bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A focal adhesion kinase-YAP signaling axis drives drug tolerant persister cells and residual disease in lung cancer
Authors: Haderk Franziska , Fernández-Méndez Celia , Čech Lauren , Yu Johnny , Meraz Ismail M. , Olivas Victor , Rabago Dora Barbosa , Lucas Kerr D. , Gomez Carlos , Allegakoen David V. , Guan Juan , Shah Khyati N. , Herrington Kari A. , Gbenedio Oghenekevwe M. , Nanjo Shigeki , Majidi Mourad , Tamaki Whitney , Rotow Julia K. , McCoach Caroline E. , Riess Jonathan W. , Silvio Gutkind J. , Tang Tracy T. , Post Leonard , Huang Bo , Santisteban Pilar , Goodarzi Hani , Bandyopadhyay Sourav , Kuo Calvin J. , Roose Jeroen P. , Wu Wei , Blakely Collin M. , Roth Jack A. , Bivona Trever G.
Published: October 2021

Targeted therapy is effective in many tumor types including lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer mortality. Paradigm defining examples are targeted therapies directed against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtypes with oncogenic alterations in EGFR, ALK and KRAS. The success of targeted therapy is limited by drug-tolerant tumor cells which withstand and adapt to treatment and comprise the residual disease state that is typical during treatment with clinical targeted therapies. Here, we integrate studies in patient-derived and immunocompetent lung cancer models and clinical specimens obtained from patients on targeted therapy to uncover a focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-YAP signaling axis that promotes residual disease during oncogenic EGFR-, ALK-, and KRAS-targeted therapies. FAK-YAP signaling inhibition combined with the primary targeted therapy suppressed residual drug-tolerant cells and enhanced tumor responses. This study unveils a FAK-YAP signaling module that promotes residual disease in lung cancer and mechanism-based therapeutic strategies to improve tumor response.
Identification and assessment of the antibacterial activity of Vigna mungo and Rhizobacteria
Authors: Kwatra Bharat
Published: October 2021

1.

ABSTRACTS

ZnO nanoparticles have received a lot of interest in recent years due to their unusual features. Antimicrobial properties of ZnO NPs However, the qualities of nanoparticles are determined by their size and form, making them suitable for a variety of applications. The current work looks at the synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs produced by Vigna Mungo and Rhizobacteria. Rhizobacteria isolated from V. mungo root nodule were morphologically, biochemically, and molecularly examined and identified as Rhizobium sp. strain and Bacillus flexus strain. The GC-MS analysis of methanol leaf extract of V. mungo was performed to detect and identify bioactive chemicals, and this indicated phytol as an antibacterial agent, while Squalene and Alpha – tocopherol had antioxidant and anti-tumour properties. Agar well diffusion experiment was used to determine the antibacterial properties of ZnO nanoparticles and Vigna Mungo leaf extract. This approach is widely documented, and standard zones of inhibition for sensitive and resistant values have been defined. The results demonstrated that both methanol extract and zinc oxide nanoparticles have strong antibacterial efficacy against the majority of the pathogens examined.
Spatial coding in the hippocampus of flying owls
Authors: Agarwal Arpit , Sarel Ayelet , Derdikman Dori , Ulanovsky Nachum , Gutfreund Yoram
Published: October 2021

The elucidation of spatial coding in the hippocampus requires exploring diverse animal species. While robust place-cells are found in the mammalian hippocampus, much less is known about spatial coding in the hippocampus of birds – and nothing is known about avian spatial representation during flight. Here we used a wireless-electrophysiology system to record single neurons in the hippocampus and related pallial structures from freely flying barn owls (Tyto alba) – a central-place nocturnal predator species with excellent navigational abilities. The owl’s 3D position was monitored while it flew back and forth between two perches. We found place cells – neurons that robustly represented the owl’s location during flight, and its flight-direction – as well as neurons that coded the owl’s perching position between flights. Spatial coding was invariant to changes in lighting conditions and to the position of a salient object in the room. Place cells were found in the anterior hippocampus and in the adjacent posterior hyperpallium apicale, and to a much lesser extent in the visual Wulst (visual-cortex homologue). The finding of place-cells in flying owls suggests commonalities in spatial coding across a variety of species – including rodents, bats and owls.
Quantification of breeding sites parameters in shaping bacterial communities in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Normandeau-Guimond Josiann , Hery Lyza , Guidez Amandine , Durand Audrey-Anne , Delannay Christelle , Issaly Jean , Raffestin Stéphanie , Nigro Joseph , Vega-Rúa Anubis , Constant Philippe , Guertin Claude , Dusfour Isabelle
Published: October 2021

Studies have demonstrated the importance of breeding site, few had disentangled the role of microbiome, physico-chemical and biological factors of water as well as landuse on larval microbial communities and their recruitment in mosquito. A quantitative exploration of the interplay of multiple factors on mosquito microbiome was performed using a dataset obtained through a field survey undertaken in French Guiana. Two complementary hypotheses were tested (i) the most dissimilar larval microbiome structures in breeding sites displayed the most contrasting water properties and land-use, (ii) a higher specificity level of environmental parameters have an incidence on larval microbiome. Variance partitioning approach validated the two hypothesis by providing evidence that water bacterial community is a most significant driver shaping the structure of the bacteriome in mosquito than other environmental parameters from the breeding sites. However, land-use does not play such important role to explain variance. Our results consolidate and complement the knowledge shaping mosquito microbiota but also highlighted the large unknown in understanding the ecology of the recruitment into host.
Structure and metal-binding properties of PA4063, a novel player in periplasmic zinc trafficking byPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Fiorillo Annarita , Battistoni Andrea , Ammendola Serena , Secli Valerio , Rinaldo Serena , Cutruzzolà Francesca , Demitri Nicola , Ilari Andrea
Published: October 2021

The capability to obtain essential nutrients in hostile environments is a critical skill for pathogens. Under zinc-deficient conditions,Pseudomonas aeruginosaexpresses a pool of metal homeostasis control systems that is complex compared with other Gram-negative bacteria and has only been partially characterized. Here, the structure and zinc-binding properties of the protein PA4063, the first component of the PA4063–PA4066 operon, are described. PA4063 has no homologs in other organisms and is characterized by the presence of two histidine-rich sequences. ITC titration detected two zinc-binding sites with micromolar affinity. Crystallographic characterization, performed both with and without zinc, revealed an α/β-sandwich structure that can be classified as a noncanonical ferredoxin-like fold since it differs in size and topology. The histidine-rich stretches located at the N-terminus and between β3 and β4 are disordered in the apo structure, but a few residues become structured in the presence of zinc, contributing to coordination in one of the two sites. The ability to bind two zinc ions at relatively low affinity, the absence of catalytic cavities and the presence of two histidine-rich loops are properties and structural features which suggest that PA4063 might play a role as a periplasmic zinc chaperone or as a concentration sensor useful for optimizing the response of the pathogen to zinc deficiency.
Bid-ask spread, corporate board and stock liquidity in emergent markets
Authors: Daadaa Wissem
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study analyzes the relationship between governance and stock liquidity. It uses different variables of corporate board characteristics and test three proxies of a bid-ask spread. It also provides comprehensive and robust evidence for the association between the corporate board and stock liquidity in the pure order-driven Tunisian market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a sample covering all financial firms in Tunisia (banks, insurances and leasing companies) from 2008 to 2019. It employs a panel data approach.

Findings

The author finds a negative relationship between board sizes, financial institutional members in corporate board and bid-ask spread (absolute, relative and effective spread). The author suggests that better-managed firms have greatly improved their stock liquidity and lower trading cost. The empirical results reveal that better corporate governance firms improve stock liquidity since it is associated with higher information disclosure.

Practical implications

This research encourages Tunisian firms to develop their governance mechanisms and restructure their board organization to improve stock liquidity. It can support the regulators to simultaneously design appropriate governance recommendations, disclosure policies and trading regulations.

Originality/value

The author presents empirical evidence of the role of corporate board on the bid-ask spread in an emerging market. The research is the first to analyze the corporate board characteristics using seven variables representatives of the board of directors and without using the governance index.
Management geographical proximity and stock price crash risk
Authors: Jin Xin , Liang Shangkun , Yu Junli
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study provides empirical support for the cultural economics model between executive team and firm performance and offers important implications for policy selection and appointment of managers in China.

Design/methodology/approach

From the perspective of relationship embeddedness, the authors explore the impact of management geographical proximity (GP) on stock price crash risk in China. Using archival data from China's unique dataset about birthplace culture, the authors find that management GP experiences a large increase in corporate stock price crash risk for the period 2009–2018.

Findings

The impact of management GP on stock price crash risk is more pronounced when the company is located in areas with weaker formal legal environment and stronger Confucian culture. Furthermore, the impact has a significant links with firm characteristics such as information transparency, over-investment and tax aggressiveness.

Originality/value

First, the research extends the literature on the empirical determinants of stock price crash risk. These studies focus on formal institution, not on informal institution, such as relational culture. Second, the research provides evidence for economic consequences on relational governance from executive birthplace culture to explore the economic consequences of geographical relational governance but takes stock price crash risk to present executives' behavior strategies and market reaction via exploring asymmetrical variation of market stock price. Finally, the paper provides reference to corporate governance arrangement and executive appointment.
Bank stability, credit information sharing and a shift toward households' lending: international evidence
Authors: Le Tu D.Q. , Nguyen Dat T.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the relationship between a shift in lending activities toward households, credit information sharing and bank stability.

Design/methodology/approach

A system generalized method of moments (GMMs) as proposed by Arellano and Bover (1995) is employed to examine the relationship using a sample of 80 countries from 2005 to 2014.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that, in general, a shift in lending strategy toward the household sector may increase bank instability while credit information sharing has a positive impact on bank stability. When credit information sharing is promoted widely, this shift may become beneficial for the banking system. The results are robust when using different measures of credit information sharing, including the depth of index and the coverage of credit information sharing mechanisms.

Practical implications

The results demonstrate that a shift in lending activities toward households should be considered a key variable in conducting macro-prudential policies. When a shift toward household credit relative to firm credit is evolved, the findings suggest that the authorities around the world should enact laws that magnify the scope and coverage of credit information shared and thus promoting the effectiveness of information sharing.

Originality/value

The current study is the first attempt that examines the impacts of a shift in lending activities toward households and credit information sharing on bank stability.
Collaborating in a health-care process: partner, not customer
Authors: Karlsson Margareta
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The internal customer concept is used with different definitions and purposes in research and in practice – an ambiguity with implications for both scholars and practitioners. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to explore the representation of the internal customer concept in quality management literature and reflect on how the user may affect collaboration in health-care processes, in particular between a service function and health-care staff.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the internal customer concept in the literature, followed by a conceptual discussion based on previous studies and theories of organizational discourse.

Findings

Three predominant types of relationships related to the internal customer concept were found. The study shows that the ambiguity in the use of the concept may have consequences for the interpretation and application of research results. Potential undesirable consequences with regard to collaboration in processes are discussed.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a new understanding of the internal customer concept in research and practice. As collaboration within and between organizations is increasingly required in many parts of health care, careful considerations become necessary regarding concepts used for relationships to avoid sub-optimization and “us-versus-them” thinking and to strengthen trust-based relationships.
Impact of corporate life cycle on misclassification practices: evidence from IFRS adoption in India
Authors: Bansal Manish
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The study aims to examine the impact of the firm life cycle on the misclassification practices of Indian firms. The study also examines the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the misclassification practices of Indian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses Dickinson (2011) cash flow patterns to classify firm-years under life cycle stages. Two forms of misclassification, namely revenue misclassification and expense misclassification have been examined in this study.

Findings

Based on a sample of 19,268 Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) firm-years spanning over ten years from March 2010 to March 2019, results show that firms operating at high (low) life cycle stage are more likely to be engaged in revenue (expense) misclassification, implying that firms substitute between the classification shifting tools depending upon ease and needs of each tool. Further, our results demonstrate that the magnitude of expense shifting has been significantly increased among test firms (firms reporting under IFRS) relative to benchmark firms (firms reporting under domestic GAAP) in the post-IFRS adoption period, implying that adoption of IFRS negatively affects the accounting quality of Indian firms.

Research limitations/implications

The study considers only two main forms of misclassification, namely revenue and expense misclassification. However, future research may explore the cash flow misclassification.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that standard-setting authorities make more mandatory disclosure requirements under IFRS to curb the corporate misfeasance of classification shifting.

Originality/value

First, the study is among the earlier attempts to examine the impact of the firm life cycle on misclassification practices. Second, the study explores the unique Indian institutional settings concerning the phased-manner implementation of IFRS and examines its impact on the classification shifting practices of firms.
Assessing the possibility of financing social health insurance from zakat, case of Sudan: ARDL bounds approach
Authors: Mohammed Idris Fawzia , Seraj Mehdi , Ozdeser Huseyin
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to find funding sources for social health insurance in Sudan to cover vulnerable families.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of this paper is to look into the causality relationship between insured and directly paid poor people and their incomes through using the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) and using a survey raw data carried out in 2010 in Sudan.

Findings

The findings show that insured vulnerable people and income-generating activities have a significant positive relationship. The results, on the other hand, show a marginally negative effect on income for those who have directly paid poor people.

Originality/value

Previous research on the position of zakat has focused primarily on its role in poverty alleviation and has given little consideration to its role in social security. This study is characterized by improving the possibility of changing the mechanism of distributing zakat funds in favor of health financing to maximize the benefit.
High‐performance computing strategies for seismic‐imaging software on the cluster and cloud‐computing environments
Authors: Okita Nicholas T. , Camargo Alexandre W. , Ribeiro José , Coimbra Tiago A. , Benedicto Caian , Faccipieri Jorge H.
Published: October 2021

Modern subsurface imaging techniques allow obtaining high‐quality images but with high computational costs. Nonetheless, depending on the amount of data, their execution is limited by memory in the current generation's hardware. However, with the advancement of new hardware and cloud‐based solutions, these problems are mitigated but still with the risk of work loss and instability. To mitigate the execution problems in memory‐limited and fail‐prone environments, we propose two high‐performance computing techniques. The first is based on independent checkpointing alongside a fault‐tolerant framework to store an execution state and recover from that state in case of failures. Besides, for memory‐limited graphics processing units, we present a technique to reduce the amount of memory requirement that we call the hybrid strategy. The experiments showed that the independent checkpointing alongside the fault‐tolerant framework is able to mitigate the performance penalty of node failures, with the independent checkpointing technique being more relevant when multiple nodes are terminated. Furthermore, the hybrid strategy technique has shown the possibility of execution of larger models that could make the graphics processing unit run out of memory otherwise. Finally, our implementation is scalable, allowing a significant improvement in performance when adding new nodes. In conclusion, our techniques can be used to deliver fast, high‐fidelity subsurface imaging in unstable and memory‐limited environments, such as the cloud.
Ecology of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria species in India: the occurrence, resistance to biocides, genomic landscape and biocontrol
Authors: Barbuddhe Sukhadeo Baliram , Rawool Deepak Bhiwa , Doijad Swapnil Prakash , Vergis Jess , Malik Satyaveer Singh , Chakraborty Trinad
Published: October 2021

Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis, has been implicated in increasing foodborne outbreaks worldwide. The disease is manifested in various forms ranging from severe sepsis in immune‐compromised individuals, febrile gastroenteritis, still birth, abortions and meningoencephalitis. In India, data from studies on the detection and molecular epidemiological analysis of L. monocytogenes are only recently emerging. The presence of Listeria in different ecological niches has been recorded from India, including foods, soil, vegetables, mangrove swamps, seafood, freshwater fishes, clinical cases, and also insects. The organism has also been isolated from women with spontaneous abortions, miscarriage or recurrent obstetric history, aborted foetuses, animal clinical cases and wildlife samples. A novel species of Listeria has also been characterized. Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from clinical, environmental, and foods showed biofilm‐forming abilities. Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b isolates of ST328, a predominant and unique ST observed in India, was repeatedly isolated from different sources, times, and geographical locations. Here, we reviewed the occurrence of Listeria in different sources in India, its resistance to biocides, and provide epidemiological analysis on its genomic landscape.
Felt deficits in time with children: Individual and contextual factors across 27 European countries
Authors: Berghammer Caroline , Milkie Melissa A.
Published: October 2021

A sizeable portion of parents say they lack time with children—an important social problem given that time strains link to parental well‐being. Extending perspectives on the demands and rewards of parenting beyond the individual level, we provide a contextual‐level window onto mothers' and fathers' time strains. Based on data from the European Quality of Life Survey 2016/17 (n = 5,898), we analyze whether parents feel they spend enough time caring for their children using multilevel models. We first observe that country context matters in that perceptions of time only moderately or weakly relate to hours with children across countries, especially for fathers, suggesting varying social expectations across Europe. Second, in multivariate analyses examining micro‐ and macro‐level factors, we show that at the individual level, feeling too little time with children is more frequent among fathers and those who work more hours, even when controlling for estimated weekly hours spent caring for children. At the country level, parents' time strain is higher in countries where employees have less time and place flexibility, typically in Central and Eastern as well as Southern Europe. Gender norms matter as well. Extending contextual perspectives, we argue that how gender‐work‐family regimes color felt time strain is a promising future research direction.
The UK's wealth distribution and characteristics of high‐wealth households
Authors: Advani Arun , Bangham George , Leslie Jack
Published: October 2021

We show that wealth inequality in the UK is high and has increased slightly over the past decade as financial asset prices have increased in the wake of the financial crisis. But data deficiencies are a major barrier in understanding the true distribution, composition and size of household wealth. The most comprehensive survey of household wealth in the UK does a good job of capturing the vast majority of the wealth distribution, but nearly £800 billion of wealth held by the very wealthiest UK households is missing. We also find tentative evidence that survey measures of high‐wealth families undervalue their assets – our central estimate of the true value of wealth held by households in the UK is 5 per cent higher than the survey data suggest.
Telehealth training: Interprofessional mixed reality simulation in a retrieval service setting
Authors: Paddock Sharon , Norman Chantelle
Published: October 2021

The use of Telehealth is well established in Australian retrieval service settings to aid assessment and management of patients requiring aeromedical transportation and to provide support to clinicians at remote facilities. Telehealth ensures prompt advice and treatment for critically ill and injured patients and can facilitate a resuscitation until the retrieval team arrives. There is scant information regarding the knowledge, skills and abilities required of Telehealth professionals, despite the universal recognition of it requiring a complex skill set, comprehensive understanding of technology and mastery of retrieval medicine. We share the experiences of the South Australia Ambulance Service MedSTAR Emergency Medical Retrieval Service preparing an education programme focussed on the psychometric skills in Telehealth. Our programme realistically simulates Telehealth and coordination systems in use across South Australia, provides in‐depth hands‐on practice for medical and nursing staff that incorporates teamwork, communication, technical and critical thinking skills and culminates with a mixed‐reality simulation scenario and formal debrief.
Feasibility of standardized procedures of white light gastroscopy for clinical practice: A multicenter study in China
Authors: Wang Qiang , Zhang Sheng Yu , Wu Xi , Yao Fang , Zhou Wei Xun , Chai Ning Li , Zhang Shu Tian , Hao Jian Yu , Wu Jing , Zhang Ji Chang , Xu Bao Hong , Hu Li Xia , Yang Ai Ming
Published: October 2021

Objective

We aimed to establish a standardized procedure for white light gastroscopy (WLG) to screen gastric lesions including early gastric cancer (EGC) in China and to verify its efficacy and feasibility in clinical practice.

Methods

A standardized WLG procedure for outpatients at nine tertiary hospitals in Beijing was established. Clinical information of the participants and details of the endoscopic procedures were recorded.

Results

A total of 1051 participants were enrolled in a baseline conventional endoscopic survey between March 2014 and December 2015, while 2156 patients were enrolled in the standardized WLG operation from January 2016 to June 2017. The procedure time of the standardized procedure was significantly longer than that of the baseline conventional procedure (P = 0.003). More images were obtained during the standardized procedure compared with the baseline conventional procedure (P < 0.001). The overall detection rate of gastric lesions in the standardized procedure group was significantly higher than that in the baseline procedure group (52.5% vs 38.4%, P < 0.01). The satisfaction scores of both participants and endoscopists in the standardized procedure group were significantly higher than in the baseline procedure group.

Conclusions

Compared with the conventional procedure, standardized WLG procedure significantly improves the detection rate of gastric lesions as well as the satisfaction score of participants and endoscopists despite its longer procedure time. It is effective and feasible in clinical practice in China for the use of currently available endoscopic equipment.
Changes in blood glucose and lactate concentrations with hemodialysis
Authors: Watha Kanchana , Davenport Andrew , Tangvoraphonkchai Kamonwan
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Blood glucose concentrations are recognized to vary during hemodialysis (HD), with hypoglycemia reported with glucose‐free dialysates. As glucose can be converted to lactate, and conversely lactate to glucose, we wished to study factors associated with peri‐dialytic changes in blood glucose.

Methods

We prospectively collected data including patient profile, dialysis prescription, hemodynamic parameters, medications, dialysis adequacy and monthly blood tests for three consecutive months. All patients used a 100 mg/dl glucose dialysate. Linear mixed model, general estimated equation and binary logistic regression were used for analysis.

Results

We studied 157 sessions in 55 patients, median age 67.1 (58.5–72.6) years, 67% male, 71% diabetic, 40% prescribed insulin, dialysis vintage 20.4 (10.7–57.7) months. Mean single pool Kt/Vurea and normalized protein nitrogen appearance rate (nPNA) were 1.70 ± 0.34 and 1.01 ± 0.30 g/kg/day respectively. Hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dl) occurred during 10 sessions (6.4%). 25% of non‐diabetes experienced hypoglycemia. The % change in peri‐dialytic blood glucose was associated with the % change in lactate (estimate of fixed effect = 0.23 p < 0.001) and pre‐HD glucose (estimate of fixed effect = 0.09, p < 0.001). The fall in glucose was not associated with urea clearance, consumption of food, administration of insulin or antidiabetic medications, nPNA, body mass index, or pyridoxine concentrations.

Conclusions

Peri‐dialytic hypoglycemia cannot simply be explained by dialyzer clearance, as the corresponding fall in lactate would potentially suggest increased gluconeogenesis. Despite using a glucose containing dialysate, asymptomatic hypoglycemia occurred in 6.4% of sessions, suggesting a role for peri‐dialytic blood glucose monitoring and avoiding fasting during dialysis.
Noniterative adjustment to regression estimators with population‐based auxiliary information for semiparametric models
Authors: Gao Fei , Chan K. C. G.
Published: October 2021

Disease registries, surveillance data, and other datasets with extremely large sample sizes become increasingly available in providing population‐based information on disease incidence, survival probability, or other important public health characteristics. Such information can be leveraged in studies that collect detailed measurements but with smaller sample sizes. In contrast to recent proposals that formulate additional information as constraints in optimization problems, we develop a general framework to construct simple estimators that update the usual regression estimators with some functionals of data that incorporate the additional information. We consider general settings that incorporate nuisance parameters in the auxiliary information, non‐i.i.d. data such as those from case‐control studies, and semiparametric models with infinite‐dimensional parameters common in survival analysis. Details of several important data and sampling settings are provided with numerical examples.
Sellars's ontological nominalism
Authors: Simonelli Ryan
Published: October 2021

Wilfrid Sellars is widely known for two positions that he calls “nominalism.” On the one hand, there is his “psychological nominalism,” according to which any awareness one might have of abstract entities—be they properties, relations, or facts—is a thoroughly linguistic affair, and so cannot be presupposed in thinking about the process of learning a (first) language. On the other hand, there is his ontological nominalism, according to which the world, as it is in itself, is fundamentally a world of concrete particulars and so does not ultimately contain such things as properties, relations, or propositionally‐structured facts. Sellars clearly takes these two sorts of “nominalism” to go together. However, one of the most influential inheritors of Sellars's philosophy, Robert Brandom, thinks that they do not. Brandom endorses the former, but denies that the latter “is in the end so much as intelligible.” In this paper, I articulate the connection between Sellars's psychological and ontological nominalism and draw on Brandom's own development of Sellars's functional role semantics to argue, against Brandom, that Sellars's ontological nominalism not only harmonizes with the rest of his philosophical commitments, but is actually made fully intelligible by the very aspect of Sellars's theory that Brandom himself develops.
What problems associated with ageing are seen in a specialist service for older people living with HIV?
Authors: Jones Howell T. , Samji Alim , Cope Nigel , Williams Joanne , Swaden Leonie , Katiyar Abhishek , Burns Fiona , McClintock‐Tiongco Aisha , Johnson Margaret , Barber Tristan J.
Published: October 2021

Objectives

By 2030 the majority of the people living with HIV in the United Kingdom will be over the age of 50. HIV services globally must adapt to manage people living with HIV as they age. Currently these services are often designed based on data from the wider population or from the experiences of HIV clinicians. This article aims to help clinicians designing inclusive HIV services by presenting the most common needs identified during the first year of a specialist clinic for older people living with HIV at the Ian Charleson Day Centre, Royal Free Hospital in London, United Kingdom.

Methods

The records of all thirty‐five patients attending the inaugural nine sessions were reviewed.

Results

The median age of attendees was 69 (53–93) with 77% being male, 63% being White, 49% being heterosexual and 97% being virally suppressed respectively. The majority (83%) met the criteria for frailty using the Fried frailty phenotype. Eighteen issues linked to ageing were identified with the most common being affective symptoms (51%), memory loss (37%) and falls (29%).

Conclusions

Whilst older people living with HIV are a heterogeneous group frailty is common and appears to present earlier. HIV services either need to adapt to meet these additional needs or must support users in transitioning to existing services. We feel that our multidisciplinary model is successful in identifying problems associated with ageing in people living with HIV and could be successfully replicated elsewhere.
Flattening the curve: approaching complete sampling for diverse beetle communities
Authors: Burner Ryan C. , Birkemoe Tone , Åström Jens , Sverdrup‐Thygeson Anne
Published: October 2021

Insects are a hyper diverse and ecologically important group. Their high diversity, however, presents challenges in sampling methodology, because rare species are unreliably detected with low sampling effort. However, the relationship between effort and species detections, critical for effective monitoring and evaluation of population trends, is too seldom quantified.

We sampled forest beetles for 3 months in a 4‐ha stand of mixed deciduous forest in southeastern Norway using 110 flight intercept (four types) and Malaise traps, the highest trap density (29 traps ha−1) that we have seen reported. We examined species accumulation curves to quantify the benefits of each additional trap, compared capture rates among several trap designs and trap emptying frequencies, and tested for spatial autocorrelation.

In total, we captured 566 beetle taxa (19 854 individuals) from 52 families, yet our species accumulation curve was only beginning to flatten. Trap types differed considerably in their effectiveness. Nevertheless, 20 of our most effective window traps detected 75% of all taxa in our dataset. We found no evidence of spatial correlation within the scale of the study (100 m radius), nor did trap‐level forest covariates (5 m radius) explain much variation.

This implies that low‐to‐moderate sampling effort dramatically underestimates species richness, but that a limited number of effective traps can nonetheless achieve relatively thorough sampling for some applications. Immediate trap surroundings and spacing appeared unimportant. Insect ecologists should take particular care in selecting trap types, and be cautious comparing studies that employed different trap types.
A measurement scale developed to investigate the effect of leaders' perceptions regarding attitudes towards and commitment to quality management of training
Authors: Els Renier (RC) , Meyer Helen (HW) , Ellis Suria (S)
Published: October 2021

It is broadly acknowledged that, for quality management to be effective, it needs to be viewed and implemented as a dynamic and active process by people in an organisation, specifically its leaders. This study aimed to determine the level of leaders' commitment with regard to their perceptions and attitudes concerning quality management of training in corps training units within the South African Army. The Leader Perception and Attitude Scale was developed for this purpose. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 229 leaders at six of the eight South African Army's corps training units. Correlation coefficients were determined, and structural equation modelling was performed. The results indicated that leaders' attitudes had a statistically significant influence on their commitment (p < 0.001), whereas perceptions had no statistically significant influence (p = 0.488). The results contrast with previous studies, which have mostly indicated that perceptions influence employee commitment. By targeting leaders' attitudes, therefore, the South African Army may be able to design and implement appropriate strategies to improve leaders' commitment and thereby enhance training effectiveness. The potential usefulness of a scale that measures the level of commitment of leaders and is able to indicate the level of effect that perceptions and attitudes can have, may be of interest to other military settings and organisations that conduct in‐house training.
Proposed diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment in Down syndrome population
Authors: Esteba‐Castillo Susanna , Garcia‐Alba Javier , Rodríguez‐Hildago Emili , Vaquero Lucía , Novell Ramon , Moldenhauer Fernando , Castellanos Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2021

Background

Despite presenting higher risk of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well defined in Down syndrome population.

Objective

We aimed to describe cognitive and neuropsychological patterns associated with MCI in Down syndrome individuals.

Method

Two groups of adults with Down syndrome (control and prodromal) were studied throughout 3 years. Two linear mixed models and a model including the variables that best predicted group membership were built.

Results

Behavioural Regulation Index (BRI) (Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function test) and the model composed of BRI, abstraction and delayed verbal memory were the variable and model best predicting group membership, respectively.

Conclusion

Suggest a diagnosis of MCI when BRI is the earliest change perceived by caregivers and this is combined with low scores in abstract thinking, and when an amnesic pattern in delayed verbal memory is observed, but adaptive skills are preserved.
Assessing Differential Bundle Functioning Using Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Li Lanrong , Becker Betsy Jane
Published: October 2021

Differential bundle functioning (DBF) has been proposed to quantify the accumulated amount of differential item functioning (DIF) in an item cluster/bundle (Douglas, Roussos, and Stout). The simultaneous item bias test (SIBTEST, Shealy and Stout) has been used to test for DBF (e.g., Walker, Zhang, and Surber). Research on DBF may have the potential to reveal the mechanism underlying DIF. However, an unresolved issue is the lack of an effect size for DBF, making it difficult to assess and compare the amounts of DBF within and between tests. We propose using meta‐analysis techniques to study DBF. By meta‐analyzing DIF indices, we can examine the heterogeneity of DIF across items, using the weighted average of DIF indices in an item bundle as a measure of effect size for DBF. A Monte Carlo simulation study compared the performance of our proposed effect size for DBF and a new test of nonzero average DIF in an item bundle with that of a DBF test using SIBTEST. When the primary and secondary dimensions were moderately correlated, our proposed effect size for DBF had little bias; the test of nonzero average DIF also showed power and Type I error levels comparable to those of the DBF test.
RegioFEM — Applying a floodplain evaluation method to support a future‐oriented flood risk management (Part II)
Authors: Eder Markus , Löschner Lukas , Herrnegger Mathew , Hogl Karl , Nordbeck Ralf , Scherhaufer Patrick , Schober Bernhard , Seher Walter , Wesemann Johannes , Zahnt Nina , Habersack Helmut
Published: October 2021

Flood risk managers face increasing challenges in anticipating future developments and coordinating flood risk management on a regional level. The regional floodplain evaluation matrix (RegioFEM), a method to support a future‐oriented flood risk management at a regional scale, was applied in a section of the Raab River in Austria. The developed method uses several parameters assessing the consequences of changes in the study area, which lead to changes in flood risk. Settlement development, planned flood protection measures and the likely increase of flood runoff due to climatic changes are considered. Parameters include hydrological (e.g., peak reduction), hydraulic (inundation area), spatial (affected buildings) and monetary (damage potential) ones. The results of the application of the RegioFEM were presented at a regional expert workshop, conducted to gain feedback about the possibilities and limitations of implementing the method into practice. Considering future changes and evaluating their impacts on flood risk can provide stakeholders and decision makers valuable information for sustainable flood risk management.
A framework of social determinants of health for delirium tailored to older adults
Authors: Arias Franchesca , Alegria Margarita , Kind Amy J. , Jones Richard N. , Travison Thomas G. , Marcantonio Edward R. , Schmitt Eva M. , Fong Tamara G. , Inouye Sharon K.
Published: October 2021

Delirium is a debilitating medical condition that disproportionately affects hospitalized older adults and is associated with adverse health outcomes, increased mortality, and high medical costs. Efforts to understand delirium risk in hospitalized older adults have focused on examining medical comorbidities, pre‐existing cognitive deficits, and other clinical and demographic factors present in the period proximate to the hospitalization. The contribution of social determinants of health (SDOH), including social circumstances, environmental characteristics, and early‐life exposures, referred as the social exposome, to delirium risk is poorly understood. Increased knowledge about the influence of SDOH will offer a more comprehensive understanding of factors that may increase vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. Clinically, these efforts can guide the development and implementation of holistic preventive strategies to improve clinical outcomes. We propose a SDOH framework for delirium adapted for older adults. We provide the definition, description, and rationale for the domains and variables in our proposed model.
The future of frailty: Opportunity is knocking
Authors: Callahan Kathryn E.
Published: October 2021

This editorial comments on the article by Cooper et al. in this issue.
Characteristics and outcomes of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in Victorian children at a tertiary paediatric hospital
Authors: Tosif Shidan , Ibrahim Laila F , Hughes Rebecca , R Cheng Daryl , Wurzel Danielle , Overmars Isabella , Steer Andrew C , Bryant Penelope A , Duke Trevor , Lewena Stuart , Babl Franz E , McNab Sarah , Crawford Nigel
Published: October 2021

Aim

Victoria experienced two ‘waves’ of COVID‐19 between March and September 2020 and more cases than any other jurisdiction in Australia. Although world‐wide reports of COVID‐19 reflect that children are less likely to experience severe disease compared with adults, hospitalisations and deaths have been reported. We report testing and outcomes of children with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection presenting to a tertiary paediatric hospital in Melbourne.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), including all children and adolescents (aged 0–18 years) who presented and were tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 over a 6‐month period, between 21 March 2020, up to the 21 September 2020. Detailed epidemiological and clinical data were recorded.

Results

A total of 19 708 tests for SARS‐CoV‐2 were performed in 14 419 patients. One hundred and eighty patients tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 (1.2%). 110 (61%) were symptomatic, 60 (33%) were asymptomatic and 10 (6%) were pre‐symptomatic. Close contacts of a positive case were associated with a higher risk of a testing positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 (120/2027 (6%) vs. 60/14589 (0.4%), RD 5.5 (95% CI 4.5 to 6.5), P < 0.001). Eighteen (10%) SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive patients were admitted to hospital with one patient requiring intensive care. All patients recovered fully with no deaths.

Conclusion

In Victorian children presenting to a tertiary hospital, SARS‐CoV‐2 infection caused predominantly mild or asymptomatic infection, with most children not requiring hospitalisation.
Public good provision with participation costs
Authors: Conlon John R. , Pecorino Paul
Published: October 2021

Esteban and Ray develop a model with an increasing marginal cost of contribution, and overturn the Olson hypothesis that large groups cannot provide themselves with a rival public good. In contrast, Pecorino and Temimi incorporate fixed but avoidable participation costs into this framework, and conclude that public good provision must fall to zero in large groups if the degree of rivalry is high. However, they argue that the public good will continue to be provided in large groups when the degree of rivalry is sufficiently low. We show that this latter conclusion is incorrect. Specifically, suppose that there is rivalry “in the limit,” so, as group size grows, the per‐person benefit from any fixed total level of contribution falls to zero. Then, as group size grows, the payoff an individual receives from a public good, both when she contributes to it and when she does not, can each grow without bound in the absence of participation costs. However, the difference between these payoffs necessarily goes to zero. Thus, in a sufficiently large group, agents will not be willing to incur the participation costs. The same result also applies to the Morgan lottery mechanism.
Direct‐acting antivirals reduce the risk of tumour progression of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment
Authors: Ikenaga Hiroko , Uchida‐Kobayashi Sawako , Tamori Akihiro , Odagiri Naoshi , Yoshida Kanako , Kotani Kohei , Motoyama Hiroyuki , Kozuka Ritsuzo , Kawamura Etsushi , Hagihara Atsushi , Fujii Hideki , Enomoto Masaru , Kawada Norifumi
Published: October 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has high recurrence rates. HCC sometimes progresses from early‐stage HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] stage 0/A) to advanced‐stage HCC after repeated recurrences and treatments. HCC progression deteriorates quality of life and prognosis. However, the effect of direct‐acting antiviral (DAA)‐induced sustained virologic response (SVR) on HCC progression remains uninvestigated. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with hepatitis C virus‐related HCC with BCLC stage 0/A diagnosed for the first time and treated by curative resection or ablation. Using a time‐varying method, we estimated the risk of tumour progression (defined as progression to BCLC stage B‐D) and liver‐related death and the characteristics of repeated recurrence. Overall, 165 patients were enrolled. Following curative HCC treatment, 72 patients received DAA therapy (DAA‐treated group), whereas 93 did not (untreated group). Approximately 75% of the recurrences were at an early stage and expected to be disease‐free by retreatment. We recorded 56 tumour progressions, of which 60.7% were observed after second recurrence. Multivariate adjusted time‐varying Cox regression analysis showed that the DAA‐induced SVR significantly reduced the risk of tumour progression (hazard ratio [HR] 0.28; p = .001) and liver‐related death (HR 0.12; p < .001). The annual incidence of HCC treatment until tumour progression was 82.8% and 23.9% in the untreated and DAA‐treated groups, respectively (HR 0.30; p < .001). DAA‐induced SVR significantly reduced the risk for tumour progression and liver‐related death and the frequency of HCC treatment following curative treatment for HCC at BCLC stage 0/A.