bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vascular Comorbidities Worsen Prognosis of Patients with Heart Failure Hospitalized with COVID-19
Authors: Mok Jacob , Malpartida Juan , O’Dell Kimberly , Davis Joshua , Gao Cuilan , Manyam Harish
Published: March 2021

Background

Prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF) is associated with increased length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality from Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Associations between substance use, venous thromboembolism (VTE), or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and its effects on LOS or mortality in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19 remains unknown.

Objective

This study identified risk factors associated with poor in-hospital outcomes among patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods

Case control study was conducted of patients with prior diagnosis of HF hospitalized with COVID-19 at an academic tertiary care center from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021. Patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19 with risk factors were compared with those without risk factors for clinical characteristics, length of stay (LOS), and mortality. Multivariate regression was conducted to identify multiple predictors of increased LOS and in-hospital mortality in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19.

Results

Total of 211 HF patients were hospitalized with COVID-19. Females had longer LOS than males (9 days vs. 7 days; p < 0.001). Compared with patients without peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or ischemic stroke, patients with PAD or ischemic stroke had longer LOS (7 days vs. 9 days; p = 0.012 and 7 days vs. 11 days, p < 0.001; respectively). Older patients (aged 65 and above) had increased in-hospital mortality compared to younger patients (Adjusted OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00 – 1.07; p = 0.036). VTE increased mortality more than three-fold in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19 (Adjusted OR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.29 – 8.43; p = 0.011).

Conclusion

Vascular diseases increase LOS and mortality in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19.

KEY QUESTIONS

What is already known about this subject?

- Prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF) increases LOS and mortality in patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19

- Antiplatelet, anticoagulation, and statin therapy decreased venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients admitted for COVID-19

What does this study add?

- This study showed that patients with COVID-19, HF, and VTE had a higher mortality rate than patients with COVID-19 and either HF or VTE, or patients with HF and/or VTE who did not have COVID-19.

- This study showed that patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19 had greater length of stay with prior diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or ischemic stroke

How might this impact on clinical practice?

- Our findings demonstrate clinical relevance by showing supportive evidence for antiplatelet, anticoagulation, and statin therapy in HF patients hospitalized with COVID-19
Genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in renal dialysis units - a high risk community-hospital interface
Authors: Li Kathy K , Woo Y. Mun , Stirrup Oliver , Hughes Joseph , Ho Antonia , Da Silva Filipe Ana , Johnson Natasha , Smollett Katherine , Mair Daniel , Carmichael Stephen , Tong Lily , Nichols Jenna , Aranday-Cortes Elihu , Brunker Kirstyn , Parr Yasmin A. , Nomikou Kyriaki , McDonald Sarah E , Niebel Marc , Asamaphan Patawee , Sreenu Vattipally B , Robertson David L , Taggart Aislynn , Jesudason Natasha , Shah Rajiv , Shepherd James , Singer Josh , Taylor Alison H.M. , Cousland Zoe , Price Jonathan , Lees Jennifer S. , Jones Timothy P.W. , Lopez Carlos Varon , MacLean Alasdair , Starinskij Igor , Gunson Rory , Morris Scott T.W. , Thomson Peter C. , Geddes Colin C. , Traynor Jamie P. , Breuer Judith ,   The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium, Thomson Emma C. , Mark Patrick B.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Patients requiring haemodialysis are at increased risk of serious illness with SARS-CoV-2 infection. To improve the understanding of transmission risks in six Scottish renal dialysis units, we utilised the rapid whole-genome sequencing data generated by the COG-UK consortium.

Methods

We combined geographical, temporal and genomic sequence data from the community and hospital to estimate the probability of infection originating from within the dialysis unit, the hospital or the community using Bayesian statistical modelling and compared these results to the details of epidemiological investigations.

Results

Of 671 patients, 60 (8.9%) became infected with SARS-CoV-2, of whom 16 (27%) died. Within-unit and community transmission were both evident and an instance of transmission from the wider hospital setting was also demonstrated.

Conclusions

Near-real-time SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data can facilitate tailored infection prevention and control measures, which can be targeted at reducing risk in these settings.
Disparities in Excess Deaths from the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Migrant Workers in Kuwait
Authors: Alahmad Barrak , AlMekhled Dawoud , Odeh Ayah , Gasana Janvier
Published: March 2021

Background

The actual human cost of the pandemic cannot be viewed through the COVID-19 mortality rates alone. Especially when the pandemic is widening the existing health disparities among different subpopulations within the same society. In Kuwait, migrant workers were already disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and its unintended consequences.

Objective

To estimate the excess deaths in the pandemic year of 2020 among the Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaiti migrants.

Methods

We analyzed publicly available retrospective data on total annual mortality historically (2005 to 2019) and in 2020. We fitted a quasi-poisson generalized linear model adjusted for yearly trend and nationality to estimate the expected deaths in 2020 in the absence of the pandemic. We calculated excess deaths as the difference between observed and expected mortality for the year of the pandemic in both Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis.

Results

In the absence of the pandemic, we expect the total mortality in Kuwait to be 6629 (95% CI: 6472 to 6789) deaths. However, the observed total mortality in 2020 was 9975 deaths; about 3346 (3186 to 3503) more deaths above the historical trend. Deaths among migrant workers would have been approximately 71.9% (67.8 to 76.0) lower in the absence of the pandemic. On the other hand, deaths among Kuwaitis would have been 32.4% (29.3 to 35.6) lower if the country had not had the pandemic.

Conclusion

The mortality burden of the COVID-19 pandemic is substantially higher than what the official tally might suggest. Systematically disadvantaged migrant workers shouldered a larger burden of deaths in the pandemic year. Public health interventions must consider structural and societal determinants that give rise to the health disparities seen among migrant workers.
Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties of poly[bis[μ2-3-(aminomethyl)pyridine]bis(thiocyanato)cobalt(II)]
Authors: Krebs Christoph , Jess Inke , Näther Christian
Published: March 2021

The reaction of Co(NCS)2 with 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine as coligand leads to the formation of crystals of the title compound, [Co(NCS)2(C6H8N2)2]
n
, that were characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In the crystal structure, the CoII cations are octahedrally coordinated by two terminal N-bonded thiocyanate anions as well as two pyridine and two amino N atoms of four symmetry-equivalent 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine coligands with all pairs of equivalent atoms in a trans position. The CoII cations are linked by the 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine coligands into layers parallel to the ac plane. These layers are further linked by intermolecular N—H...S hydrogen bonding into a three-dimensional network. The purity of the title compound was determined by X-ray powder diffraction and its thermal behavior was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry.
(2E)-2-(3,4-Dimethoxybenzylidene)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one
Authors: Shirmila D. Angeline , Jonathan D. Reuben , Priya M. Krishna , Hemalatha J. , Usha G.
Published: March 2021

In the title chalcone derivative, C19H18O3, the cyclohexanone ring adopts a distorted half-chair conformation and the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 52.20 (15)°. In the crystal, weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into C(12) [001] chains.
Dissatisfaction toward O2O websites: expectation disconfirmation and justice perspective
Authors: Che Tong , Ji Meng , Zheng Xiabing , Feng Bo
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The online-to-offline (O2O) business is developing rapidly and is highly popular in many countries. Nevertheless, O2O suffers from a large number of customer complaints that result in consumer loss. Focusing on the O2O context, this study integrates expectation disconfirmation theory (EDT) and justice theory to investigate consumers' dissatisfaction toward O2O websites.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model was proposed and tested using 329 survey responses.

Findings

Results show that the identified website disconfirmation and offline service disconfirmation could lead to consumer dissatisfaction. Importantly, the impacts of disconfirmation factors are contingent upon the justice perception of consumers. When a transaction is perceived as unfair, website disconfirmation arouses a higher level of dissatisfaction, and the negative emotions could transfer from O2O and damage the website's reputation.

Originality/value

This study explores the continuance intentions of customers toward O2O websites from a dissatisfaction perspective, with insights for future service studies and O2O service managers.
Stakeholders conflict and private–public partnership chain (PPPC): supply chain of perishable product
Authors: Shareef Mahmud Akhter , Dwivedi Yogesh , Ahmed Jashim Uddin , Kumar Uma , Mahmud Rafeed
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to address procurement, logistics management, inventory control and distribution of perishable items, i.e. vegetables, fruits, flowers and fishes, during the social isolation period of the Covid-19 era to identify conflicting interests among the channel members; present inventory and information sharing scenario; and reveal organizational dispute and existence of redundant, nonessential and corrupted members in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an exploratory investigation to evaluate the relations among the members of the supply chain of perishable food items. In this context, it is designed to investigate the field, observe the members of the existing supply chain from rural and remote places and capture their interviews to accomplish the objectives.

Findings

This study identified that although the supply chain of perishable food items is controlled truly by private parties, from a realistic view, the private–public partnership is essential where the government should play the coordinating role. In this context, continuous interaction, coordination and information sharing among the members to establish an optimum and scalable network and remove any redundant nodal points is a key success factor for managing an efficient supply chain.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretical and managerial implication of this research is enormous. The existence of functional and dysfunctional conflicts in the same supply network and how it can be detrimental to the performance of the members are exposed in this study, which can be an excellent source to be investigated. Practitioners and researchers can gain a greater understanding to identify the root causes of conflicts in the existing structural dynamics, shedding light on organizational interactions, power and group behavior during the Covid-19 era.

Originality/value

From the light of management and inter-organizational conflicts, this is a pioneer study that has detected the redundant channel members, their source of power and how their removal can present an optimum channel with group coherence and synergistic interest.
Using complexity and volatility characteristics to guide hybrid project management
Authors: Costantini Silvana , Hall Jon G. , Rapanotti Lucia
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to provide methodological support for hybrid project management, in which the discipline of predictive methodologies combines with the flexibility of adaptive ones. Specifically, the paper explores the extent complexity and volatility dimensions of organisational problems inform choices of PM methodologies both theoretically and in current practice, as a first step towards better methodological support for hybridisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a mixed method approach, including both secondary research and primary research with practitioners. Primary research consists of a small scale survey (n = 31) followed by semi-structured interviews, with findings triangulated against secondary evidence.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights on how complexity and volatility of organisational problems can inform hybrid project management practices. Specifically, it suggests a mapping between volatility and complexity dimensions and predictive and adaptive risk controls as a first step towards the systematisation of hybrid combinations in projects.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the small participant sample, the research results may lack generalisability.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the development of methodological support for setting up hybrid projects in practice.

Originality/value

The paper addresses a gap acknowledged both in the literature and by practitioners.
Value co-creation between consumers and distributors: the moderating effect of relationship characteristics
Authors: Rubio Natalia , Villaseñor Nieves , Yagüe Maria Jesús
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Although value co-creation has been widely analyzed in digital contexts and various types of services (tourism, healthcare, etc.), it has received less study in the area of retail distribution. This study proposes that trust in the retailer and perceived support can encourage co-creation behavior on various levels: a basic level related to communication of service errors and a moderate-high level related to participation in service innovation. This study also proposes modeling for two different segments according to the participation in a loyalty program and according to the relationship duration.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey (N = 644) was used to test the model in the context of the consumer goods retail industry. Confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup structural equation modeling techniques were used to assess the proposed model.

Findings

The results show differences in the formation of co-creation behaviors depending on the customers analyzed. To encourage communication of service errors, customers affiliated to the program and customers with the longest customer-firm relationships must trust the distributor. Perceived support is crucial in encouraging feedback on service errors among non-affiliated and new customers. For promoting service innovation, the most significant antecedent is perceived support, followed by trust, independently of whether or not the customer belongs to the loyalty program. Customers with the longest relationship participate in co-innovation motivated equally by trust and perceived support. Customers with shorter relationship duration only participate in co-innovation if they perceived support.

Originality/value

This study contributes to deepening knowledge of co-creation behavior in the field of retail distribution. To date, research in this context has not considered the existence of various levels of co-creation: the basic level related to feedback on service errors and the moderate/high level related to participation in service co-innovation. Nor have studies tested the influence of trust and perceived support on these co-creation behaviors. Further, this study is the first study to integrate two significant variables that moderate retailers' strategy in the same model: membership in a loyalty program and duration of customer-firm relationship.
Effects of Banafine®, a fermented green banana‐derived acidic glycoconjugate, on influenza vaccine antibody titer in elderly patients receiving gastrostomy tube feeding
Authors: Horie Kenji , Hossain Md. Saddam , Kim Yugweng , Akiko Ishida , Kon Ryoko , Yamatsu Atsushi , Kishima Masako , Nishikimi Toshio , Kim Mujo
Published: March 2021

Immunosenescence can negatively affect cytokine production in elderly and may impair poor antibody responses to influenza vaccination and infection. Herein, the effects of Banafine® administration on influenza vaccine antibody titer in elderly patients (average age ∼80 years) receiving gastrostomy tube feeding were examined. In the double‐blind, single‐center, randomized clinical studies, 30 elderly bedridden patients were administered Banafine® or placebo for 8 weeks. At week 4, all patients received influenza vaccination against H1N1, H3N2, B/Yamagata, or B/Victoria. Blood biochemical indices and serum antibody titers were assessed. Banafine® administration significantly increased hemagglutination inhibition titers in response to vaccination against H1N1, H3N2, and B/Yamagata in the elderly patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, the seroconversion rate against H1N1 (47.1%) and H3N2 (29.4%) and seroprotection rate against H1N1 (71.4%) and both B strains (31.3% and 12.5%, respectively) were increased for the Banafine® group. These results suggest that Banafine® administration can increase antibody responses to influenza vaccination in bedridden hospitalized patients, and potentially modulate immune function in the elderly.

Practical Application

Literature review suggested that most of the synbiotics are based on innate immunity, strain specific (probiotics), and are not consistently observed. Herein, in clinical studies we demonstrate that administration of Banafine®, a plant‐based glycoconjugate, can increase antibody levels in bedridden hospitalized elderly patients following influenza vaccination.
Model‐based ordination for species with unequal niche widths
Authors: van der Veen Bert , Hui Francis K. C. , Hovstad Knut A. , Solbu Erik B. , O'Hara Robert B.
Published: March 2021

It is common practice for ecologists to examine species niches in the study of community composition. The response curve of a species in the fundamental niche is usually assumed to be quadratic. The centre of a quadratic curve represents a species' optimal environmental conditions, and the width its ability to tolerate deviations from the optimum.

Most multivariate methods assume species respond linearly to niche axes, or with a quadratic curve that is of equal width for all species. However, it is widely understood that some species have the ability to better tolerate deviations from their optimal environment (generalists) compared to other (specialist) species. Rare species often tolerate a smaller range of environments than more common species, corresponding to a narrow niche.

We propose a new method, for ordination and fitting Joint Species Distribution Models, based on Generalized Linear Mixed‐effects Models, which relaxes the assumptions of equal tolerances.

By explicitly estimating species maxima, and species optima and tolerances per ecological gradient, we can better explore how species relate to each other.
Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of the penetration of an epoxy resin‐based sealer into dentinal tubules after calcium hydroxide dressing
Authors: Machado Manoel E.L. , Veintimilla Lozada Virginia Natalia , Carrillo Rengifo Karol Jasmin , Guillén Raquel E.G. , Caballero‐Flores Hector , Nabeshima Cleber Keiti
Published: March 2021

This study assessed the penetration of an epoxy resin‐based sealer into dentinal tubules of root canals previously medicated with calcium hydroxide. Sixteen palatal root canals of upper molars were instrumented and distributed into two groups: (G1) root canals medicated with calcium hydroxide and obturated after its removal; (G2) root canals obturated without the use of dressing. Sealer mixed with rhodamine B provided fluorescence for confocal laser scanning microscopy. Measurements of area and linear penetration of the sealer were assessed in three thirds by ImageJ software. The data were statistically compared by Kruskal–Wallis, Dunn’s and Mann–Whitney U tests (P < 0.01). The calcium hydroxide decreased the penetration of the sealer. The coronal and middle thirds had similar areas and linear penetrations in both groups, whereas the apical third had less penetration. In conclusion, the penetration of the epoxy resin‐based sealer is influenced by the calcium hydroxide dressing used between appointments.
Integrative analysis of multiple case‐control studies
Authors: Zhang Han , Deng Lu , Wheeler William , Qin Jing , Yu Kai
Published: March 2021

It is often challenging to share detailed individual‐level data among studies due to various informatics and privacy constraints. However, it is relatively easy to pool together aggregated summary level data, such as the ones required for standard meta‐analyses. Focusing on data generated from case‐control studies, we present a flexible inference procedure that integrates individual‐level data collected from an “internal” study with summary data borrowed from “external” studies. This procedure is built on a retrospective empirical likelihood framework to account for the sampling bias in case‐control studies. It can incorporate summary statistics extracted from various working models adopted by multiple independent or overlapping external studies. It also allows for external studies to be conducted in a population that is different from the internal study population. We show both theoretically and numerically its efficiency advantage over several competing alternatives.
British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) consensus document: Management of female voiding dysfunction
Authors: Biers Suzanne M. , Harding Chris , Belal Mo , Thiruchelvam Nikesh , Hamid Rizwan , Sahai Arun , Parkinson Richard , Barratt Rachel , Ali Ased , Reid Sheilagh ,   BAUS Section of Female, Neurological and Urodynamic Urology
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To report the British Association of Urological Surgeon's (BAUS) guidance on the assessment and management of female voiding dysfunction.

Methods

A contemporary literature search was conducted to identify the evidence base. The BAUS Section of Female, Neurological and Urodynamic Urology (FNUU) Executive Committee formed a guideline development group to draw up and review the recommendations. Where there was no supporting evidence, expert opinion of the BAUS FNUU executive committee, FNUU Section and BAUS members, including urology consultants working in units throughout the UK, was used.

Results

Female patients with voiding dysfunction can present with mixed urinary symptoms or urinary retention in both elective and emergency settings. Voiding dysfunction is caused by a wide range of conditions which can be categorized into bladder outlet obstruction (attributable to functional or anatomical causes) or detrusor underactivity. Guidance on the assessment, investigation and treatment of women with voiding dysfunction and urinary retention, in the absence of a known underlying neurological condition, is provided.

Conclusion

Wa have produced a BAUS approved consensus on the management pathway for female voiding dysfunction with the aim to optimize assessment and treatment pathways for patients.
Identifying robust strategies for assisted migration in a competitive stochastic metacommunity
Authors: Backus Gregory A. , Baskett Marissa L.
Published: March 2021

Assisted migration (AM) is the translocation of species beyond their historical range to locations that are expected to be more suitable under future climate change. However, a relocated population may fail to establish in its donor community if there is high uncertainty in decision‐making, climate, and interactions with the recipient ecological community. To quantify the benefit to persistence and risk of establishment failure of AM under different management scenarios (e.g., choosing target species, proportion of population to relocate, and optimal location to relocate), we built a stochastic metacommunity model to simulate several species reproducing, dispersing, and competing on a temperature gradient as temperature increases over time. Without AM, the species were vulnerable to climate change when they had low population sizes, short dispersal, and strong poleward competition. When relocating species that exemplified these traits, AM increased the long‐term persistence of the species most when relocating a fraction of the donor population, even if the remaining population was very small or rapidly declining. This suggests that leaving behind a fraction of the population could be a robust approach, allowing managers to repeat AM in case they move the species to the wrong place and at the wrong time, especially when it is difficult to identify a species’ optimal climate. We found that AM most benefitted species with low dispersal ability and least benefited species with narrow thermal tolerances, for which AM increased extinction risk on average. Although relocation did not affect the persistence of nontarget species in our simple competitive model, researchers will need to consider a more complete set of community interactions to comprehensively understand invasion potential.
Dispelling misperceptions of native lampreys (Entosphenus and Lampetra spp.) in the Pacific northwest (USA)
Authors: Clemens Benjamin J. , Wang Christina J.
Published: March 2021

Native lampreys continue to be misunderstood by some citizens in the Pacific Northwest (PNW; USA). This misunderstanding is caused by persistent misperceptions reinforced in media and exacerbated by a long‐running (mid‐1900s to present) and pervasive outreach campaign on the control of the invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Laurentian Great Lakes, Lake Champlain and the Finger Lakes of New York. The use of outreach to encourage conservation of native lampreys in the PNW has been comparatively recent. Along with other native non‐salmonid fishes, lampreys were perceived by Euro‐American settlers as “undesirable”, “coarse” or “trash” fish that parasitized desirable trouts and salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and competed with them for environmental resources. These concerns have been magnified by the seemingly physical and ecological similarities between native and invasive sea lampreys. To dispel the misperceptions of native lampreys, we recommend a multi‐prong approach that: sharpens the specificity of outreach materials on sea lamprey control; develops outreach media that distinguishes invasive and native lampreys, includes recognition of the multiple ecosystem benefits that native lampreys offer, and includes hands‐on, place‐based learning led by or in collaboration with local tribes that can provide cultural context, and employs a broad outreach campaign to facilitate conservation of native lampreys.
Better outcome of COVID‐19 positive kidney transplant recipients during the unremitting stage with optimized anticoagulation and immunosuppression
Authors: AlOtaibi Torki M. , Gheith Osama A. , Abuelmagd Mohammed M. , Adel Mohammed , Alqallaf Ahmed K. , Elserwy Nabil A. , Shaker Mohamed , Abbas Ahmad M. , Nagib Ayman M. , Nair Prasad , Halim Medhat A. , Mahmoud Tarek , khaled Mahmoud M. , Hammad Mohamed A. , Fayyad Zoheer A. , Atta Ahmed F. , Mostafa Ahmed Y. , Draz Ahmed S. , Zakaria Zakaria E. , Atea Khaled A. , Aboatya Hasaneen H. , Ameenn Mohamed E. , Monem Mohamed A. , Mahmoud Amro M.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

COVID‐19 is an ongoing pandemic with high morbidity and mortality and with a reported high risk of severe disease in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).

Aim

We aimed to report the largest number of COVID‐19‐positive cases in KTR in a single center and to discuss their demographics, management, and evolution.

Methods

We enrolled all the two thousand KTR followed up in our center in Kuwait and collected the data of all COVID‐19‐positive KTR (104) from the start of the outbreak till the end of July 2020 and have reported the clinical features, management details, and both patient and graft outcomes.

Results

Out of the one hundred and four cases reported, most of them were males aged 49.3 ± 14.7 years. Eighty‐two of them needed hospitalization, of which thirty‐one were managed in the intensive care unit (ICU). Main comorbidities among these patients were hypertension in 64.4%, diabetes in 51%, and ischemic heart disease in 20.2%. Management strategies included anticoagulation in 56.7%, withdrawal of antimetabolites in 54.8%, calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal in 33.7%, the addition of antibiotics in 57.7%, Tocilizumab in 8.7%, and antivirals in 16.3%. During a follow‐up of 30 days, the reported number of acute kidney injury (AKI) was 28.7%, respiratory failure requiring oxygen therapy 46.2%, and overall mortality rate was 10.6% with hospital mortality of 13.4% including an ICU mortality rate of 35.5%.

Conclusion

Better outcome of COVID‐19‐positive KTR in our cohort during this unremitting stage could be due to the younger age of patients and early optimized management of anticoagulation, modification of immunosuppression, and prompt treatment of secondary bacterial infections. Mild cases can successfully be managed at home without any change in immunosuppression.
Assessing the impact of COVID‐19 on registered interventional clinical trials
Authors: Hawila Nour , Berg Arthur
Published: March 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has led to a dramatic impact worldwide and presented unprecedented challenges for clinical and translational medicine. We assess the impact of COVID‐19 on submitted and completed interventional clinical trials that have been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. After classifying over 85% of the registered clinical trials by their source, we carefully model the number of submitted and completed trials before and after March 2020. Overall, we find minimal impact of COVID‐19 on the number of submitted clinical trials, although a much more substantial impact is observed for completed clinical trials. We also show that clinical trials with a pharmaceutical sponsor were more successful at completing trials during the pandemic compared to the trials with academic/hospital/government sponsors.
Routine application of ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy with digital staining for examination of surgical margins in basal cell carcinomas
Authors: Grupp Margarethe , Illes Monica , Mentzel Julia , Simon Jan C. , Paasch Uwe , Grunewald Sonja
Published: March 2021

Background and objectives

Ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) allows histologic examination of native tissue based on tissue reflection and nuclear fluorescence staining. The newly introduced digital staining process almost perfectly mimics conventional hematoxylin and eosin (HE) slides. The aim was to evaluate the new method in clinical routine, with regard to quality of findings and time requirements, in the examination of surgical margins of basal cell carcinomas.

Patients and methods

78 patients with 101 basal cell carcinomas were prospectively enrolled. Surgery was performed either with complete margin control (n = 60) or as elliptical excision (n = 41). Immediately after excision specimens were scanned with CLSM and then routinely processed by conventional histopathology. Blinded evaluation of images and slides was performed by a dermatopathologist.

Results

Basal cell carcinomas were excellently recognizable by CLSM directly after excision, and the use of digital staining did not require any adjustment of the examiner’s visualization preferences. CLSM images showed a sensitivity of 73.6 % and a specificity of 96.5 % compared to conventional HE stained slides. Erroneous findings were often due to limited assessment potential in cases where the epidermis could not be fully visualized.

Conclusions

CLSM with digital HE staining is very well suited to diagnose basal cell carcinomas and their incision margins even under routine conditions and thus represents a tissue‐saving alternative to rapid cryostat sectioning.
Research in practice: Towards deciphering the role of epidermal proteases in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa progression
Authors: Nauroy Pauline , Zingkou Eleni , Sotiropoulou Georgia , Kiritsi Dimitra
Published: March 2021

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is an incurable severe skin disease caused by loss of collagen VII, an extracellular protein that ensures skin cohesion. It manifests in skin blistering and unresolved cycles of wounding and healing that progressively lead to dermal stiffening and early development of aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. Inflammation and subsequent tissue fibrosis highly contribute to RDEB pathogenicity and targeting them could provide new therapeutic options. Kallikreins (KLKs) are epidermal secreted proteases, which contribute to skin desquamation and inflammation. Kallikreins are involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin disorders, but interestingly also in the initiation and progression of different cancers. Our project aims at deciphering the role of KLKs in inflammation, fibrosis, and tumor development in RDEB.
The impact of inventory risk on market prices under competition
Authors: Ovchinnikov Anton , Pun Hubert , Raz Gal
Published: March 2021

Firms often must procure inventory/capacity before knowing what the demand will be, so there is a potential for a mismatch between inventory and demand, the “inventory risk.” We show that, because of inventory risk, an increase in the number of competitors can lead to an increasing trend in market prices. Furthermore, we show that, ceteris paribus, because of how inventory risk impacts competitive behavior, firms may prefer to incur inventory risk rather than to avoid it. To illustrate the robustness of our results, we establish these findings using three complementary methodologies: (i) using data from a classroom experiment, (ii) using a quantal response equilibrium simulation to capture realistic irrationalities in managerial decisions under competition, and (iii) using a fully rational Nash equilibrium model to capture the impact of the competition per se. That all three methods lead to identical qualitative findings reinforces the main message of our paper: Inventory risk reverses the standard intuition for how an increase in the number of competitors impacts prices.
Deming least square regressed feature selection and Gaussian neuro‐fuzzy multi‐layered data classifier for early COVID prediction
Authors: Mydukuri Rathnamma V , Kallam Suresh , Patan Rizwan , Al‐Turjman Fadi , Ramachandran Manikandan
Published: March 2021

Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) is a harmful disease caused by the new SARS‐CoV‐2 virus. COVID‐19 disease comprises symptoms such as cold, cough, fever, and difficulty in breathing. COVID‐19 has affected many countries and their spread in the world has put humanity at risk. Due to the increasing number of cases and their stress on administration as well as health professionals, different prediction techniques were introduced to predict the coronavirus disease existence in patients. However, the accuracy was not improved, and time consumption was not minimized during the disease prediction. To address these problems, least square regressive Gaussian neuro‐fuzzy multi‐layered data classification (LSRGNFM‐LDC) technique is introduced in this article. LSRGNFM‐LDC technique performs efficient COVID prediction with better accuracy and lesser time consumption through feature selection and classification. The preprocessing is used to eliminate the unwanted data in input features. Preprocessing is applied to reduce the time complexity. Next, Deming Least Square Regressive Feature Selection process is carried out for selecting the most relevant features through identifying the line of best fit. After the feature selection process, Gaussian neuro‐fuzzy classifier in LSRGNFM‐LDC technique performs the data classification process with help of fuzzy if‐then rules for performing prediction process. Finally, the fuzzy if‐then rule classifies the patient data as lower risk level, medium risk level and higher risk level with higher accuracy and lesser time consumption. Experimental evaluation is performed by Novel Corona Virus 2019 Dataset using different metrics like prediction accuracy, prediction time, and error rate. The result shows that LSRGNFM‐LDC technique improves the accuracy and minimizes the time consumption as well as error rate than existing works during COVID prediction.
Explaining Heterogeneity of Daily Conflict Spillover in the Family: The Role of Dyadic Marital Conflict Patterns
Authors: Mastrotheodoros Stefanos , Papp Lauren M. , Van der Graaff Jolien , Deković Maja , Meeus Wim H. J. , Branje Susan
Published: March 2021

In this multi‐informant, longitudinal, daily diary study, we investigated whether long‐term dyadic patterns of marital conflict resolution explain the heterogeneity in short‐term day‐to‐day cross‐lagged associations between marital conflict intensity and mother–adolescent conflict intensity. The sample consisted of 419 adolescents (44.6% girls, Mage = 13.02, SD = 0.44, at T1; Mage = 17.02, SD = 0.44, at T5), their mothers (N = 419, Mage = 44.48, SD = 4.17, at T1), and their fathers (N = 419, Mage = 46.76, SD = 4.99, at T1). Mothers and fathers reported on their marital conflict resolution strategies annually across 5 years. Mother–father daily conflict intensity (mother‐reported) and mother–adolescent daily conflict intensity (mother‐ and adolescent‐reported) were assessed for 75 days across 5 years. We hypothesized that long‐term marital conflict resolution patterns would moderate the short‐term daily dynamics of conflict between the marital and the mother–adolescent dyads. Latent Class Growth Analysis revealed four types of families based on long‐term dyadic marital conflict resolution, including families where mostly constructive or mostly destructive conflict resolution was used. Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling was used to investigate the daily levels and short‐term daily dynamics of conflict, revealing that for most families there were no day‐to‐day lagged associations between marital conflict and mother–adolescent conflict. Results showed that long‐term conflict resolution patterns did not moderate the short‐term dynamics of daily conflict. However, differences among long‐term marital conflict resolution patterns were found in the levels of daily conflict, such that in families with long‐term destructive conflict resolution patterns, daily conflict intensity was higher.
Opportunities and barriers for biofuel and bioenergy production from poplar
Authors: An Yi , Liu Yu , Liu Yijing , Lu Mengzhu , Kang Xihui , Mansfield Shawn D. , Zeng Wei , Zhang Jin
Published: March 2021

Due to the growing demand for transportation fuels and concerns about the greenhouse gas emissions derived from the use of fossil fuels, the development of alternative fuels from renewable resources, such as lignocellulosic biomass, is of paramount importance. This is compounded by the fact that there are increasing pressures and limitation on available arable land for renewable biomass production, and therefore, how to obtain more biomass resources and how to make full use of these biomass resources are key issues. Poplar (Populus spp.) is one of the fastest‐growing temperate trees in the world and is a very promising raw material for the production of biofuels and other bio‐based commodities. As the first tree species to have its genome sequenced, and significant continuing efforts towards resequencing of different species/varieties, poplar resources will undoubtedly pave the way for the targeted cultivation of new poplar varieties suitable for biofuel production. In this article, we summarized that the main problems faced by using poplar as a biomass resource for biofuel production are the inherent recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass, and highlighted the response status on improving the biomass yield and efforts towards developing efficient poplar varieties for biofuel production.
Remembering the Vikings: Ancestry, cultural memory and geographical variation
Authors: Ellis Caitlin
Published: March 2021

The Vikings are an excellent example of the significance of cultural memory: from post‐Viking‐Age sources to their rediscovery in the Victorian period to their popular appeal in current times. Ancestry is a key dimension as vikings could be dynasty founders or imbue a region with Scandinavian heritage. The importance of settlements remaining connected with Iceland and the Old Norse cultural milieu is highlighted. Archaeological evidence and non‐Scandinavian sources can highlight the gaps in Norse memory, where specific events have been forgotten and some regions of the Viking world have received less attention than others. Stretching from America to Russia, the impact of post‐medieval political events, of modern marketisation and of different scholarly approaches is also considered.
Recentralization of Tokyo: Contradiction and Political Struggle for Regional Policy in Japan
Authors: Saito Asato
Published: March 2021

Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, has always been a center of national economic growth, and hence a focal point of political struggle between local and national government. There exist two kinds of political forces; the former desires strong concentration of economic activities in Tokyo based on market rationality and economic efficiency, and the latter counters the former claiming more decentralization based on the balanced national economic structure. This paper reviews the development of urban and regional policy in Japan over the last 20 years and examines how such political forces have played out. After the decade‐long sluggish economic performance and the challenge of inter‐urban competition by Asian mega‐cities, Tokyo Metropolitan Government formulated an aggressive promotional policy under the leadership of the then Governor Ishihara. He tactically created a political consensus to give locational favor to the central part of Tokyo at the expense of other regions. It was partially challenged by the election of the then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who insisted the need to revitalize the regions that were economically lagging. Despite his words, however, the centralization of Tokyo continued. This paper argues that the regional revitalization policy under the Abe administration was political rhetoric rather than reality, and Japan's economic fortune may still depend on the performance of Tokyo in the global economy under the neoliberal policy orientation.
Alvimopan as part of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol following radical cystectomy is associated with decreased hospital stay
Authors: Hanna Peter , Regmi Subodh , Kalapara Arveen , Mulpuri Kalyana Srujana , Zabell Joseph , Albersheim Jacob , Wahr Joyce , Randle Darrel , Kaizer Alexander , Patten Luke , Konety Badrinath , Weight Christopher
Published: March 2021

Objective

To study the effect of alvimopan and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol on length of hospital stay in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

Methods

Our retrospective study involved 296 consecutive patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer at our institution from 2010 through 2018. Patients were grouped according to three stages of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol implementation: (i) pre‐Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (group A; n = 146); (ii) pre‐alvimopan Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (group B; n = 102); and (iii) Enhanced Recovery After Surgery plus alvimopan (group C; n = 48). The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes were time to first bowel movement, time to tolerate a regular diet, the incidence of postoperative ileus, postoperative complications and 30‐day readmission rate.

Results

Group C showed a significantly shorter median length of hospital stay (7 days, P = 0.003), shorter gastrointestinal recovery time (4 days, P = 0.018) and a lower rate of postoperative ileus (14.6%, P = 0.005). The reduction in length of hospital stay, gastrointestinal recovery time and a lower rate of postoperative ileus was significant after controlling for other confounders on multivariable regression analysis. With the open approach, group C showed a significantly shorter length of hospital stay and gastrointestinal recovery time (P = 0.005, P = 0.001, respectively); however, in robotic cohorts, no significant differences were observed. There was no difference among groups in the 30‐day readmission rate or postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing radical cystectomy and managed by an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol experience a significantly shorter length of hospital stay when receiving alvimopan as part of the protocol. Patients seem to derive the optimum benefits of alvimopan when it is used with an open approach; however, these benefits become less obvious with the robotic approach.
Caries risk assessment with the ‘Bangkok checklist’ in preschool children: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Agouropoulos Andreas , Birpou Eleftheria , Twetman Svante , Kavvadia Katerina
Published: March 2021

Background

Caries risk assessment in preschool children is poorly validated in prospective studies.

Aim

To validate the Bangkok checklist (BCL) in predicting caries development in a cohort of preschool children from low and moderate socioeconomic areas and compare it with two established risk assessment tools.

Design

We followed 146 preschool children, aged 2‐5 years for 2 years. At baseline, the caries risk category (low, moderate, high) was determined with three checklists: (a) BCL, (b) American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry form (CRAF), and (c) Caries Management By Risk Assessment (CAMBRA). Data were collected from questionnaires and clinical examinations. Caries increment was recorded by counting the number of surfaces that changed from sound to decayed. We used Kendall's tau, Poisson regression models and ROC analysis to assess the predictive ability of the different checklists.

Results

Over 50% of the children developed new caries on a yearly basis. The BCL assigned the majority of the children (87%) into the high‐risk category. Sensitivity was 88% but specificity was low (16%). Accuracy of BCL was similar to CRAF but inferior to CAMBRA.

Conclusions

Bangkok checklist had a very limited performance in accurately predicting future early childhood caries in this population.