bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
User's experience of neighborhood parks in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur
Authors: Ishak Syaidatul Azzreen , Jamaludin Adi Ainurzaman , Hussein Hazreena
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper will identify people's experience of visiting selected neighborhood parks and their overall evaluations of selected neighborhood parks. The study is notably done by gathering data from the residents based on their neighborhood parks' experiences, including the landscape features and facilities related to their experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The Likert scale questions on user's experience of using park features at the neighborhood parks, open-ended questions were being applied in order to achieve more data on respondents' feelings and experiences on their thoughts. Then, the feedback from the information gathered from a minimum number of respondents (n = 382) will get into the development of semi-structured interview questions to discuss possible suggestions and recommendations for a better neighborhood park by interviewing a landscape architect and a planner.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights on three particular themes that arise as significant in resident's experience of neighborhood parks in Kuala Lumpur. These three themes are by exploring the facilities of neighborhood parks, connection with natural features and the need for safety that has shown by the residents' experience and evaluation.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.

Social implications

The respondents consistently see neighborhood parks as a place for exercise, children's play area, social space and enjoying nature.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified people's use and experience of neighborhood parks in Kuala Lumpur.
Voice of the customer as a tool for service quality analysis in public transport
Authors: Jach Paula , Antony Jiju , Thomson Scott Paul , Cudney Beth , Furterer Sandra
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the voice of the customer (VOC) of public transport (PT) users and non-users and to identify the role VOC plays in PT service quality analysis and improvement practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on quantitative and qualitative data collection. Quantitative data were collected through two questionnaires; the first is based on ranking data: 192 responses and the second on the Kano model: 46 responses. The qualitative data was obtained through 10 semi-structured interviews with senior management from seven bus companies in the UK.

Findings

Findings indicate that VOC differs between PT users and non-users and compared with the perspectives of PT Providers. The research also revealed that VOC plays a crucial role in PT service quality improvement (QI).

Practical implications

The findings can be used by PT service providers to better understand the VOC of PT users and non-users, which will assist in strategic and QI decision-making. Furthermore, an in-depth study of VOC in PT is provided, which progresses the academic field on this topic and advances research in this area.

Originality/value

This research brings new insight into the most important quality attributes for PT users and non-users. Moreover, the paper fundamentally contributes to the literature, which until now had severely limited input pertaining to the role of VOC in PT and little knowledge of service QI tools and practices in this sector.
Sexual size dimorphism in lizards: Rensch's rule, reproductive mode, clutch size, and line fitting method effects
Authors: LIANG Tao , MEIRI Shai , SHI Lei
Published: July 2021

Rensch's rule relates to a pattern whereby sexual size dimorphism is more female‐biased in small‐sized species and more male‐biased in large‐sized ones. We collected literature and museum data on the body size of males and females belonging to 4032 lizard species, as well as data on their reproductive modes and clutch sizes. We used phylogenetic comparative analyses, and general linear mixed models, to test Rensch's rule and examined how reproductive mode and clutch size affect sexual size dimorphism. Sexual size dimorphism was independent of clutch size in lizard species with variable clutch sizes and in oviparous lizards. Large litters were associated with female‐biased sexual dimorphism in viviparous and in scincomorph lizards. Inference regarding Rensch's rule depended on the analytical method used to identify it. The widely used, but less conservative, reduced major axis regression usually support Rensch's rule while ordinary least squares regressions mostly show isometric relationships. The rule tended to apply more to oviparous than to viviparous lizards. We infer that Rensch's rule is, at best, a weak pattern in lizards. This is especially true in viviparous lineages where females reproduce infrequently and therefore evolve large sizes to maximise fecundity, resulting in female‐biased dimorphism.
De novo biosynthesis of garbanzol and fustin in Streptomyces albus based on a potential flavanone 3‐hydroxylase with 2‐hydroxylase side activity
Authors: Marín Laura , Gutiérrez‐del‐Río Ignacio , Villar Claudio Jesús , Lombó Felipe
Published: July 2021

Flavonoids are important plant secondary metabolites, which were shown to have antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory or antiviral activities. Heterologous production of flavonoids in engineered microbial cell factories is an interesting alternative to their purification from plant material representing the natural source. The use of engineered bacteria allows to produce specific compounds, independent of soil, climatic or other plant‐associated production parameters. The initial objective of this study was to achieve an engineered production of two interesting flavanonols, garbanzol and fustin, using Streptomyces albus as the production host. Unexpectedly, the engineered strain produced several flavones and flavonols in the absence of the additional expression of a flavone synthase (FNS) or flavonol synthase (FLS) gene. It turned out that the heterologous flavanone 3‐hydroxylase (F3H) has a 2‐hydroxylase side activity, which explains the observed production of 7,4′‐dihydroxyflavone, resokaempferol, kaempferol and apigenin, as well as the biosynthesis of the extremely rare 2‐hydroxylated intermediates 2‐hydroxyliquiritigenin, 2‐hydroxynaringenin and probably licodione. Other related metabolites, such as quercetin, dihydroquercetin and eriodictyol, have also been detected in culture extracts of this recombinant strain. Hence, the enzymatic versatility of S. albus can be conveniently exploited for the heterologous production of a large diversity of plant metabolites of the flavonoid family.
Computed tomography guided lung biopsy under general anaesthesia with apnoea: Preliminary experience
Authors: Deb Smita , Malkoutzis Evangelyn , Troupis John
Published: July 2021

Certain pulmonary lesions may be challenging to biopsy with conventional computed tomography percutaneous lung biopsy (CTPLB) under local anaesthesia (LA) which requires consistent patient breath holding to minimise complications. We aim to describe and evaluate the feasibility of CTPLB under general anaesthesia (GA) with apnoea, comparing results to patients undergoing biopsy under LA. This was a retrospective analysis of CTPLB with 18 GA and 137 LA patients. All biopsies were performed using a co‐axial needle system in the radiology department on a multi‐detector CT scanner with patient positioning determined by assessing shortest distance to target lesion. GA cases were performed under relaxant anaesthesia with intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Lower lobar lesion location and a combination of size and location (including proximity to critical structures) were indications for GA biopsy in >90% of patients. Mean lesion size for GA biopsies was 18 mm and control group 30 mm (P < 0.006) and mean pleura to lesion distance 29 and 11 mm, respectively (P < 0.0009). Pneumothorax rates were lower in our GA biopsy group (11%) compared to control group (42%) (P < 0.05). No anaesthetic complications were encountered. All GA samples were diagnostic. Based on a small number of patients, CTPLB under GA with apnoea seems a safe, feasible alternative to conventional CTPLB under LA for technically challenging lesions. This technique is routinely employed at our centre allowing access to lesions previously deemed unsafe to biopsy.
Are pre‐service teachers disinclined to utilise embodied humanoid social robots in the classroom?
Authors: Istenic Andreja , Bratko Ivan , Rosanda Violeta
Published: July 2021

Teachers' readiness for technology integration depends also on their beliefs about the contribution of technology to teaching and learning, which influence their motivation for its adoption. Initial pre‐service teacher education is critical in reducing the attitude‐behaviour divide supporting technology acceptability, acceptance and use. Acceptance of interaction between human and robot is more complicated than human‐computer interaction acceptance. Social robots are radical innovations, harder for potential users to accept in human social spaces than are incremental innovations. In 2019, a survey using a convenience sample of 121 first‐year students was conducted to examine pre‐service teachers' beliefs about social robot educational technology. It examined the following factors derived from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology adopted for social robots in education: Perceived social dimension, Intention to use, Perceived usability, Anxiety. Based on our findings, it seems there is a critical disjunction between researchers' efforts to equip social robots with human manners and social intelligence and participants' rejection of this technology precisely because it mimics being human. Further, we report that ICT familiarity as assessed using PISA's Information Communication Technology—ICT familiarity factors is related to robot acceptability. These findings need further examination to inform educational robotics design and Human‐Robot Interaction research and teacher education and training.

Practitioners notes

What is already known about this topic

In the age of robotic technology, teachers face requirements to prepare students for work and life with social robots.

Social robots are tested for classroom integration.

Teachers' readiness to implement robot lessons depends on their beliefs about social robotic technology's contribution to teaching.

Research and development in the field of social robotics still tend to focus more frequently on technology applications rather than pedagogical issues and advancing teaching and learning.

What this paper adds

Participants refuse to accept the idea of social robot‐based instruction.

The identified belief pattern is based mainly on the perceived social dimension, intention to use, perceived usability and anxiety.

Participants critically perceive the robot's social dimension.

Some of PISA's ICT familiarity factors are related to robots acceptability factors.

Implication for policy and/or practice

The policy and practice need to address how social robots could be integrated into current teaching and learning practices and more importantly how could robotic technology facilitate innovative pedagogical models for effective and efficient learning.

The introduction of social robots should follow instructional design requirements and not merely technological advancement.

Teacher initial education has to provide social robotic learning environments for pre‐service teachers to experiment and design.
“I have to start learning how to live with becoming sick”: A scoping review of the lived experiences of people with Huntington's disease
Authors: Mahmood Saadia , Law Susan , Bombard Yvonne
Published: July 2021

Person‐centered care (PCC) is recognized as a key component of the delivery of quality healthcare and a model for healthcare systems worldwide. The experience of illness through a person's perspective is one domain defining PCC contributing to a growing interest in examining the lived experiences of illness. This scoping review sought to examine what is known from the existing literature about the lived experiences of persons gene‐positive for or living with Huntington's disease (HD) as described in their own voices and to outline prominent psychosocial themes of those experiences. Five databases were systematically searched and analyzed resulting in 19 publications for inclusion. Using a thematic analysis, five prominent psychosocial themes were identified: grappling with control, avoidance as an escape from realities, adaptation to new realities, managing emotions, and appreciation for life. Variation in themes existed across HD life stage of being undiagnosed or diagnosed with HD. The findings of this review demonstrate that individuals who are gene‐positive for or living with HD require support well beyond the disclosure of genetic testing and that it may be beneficial for healthcare providers to consider where along the life stage trajectory a person affected by HD may be to ensure the delivery of quality PCC.
The Effects of Migration on Peasant Agricultural Systems: Oaxacan Villages, Between Remittances and Market Integration
Authors: Vaccaro Ismael , Ortiz Díaz Edith
Published: July 2021

Contemporary indigenous Zapotec rural villages of the northern sierra region of Oaxaca state exhibit profound transformations in their agricultural strategies. Since the mid‐twentieth century, its agricultural lands have suffered a gradual process of abandonment. As a consequence, forest transition is occurring around the villages, and the cultivar portfolio seems to be dominated by cash crops. This article examines these landscape transformations through a multicausal explanatory framework: these mountains have experienced intense outbound migratory processes since the 1980s; the communities have cash available to buy certain labor‐intensive crops as a result of the remittances sent back by the migrants; and the area has been recently integrated to road‐connected regional markets thanks to an intense development of its infrastructures. This article discusses some the changes experienced by the landscape of the village of Santiago Zoochila (Oaxaca), as a result of the interaction demographic and economic factors (migration, availability of remittances, and market integration).
Fenfluramine for seizures associated with Sunflower syndrome
Authors: Geenen Kennedy R , Doshi Samarth P , Patel Sandip , Sourbron Jo , Falk Amy , Morgan Amy , Vu Uyen , Bruno Patricia L , Thiele Elizabeth A
Published: July 2021

Aim

To determine the efficacy of fenfluramine on seizure frequency in patients with Sunflower syndrome. Secondary endpoints were changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics, cognitive functioning, executive functioning, and quality of life.

Method

In this open‐label study, patients underwent a 4‐week baseline period, followed by 3 months of treatment. An oral solution of fenfluramine was administered twice daily for 3 months. The dose was titrated up to a maximum dose of 0.7mg/kg/day or 26mg/day. Cardiac safety was monitored by transthoracic echocardiogram and electrocardiogram. EEGs, abbreviated neuropsychological testing, and questionnaires were administered before starting the study medication and again at the end of the treatment period.

Results

Ten patients (eight females, two males; mean age 13y 4mo [SD 4y 11mo], range 7–24y) were enrolled in the study. Nine of the 10 patients completed the core study, eight of whom met the primary endpoint. There were no observations of cardiac valvulopathy or pulmonary hypertension during the study.

Interpretation

Treatment with low‐dose fenfluramine resulted in a clinically significant reduction in seizure frequency, including hand‐waving episodes. Fenfluramine may be an effective treatment option for patients with Sunflower syndrome.

What this paper adds

Nine patients with Sunflower syndrome were treated with fenfluramine.

Eight patients were responders, displaying a ≥30% reduction in seizure activity.

Six patients experienced a ≥70% reduction in hand‐waving episodes.

Improvements on electroencephalogram were observed after treatment with fenfluramine.

None of the patients developed evidence of cardiac valvulopathy or pulmonary hypertension.
Global trends in phenotypic plasticity of plants
Authors: Stotz Gisela C. , Salgado‐Luarte Cristian , Escobedo Víctor M. , Valladares Fernando , Gianoli Ernesto
Published: July 2021

Predicting plastic responses is crucial to assess plant species potential to adapt to climate change, but little is known about which factors drive the biogeographical patterns of phenotypic plasticity in plants. Theory predicts that climatic variability would select for increased phenotypic plasticity, whereas evidence indicates that stressful conditions can limit phenotypic plasticity. Using a meta‐analytic, phylogeny‐corrected approach to global data on plant phenotypic plasticity, we tested whether latitude, climate, climatic variability and/or stressful conditions are predictors of plastic responses at a biogeographical scale. We found support for a positive association between phenotypic plasticity and climatic variability only for plasticity in allocation. Plasticity in leaf morphology, size and physiology were positively associated with mean annual temperature. We also found evidence that phenotypic plasticity in physiology is limited by cold stress. Overall, plant plastic responses to non‐climatic factors were stronger than responses to climatic factors. However, while climatic conditions were associated with plant plastic responses to climatic factors, they generally did not relate to plastic responses to other abiotic or biotic factors. Our study highlights the need to consider those factors that favour and limit phenotypic plasticity in order to improve predictive frameworks addressing plant species’ potential to adapt to climate change.
Disproportionate microbial responses to decadal drainage on a Siberian floodplain
Authors: Kwon Min Jung , Tripathi Binu M. , Göckede Mathias , Shin Seung Chul , Myeong Nu Ri , Lee Yoo Kyung , Kim Mincheol
Published: July 2021

Permafrost thaw induces soil hydrological changes which in turn affects carbon cycle processes in the Arctic terrestrial ecosystems. However, hydrological impacts of thawing permafrost on microbial processes and greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics are poorly understood. This study examined changes in microbial communities using gene and genome‐centric metagenomics on an Arctic floodplain subject to decadal drainage, and linked them to CO2 and CH4 flux and soil chemistry. Decadal drainage led to significant changes in the abundance, taxonomy, and functional potential of microbial communities, and these modifications well explained the changes in CO2 and CH4 fluxes between ecosystem and atmosphere—increased fungal abundances potentially increased net CO2 emission rates and highly reduced CH4 emissions in drained sites corroborated the marked decrease in the abundance of methanogens and methanotrophs. Interestingly, various microbial taxa disproportionately responded to drainage: Methanoregula, one of the key players in methanogenesis under saturated conditions, almost disappeared, and also Methylococcales methanotrophs were markedly reduced in response to drainage. Seven novel methanogen population genomes were recovered, and the metabolic reconstruction of highly correlated population genomes revealed novel syntrophic relationships between methanogenic archaea and syntrophic partners. These results provide a mechanistic view of microbial processes regulating GHG dynamics in the terrestrial carbon cycle, and disproportionate microbial responses to long‐term drainage provide key information for understanding the effects of warming‐induced soil drying on microbial processes in Arctic wetland ecosystems.
Gender differences in solo self‐employment: Gendered flexibility and the effects of parenthood
Authors: Bari Lauren , Turner Tom , O'Sullivan Michelle
Published: July 2021

With greater flexibility and control over the timing and conditions of work, solo self‐employment (without employees) is seen as offering a potential solution to work‐family conflict. This study examines whether this flexibility manifests itself in gendered trends among the self‐employed as self‐employed women undertake a larger share of unpaid domestic and caring work compared to their male and wage‐and‐salaried counterparts. The findings are based on data from the Irish national Labor Force Survey. We find that self‐employed women are more likely to work reduced hours, to work from home and for reasons associated with caring or family responsibilities than both self‐employed men and women in wage‐and‐salaried work. Flexibility factors are stronger determinants of self‐employed status for women than men. While gender differences exist regardless of parental status, they are widest among self‐employed parents of preschool children.
Functional multigenic variations associated with hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Osman Yasser , Elsharkawy Tarek , Hashim Tariq Mohammad , Alratroot Jumana Abdulwahab , Alsuwat Hind Saleh , Otaibi Waad Mohammed Al , Hegazi Fatma Mohammed , AbdulAzeez Sayed , Borgio J. Francis
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The current study aimed to describe genotypes associated with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in a cohort of Saudi and non‐Saudi patients and discuss their possible susceptibility to HL.

Methods

We studied clinical, histopathological, and laboratory findings of HL patients admitted over 12 years duration, at King Fahd University Hospital, KSA. The genomic DNAs of HL patients (n = 61) and normal control subjects (n = 36) were extracted, and genotyping was performed using the Illumina human exome bead chip. Set of HL patients and set of normal controls were included in this study.

Results

A total of 35 DNA variants were found to be highly significant with the P‐value <9.90 × 10−11 among 243 345 exonic biomarkers and obeying the Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium. Nine, MEGF11‐rs150945752 (P‐value 1.20 × 10−12), CACNA1I‐ s58055559 (P‐value 1.93 × 10−12), DECR2‐rs146760080 (P‐value 2.19 × 10−12), STAB1‐rs143894786 (P‐value 2.45 × 10−12), ZNF526‐rs144433879 (P‐value 2.76 × 10−12), CPLANE1‐rs200612080 (P‐value 3.77 × 10−12), DLK1‐rs1058009 (P‐value 5.95 × 10−12), RTN4RL2‐rs61745214 (P‐value 7.71 × 10−12), and PGRMC1‐rs145582672 (P‐value 8.56 × 10−12), exonic variants on chromosomes 15, 22, and 16 were highly associated with HL cases.

The highly significant haplotypes at chromosome 3

rs143894786G; rs149982219G with P‐value = 3.43 × 10−14 was found to be the risk haplotype for the HL patients. The opposite alleles at chromosome 3: rs143894786A; rs149982219G is protective with P‐value = 2.46 × 10−12. Maximum number of SNPs at the chromosome 19: rs144433879C; rs181265966G; rs201144421C; rs145591797G; rs200560875G; rs77270337G (risk P‐value = 2.24 × 10−12) and its opposite allele rs144433879A; rs181265966A; rs201144421T; rs145591797A; rs200560875A; rs77270337A (protective P‐value = 2.60 × 10−9) were found to be associated haplotype with the HL and controls, respectively, in Saudi population.

Conclusion

Our study concludes that the HL is genetically heterogeneous with multigene causation.
Hierarchical structure control of MgAl2O4 porous ceramics and application to organic polymer filtration membrane
Authors: Ma Zhiyuan , Suzuki Yoshikazu
Published: July 2021

Asymmetric porous ceramic membranes typically have a very thin top layer with finer pores covered on thick porous layers with micrometer‐scale pores. In this study, triple‐layer asymmetric MgAl2O4 filtration membranes composed of (i) an Al2O3 support layer (circular pellet with ~10 µm pores) prepared by dry pressing, (ii) a reactively sintered MgAl2O4 intermediate layer (~40 µm in thickness), prepared by dip‐coating with tackifier (PEG‐20000), and (iii) another reactively sintered finer MgAl2O4 membrane layer (~20 µm in thickness), prepared by dip‐coating without tackifier. Different from our previous studies for the microfiltration of submicrometer‐sized particles, in this study we have challenged the ultrafiltration of water‐soluble polymer molecules. Their filtration performance was investigated by removing 1 million molecular‐weight polyethylene oxide (PEO) from water. The rejection rate of the triple‐layer asymmetric filtration membrane to PEO was ~14%. The all‐ceramic membrane in this study showed a comparable rejection rate with the reported inorganic–organic membrane, and it must be promising for excellent chemical and thermal stabilities as well as long durability.
Nurses' responses to adolescent distress in an acute child and adolescent mental health inpatient unit: A qualitative interpretive descriptive study
Authors: Spencer Stephen , Kable Ashley , Stone Teresa , McMillan Margaret
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To describe observed nursing responses and interventions to adolescent inpatients experiencing distress.

Methods

Thorne's interpretive descriptive approach guided data collection and analysis of nonparticipant observations of a purposive sample of adolescents, and nurses.

Findings

Three major themes are presented: engagement: responses and interventions for working with distress; adolescent reactions and nurses' clinical decision making to manage distress; and outcomes: escalation or resolution of distress.

Conclusions

The TAR3 conceptual model developed from this study can guide nurses' responses to distressed adolescents and promote safety, enhance positive outcomes, and reduce the use of coercive interventions.
The mortality analysis of primary prevention patients receiving a cardiac resynchronization defibrillator (CRT‐D) or implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) according to guideline indications in the improve SCA study
Authors: Ching Chi Keong , Hsieh Yu‐Cheng , Liu Yen‐Bing , Rodriguez Diego A. , Kim Young‐Hoon , Joung Boyoung , Singh Balbir , Huang Dejia , Hussin Azlan , Chasnoits Alexandr R. , O'Brien Janet E. , Cerkvenik Jeffrey , Lexcen Daniel , Van Dorn Brian , Zhang Shu
Published: July 2021

Background

In primary prevention (PP) patients the utilization of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy‐defibrillators (CRT‐D) remains low in many geographies, despite the proven mortality benefit.

Purpose

The objective of this analysis was to examine the mortality benefit in PP patients by guideline‐indicated device type: ICD and CRT‐D.

Methods

Improve sudden cardiac arrest was a prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded multicenter trial that enrolled patients from regions where ICD utilization is low. PP patient's CRT‐D or ICD eligibility was based upon the 2008 ACC/AHA/HRS and 2006 ESC guidelines. Mortality was assessed according to guideline‐indicated device type comparing implanted and nonimplanted patients. Cox proportional hazards methods were used, adjusting for known factors affecting mortality risk.

Results

Among 2618 PP patients followed for a mean of 20.8 ± 10.8 months, 1073 were indicated for a CRT‐D, and 1545 were indicated for an ICD. PP CRT‐D‐indicated patients who received CRT‐D therapy had a 58% risk reduction in mortality compared with those without implant (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28–0.61, p < .0001). PP patients with an ICD indication had a 43% risk reduction in mortality with an ICD implant compared with no implant (adjusted HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41–0.81, p = .002).

Conclusions

This analysis confirms the mortality benefit of adherence to guideline‐indicated implantable defibrillation therapy for PP patients in geographies where ICD therapy was underutilized. These results affirm that medical practice should follow clinical guidelines when choosing therapy for PP patients who meet the respective defibrillator device implant indication.
Effectiveness of medical therapy for treatment of idiopathic frequent premature ventricular complexes
Authors: Tang Jacky K. K. , Andrade Jason G. , Hawkins Nathaniel M. , Laksman Zachary W. , Krahn Andrew D. , Bennett Matthew T. , Heilbron Brett , Chakrabarti Santabhanu , Yeung‐Lai‐Wah John A. , Deyell Marc W.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The relative effectiveness of medical therapy compared with a conservative approach of monitoring in patients with idiopathic frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is uncertain. We evaluated the effectiveness of medical versus conservative therapy for frequent PVCs.

Methods

Patients with frequent PVCs (≥5%) were prospectively enrolled in this cohort study between 2016 and 2020. In patients with normal cardiac function and no structural heart disease, those receiving medical therapy were compared with controls without therapy. Patients were followed longitudinally for change in PVC burden and with serial echocardiography.

Results

Overall, 120 patients met inclusion criteria (mean: 56.5 ± 14.6 years, 54.2% female) with 53 on beta‐blockers or calcium channel blockers (BBs/CCBs), 27 on Class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), and 40 patients treated conservatively. Median initial PVC burden ranged from 15.5% to 20.6%. The median relative reduction of PVCs was 32.7%, 30.5%, and 81.3%, in the conservative therapy, BBs/CCBs, and AADs cohorts, respectively. AADs had greater PVC reduction compared with BBs/CCBs (p = 0.017) and conservative therapy (p = 0.045). PVC reduction to <1% was comparable across groups at 35.0%, 17.0%, 33.3%, respectively. Four patients (4/120, 3.3%) developed left ventricular dysfunction. Rates of adverse drug reactions and medication discontinuation were similar between groups, with no serious adverse events noted.

Conclusion

In patients with idiopathic frequent PVCs, BB, and CCB have limited effectiveness in PVC reduction. Class I and III AADs have superior effectiveness for medical therapy in symptomatic patients, but only achieved complete PVC resolution suppression in one‐third of patients.
Visit‐to‐visit office blood pressure variability combined with Framingham risk score to predict all‐cause mortality: A post hoc analysis of the systolic blood pressure intervention trial
Authors: Cheng Yi , Li Jian , Ren Xinping , Wang Dan , Yang Yulin , Miao Ya , Sheng Chang‐Sheng , Tian Jingyan
Published: July 2021

We aim to determine if visit‐to‐visit blood pressure variability (BPV) adds prognostic value for all‐cause mortality independently of the Framingham risk score (FRS) in the systolic blood pressure intervention trial (SPRINT). We defined BPV as variability independent of the mean (VIM) and the difference of maximum minus minimum (MMD) of the systolic blood pressure (SBP). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Based on FRS stratification, there were 1035, 2911, and 4050 participants in the low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk groups, respectively. During the trial, 230 deaths occurred since the 12th month with an average follow‐up of 2.5 years. In continuous analysis, 1‐SD increase of SBP VIM and MMD were significantly associated with all‐cause mortality (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05–1.32, p = .005; and HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.09–1.35, p < .001, respectively). In category analysis, the highest quintile of BPV compared with the lowest quintile had significantly higher risk of all‐cause mortality. Cross‐tabulation analysis showed that the 3rd tertile of SBP VIM in the high‐risk group had the highest HR of all‐cause mortality in total population (HR 4.99; 95% CI 1.57–15.90; p = .007), as well as in intensive‐therapy group (HR 7.48; 95% CI 1.01–55.45; p = .05) analyzed separately. Cross‐tabulation analysis of SBP MMD had the same pattern as VIM showed above. In conclusion, visit‐to‐visit BPV was an independent predictor of all‐cause mortality, when accounting for conventional risk factors or FRS. BPV combined with FRS conferred an increased risk for all‐cause mortality in the SPRINT trial.
Nighttime ambulatory pulse pressure predicts cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality among middle‐aged participants in the 21‐year follow‐up
Authors: Lempiäinen Päivi A. , Ylitalo Antti , Huikuri Heikki , Kesäniemi Y. Antero , Ukkola Olavi H.
Published: July 2021

Office pulse pressure (PP) is a predictor for cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate ambulatory PP as a long‐term risk factor in a random cohort of middle‐aged participants. The Opera study took place in years 1991–1993, with a 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) performed to 900 participants. The end‐points were non‐fatal and fatal CV events, and deaths of all‐causes. Follow‐up period, until the first event or until the end of the year 2014, was 21.1 years (mean). Of 900 participants, 22.6% died (29.6% of men/15.6% of women, p<.001). A CV event was experienced by 208 participants (23.1%), 68.3% of them were male (p<.001). High nighttime ambulatory PP predicted independently CV mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI 95%] 1.08–6.31, p=.034) and all‐cause mortality in the whole population (HR 1.72; Cl 95% 1.06–2.78, p=.028). In males, both 24‐h PP and nighttime PP associated with CV mortality and all‐cause mortality (24‐h PP HR for CV mortality 2.98; CI 95% 1.11–8.04, p=.031 and all‐cause mortality HR 2.40; CI 95% 1.32–4.37, p=.004). Accordingly, nighttime PP; HR for CV mortality 3.13; CI 95% 1.14–8.56, p=.026, and for all‐cause mortality HR 2.26; CI 95% 1.29–3.96, p=.004. Cox regression analyses were adjusted by sex, CV risk factors, and appropriate ambulatory mean systolic BP. In our study, high ambulatory nighttime PP was detected as a long‐term risk factor for CV and all‐cause mortality in middle‐aged individuals.
To collaborate or not? The moderating effects of team conflict on performance‐prove goal orientation, collaboration, and team performance
Authors: E. Downes Patrick , Gonzalez‐Mulé Erik , Seong Jee Young , Park Won‐Woo
Published: July 2021

This study examines the effect of team performance‐prove goal orientation on team collaboration and team performance by identifying team conflict as a boundary condition. We propose that team conflict plays a moderating role such that high‐PPGO team members will work collaboratively when they experience task conflict because they perceive other team members to be valuable for team performance. In contrast, high‐PPGO teams will be less likely to work collaboratively when they experience relationship conflict since interpersonal differences will be salient, forcing social comparisons to which high‐PPGO team members are predisposed. We test our hypotheses in a field sample of 485 working teams (2,940 individuals). The result shows that team PPGO was positively related to collaboration and team performance under conditions of high task conflict (and low relationship conflict). In contrast, team PPGO was negatively related to collaboration and team performance under conditions of high relationship (and low task) conflict. Team PPGO showed no relationship with collaboration when both task and relationship conflict were either high or low. These results extend knowledge of the multi‐faceted effects of team PPGO and represent the first study showing the differential effect of PPGO on team collaborative processes. Implications for future research and practices are discussed.

Practitioner points

Performance‐prove goal orientation (PPGO) improves team collaboration when task conflict is high and relationship conflict is low, while PPGO harms team collaboration when task conflict is low and relationship conflict is high.

Organizations should stimulate task conflict, and reduce relationship conflict, in teams with a greater degree of high PPGO members to ensure collaboration and high performance. Otherwise, high PPGO teams will be unlikely to collaborate as members may view each other as rivals.
Induction and maintenance immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplantation—Advances and controversies
Authors: Balani Shanthi S. , Jensen Chelsey J. , Kouri Anne M. , Kizilbash Sarah J.
Published: July 2021

Advances in immunosuppression have improved graft survival in pediatric kidney transplant recipients; however, treatment‐related toxicities need to be balanced against the possibility of graft rejection. Several immunosuppressive agents are available for use in transplant recipients; however, the optimal combinations of agents remain unclear, resulting in variations in institutional protocols. Lymphocyte‐depleting antibodies, specifically ATG, are the most common induction agent used for pediatric kidney transplantation in the US. Basiliximab may be used for induction in immunologically low‐risk children; however, pediatric data are scarce. CNIs and antiproliferative agents (mostly Tac and mycophenolate in recent years) constitute the backbone of maintenance immunosuppression. Steroid‐avoidance maintenance regimens remain controversial. Belatacept and mTOR inhibitors are used in children under specific circumstances such as non‐adherence or CNI toxicity. This article reviews the indications, mechanism of action, efficacy, dosing, and side effect profiles of various immunosuppressive agents available for pediatric kidney transplantation.
Expression characteristics of immune factors in the yak (Bos grunniens) testis
Authors: Zhang Qian , Cui Yan , Yu Sijiu , He Junfeng , Pan Yangyang , Bai Zhanchun
Published: July 2021

The goal of this study was to characterize and evaluate the main markers of macrophages, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and plasmocytes in the testis of juvenile and adult yaks by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Within the same age group, the mRNA expression of CD68 was always highest, followed by that of CD3ε, CD79α, IgG and IgA. Moreover, CD68, CD3, CD79α, IgA and IgG positive cells were all located in the testicular interstitial tissues of juvenile and adult yaks. In the same age group, the frequency of CD68 positive macrophages was higher than that of CD3 positive T lymphocytes, which was followed by that of CD79α positive B lymphocytes and IgA and IgG positive plasmocytes. No significant difference was observed between the B lymphocyte and plasmocyte frequencies in yak testes. Furthermore, CD68, CD3ε, CD79α, IgA and IgG mRNA expression levels and the frequencies of CD68, CD3, CD79α, IgA and IgG positive cells increased from juveniles to adults. Similarly, the frequencies of CD68, CD3, CD79α, IgA and IgG positive cells also increased with age. These results suggest that in the yak testis, the immune defence system against pathogens might primarily comprise macrophages and T lymphocytes in the testicular interstitial tissue. Moreover, the testicular immune environment may mature and expand to a fully functional state in adult yaks. The low frequencies of B lymphocyte and plasmocyte in yaks, differing from those in rodents and humans, might be related to the fact that yaks live in low‐oxygen plateaus.
The role of management practices in acquisitions and the FDI location decision
Authors: Biermann Marcus
Published: July 2021

This paper investigates how management practices as intangible transfers are associated with the performance of multinational business groups. Differences in the management level across source countries are predictive for multinationals’ investment patterns for a given destination country. This study argues that acquisitions are a means to transplant management practices from parents to affiliates abroad. It finds that better‐managed parents decrease employment and increase productivity post‐acquisition. The productivity gains are driven by targets with less‐developed management practices and by targets of larger parents. Better‐managed parents are also more likely to install or retain a manager from the parent country post‐acquisition.
Comparison of different luminex single antigen bead kits for memory B cell‐derived HLA antibody detection
Authors: Karahan Gonca E. , de Vaal Yvonne , Bakker Kim , Roelen Dave , Claas Frans H. J. , Heidt Sebastiaan
Published: July 2021

Detection of HLA‐specific memory B cells can provide additional information on sensitization of alloantigen‐exposed individuals and refine immunological risk assessment. We have recently developed an assay enabling profiling of memory B cell‐derived HLA antibodies using luminex single antigen bead (SAB) assay. Here, we compared the performance of the SAB kits from two vendors for memory B cell‐derived HLA antibody detection. IgG was isolated from culture supernatants of polyclonally activated B cells from alloantigen‐exposed (n = 7) or nonexposed (n = 5) individuals, using our previously established method. Eluates containing isolated IgG from culture supernatants were tested for the presence of HLA antibodies using luminex SAB analysis from both One Lambda and Lifecodes (Immucor). In contrast to Lifecodes, high mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) signals were found for negative control beads in One Lambda (median MFI for class I:1730 and for class II:728), accompanied by high MFI values for self HLA‐coated beads, especially for HLA‐C. Despite high background in the One Lambda assays, 91% concordance for HLA class I and 85% concordance for HLA class II were found between the specificities detected using SAB kits from the two vendors. Our results show that HLA‐specific memory B cells can be profiled using kits from both vendors. However, when analyzing One Lambda results one should be aware of the restrictions related to nonspecific binding particularly in HLA‐C‐coated beads, and pay attention to self HLA‐coated beads in order to accurately identify the reactivities leading to the definition of the actual HLA antibody specificities.
Robotic Assay for Drought (RoAD): an automated phenotyping system for brassinosteroid and drought responses
Authors: Xiang Lirong , Nolan Trevor M. , Bao Yin , Elmore Mitch , Tuel Taylor , Gai Jingyao , Shah Dylan , Wang Ping , Huser Nicole M. , Hurd Ashley M. , McLaughlin Sean A. , Howell Stephen H. , Walley Justin W. , Yin Yanhai , Tang Lie
Published: July 2021

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of plant steroid hormones involved in regulating growth, development, and stress responses. Many components of the BR pathway have previously been identified and characterized. However, BR phenotyping experiments are typically performed in a low‐throughput manner, such as on Petri plates. Additionally, the BR pathway affects drought responses, but drought experiments are time consuming and difficult to control. To mitigate these issues and increase throughput, we developed the Robotic Assay for Drought (RoAD) system to perform BR and drought response experiments in soil‐grown Arabidopsis plants. RoAD is equipped with a robotic arm, a rover, a bench scale, a precisely controlled watering system, an RGB camera, and a laser profilometer. It performs daily weighing, watering, and imaging tasks and is capable of administering BR response assays by watering plants with Propiconazole (PCZ), a BR biosynthesis inhibitor. We developed image processing algorithms for both plant segmentation and phenotypic trait extraction to accurately measure traits including plant area, plant volume, leaf length, and leaf width. We then applied machine learning algorithms that utilize the extracted phenotypic parameters to identify image‐derived traits that can distinguish control, drought‐treated, and PCZ‐treated plants. We carried out PCZ and drought experiments on a set of BR mutants and Arabidopsis accessions with altered BR responses. Finally, we extended the RoAD assays to perform BR response assays using PCZ inZea mays(maize) plants. This study establishes an automated and non‐invasive robotic imaging system as a tool to accurately measure morphological and growth‐related traits of Arabidopsis and maize plants in 3D, providing insights into the BR‐mediated control of plant growth and stress responses.
Stability of Schwarzschild (Anti)de Sitter black holes in conformal gravity
Authors: Lanteri Daniele , Wan Shen-Song , Iorio Alfredo , Castorina Paolo
Published: July 2021

We study the thermodynamics of spherically symmetric, neutral and non-rotating black holes in conformal (Weyl) gravity. To this end, we apply different methods: (i) the evaluation of the specific heat; (ii) the study of the entropy concavity; (iii) the geometrical approach to thermodynamics known as thermodynamic geometry; (iv) the Poincaré method that relates equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium thermodynamics. We show that the thermodynamic geometry approach can be applied to conformal gravity too, because all the key thermodynamic variables are insensitive to Weyl scaling. The first two methods, (i) and (ii), indicate that the entropy of a de Sitter black hole is always in the interval $$2/3\le S\le 1$$

2
/
3
≤
S
≤
1

, whereas thermodynamic geometry suggests that, at $$S=1$$

S
=
1

, there is a second order phase transition to an Anti de Sitter black hole. On the other hand, we obtain from the Poincaré method (iv) that black holes whose entropy is $$S < 4/3$$

S
<
4
/
3

are stable or in a saddle-point, whereas when $$S>4/3$$

S
>
4
/
3

they are always unstable, hence there is no definite answer on whether such transition occurs. Since thermodynamics geometry takes the view that the entropy is an extensive quantity, while the Poincaré method does not require extensiveness, it is valuable to present here the analysis based on both approaches, and so we do.
As a Squash Plant Grows
Authors: Duarte Marisa Elena , Vigil-Hayes Morgan , Zegura Ellen , Belding Elizabeth , Masara Ivone , Nevarez Jennifer Case
Published: July 2021

Researching and designing Internet infrastructure solutions in rural and tribal contexts requires reciprocal relationships between researchers and community partners. Methodologies must be meaningful amid local social textures of life. Achieving transdisciplinarity while relating research impacts to partner communities takes care work, particularly where technical capacity is scarce. The Full Circle Framework is an action research full stack development methodology that foregrounds reciprocity among researchers, communities, and sovereign Native nations as the axis for research purpose and progress. Applying the framework to deploy television white space infrastructure in sovereign Native nations in northern New Mexico reveals challenges for rural computing, including the need to design projects according to the pace of rural and tribal government workflows, cultivate care as a resource for overworked researchers and community partners, and co-create a demand for accurate government data around Internet infrastructures in Indian Country and through rural counties.