aging and genomic instability. However, little is known about aging, lifestyle and genetic factors influencing mitochondrial (MT) DNA abundance. In this study, MT DNA abundance was estimated from the weighted intensities of probes mapping to the MT genome in 295,150 participants from the UK Biobank. We found that abundance of MT DNA was significantly elevated in women compared to men, was negatively correlated with advanced age, more packyears, greater body-mass index, higher frailty index as well as elevated red and white blood cell count and, importantly, lower mortality. In addition, several biochemistry markers in blood related to cholesterol metabolism, ion homeostasis and kidney function were found to be significantly associated with MT DNA abundance. By performing a genome-wide association study, we identified 50 independent regions genome-wide significantly associated with MT DNA abundance which harbour multiple genes involved in the immune system, cancer as well as mitochondrial function. Using mixed effects models, we estimated the SNP-heritability of MT DNA abundance to be around 8%. To investigate the consequence of altered MT DNA abundance, we performed a phenome-wide association study and found that MT DNA abundance is involved in risk for leukaemia, hematologic diseases as well as hypertension. Thus, estimating MT DNA abundance from genotyping arrays has the potential to provide novel insights into age- and disease relevant processes, particularly those related to immunity and established mitochondrial functions.
Facilitating factors for the job placement of workers with intellectual disabilities: supervisors and coworker mentors perspectives
Authors: Pellicena Miquel Àngel , Ivern Ignasi , Giné Climent , Múries Olga
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of organizational strategies, attitudes and supports that can help people with intellectual disabilities to access competitive jobs through supported employment.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study was carried out based on an intentional sampling involving the coworker mentors of six people with intellectual disabilities currently working in standardized environments. Semi-structured interviews were performed with the participants, and an inductive thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

Findings

The study identified five critical factors in the work of people with intellectual disabilities in standardized work environments, which potentially could act as facilitators or as obstacles, depending on how they were managed. The study also identified two key factors that acted mainly as facilitators and one as an obstacle.

Originality/value

The study reveals the existence of factors that sometimes act as facilitators and sometimes as obstacles, depending on how they are managed by the company leaders or the disabled worker himself.
Forecasting electricity prices with machine learning: predictor sensitivity
Authors: Naumzik Christof , Feuerriegel Stefan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Trading on electricity markets occurs such that the price settlement takes place before delivery, often day-ahead. In practice, these prices are highly volatile as they largely depend upon a range of variables such as electricity demand and the feed-in from renewable energy sources. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide accurate forecasts..

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims at comparing different predictors stemming from supply-side (solar and wind power generation), demand-side, fuel-related and economic influences. For this reason, this paper implements a broad range of non-linear models from machine learning and draw upon the information-fusion-based sensitivity analysis.

Findings

This study disentangles the respective relevance of each predictor. This study shows that external predictors altogether decrease root mean squared errors by up to 21.96%. A Diebold-Mariano test statistically proves that the forecasting accuracy of the proposed machine learning models is superior.

Research limitations/implications

The performance gain from including more predictors might be larger than from a better model. Future research should place attention on expanding the data basis in electricity price forecasting.

Practical implications

When developing pricing models, practitioners can achieve reasonable performance with a simple model (e.g. seasonal-autoregressive moving-average) that is built upon a wide range of predictors.

Originality/value

The benefit of adding further predictors has only recently received traction; however, little is known about how the individual variables contribute to improving forecasts in machine learning.
Increased success of participatory development designing: the role of independent institution as moderation between community involvement and legislative institution responsiveness
Authors: Nursalim Nursalim , Hakim Abdul , Domai Tjahjanulin , Setyowati Endah
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of independent institution as moderation between community involvement and legislative institution responsiveness in Mataram City.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is explanatory research, which explains the effect between variables by hypothesis testing. This research was conducted in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara. Population in this study included all stakeholders involved in Mataram City’s participatory planning, including community leaders, legislative institutions (starting from the village/subdistrict, district to city levels) and independent institutions. The sampling was performed using nonprobability sampling technique, namely, quota sampling. The research model with inferential analysis used a structural equation modelling (SEM) with WarpPLS to answer the statements of problems and test the desired hypotheses.

Findings

The research results conclude that community involvement has a direct effect on legislative institution responsiveness and legislative institution responsiveness has a direct effect on the success of participatory development planning. This indicates that all variables in this research influence the success of participatory development planning. However, the indirect effect of legislative institution responsiveness on the success of participatory development planning through the role of independent institution is not significant.

Originality/value

The role of independent institutions as a moderation of the relationship between community involvement and legislative institution responsiveness can be learned as the novelty in this study.
Relational capital, service quality and organizational performance in the Egyptian telecommunication sector
Authors: Abd-Elrahman Abd-Elrahman Hassanein , Ahmed Kamal Jaber Mohamed
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the mediating effect of service quality (SQ) in the relationship between relational capital (RC) and organizational performance (OP) within the Egyptian mobile telecommunication setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A valid research instrument was utilized to conduct a survey of 384 top- middle- and supervisory- level managers from three Egyptian mobile telecommunications companies. The hypothesized direct relationships were tested through multiple linear regression, and the mediating effect was tested using a structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

The results revealed that the firm's “customer and supplier relations” and “marketing capability” positively affect both OP and SQ, “customer knowledge” positively affects SQ only, while “strategic alliances, licensing and agreements” do not have an association with SQ or OP. Moreover, SQ was found fully mediating the effect of RC on OP.

Research limitations/implications

This is an empirical research applied in the Egyptian telecommunication setting. Its results need further investigation in other settings and countries. Also, traditional limitations of a cross-sectional study apply with respect to the attribution of causality and the time lag effects.

Practical implications

The optimal procedure for the Egyptian telecommunications companies is to focus their efforts on leveraging all four components of RC in order to improve SQ and consequently enhance their OP. The telecommunications companies must do all they can to connect the unconnected. As the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis has shown, connectivity is a public good.

Originality/value

This is the first research that merges the concepts of RC, SQ and OP in an integrated model, and tests this model empirically in the Egyptian mobile telecommunications setting.
Cooperative goals and dynamic capability: the mediating role of strategic flexibility and the moderating role of human resource flexibility
Authors: Yang Linbo , Gan Chenjing
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The dynamic capabilities theory indicates that uncertain environments necessitate firms’ dynamic capability. This study aims to examine how dynamic capability can be shaped based on cooperative goal interdependence with supply chain partners by focusing on the mediating role of strategic flexibility and the moderating role of human resource flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire surveys were administered to firm presidents, chief executive officers, chief human resources officers (CHOs) and other senior managers at 300 firms located in China. The data collection process was carried out in one wave with multiple sources. Of the firms contacted, the sample in this study consisted of 233 matched “CHO-other top manager” dyads. Structural equation modeling and the bias-corrected bootstrap method were used to test the proposed causal relationships, moderation model, mediation model and moderated mediation model.

Findings

Cooperative goal interdependence with both upstream companies and downstream companies was positively related to dynamic capability and strategic flexibility mediated these main effects. Moreover, human resource flexibility moderated the positive direct relationship between strategic flexibility and dynamic capability and the indirect relationships among cooperative goals, strategic flexibility and dynamic capability such that these relationships in companies with high human resource flexibility were stronger than these relationships in companies with low human resource flexibility.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the literature on dynamic capability by providing empirical evidence regarding the relationships among cooperative goals, strategic flexibility, human resource flexibility and dynamic capability, which enriches the theory of cooperation and competition and suggests a new path to promote dynamic capability.
Concept: fluorescent and waterlock-expansion material to detect potential of corrosion on metal substrate
Authors: Abdul Latif Nurhanis , Mohd Yusof Chan Nadia Nabihah , Sulaiman Lidya , Salim Mohamad Fitri Zaqwan , Zainal Abidin Zul Hazrin , Hisham Shameer , Tajuddin Hairul Anuar , Abu Bakar Amnani , Abdul Halim Norhana
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the use of the sensor material in coating to detect defects which can cause corrosion on metal substrate. This coating consists of sodium polyacrylate (SP) to detect the presence of water and fluorescence substance 2-[4-(piperidin-1-yl)-5H-chromeno-[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-yl]phenol [benzopyranopyrimidine (BPP)] to detect crack formation.

Design/methodology/approach

The coating resin is a mixture of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly (methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride). The additives are used to provide a visual indicator to the observer for when the coating exhibits any defects, so that quick action can be taken before corrosion develops further. SP has absorbent properties and expand when in contact with water, while BPP exhibits high luminous intensity in its solid form that is easily perceivable when exposed to UV. PVM/MA was used as the binder with ethanol as the solvent. The resistance of this coating towards water penetration was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The coating’s performance was observed in terms of visible optical appearance.

Findings

The sensor coating developed in this project serves as visual aid to the observer through the expansion of SP and high fluorescence of BPP material after the top coat is physically damaged. These findings are in provision of preventive measures that can be taken in case of top coat failure.

Research limitations/implications

The resistance of the coating that contained SP could not be investigated with EIS due to its ability to expand immediately when in contact with liquids.

Practical implications

The coating developed in this study may be to detect corrosion.

Originality/value

The sensor material used has not been previously studied in applications to detect the presence of water or used to detect crack formation.
Novel step selection analyses on energy landscapes reveal how linear features alter migrations of soaring birds
Authors: Eisaguirre Joseph M. , Booms Travis L. , Barger Christopher P. , Lewis Stephen B. , Breed Greg A.
Published: September 2020

Human modification of landscapes includes extensive addition of linear features, such as roads and transmission lines. These can alter animal movement and space use and affect the intensity of interactions among species, including predation and competition. Effects of linear features on animal movement have seen relatively little research in avian systems, despite ample evidence of their effects in mammalian systems and that some types of linear features, including both roads and transmission lines, are substantial sources of mortality.

Here, we used satellite telemetry combined with step selection functions designed to explicitly incorporate the energy landscape (el‐SSFs) to investigate the effects of linear features and habitat on movements and space use of a large soaring bird, the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos, during migration. Our sample consisted of 32 adult eagles tracked for 45 spring and 39 fall migrations from 2014 to 2017.

Fitted el‐SSFs indicated eagles had a strong general preference for south‐facing slopes, where thermal uplift develops predictably, and that these areas are likely important aspects of migratory pathways. el‐SSFs also provided evidence that roads and railroads affected movement during both spring and fall migrations, but eagles selected areas near roads to a greater degree in spring compared to fall and at higher latitudes compared to lower latitudes. During spring, time spent near linear features often occurred during slower‐paced or stopover movements, perhaps in part to access carrion produced by vehicle collisions.

Regardless of the behavioural mechanism of selection, use of these features could expose eagles and other soaring species to elevated risk via collision with vehicles and/or transmission lines. Linear features have previously been documented to affect the ecology of terrestrial species (e.g. large mammals) by modifying individuals' movement patterns; our work shows that these effects on movement extend to avian taxa.
A framework to diagnose the causes of river ecosystem deterioration using biological symptoms
Authors: Feld Christian K. , Saeedghalati Mohammadkarim , Hering Daniel
Published: September 2020

River assessments are predominantly based on biological metrics and indices selected or designed to integrate the impact of multiple causes of deterioration (stressors) operating at various spatial scales. Yet, the integrative nature of many bioassessment systems does not allow for tracing back individual stressors and their influence on the overall assessment result. Thus, river managers often fail to link bioassessment with programmes of management measures, to improve ecological quality.

Here, we present a novel diagnostic approach that allows to estimate the probability of individual stressors being causal for biological degradation at the scale of individual riverine ecosystems. Similar to medical diagnosis, we use various symptoms (macroinvertebrate metrics) and probabilistically link them to various potential causes of ecological status degradation (stressors). Symptoms and causes are informed by a training dataset of 157 samples (stressors, taxa lists) from central European lowland rivers and are linked through a Bayesian network (BN). Three separate BNs addressing three different spatial scales (catchment, reach and site) are presented.

Water quality‐related causes are most influential at the catchment scale, while hydromorphological causes prevail at finer scales. Causes indicating riparian degradation are most influential at the reach scale. Many symptoms show strong linkages to causes and reveal ecologically meaningful relationships, thus pointing at the potential diagnostic utility of the symptoms selected. BNs are validated using an independent dataset of 47 samples. Overall, model accuracies range 53%–58% for the three BNs, while for individual nodes (causes and symptoms) up to 100% concordance of predicted and actual node states in the validation data is achieved. The BNs are implemented as interactive online diagnostic tools to allow end users an easy application.

Synthesis and applications. Bayesian inference can greatly assist the diagnosis of potential causes of ecosystem deterioration based on a selection of diagnostic biological metrics. If integrated into a Bayesian network, symptoms and potential causes can be linked and inform management decisions on appropriate measures, to improve biological and ecological status. Diagnostic Bayesian networks thus support end users bridge the gap between biological monitoring and appropriate programmes of management measures.
Elemental sulfur reduction by a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent CampylobacteriumSulfurimonassp.NW10
Authors: Wang Shasha , Jiang Lijing , Hu Qitao , Liu Xuewen , Yang Suping , Shao Zongze
Published: September 2020

Sulfurimonasspecies (classCampylobacteria, phylum Campylobacterota) were globally distributed and especially predominant in deep‐sea hydrothermal environments. They were previously identified as chemolithoautotrophic sulfur‐oxidizing bacteria (SOB), whereas little is known about their potential in sulfur reduction. In this report, we found that the elemental sulfur reduction is quite common in different species of genusSulfurimonas. To gain insights into the sulfur reduction mechanism, growth tests, morphology observation, as well as genomic and transcriptomic analyses were performed on a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent bacteriumSulfurimonassp. NW10. Scanning electron micrographs and dialysis tubing tests confirmed that elemental sulfur reduction occurred without direct contact of cells with sulfur particles while direct access strongly promoted bacterial growth. Furthermore, we demonstrated that most species ofSulfurimonasprobably employ both periplasmic and cytoplasmic polysulfide reductases, encoded by genespsrA1B1CDEandpsrA2B2, respectively, to accomplish cyclooctasulfur reduction. This is the first report showing two different sulfur reduction pathways coupled to different energy conservations could coexist in one sulfur‐reducing microorganism, and demonstrates that most bacteria of Sulfurimonas could employ both periplasmic and cytoplasmic polysulfide reductases to perform cyclooctasulfur reduction. The capability of sulfur reduction coupling with hydrogen oxidation may partially explain the prevalenceof Sulfurimonas in deep‐sea hydrothermal vent environments.
Dynamics and tensions of implementing agencification reforms: Experiences of District Development Authorities in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Ugyel Lhawang , Sause Lawrence , Gorea Emmanuel
Published: September 2020

Agencification reforms aimed at reducing centralised control and enhancing efficiency by creating arm's‐length autonomous agencies. This paper examines the creation of District Development Authorities (DDA) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). DDAs are typical agencification reforms seeking to empower local governments with greater administrative and financial authority. Using a principal‐agent framework, the experiences of the two DDAs in East New Britain, Kokopo, and Rabaul highlight some of the key challenges and strategies in implementing agencification reforms. Findings of the study revealed that the DDAs in East New Britain adapted the new system while retaining some aspects of the older system, which helped in navigating through the structural changes and the multiple principal‐agent relationships. As a key component of agencification process, these DDAs have also started engaging in revenue generation activities. Such economic activities have the potential to shift the dominant principal‐agent relationship from the national to the local level.
Can digital data diagnose mental health problems? A sociological exploration of ‘digital phenotyping’
Authors: H. Birk Rasmus , Samuel Gabrielle
Published: September 2020

This paper critically explores the research and development of ‘digital phenotyping’, which broadly refers to the idea that digital data can measure and predict people’s mental health as well as their potential risk for mental ill health. Despite increasing research and efforts to digitally track and predict ill mental health, there has been little sociological and critical engagement with this field. This paper aims to fill this gap by introducing digital phenotyping to the social sciences. We explore the origins of digital phenotyping, the concept of the digital phenotype and its potential for benefit, linking these to broader developments within the field of ‘mental health sensing’. We then critically discuss the technology, offering three critiques. First, that there may be assumptions of normality and bias present in the use of algorithms; second, we critique the idea that digital data can act as a proxy for social life; and third that the often biological language employed in this field risks reifying mental health problems. Our aim is not to discredit the scientific work in this area, but rather to call for scientists to remain reflexive in their work, and for more social science engagement in this area.
Discerning Hope: Intra-Actions of a Philosophy for Children Workshop and the Eco-Socially Just Potential of Practising Hope
Authors: Birch Rosamonde
Published: September 2020

This article is an extended discussion from the recent opening presentation for the Annual Winchester Advanced ‘Philosophy for Children’ Seminar in Climate Change Education, Hope and Philosophy for Children. The presentation and text originate from Rosamonde Birch's (2019) Masters’ dissertation research discerning hope through an Education for Sustainable Development Philosophy for Children workshop.
Partus Sequitur Ventrem in Theory and Practice: Slavery and Reproduction in Early Modern Portuguese Asia
Authors: McManus Stuart M.
Published: September 2020

Whereas partus sequitur ventrem (“the birth follows the womb”) laws and their effects on the lives of enslaved women and their children are well understood in the Atlantic context, they remain entirely unstudied in the case of the slave trade in Asia, in particular Portuguese Asia, the string of entrepôts between India and Japan. Focusing on Portuguese Asia between c. 1550 and 1750, this article relies on a little‐known corpus of manuscript treatises on slavery alongside baptismal records, manumission letters and other archival documents to argue that Jesuit missionaries built on the longstanding and varied legal tradition that they had inherited to create a mixed descriptive‐prescriptive framework for understanding and regulating the hereditability of slavery in Asia, which simultaneously admitted departures from partus sequitur ventrem, including Chinese, Japanese and Mughal slavery. This theoretical framework reflected (and to some degree created) the reality on the ground, although the lives of enslaved women were inevitably also shaped by factors that the Jesuits did not fully comprehend, such as Chinese conventions surrounding female bondservants and the seemingly divergent manumission rates of different ethnic groups.
Dealing with dysnomia: Strategies for the cultivation of used concepts in social research
Authors: Fordahl Clayton
Published: September 2020

This article follows recent calls to turn social theory away from its fixations on intellectual history and toward the mechanics and craft of creating social theories in the research process. The subject of this article is a dilemma common to theorizing in social science: dysnomia, or the phenomenon in which some object is poorly named. Specifically, this article focuses on how social scientists distinguish original concepts from their equivalents in everyday speech. Three tactics for dealing with dysnomia are named—academic arcana, classification and sociologism—and considered in order to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Reducing the prevalence of low‐back pain by reducing the prevalence of psychological distress: Evidence from a natural experiment and implications for health care providers
Authors: Brown Timothy T. , Ahn Christie , Huang Haoyue , Ibrahim Zaidat
Published: September 2020

Objective

To determine whether exogenously reduced psychological distress reduces reported low‐back pain (LBP) and is associated with reduced medical visits for LBP.

Data Sources

National Health Interview Survey, National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1998‐2004.

Study Design

We estimate a fuzzy regression discontinuity model in which a discontinuity in the prevalence of psychological distress is identified by exogenous national events. We examine whether this discontinuity induced a corresponding discontinuity in the prevalence of LBP. We additionally estimate a regression discontinuity model to determine associated changes in medical visits with LBP as the primary complaint.

Principal Findings

The prevalence of LBP was discontinuously reduced by one‐fifth due to the exogenous national discontinuous reduction in psychological distress. This discontinuity in LBP cannot be explained by discontinuities in employment, insurance, injuries/poisoning, general health status, or other factors. We find an associated three‐fifth discontinuous reduction in medical visits with LBP as the primary complaint.

Conclusions

On a monthly basis, 2.1 million (P < .01) adults ceased to suffer LBP due to the national reduction in psychological distress, and associated medical visits with LBP as the primary complaint declined by 685 000 (P < .01).
Institutionalizing inequality in the courts: Decomposing racial and ethnic disparities in detention, conviction, and sentencing*
Authors: Omori Marisa , Petersen Nick
Published: September 2020

A significant body of literature has examined racial and ethnic inequalities in sentencing, focusing on how individual court actors make decisions, but fewer scholars have examined whether disparities are institutionalized through legal case factors. After finding racial and ethnic inequalities in pretrial detention, conviction, and incarceration based on 4 years of felony court data (N = 83,924) from Miami‐Dade County, we estimate nonlinear decomposition models to examine how much of the inequalities are explained by differences in criminal history, charging, and for conviction and incarceration, pretrial detention. Results suggest that inequality is greatest between White non‐Latinos and Black Latinos, followed by White non‐Latinos and Black non‐Latinos, ranging from 4 to more than 8 percentage points difference in the probability of pretrial detention, 7–13 points difference in conviction, 5–6 points in prison, and 4–10 points difference in jail. We find few differences between White non‐Latinos and White Latinos. Between half and three‐quarters of the inequality in pretrial detention, conviction, and prison sentences between White non‐Latino and Black people is explained through legal case factors. Our findings indicate that inequality is, in part, institutionalized through legal case factors, suggesting these factors are not “race neutral” but instead racialized and contribute to inequalities in court outcomes.
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease to metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease: Conceptual changes for clinicians, researchers and patients
Authors: Lin Shuang Zhe , Chen Yuan Wen , Fan Jian Gao
Published: September 2020

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common etiology of chronic liver disease threatening global public health. However, the name “NAFLD” is no longer appropriate with the change of time. Recently, a new term, “metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease” has been proposed by an international panel of experts, which implies profound conceptual changes in terms of its metabolism‐related etiology and disease heterogeneity. In this article we discuss the specific conceptual changes that clinicians, researchers and patients must absorb.
Relationships between socio‐economic status and lottery gambling across lottery types: neighborhood‐level evidence from a large city
Authors: Fu Hin‐Ngai , Monson Eva , Otto A. Ross
Published: September 2020

Background and aims

Lottery gambling participation tends to be higher among lower socio‐economic status (SES) individuals, but it is unclear how this relationship differs as a function of lottery type. We estimated how the relationship between SES and lottery gambling rates varies across different types of lottery gambling: fixed‐prize, progressive‐prize (jackpot) and instant‐win (scratch card) lottery tickets in a large Canadian city.

Design

Neighborhood‐level lottery purchase data obtained from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission were analysed in conjunction with demographic data. Mixed‐effects regression was used to assess simultaneously how neighborhood‐level SES predicts per‐person lottery gambling rates across fixed‐prize, progressive‐prize lottery and instant‐win lotteries.

Setting and participants

Neighborhoods in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the years 2012–15.

Measurements

Per‐capita sales in dollars (CAD) of fixed‐prize lottery, progressive‐prize lottery and instant‐win tickets in Toronto postal codes. SES was estimated as a composite of income, years of education and white‐collar employment.

Findings

Lower‐SES neighborhoods engaged in higher rates of lottery gambling overall [β = −0.084, standard error (SE) = 0.24, P = 0.0007]. The predictive effect of SES varied significantly by lottery type (fixed‐prize: β = −0.105, SE = 0.004, P < 0.0001, instant‐win: β = −0.054, SE = 0.004, P < 0.0001; relative to progressive‐prize). The predictive effect of SES was strongest for fixed‐prize lotteries and weakest for progressive‐prize lotteries, such that we did not observe a significant predictive effect of SES for progressive‐prize lotteries (β = −0.031, SE = 0.024, P = 0.198).

Conclusions

People in lower socio‐economic status neighborhoods in Toronto, Canada appear to engage in more lottery gambling than those in higher socio‐economic status neighborhoods, with the difference being largest for fixed prize lotteries followed by instant win lotteries, and no clear difference for progressive prize lotteries.
Filling ability of three bioceramic root‐end filling materials: A micro‐computed tomography analysis
Authors: Toia Cassia Cestari , Teixeira Fabricio Batista , Cucco Carolina , Valera Marcia Carneiro , Cavalcanti Bruno Neves
Published: September 2020

This study aimed at evaluating the volume of gaps and voids, and the total porosity percentage of three calcium‐silicate‐based materials in mandibular molars apicoectomy by Micro‐CT analysis. Thirty‐three mesial roots of extracted human mandibular molars were instrumented and obturated. The apical 3mm of each root was resected and prepared. Root‐end cavities were filled with EndoSequence BC Putty (BC); ProRoot MTA (MTA) and Biodentine (BIO). Samples were scanned using a Micro‐CT scanner and the tridimensional images reconstructed. Percentage of gaps (VG%) and of voids (VV%) were obtained. Porosity percentage (Po%) was also assessed. Data were analysed using Student’s t‐test (P < 0.05). All materials presented gaps and voids. VG% was 2.006 (BC), 1.882 (MTA) and 1.450 (BIO), and VV% was 0.039 (BC), 0.021 (MTA) and 0.024 (BIO) with no statistical difference. Po% were 56.73 (BC), 51.94 (MTA) and 50.45 (BIO), with BC being statistically (P > 0.05) more porous.
Anatomic investigation of the lumbosacral plexus of the helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)
Authors: Nilgun Kuru , Ismail Turkmenoglu
Published: September 2020

The study was conducted for the determination of the main nerves of the lumbosacral plexus in the helmeted guineafowl. Five helmeted guineafowls were used. Fowls were anaesthetised and the a. carotis communis was cut for blood drainage. Body cavities were revealed and were fixated with 10% formaldehyde. Nerves forming the lumbosacral plexus were dissected and photographed. Results were named according to the Nomina Anatomica Avium. It was determined that the lumbosacral plexus forms by 8 synsacral ventral rami from the ventrolateral side of synsacrum which include (2–9) synsacral spinal nerves. It was seen that the lumbar plexus was formed by the ventral rami of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th spinal nerves, and the sacral plexus was formed by the ventral rami of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th synsacral spinal nerves. It was observed that following nerves of n. pubicus (ilioinguinalis), r. cutaneous femoris lateralis, r. cutaneous femoris medialis (n. saphenus), n. femoralis and n. obturatorius originate from the lumbar plexus, and following nerves of n. ischiadicus, the common branch of n. fibularis and n. tibialis originate from the sacral plexus. It was determined that the n. ischiadicus was formed by the truncus cranialis, medianus and caudalis. In conclusion, it was determined that there are macro anatomical differences between different avian species in the quantity, thickness and distribution of the spinal nerves that form the lumbosacral plexus, and in formations of the plexus, and in separations of nerve branches.
Predicting food allergy: The value of patient history reinforced
Authors: Lyons Sarah A. , Knulst André C. , Burney Peter G. J. , Fernandez‐Rivas Montserrat , Ballmer‐Weber Barbara K. , Barreales Laura , Bieli Christian , Clausen Michael , Dubakiene Ruta , Fernandez‐Perez Cristina , Jedrzejczak‐Czechowicz Monika , Kowalski Marek L. , Kummeling Ischa , Kralimarkova Tanya , Mustakov Tihomir B. , van Os‐Medendorp Harmieke , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G. , Popov Todor A. , Potts James , Versteeg Serge A. , Xepapadaki Paraskevi , Welsing Paco M. J. , Mills Clare , van Ree Ronald , Le Thuy‐My
Published: September 2020

Background

EAACI guidelines emphasize the importance of patient history in diagnosing food allergy (FA) and the need for studies investigating its value using standardized allergy‐focused questionnaires.

Objective

To determine the contribution of reaction characteristics, allergic comorbidities and demographics to prediction of FA in individuals experiencing food‐related adverse reactions.

Methods

Adult and school‐age participants in the standardized EuroPrevall population surveys, with self‐reported FA, were included. Penalized multivariable regression was used to assess the association of patient history determinants with “probable” FA, defined as a food‐specific case history supported by relevant IgE sensitization.

Results

In adults (N = 844), reproducibility of reaction (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.29‐1.41]), oral allergy symptoms (OAS) (4.46 [4.19‐4.75]), allergic rhinitis (AR) comorbidity (2.82 [2.68‐2.95]), asthma comorbidity (1.38 [1.30‐1.46]) and male sex (1.50 [1.41‐1.59]) were positively associated with probable FA. Gastrointestinal symptoms (0.88 [0.85‐0.91]) made probable FA less likely. The AUC of a model combining all selected predictors was 0.85 after cross‐validation. In children (N = 670), OAS (2.26 [2.09‐2.44]) and AR comorbidity (1.47 [CI 1.39‐1.55]) contributed most to prediction of probable FA, with a combined cross‐validation‐based AUC of 0.73. When focusing on plant foods, the dominant source of FA in adults, the pediatric model also included gastrointestinal symptoms (inverse association), and the AUC increased to 0.81.

Conclusions

In both adults and school‐age children from the general population, reporting of OAS and of AR comorbidity appear to be the strongest predictors of probable FA. Patient history particularly allows for good discrimination between presence and absence of probable plant FA.
Peritonitis‐associated hyperlactatemia for evaluating mortality in secondary peritonitis
Authors: Negi Ravikanta , Bhardwaj Sushma , Singh Simrandeep , Gupta Seema , Kaushik Robin
Published: September 2020

Background

In sepsis, lactate measurements correlate with mortality; however, the role of lactate in predicting mortality in patients of secondary peritonitis is not yet fully established.

Methods

Data were maintained prospectively on 224 patients of secondary peritonitis over a period of 10 years. Arterial lactate measurements were performed twice in each patient – once, initially on admission (ALI) and the other, 24 h after surgery (AL24); from these values, percentage lactate clearance was calculated. These lactate indices and other demographic factors were correlated with mortality.

Results

Overall mortality was 16.07% (36 patients) and morbidity was 63.39% (pulmonary complications commonest); preoperative lactate (more than 2.35 mmol/L), 24‐h postoperative lactate (more than 2.05 mmol/L), need for vasopressors and mechanical ventilation independently correlated with morbidity and mortality. A simple prognostic scale constructed using cut‐off values of ALI, AL24, need for vasopressor support and mechanical ventilation showed a sensitivity of 97.22% and specificity of 52.13% for predicting mortality.

Conclusion

Preoperative and postoperative arterial lactate levels, need for vasopressors and mechanical ventilation, are independent predictors of mortality. Using these parameters, it may be possible to identify high risk patients that can benefit from early, goal directed therapy to reduce the mortality of secondary peritonitis.
Closed reduction of paediatric forearm fractures: nitrous oxide versus general anaesthetic
Authors: Chan Mun K. , Cawthorne Donald P. , St George Justine E. , Little David G.
Published: September 2020

Background

Nitrous oxide with intranasal fentanyl is safe and effective in performing closed reduction of paediatric forearm fractures; however, the difference in outcome when compared to those performed under general anaesthesia (GA) is unclear. We aim to compare the outcomes of closed reduction of paediatric forearm fractures under nitrous oxide versus GA.

Methods

This retrospective study based on a prospective change in protocol reviewed the medical records and radiographs of patients with forearm fractures who presented to a tertiary paediatric centre, and who subsequently underwent closed reduction under either nitrous or GA. Data on patient demographics, type and site of fracture and the method of casting were collected. The primary outcomes were loss of reduction, the need for repeat intervention and the rate of complications.

Results

There were 301 and 362 patients in the nitrous and GA groups respectively. The overall re‐intervention rate was 7.6% in the nitrous group versus 5.0% in the GA group (P = 0.155). There was no significant difference in loss of reduction which involved 9.0% in the nitrous group and 11.3% in the GA group (P = 0.320). There was no significance difference in overall complications. Nausea and vomiting comprised the majority of adverse events.

Conclusion

Closed reduction of paediatric forearm fractures performed under nitrous oxide with intranasal fentanyl is safe, effective and achieves comparable re‐intervention rates and adverse events to those performed under GA in the operating theatre.
Results of a UK National Cancer Research Institute Phase II study of brentuximab vedotin using a response‐adapted design in the first‐line treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma unsuitable for chemotherapy due to age, frailty or comorbidity (BREVITY)
Authors: Gibb Adam , Pirrie Sarah J. , Linton Kim , Warbey Victoria , Paterson Kathryn , Davies Andrew J. , Collins Graham P. , Menne Tobias , McKay Pamela , Fields Paul A. , Miall Fiona M. , Nagy Eszter , Wheatley Keith , Reed Rachel , Baricevic‐Jones Ivona , Barrington Sally , Radford John
Published: September 2020

Standard treatment for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is poorly tolerated in older patients and results disappointing. We assessed safety and efficacy of brentuximab vedotin (BV), in previously untreated patients with cHL unfit for standard treatment due to age, frailty or comorbidity. The primary outcome was complete metabolic response (CMR) by positron emission tomography/computed tomography after four BV cycles (PET4). The secondary outcomes included progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. In all, 35 patients with a median age of 77 years and median total Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS‐G) score of 6 were evaluable for toxicity and 31 for response. A median of four cycles were given (range one–16). In all, 14 patients required dose reduction due to toxicity and 11 patients stopped treatment due to adverse events (AEs). A total of 716 AEs were reported, of which 626 (88%) were Grade 1/2 and 27 (77%) patients had at least one AE Grade ≥3. At PET4, CMR was 25·8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 13·7–42.2%] and objective response rate 83·9% (95% CI 63·7–90·8%). Median PFS was 7·3 months (95% CI 5·2–9·0), and OS 19·5 months. Our results suggest that BV monotherapy is tolerable but suboptimal in the front‐line therapy of elderly or comorbid patients with cHL. Combining BV with other agents may be more effective.

Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02567851.
Upregulation of S100A10 in metastasized breast cancer stem cells
Authors: Yanagi Hisano , Watanabe Takashi , Nishimura Tatsunori , Hayashi Takanori , Kono Seishi , Tsuchida Hitomi , Hirata Munetsugu , Kijima Yuko , Takao Shintaro , Okada Seiji , Suzuki Motoshi , Imaizumi Kazuyoshi , Kawada Kenji , Minami Hironobu , Gotoh Noriko , Shimono Yohei
Published: September 2020

Metastatic progression remains the major cause of death in human breast cancer. Cancer cells with cancer stem cell (CSC) properties drive initiation and growth of metastases at distant sites. We have previously established the breast cancer patient‐derived tumor xenograft (PDX) mouse model in which CSC marker CD44+ cancer cells formed spontaneous microscopic metastases in the liver. In this PDX mouse, the expression levels of S100A10 and its family proteins were much higher in the CD44+ cancer cells metastasized to the liver than those at the primary site. Knockdown of S100A10 in breast cancer cells suppressed and overexpression of S100A10 in breast cancer PDX cells enhanced their invasion abilities and 3D organoid formation capacities in vitro. Mechanistically, S100A10 regulated the matrix metalloproteinase activity and the expression levels of stem cell–related genes. Finally, constitutive knockdown of S100A10 significantly reduced their metastatic ability to the liver in vivo. These findings suggest that S100A10 functions as a metastasis promoter of breast CSCs by conferring both invasion ability and CSC properties in breast cancers.
Expression of ACE2 in airways: Implication for COVID‐19 risk and disease management in patients with chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases
Authors: Yao Yin , Wang Hai , Liu Zheng
Published: September 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has been a rising international cause of morbidity and mortality. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is identified as a key cell entry receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2 and suggested to be a limiting factor for viral entry at the initial infection stage. Recent studies have demonstrated that ACE2 expression is highly enriched in nasal epithelial cells and type II alveolar epithelial cells, highlighting the importance of respiratory tract as the primary target site of SARS‐CoV‐2. The expression of ACE2 in airway epithelial cells is tightly regulated by inflammatory milieu and environmental and internal stimuli. Very recently, ACE2 has been reported to have different expression levels in airways under distinct chronic inflammatory airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and allergic asthma, which may associate with the COVID‐19 risk and affect the management of primary airway diseases. In this review, we focus on the cutting‐edge progress in distribution, expression, and regulation of ACE2 in respiratory system in physiological and pathological conditions, and their implication for the development of COVID‐19. We also discuss the management of airway diseases, including asthma, COPD, allergic rhinitis, and rhinosinusitis in the era of COVID‐19.