bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing global systemically important banks and implications for entrepreneurship: a hierarchy stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis
Authors: Angilella Silvia , Mazzù Sebastiano
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The financial crisis of 2007–2008 has brought critical attention to those financial institutions whose high destabilizing effects can have an impact on the financial system. Basel Committee (BIS) has introduced a set of regulations to identify such banks, defined global systemically important banks (G-SIBs). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the robustness of the BIS's methodology.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a multicriteria decision aid (MCDA) approach is considered, specifically HSMAA (hierarchy stochastic multiobjective acceptability analysis), which can take into account uncertainty on BIS's criteria weights as standard SMAA, but also uncertainty with respect to the subcriteria of the considered criteria. The results are analyzed to provide insights into the robustness of the BIS's methodology.

Findings

The obtained results indicate that overall the BIS's methodology does not appear robust. Within the two uncertainty scenarios considered, the results show a great variability in identifying the G-SIBs' systemic risk.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an analytical way to assess the robustness of the BIS's methodology. Moreover, the authors’ analysis reveals a great variability on the results, which highlight different issues for banks, regulators and enterprises.
Multidimensional trait morphology predicts ecology across ant lineages
Authors: Sosiak Christine E. , Barden Phillip
Published: October 2020

Understanding the link between ecology and morphology is a fundamental goal in biology. Ants are diverse terrestrial organisms, known to exhibit ecologically driven morphological variation. While relationships between individual traits and ecologies have been identified, multidimensional interactions among traits and their cumulative predictive power remain unknown. As selective pressures may generate convergent syndromes spanning multiple traits, we applied multivariate analyses across a wide sampling of taxa to assess ecomorphological variation in an integrative context.

How well does morphology predict ecology? Moreover, are there quantitatively supported ant ecomorphs? We investigated the links between trait morphology and ecology by assembling a morphometric dataset spanning over 160 species within 110 genera. As ants occupy a wide range of ecologies, we compiled natural history data on nesting microhabitat, foraging stratum and functional role into 35 defined niche combinations. This tripartite ecological classification and our morphological dataset were optimized under dimension reduction techniques including principal component analysis, principal coordinate analysis, linear discriminant analysis and random forest supervised machine learning.

Our results describe ant ecomorphospace as comprising regions of shared, generalized morphology as well as unique phenotypic space associated with specialized ecologies. Dimension reduction and model‐based approaches predict ecology with 77%–85% accuracy and Random Forest analysis consistently outperforms LDA. While accounting for shared ancestry, we found eye, antennal scape and leg morphology to be most informative in differentiating among ecologies. We also note some heterogeneity between trait significance in each ecological aspect (nesting niche, foraging niche, functional role). To increase the utility of ecomorphological classification we simplified our 35 observed niche combinations into 10 ecomorph syndromes, which were also predicted by morphology. The predictive power of these machine learning methods underscores the strong role that ecology has in convergently shaping overall body plan morphology across ant lineages. We include a pipeline for predictive ecomorphological modelling using morphometric data, which may be expanded with additional specimen‐based and natural history data.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Support for a relationship between demography and modeled habitat suitability is scale dependent for the purple martinProgne subis
Authors: Williams Heather M. , Siegrist Joe , Wilson Adam M.
Published: October 2020

Species distribution models (SDMs) estimate habitat suitability for species in geographic space. They are extensively used in conservation under the assumption that there is a positive relationship between habitat suitability and species success and stability.

Given the difficulties in obtaining demographic data across a species' range, this assumption is rarely tested. Here we provide a range‐wide test of this relationship for the eastern subspecies of purple martinProgne subis subis.

We build a well‐supported SDM for the breeding range of the purple martin, and pair it with an unparalleled demographic dataset of nest success and local and regional abundance data for the species to test the proposed link between habitat suitability and fecundity and demography.

We find a positive relationship between regional abundance and habitat suitability but no relationship between local abundance or fecundity and habitat suitability.

Our data suggest that local success is driven largely by biotic and stochastic factors and raise the possibility that purple martins are experiencing a time lag in their distribution. More broadly our results call for caution in how we interpret SDMs and do not support the assumption that areas of high habitat suitability are the best areas for species persistence.
Effects of ambient temperatures on evolutionary potential of reproductive timing in boreal passerines
Authors: Vatka Emma , Orell Markku , Rytkönen Seppo , Merilä Juha
Published: October 2020

Many populations need to adapt to changing environmental conditions, such as warming climate. Changing conditions generate directional selection for traits critical for fitness. For evolutionary responses to occur, these traits need to be heritable. However, changes in environmental conditions can alter the amount of heritable variation a population expresses, making predictions about expected responses difficult.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ambient temperatures on evolutionary potential and strength of natural selection on the timing of reproduction in two passerine birds breeding in boreal forests.

Long‐term data on individually marked Willow Tits Poecile montanus (1975–2018) and Great Tits Parus major (1969–2018) were analysed with random regression animal models to assess if spring temperatures affect the expressed amount of additive genetic variation (VA) and heritability (h2) in the timing of breeding. We assessed if ambient temperatures of different seasons influenced the direction and strength of selection on breeding time. We also evaluated if the strength of selection covaried with evolutionary potential.

Levels of VA or h2 expressed in laying date were unaffected by spring temperatures in both study species. Selection for earlier breeding was found in the Willow Tit, but not in the Great Tit. In the Willow Tit, selection for earlier breeding was more intense when the temperatures of following autumns and winters were low. Different measures of evolutionary potential did not covary strongly with the strength of selection in either species.

We conclude that there is no or little evidence that climate warming would either constrain or promote evolutionary potential in timing of breeding through changes in amount of genetic variance expressed in boreal Willow and Great Tits. However, selection on the timing of breeding, a life‐history event taking place in springtime, is regulated by temperatures of autumns and winters. Rapid warming of these periods have thus potential to reduce the rate of expected evolutionary response in reproductive timing.
Lupine allergens: Clinical relevance, molecular characterization, cross‐reactivity, and detection strategies
Authors: Villa Caterina , Costa Joana , Mafra Isabel
Published: October 2020

Lupine is commonly utilized as a technological food and ingredient in a great variety of processed products (snacks, bakery, meat, and dairy products) principally owing to its nutritional value and technological properties. However, its ingestion, even at trace amounts (in the range of mg protein per kg of food), can lead to severe adverse reactions in allergic individuals. Lupine belongs to the Leguminosae family, having the conglutins (α‐, β‐, δ‐, and γ‐) as allergens, among other proteins. Cross‐sensitization of lupine‐sensitized individuals with other legume species, mainly peanut, can occur, but the associated clinical reactivity is still unclear. The protection of the sensitized individuals should depend on an avoidance diet, which should rely on the compliance of food labeling and, as such, on their verification by analytical methods. Food processing, such as heat treatments, has an important influence on the structural properties of lupine proteins, altering their detectability and allergenicity. In this review, different aspects related with lupine allergy are described, namely, the overall prevalence, clinical relevance, diagnosis, and treatment. The characterization of lupine allergens and their potential cross‐reactivity with other legumes are critically discussed. The effects of food matrix, processing, and digestibility on lupine proteins, as well as the available analytical tools for detecting lupine at trace levels in foods, are also herein emphasized.
Novel O‐propyl, S‐propyl, and N‐propyl substituted 1,4‐naphthoquinones and 1,4‐anthraquinones as potential fingermark development reagents for porous surfaces
Authors: Berkil Akar Kıymet
Published: October 2020

Lawsone is a 2‐substituted‐1,4‐naphthoquinone derivative, which has been proposed as an alternative to the reagents currently used for fingermark detection on porous surfaces. 2‐substituted‐anthraquinones, which contain an additional conjugated benzene ring, have a similar chemical structure to that of lawsone. In this study, a new series of 2‐substituted‐1,4‐naphthoquinones and 2‐substituted‐1,4‐anthraquinones were synthesized and completely characterized by1H NMR,13C NMR, IR, and HPLC‐TOF/MS analyses. All newly synthesized 2‐substituted‐1,4‐quinones were investigated for their ability to develop latent fingermarks on porous surfaces, and this ability was compared with that of lawsone. Each fingermark developed was graded using an established method; thus, quantitative data were attributed to each fingermark. It has been demonstrated that the 1,4‐quinones react with amino acids present in latent fingermarks on selected paper surfaces to produce faint yellow‐orange impressions, which exhibit strong photoluminescence when illuminated with a forensic light source at 440 nm and observed through a red filter. None of the compounds caused background darkening. The results obtained were generally similar to those of lawsone, however, 8‐dibromo‐2‐(propylamino)naphthalene‐1,4‐dione and 5,8‐dibromo‐2‐(propylthio)naphthalene‐1,4‐dione yielded better results for copier paper and colored (blue) copier paper used in this analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the role of 1,4‐anthraquinone derivatives as potential fingermark development reagents. The results indicate that 1,4‐quinones have a potential to be used as reagents for enhancement of latent fingermarks.
Isolation and characterization of components responsible for neuroprotective effects ofAllium cepaouter scale extract against ischemia reperfusion induced cerebral injury in mice
Authors: Singh Varinder , Shri Richa , Krishan Pawan , Singh Inder Pal , Shah Purvi
Published: October 2020

The antioxidant‐mediated neuroprotective effect ofAllium cepaouter scale extract (ACE) in mice with cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion (I‐R) injury was demonstrated in our earlier work. The current investigation aimed at establishing the bioactive component(s) responsible for this activity. Thus ACE was fractionated into ethyl acetate (EF) and aqueous (AF) fractions. These fractions were evaluated against cerebral I‐R injury in mice. I‐R injury in mice was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion followed by 24 hr reperfusion. Memory, sensorimotor functions, cerebral infarct size, and oxidative stress were measured to address the neuroprotective mechanism of test substances. EF showed marked improvement of memory and sensorimotor functions by reducing brain oxidative stress and infarct size in mice after I‐R injury. The bioactive EF was subjected to chromatographic (HPLC‐PDA, HPLC‐MS, preparative HPLC) and spectroscopic studies to isolate and identify the neuroprotective compounds. This lead to separation of three components, namely quercetin, quercetin 4′‐O‐glucoside, and the remaining fraction, from EF. The separated components were biologically evaluated. These components showed improvement in mice with I‐R injury. But, EF displayed more marked neuroprotective effects as compared to the isolated components. The distinct neuroprotective outcome of EF may be credited to the synergistic action of compounds present in EF. Further studies such as evaluation of neurotoxic effects and other possible neuroprotective mechanisms are required to develop EF as a neuroprotective drug.
The elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) genome provides insights into anthocyanidin accumulation and fast growth
Authors: Yan Qi , Wu Fan , Xu Pan , Sun Zongyi , Li Jie , Gao Lijuan , Lu Liyan , Chen Dongdong , Muktar Meki , Jones Chris , Yi Xianfeng , Zhang Jiyu
Published: October 2020

Elephant grass (2n = 4x = 28; Cenchrus purpureus Schumach.), also known as Napier grass, is an important forage grass and potential energy crop in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. However, no study has yet reported a genome assembly for elephant grass at the chromosome scale. Here, we report a high‐quality chromosome‐scale genome of elephant grass with a total size of 1.97 Gb and a 1.5% heterozygosity rate, obtained using short‐read sequencing, single‐molecule long‐read sequencing and Hi‐C chromosome conformation capture. Evolutionary analysis showed that subgenome A' of elephant grass and pearl millet may have originated from a common ancestor more than 3.22 million years ago (MYA). Further, allotetraploid formation occurred at approximately 6.61 MYA. Syntenic analyses within elephant grass and with other grass species indicated that elephant grass has experienced chromosomal rearrangements. We found that some key enzyme‐encoding gene families related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanidins and flavonoids were expanded and highly expressed in leaves, which probably drives the production of these major anthocyanidin compounds and explains why this elephant grass cultivar has a high anthocyanidin content. In addition, we found a high copy number and transcript levels of genes involved in C4 photosynthesis and hormone signal transduction pathways that may contribute to the fast growth of elephant grass. The availability of elephant grass genome data advances our knowledge of the genetic evolution of elephant grass and will contribute to further biological research and breeding as well as for other polyploid plants in the genus Cenchrus.
How do employees learn from performance measures? Evidence from a local government entity
Authors: Lye Joanne , Hoque Zahirul , Parker Lee
Published: October 2020

We examine how employees learn from a performance measurement system. Employing the social construction of reality theory, we analyse how actors constructed knowledge in their specific setting. Qualitative research within a local government entity involved interviews, observation of meetings and examination of archival records. We find that the process of individual learning from a performance measurement system is based around aligning varying episodic experiences of individuals at differing levels. The outcome of these findings is that learning by individuals is a socio‐technical process in which the use of performance measures is embedded in everyday thinking of the social world examined.
Interim guidance for health‐care professionals and administrators providing hospital care to adult patients with cognitive impairment, in the context of COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Martin‐Khan Melinda , Bail Kasia , Yates Mark W. , Thompson Jane , Graham Fred ,   Cognitive Impairment and COVID‐19, Hospital Care Guidance Committee
Published: October 2020

Objective

We developed interim guidance for the care of patients with cognitive impairment in hospital during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

A Guidance Committee and Readers Group were recruited. The content was identified by the Committee and content‐specific subgroups, resulting in a draft document, which was sent to the Readers for review. People with dementia and care partners were involved in all aspects of the process.

Results

Infection control measures can lead to an escalation of distress. In an environment where visiting bans are applied to care partners/advocates, hospitals need to ensure care partners can continue to provide decision‐making support. Health‐care professionals can proactively engage care partners using videoconferencing technologies. Developing models of care that proactively support best practice can minimise the risk of delirium, mitigate escalating symptoms and guide the use of non‐pharmacological, pharmacological (start low, go slow) or physical restraint in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms.
Comparison of Grenz ray and photodynamic therapy for field treatment of actinic keratoses on the forearm: A case series
Authors: Angnardo Lauren , Wolfe Christopher M. , Green W. Harris , Cognetta Armand B.
Published: October 2020

Background

Actinic Keratosis is an intraepidermal neoplasm that represents the second most common reason for dermatologic visits in the United States. Sustained clearance with existing therapies is highly variable.

Objective

To assess the effects of combination and monotherapy with photodynamic therapy (PDT), grenz ray therapy, and PDT with microneedling (microchannel skin system) for actinic damage of the dorsal forearms and hands.

Methods

Full ethics approval was obtained through a Human Subjects Committee. Four patients with diffuse actinic field damage on their forearms and hands were recruited for the study. The dorsal forearm and hand from the elbow to the metacarpophalangeal joint were divided into four equal sections. Section 1 was treated with PDT. Section 2 was treated with grenz ray. Section 3 was treated with PDT plus microneedling. Section 4 was treated with grenz ray and PDT with microneedling. Lesion counts were recorded with transparent grids, photographed and evaluated by the same investigator at baseline, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months.

Results

At month 6 post treatment, lesion counts, as a per cent reduction from baseline, were 91.7% in section 1 (PDT); 97.3% in section 2 (grenz ray); 92.9% in section 3 (PDT + microneedle); and 93.9% in section 4 (grenz ray + PDT + microneedle).

Conclusion

The greatest reduction occurred in the grenz ray monotherapy section and the second greatest reduction in the grenz ray, PDT, microneedling section. Further research on the efficacy of grenz ray therapy for field treatment of actinic keratosis of the forearms and hands is needed.
Self‐directed reflective assessment for collective empowerment among pre‐service teachers
Authors: Yang Yuqin , Du Yang , van Aalst Jan , Sun Daner , Ouyang Fan
Published: October 2020

This study investigated the role and process of self‐directed reflective assessment (SDRA) enhanced by learning analytics to support pre‐service teachers' (PTs') collective empowerment in a knowledge‐building (KB) classroom. The participants were 43 second‐year PTs from a compulsory course taught by a teacher who had 2 years' teaching experience. A comparison class of 47 PTs, taught by the same teacher and studying the same topics in a regular KB environment, also participated. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in participation and domain understanding between the experimental class and the comparison class. Qualitative tracing of the SDRA group's online discourse indicated that the PTs were empowered and that their collective empowerment increased gradually over time. Analysis of the PTs' prompt sheets revealed that analytic‐supported SDRA helped the PTs engage in collective decision making to choose and judge promising ideas, and in collective synthesis and “rise‐above” of ideas, thus helping them engage in high‐level collective empowerment. The findings have important implications for the design of technology‐rich environments as metacognitive tools to support learners' empowerment, and they shed light on how teachers can use such tools to engage learners in metacognitive practices to increase their empowerment.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic?

Empowering pre‐service teachers' (PTs') to master higher order competencies is particularly important; PTs' empowerment primarily consisted of these high‐level competencies.

Collaborative inquiry that can help learners to develop higher order competencies and further empowerment primarily depends on learners' metacognition.

SDRA has great potential in empowering PTs, however, little research has been conducted to investigate the role and process of SDRA for supporting PTs.

What this paper adds

SDRA can empower PTs and help them increase their empowerment over time.

SDRA effectively drives PTs to actualize and develop their metacognition, which in turn fosters PTs to engage in collective decision making, idea negotiation, and idea synthesis and “rise‐above” thinking, and thereby gradually helps the PTs increase their empowerment.

The design of learning environments, which capitalizes on KB pedagogy and SDRA, is accessible to the PTs and fosters their collective empowerment.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Establishing a democratic and collaborative learning environment, fostering a sense of community and confidence among learners, and helping learners to gradually develop necessary skills are important for supporting their empowerment.

The learning design for empowering learners should support learners' agency, collective decision making, reflection and regulation, and collective KB.

It is important to organize collective reflection opportunities to help students engaged in data‐supported SDRA.
Association of homozygous variants of STING1 with outcome in human cervical cancer
Authors: Lubbers Joyce M. , Koopman Bart , de Klerk‐Sluis Jessica M. , van Rooij Nienke , Plat Annechien , Pijper Harry , Koopman Timco , van Hemel Bettien M. , Hollema Harry , Wisman Bea , Nijman Hans W. , de Bruyn Marco
Published: October 2020

DNA‐sensing receptor Cyclic GMP–AMP Synthase (cGAS) and its downstream signaling effector STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) have gained significant interest in the field of tumor immunology, as a dysfunctional cGAS‐STING pathway is associated with poor prognosis and worse response to immunotherapy. However, studies so far have not taken into account the polymorphic nature of the STING‐encoding STING1 gene. We hypothesized that the presence of allelic variance in STING1 would cause variation between individuals as to their susceptibility to cancer development, cancer progression, and potential response to (immuno)therapy. To start to address this, we defined the genetic landscapes of STING1 in cervical scrapings and investigated their corresponding clinical characteristics across a unique cohort of cervical cancer patients and compared them with independent control cohorts. Although we did not observe an enrichment of particular STING1 allelic variants in cervical cancer patients, we did find that the occurrence of homozygous variants HAQ/HAQ and R232H/R232H of STING1 were associated with both younger age of diagnosis and higher recurrence rate. These findings were accompanied by worse survival, despite comparable mRNA and protein levels of STING and numbers of infiltrated CD8+ T cells. Our findings suggest that patients with HAQ/HAQ and R232H/R232H genotypes may have a dysfunctional cGAS‐STING pathway that fails to promote efficient anticancer immunity. Interestingly, the occurrence of these genotypes coincided with homozygous presence of the V48V variant, which was found to be individually associated with worse outcome. Therefore, we propose V48V to be further evaluated as a novel prognostic marker for cervical cancer.
Relationships of accelerometer‐determined physical activity with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and health‐related quality of life in patients after liver transplantation
Authors: Tanaka Satomi , Fujita Kimie , Makimoto Kiyoko , Kanaoka Maki , Yakushiji Kanako , Tanaka Rumi , Harada Noboru , Yoshizumi Tomoharu
Published: October 2020

The contribution of physical activity (PA) to the prevention of metabolic abnormalities following liver transplantation (LT) has not been well documented. We aimed to assess PA in post‐LT patients and to quantify its relationships with the development of postoperative metabolic abnormalities and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). We recruited 111 patients who had undergone LT ≥ 6 months previously. PA was measured by accelerometry, and HRQOL was evaluated using SF‐8. PA was quantified as the number of steps per day, and the time spent performing moderate‐to‐vigorous PA and light PA per week. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia increased more than twofold following LT. The proportion of the participants with a sedentary lifestyle (<5000 steps/day) was 36%. Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative hypertension and obesity were associated with preoperative body mass index and the number of steps taken (in 2000 steps/day increments). Preoperative diabetes was associated with obesity, and PA was associated with physical function‐related HRQOL scores. Thus, increasing the number of steps taken per day has the potential to reduce hypertension and obesity, and PA could improve physical function‐related HRQOL in patients following LT.
Canadian Real‐World Outcomes of Omnipod Initiation in People with Type 1 Diabetes (COPPER study): Evidence from the LMC Diabetes Registry
Authors: Brown R. E. , Vienneau T. , Aronson R.
Published: October 2020

Aims

To investigate real‐world clinical outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes who initiated the Omnipod Insulin Management System (Insulet Corp., Acton, MA, USA) compared to a matched cohort who maintained multiple daily injection therapy.

Methods

This retrospective observational study used data from the Canadian LMC Diabetes Registry. Adults with type 1 diabetes who switched from multiple daily injections to the Omnipod system as usual standard of care between January 2011 and April 2019 were matched to a cohort of adults with type 1 diabetes who maintained multiple daily injection therapy, using propensity‐score matching. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c at 3‐ to 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

Propensity‐score matching resulted in a final analytical cohort of 286 individuals (143/cohort). HbA1c in the Omnipod cohort was reduced by a mean ± sd of –3 ± 10 mmol/mol (–0.2 ± 1.0%; P = 0.005) with no change in the MDI cohort [0 ± 10 mmol/mol (0.0 ± 1.0%); P = 0.74]. HbA1c change was seen only in persons with baseline HbA1c ≥75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) [Omnipod cohort: –15 ± 12 mmol/mol (–1.4 ± 1.1%); P < 0.001] with a between‐treatment difference [mean (95% CI)] of –12 (–18, –6) mmol/mol [–1.1 (–1.6, –0.5) %, P < 0.001]. The median total daily dose of insulin was lower following Omnipod initiation (baseline 0.63 U/kg vs follow‐up 0.53 U/kg; P < 0.001), with no change in the MDI cohort (baseline 0.68 U/kg vs follow‐up 0.67 U/kg; P = 0.23).

Conclusions

Adults with type 1 diabetes who initiated use of the Omnipod system in a real‐world clinical setting had lower HbA1c and total daily dose of insulin at 3‐ to 6‐month follow‐up compared to a matched cohort of adults who maintained multiple daily injection therapy. A treatment difference in HbA1c change was seen only in people with baseline HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (9.0%). (Clinical trials registration: NCT04226378).
Impact of the DC/TMD instructional video on the practical skills of undergraduate students—A single‐blinded, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rauch Angelika , Jahn Franziska , Roesner Anuschka , Hahnel Sebastian , Schierz Oliver
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Competencies in the clinical examination of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can be achieved by self‐instruction. This study aimed to identify the impact of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) instructional video on the practical examination skills of undergraduate students.

Materials and methods

One week prior to completing an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) addressing the examination of patients with TMD, undergraduate students in their third year received either the DC/TMD manual (control group) or additionally watched the instructional video once (intervention group). After passing the OSCE, a feedback questionnaire was completed by the students.

Result

Fifty undergraduates were recruited to take part in the OSCE prior to their first clinical course. The sum scores achieved in the stations were higher in the intervention group, but missed significance. Participants of the intervention group more often agreed that completing the OSCE stations was easy, which was significant for one station (P = .023). 95.8% of the participating students supported the implementation of the video in dental education.

Discussion

Due to the conception of the study, the video was only presented once to ensure that the control group had no access to the medium at all. However, it might be interesting to investigate whether repeated watching of the video enhances its effect.

Conclusions

Clinical competencies in the examination of TMD patients can be achieved by self‐instruction with the DC/TMD manual and instructional video. Watching the video for educational purposes was highly recommended by undergraduate students.
Ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture for nusinersen administration in spinal muscular atrophy patients
Authors: Veiga‐Canuto D. , Cifrián‐Pérez M. , Pitarch‐Castellano I. , Vázquez‐Costa J.F. , Aparici F.
Published: October 2020

Background and purpose

The purpose was to report the results of ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture for the administration of nusinersen in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients with complex spines.

Methods

Eighteen SMA patients (five children, five adolescents and eight adults) with either severe scoliosis or spondylodesis were evaluated for ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture. Ultrasound was performed with a 3.5 MHz transducer to guide a 22 gauge × 15 mm needle, which was placed in the posterior lumbar space following a parasagittal interlaminar approach.

Results

Twelve patients had undergone spinal instrumentation (nine growing rods and three spinal fusion) whilst the other six showed severe scoliosis. Success was achieved in 91/94 attempts (96.8%), in 14/18 patients (77.8%), including 100% of children and adolescents and 50% of adult patients. In two of the unsuccessfully treated patients, computed tomography and fluoroscopy‐guided transforaminal lumbar punctures were also tried without success. After a median follow‐up of 14 months, only few adverse events, mostly mild, were observed.

Conclusion

The ultrasound‐guided lumbar puncture, following an interlaminar parasagittal approach, is a safe and effective approach for intrathecal treatment with nusinersen in children, adolescents and carefully selected adult SMA patients with complex spines and could be considered the first option in them.
Machine learning from wristband sensor data for wearable, noninvasive seizure forecasting
Authors: Meisel Christian , El Atrache Rima , Jackson Michele , Schubach Sarah , Ufongene Claire , Loddenkemper Tobias
Published: October 2020

Objective

Seizure forecasting may provide patients with timely warnings to adapt their daily activities and help clinicians deliver more objective, personalized treatments. Although recent work has convincingly demonstrated that seizure risk assessment is in principle possible, these early approaches relied largely on complex, often invasive setups including intracranial electrocorticography, implanted devices, and multichannel electroencephalography, and required patient‐specific adaptation or learning to perform optimally, all of which limit translation to broad clinical application. To facilitate broader adaptation of seizure forecasting in clinical practice, noninvasive, easily applicable techniques that reliably assess seizure risk without much prior tuning are crucial. Wristbands that continuously record physiological parameters, including electrodermal activity, body temperature, blood volume pulse, and actigraphy, may afford monitoring of autonomous nervous system function and movement relevant for such a task, hence minimizing potential complications associated with invasive monitoring and avoiding stigma associated with bulky external monitoring devices on the head.

Methods

Here, we applied deep learning on multimodal wristband sensor data from 69 patients with epilepsy (total duration > 2311 hours, 452 seizures) to assess its capability to forecast seizures in a statistically significant way.

Results

Using a leave‐one‐subject‐out cross‐validation approach, we identified better‐than‐chance predictability in 43% of the patients. Time‐matched seizure surrogate data analyses indicated forecasting not to be driven simply by time of day or vigilance state. Prediction performance peaked when all sensor modalities were used, and did not differ between generalized and focal seizure types, but generally increased with the size of the training dataset, indicating potential further improvement with larger datasets in the future.

Significance

Collectively, these results show that statistically significant seizure risk assessments are feasible from easy‐to‐use, noninvasive wearable devices without the need of patient‐specific training or parameter optimization.
A comparative study of 14‐day dual therapy (esomeprazole and amoxicillin four times daily) and triple plus bismuth therapy for first‐line Helicobacter pylori infection eradication: A randomized trial
Authors: Song Zhiqiang , Zhou Liya , Xue Yan , Suo Baojun , Tian Xueli , Niu Zhanyue
Published: October 2020

Background

Favorable outcomes in treating H pylori infection using “dual therapy (proton pump inhibitor and amoxicillin four times daily)” have attracted widespread attention. However, there are few reports, and the study results lack agreement. This study aimed to compare the eradication rate, safety, and compliance of naïve‐treatment patients with H pylori infection on “dual therapy” with those on “triple plus bismuth (TPB) therapy.”

Methods

This is a non‐inferior randomized controlled trial conducted on 760 patients with H pylori infection. The participants were randomly assigned to two eradication groups: dual therapy (esomeprazole 20 mg and amoxicillin 750 mg four times daily) and TPB therapy (esomeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and bismuth potassium citrate 220 mg twice daily) for 14 days. Safety and compliance were assessed within 3 days after eradication. Urea breath test was performed about 8 weeks after eradication to evaluate outcome. Antibiotic resistance and CYP2C19 polymorphism were determined.

Results

Compared with TPB therapy, dual therapy had significantly higher eradication rates in intention‐to‐treat (87.1% vs 80.5%, rate difference 6.6%), modified intention‐to‐treat (90.9% vs 85.5%, 5.5%) and per‐protocol (92.4% vs 87.8%, 4.7%) analyses, respectively. Adverse reactions in dual therapy group were significantly lower than TPB therapy group (17.6% vs 25.5%, P = .008), and dual therapy group had better compliance (96.3% vs 92.3%, P = .019). Antibiotic resistance and poor compliance were also associated with treatment failure.

Conclusions

Dual therapy (esomeprazole and amoxicillin four times daily) was non‐inferior to, and even superior to TPB therapy as first‐line H pylori eradication.
Becoming a Prison Officer: An Analysis of the Early Development of Prison Officer Cultures
Authors: MORRISON KATRINA , MAYCOCK MATTHEW
Published: October 2020

Despite the fact that over recent years, imprisonment in Scotland has adopted a bold and aspirational policy direction including proposed reforms to the role of the prison officer, there has been little research into prison officers in Scotland, and by extension, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) as an organisation. This article offers a unique empirical insight into prison officer recruits and evolving prison officer cultures, by longitudinally tracking 31 prison officer recruits over training and early working experience. The article provides an in‐depth perspective on prison officer recruits’ views and experiences, and it also makes a contribution to the emerging area of research of the SPS through a focus on organisational change and reform. Finally, it incorporates, and further develops, a body of literature on penality and the penal state by interrogating the tensions between policy and practice within the context of the Scottish penal system.
A user‐friendly guide to the ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) commonly used by hydrobiologists as bioindicators in rivers, lakes, and waste waters, with notes on their ecology
Authors: FOISSNER WILHELM , BERGER HELMUT
Published: October 2020

A user‐friendly guide to 300 ciliate species (Protozoa, Ciliophora) used as bioindicators by river, lake and waste water ecologists is provided. The guide is an English translation of the flow charts written in German and published by Foissner et al. (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995) in the Ciliate Atlas, a monograph on the ciliates used as bioindicators in the saprobic system. This guide is designed for users not specifically trained in identification of ciliates. Main groups and species are keyed dichotomously on forty‐seven flow charts using simple characters usually recognizable in live specimens. Species with conspicuous characters, e.g. large size or distinct colour, are shown on thirty‐two separate charts designated ‘special keys’. Although the flow charts give a high probability of correct species identifications, these should nevertheless be checked against the detailed figures and descriptions contained in the Ciliate Atlas.

A table with the species keyed and their main ecological characteristics (biomass, food preference, salinity tolerance, preferred occurrence, saprobiological classification) is also provided.

Typical ciliate communities found in natural and polluted habitats are briefly described and figured on thirteen plates.

A detailed systematic index is provided for all taxa mentioned in the flow charts.
circ_SEPT9, a newly identified circular RNA, promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma progression through miR‐1225/PKN2 axis
Authors: Ai Yilong , Tang Zhe , Zou Chen , Wei Haigang , Wu Siyuan , Huang Dahong
Published: October 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a newly discovered class of endogenous non‐coding RNAs which are widely expressed and play important roles in disease progression. However, the function of circRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) still remains largely unknown. In this research, we found that circ_SEPT9 was highly expressed in OSCC cell lines and tumour tissues. Results showed that circ_SEPT9 promoted OSCC proliferation and tumour growth. And, circ_SEPT9 also enhanced the migration and invasion of OSCC cells. Mechanically, we found that circ_SEPT9 acted as a sponge for miR‐1225 to rescue PKN2 expression in OSCC cells. Inhibition of circ_SEPT9/miR‐1225/PKN2 pathway could effectively block the proliferation and metastasis of OSCC cells. Our study provides strong evidence that circ_SEPT9/miR‐1225/PKN2 axis is a promising target for OSCC treatment.
Missense mutations in CASK, coding for the calcium‐/calmodulin‐dependent serine protein kinase, interfere with neurexin binding and neurexin‐induced oligomerization
Authors: Pan Yingzhou Edward , Tibbe Debora , Harms Frederike Leonie , Reißner Carsten , Becker Kerstin , Dingmann Bri , Mirzaa Ghayda , Kattentidt‐Mouravieva Anja A. , Shoukier Moneef , Aggarwal Shagun , Missler Markus , Kutsche Kerstin , Kreienkamp Hans‐Jürgen
Published: October 2020

Mutations in the X‐linked gene coding for the calcium‐/calmodulin‐dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) are associated with severe neurological disorders ranging from intellectual disability (in males) to mental retardation and microcephaly with pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia. CASK is involved in transcription control, in the regulation of trafficking of the post‐synaptic NMDA and α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid receptors, and acts as a presynaptic scaffolding protein. For CASK missense mutations, it is mostly unclear which of CASK’s molecular interactions and cellular functions are altered and contribute to patient phenotypes. We identified five CASK missense mutations in male patients affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. These and five previously reported mutations were systematically analysed with respect to interaction with CASK interaction partners by co‐expression and co‐immunoprecipitation. We show that one mutation in the L27 domain interferes with binding to synapse‐associated protein of 97 kDa. Two mutations in the guanylate kinase (GK) domain affect binding of CASK to the nuclear factors CASK‐interacting nucleosome assembly protein (CINAP) and T‐box, brain, 1 (Tbr1). A total of five mutations in GK as well as PSD‐95/discs large/ZO‐1 (PDZ) domains affect binding of CASK to the pre‐synaptic cell adhesion molecule Neurexin. Upon expression in neurons, we observe that binding to Neurexin is not required for pre‐synaptic localization of CASK. We show by bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay that Neurexin induces oligomerization of CASK, and that mutations in GK and PDZ domains interfere with the Neurexin‐induced oligomerization of CASK. Our data are supported by molecular modelling, where we observe that the cooperative activity of PDZ, SH3 and GK domains is required for Neurexin binding and oligomerization of CASK.

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Tripeptide and hexapeptide topical as adjunct to nonablative fractional resurfacing for photodamage: A randomized split‐face trial
Authors: Wang Jordan V. , Christman Mitalee P. , Feng Hao , Ferzli Georgina , Jeon Hana , Geronemus Roy G.
Published: October 2020

Background

Topical adjuncts have been investigated to improve clinical outcomes associated with laser resurfacing for photodamage and cutaneous aging. One such product is a tripeptide/hexapeptide serum, which has been shown to increase dermal collagen and elastin as well as improve postprocedural recovery following treatments.

Aims

A randomized, blinded, split‐face, comparative trial was performed to assess the utility of a tripeptide/hexapeptide serum as a peri‐procedural adjunct to nonablative fractional laser resurfacing.

Patients/Methods

A total of 20 subjects were enrolled. Each hemiface was randomized to either tripeptide/hexapeptide serum or bland moisturizer for twice daily application starting 14 days prior to first laser treatment and continuing until 60 days after. All subjects received 2 treatments to entire face approximately 1 month apart with 1927 nm thulium nonablative fractional laser. Clinical measures and immediate postprocedural recovery were assessed.

Results

For each hemiface, scores improved for all measures, including global photodamage, lentigines, pores, radiance, texture, and tone at 30 and 60 days. The tripeptide/hexapeptide serum had greater improvements for all measures at both time points, except for radiance at 60 days, which was equal. In cases where clinical ratings differed between sides, tripeptide/hexapeptide serum more frequently had the superior outcome. Overall, subjects were satisfied with tripeptide/hexapeptide serum. No significant adverse events were observed.

Conclusion

Addition of tripeptide/hexapeptide serum as a peri‐procedural adjunct to nonablative fractional laser resurfacing improved various clinical measures of photodamage and cutaneous aging and the immediate postprocedural recovery. The tripeptide/hexapeptide serum was demonstrated to be safe, well‐tolerated, and well‐liked by subjects.
Rapid colour shift by reproductive character displacement in Cupido butterflies
Authors: Hinojosa Joan C. , Koubínová Darina , Dincă Vlad , Hernández‐Roldán Juan , Munguira Miguel L. , García‐Barros Enrique , Vila Marta , Alvarez Nadir , Mutanen Marko , Vila Roger
Published: October 2020

Reproductive character displacement occurs when competition for successful breeding imposes a divergent selection on the interacting species, causing a divergence of reproductive traits. Here, we show that a disputed butterfly taxon is actually a case of male wing colour shift, apparently produced by reproductive character displacement. Using double digest restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing and mitochondrial DNA sequencing we studied four butterfly taxa of the subgenus Cupido (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): Cupido minimus and the taxon carswelli, both characterized by brown males and females, plus C. lorquinii and C. osiris, both with blue males and brown females. Unexpectedly, taxa carswelli and C. lorquinii were close to indistinguishable based on our genomic and mitochondrial data, despite displaying strikingly different male coloration. In addition, we report and analysed a brown male within the C. lorquinii range, which demonstrates that the brown morph occurs at very low frequency in C. lorquinii. Such evidence strongly suggests that carswelli is conspecific with C. lorquinii and represents populations with a fixed male brown colour morph. Considering that these brown populations occur in sympatry with or very close to the blue C. osiris, and that the blue C. lorquinii populations never do, we propose that the taxon carswelli could have lost the blue colour due to reproductive character displacement with C. osiris. Since male colour is important for conspecific recognition during courtship, we hypothesize that the observed colour shift may eventually trigger incipient speciation between blue and brown populations. Male colour seems to be an evolutionarily labile character in the Polyommatinae, and the mechanism described here might be at work in the wide diversification of this subfamily of butterflies.
A walk through the progression of resuscitation medicine
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Becker Lance B.
Published: October 2020

Cardiac arrest (CA) is a sudden and devastating disease process resulting in more deaths in the United States than many cancers, metabolic diseases, and even car accidents. Despite such a heavy mortality burden, effective treatments have remained elusive. The past century has been productive in establishing the guidelines for resuscitation, known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as well as developing a scientific field whose aim is to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CA and develop therapies to save lives. CPR has been successful in reinitiating the heart after arrest, enabling a survival rate of approximately 10% in out‐of‐hospital CA. Although current advanced resuscitation methods, including hypothermia and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, have improved survival in some patients, they are unlikely to significantly improve the national survival rate any further without a paradigm shift. Such a change is possible with sustained efforts in the basic and clinical sciences of resuscitation and their implementation. This review seeks to discuss the current landscape in resuscitation medicine—how we got here and where we are going.