bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Material deprivation and access to cancer care in a universal health care system
Authors: Davis Laura E. , Coburn Natalie G. , Hallet Julie , Earle Craig C. , Liu Ying , Myrehaug Sten , Mahar Alyson L.
Published: August 2020

Background

The role of socioeconomic factors as determinants of oncology consultations for advanced cancers in public payer health care systems is unknown. This study examined the association between material deprivation and receipt of cancer care among patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

Methods

This was a population‐based, retrospective cohort study of noncuratively treated patients with GI cancer diagnosed from 2007 to 2017. Material deprivation, representing income, quality of housing, education, and family structure, was defined as quintiles on the basis of 2016 census data. The first consultation with a radiation oncologist or medical oncologist and the receipt of 1 or more instances of radiation and/or chemotherapy were measured in the year after diagnosis. Adjusted, cause‐specific Cox proportional hazards competing risk analyses were used (competing event = death).

Results

This study included 34,022 noncuratively treated patients with GI cancer. Consultation rates ranged from 67.8% for those in the most materially deprived communities to 73.5% for those in the least materially deprived communities. Among those with a consult, rates of cancer‐directed therapy ranged from 58.5% for patients in the most materially deprived communities to 62.3% for patients in the least materially deprived communities. Patients living in the most materially deprived communities were significantly less likely to see a radiation and/or medical oncologist after a diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85‐0.92) and significantly less likely to receive radiation and/or chemotherapy (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.76‐0.85) than those living in the least materially deprived communities.

Conclusions

This study identified socioeconomic disparities in accessing cancer care. Continued efforts at examining and developing evidence‐based policies for interventions that begin before or at the time of oncologist consultation are required to address root causes of inequities.
Diborane Concatenation Leads to New Planar Boron Chemistry
Authors: Oliva‐Enrich Josep M. , Kondo Takahiro , Alkorta Ibon , Elguero José , Klein Douglas J.
Published: August 2020

Diborane has long been realized to be analogous to ethylene in terms of its bonding MOs, both as to symmetries and splitting patterns. This naturally suggests an investigation to see whether other similar conjugated hydrocarbons manifest a similar boron‐substituted and H2 supplemented borane. That is, for a conjugated hydrocarbon structure with a neighbor‐paired resonance pattern, we propose to look at boranes where each carbon atom is replaced by a boron atom, and an H‐atom pair is added to each double bond of the resonance structure, with one H above the molecular plane and one below. This construction of concatenated diboranes is uniformly different than that for the previously known stable boranes of 4 or more B atoms. We find from quantum‐chemical computations that our so constructed polyboranes are stable. All this suggests a possible novel new chapter in borane chemistry – a chapter with some promise of understandings related to that for (alternant) conjugated hydrocarbons.
The moderating role of externalizing problems on the association between anxiety and the error‐related negativity in youth
Authors: Suor Jennifer H. , Granros Maria , Kujawa Autumn , Fitzgerald Kate D. , Monk Christopher S. , Phan K Luan , Burkhouse Katie L.
Published: August 2020

The error‐related negativity (ERN) is an event‐related potential that reflects error monitoring. Enhanced ERN indicates sensitivity to performance errors and is a correlate of anxiety disorders. In contrast, youth with externalizing problems exhibit a reduced ERN, suggesting decreased error monitoring. Anxiety and externalizing problems commonly co‐occur in youth, but no studies have tested how comorbidity might modulate the ERN. In a sample of youth (N = 46, ages 7–19) with and without anxiety disorders, this preliminary study examined the interactive effect of anxiety and externalizing problems on ERN. Results suggest that externalizing problems moderate the relation between anxiety symptoms and ERN in youth. Anxious youth with less externalizing problems exhibited enhanced ERN response to errors. Conversely, anxious youth with greater externalizing problems demonstrated diminished ERN in response to errors. The regions of significance and proportion affected tests indicated that the moderating the effect of externalizing problems was only significant for youth with anxiety disorders. Findings suggest that enhanced neural error sensitivity could be a specific neurophysiological marker for anxiety disorders, whereas anxious individuals with comorbid externalizing problems demonstrate reduced error monitoring, similar to those with primary externalizing pathology. Results underscore the utility of examining neural correlates of pediatric anxiety comorbidity subtypes.
CreLite: An optogenetically controlled Cre/loxP system using red light
Authors: Yen Shuo‐Ting , Trimmer Kenneth A. , Aboul‐Fettouh Nader , Mullen Rachel D. , Culver James C. , Dickinson Mary E. , Behringer Richard R. , Eisenhoffer George T.
Published: August 2020

Background

Precise manipulation of gene expression with temporal and spatial control is essential for functional analysis and determining cell lineage relationships in complex biological systems. The cyclic recombinase (Cre)‐loxP system is commonly used for gene manipulation at desired times and places. However, specificity is dependent on the availability of tissue‐ or cell‐specific regulatory elements used in combination with Cre. Here, we present CreLite, an optogenetically controlled Cre system using red light in developing zebrafish embryos.

Results

Cre activity is disabled by splitting Cre and fusing with the Arabidopsis thaliana red light‐inducible binding partners, PhyB and PIF6. Upon red light illumination, the PhyB‐CreC and PIF6‐CreN fusion proteins come together in the presence of the cofactor phycocyanobilin (PCB) to restore Cre activity. Red light exposure of zebrafish embryos harboring a Cre‐dependent multicolor fluorescent protein reporter injected with CreLite mRNAs and PCB resulted in Cre activity as measured by the generation of multispectral cell labeling in several different tissues.

Conclusions

Our data show that CreLite can be used for gene manipulations in whole embryos or small groups of cells at different developmental stages, and suggests CreLite may also be useful for temporal and spatial control of gene expression in cell culture, ex vivo organ culture, and other animal models.
Ecological and evolutionary factors of intraspecific variation in inducible defenses: Insights gained from Daphnia experiments
Authors: Nagano Mariko , Doi Hideyuki
Published: August 2020

Phenotypic variation among individuals and species is a fundamental principle of natural selection. In this review, we focus on numerous experiments involving the model species Daphnia (Crustacea) and categorize the factors, especially secondary ones, affecting intraspecific variations in inducible defense. Primary factors, such as predator type and density, determine the degree to which inducible defense expresses and increases or decreases. Secondary factors, on the other hand, act together with primary factors to inducible defense or without primary factors on inducible defense. The secondary factors increase intraspecies variation in inducible defense, and thus, the level of adaptation of organisms varies within species. Future research will explore the potential for new secondary factors, as well as the relative importance between factors needs to be clarified.
Visualizing connectivity of ecological and evolutionary concepts—An exploration of research on plant species rarity
Authors: Wiegand Thomas P. , Gentry Braley , McCoy Zachary , Tanis Craig , Klug Hope , Bonsall Michael B. , Boyd Jennifer Nagel
Published: August 2020

Understanding the ecological and evolutionary factors that influence species rarity has important theoretical and applied implications, yet the reasons why some species are rare while others are common remain unresolved. As a novel exploration of scientific knowledge, we used network analysis conceptually to visualize the foci of a comprehensive base of >800 studies on plant species rarity within the context of ecology and evolution. In doing so, we highlight existing research strengths that could substantiate novel syntheses and gaps that could inspire new research. Our results reveal strong integrated foci on population dynamics with other ecological concepts. In contrast, despite the potential for ecological and evolutionary processes to interact, few studies explored the interplay of environmental factors and microevolutionary patterns. The cellular and molecular biology, physiology, and plasticity of rare plant species within both ecological and evolutionary contexts similarly provide avenues for impactful future investigations.
Disentangling dimensions of phytochemical diversity: alpha and beta have contrasting effects on an insect herbivore
Authors: Glassmire Andrea E. , Zehr Luke N. , Wetzel William C.
Published: August 2020

Phytochemical diversity is comprised of two main dimensions—the average (alpha) within‐plant neighbors or the difference (beta) in the composition of chemicals between plant neighbors. Research, however, has primarily examined the consequences of phytochemical diversity on herbivore performance through a single dimension, even though diversity is multidimensional. Furthermore, the ecological role of phytochemical diversity is not well understood because each of these dimensions exhibits unique biological effects on herbivore performance. Therefore, it has been difficult to tease apart the relative importance of alpha and beta chemical diversities on plant–herbivore interactions. We experimentally manipulated alpha and beta diversities along a chemical gradient to disentangle the relative effects of these dimensions on the performance of a mobile generalist herbivore, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), using 16 genotypes from the Solanum pennellii introgression lines. First, we found contrasting effects of alpha and beta diversities on herbivore performance. Second, when comparing diversity across and within chemical classes, herbivore performance was reduced when plant neighbors had greater diversity within chemical classes that are biologically inhibiting at higher quantities (i.e., quantitative defenses such as phenolics and acyl sugars). However, herbivore performance was enhanced when plant neighbors had higher levels of chemical classes that are biologically toxic (i.e., qualitative defenses such as alkaloids). Finally, herbivores performed better on plant dicultures compared to monocultures, and performance was positively associated with plant dicultures only when there were high levels of average alpha diversity within plant neighbors. Our results suggest T. ni generalist caterpillars do better when plant neighbors are chemically different because differences provide options for them to choose or to switch between plants to balance chemical uptake. Overall, herbivores interact with a large diversity of plant chemicals at multiple scales, and our results indicate that not all chemical diversity is equal: specific dimensions of phytochemical diversity have unique effects on the dynamics of herbivore performance.
Cities and the governance framing of climate change
Authors: Díaz‐Pont Joana
Published: August 2020

The article examines cross‐discourse of the EuropeanMobilityWeek (EMW) campaign launched at the European level and analyses how it is adapted in six European cities. The objective is to unveil a governance framing that unmasks how cities shape their climate leadership discourse according to their governance aspirations and capacity. By looking at the adaptations across cities' discourses, this research acknowledges the need to confront the limitations and challenges that cities encounter to effectively contribute to global climate governance. It suggests that a governance framing exposes these challenges by showing the different realities of cities when they highlight particular governance modes in their discourse. The methodology combines critical discourse analysis and corpus techniques to analyse a total of 18 campaigns in different temporal, geographical and political contexts. EMW's discourse issued at European level is used as the reference corpus to examine how cities reframe their discourse by weakening or strengthening two governance modes characterised as an action‐taking approach that focuses on the steering role of government, and a decision‐making approach that highlights the city's interdependencies in a societal context. Learning more about discourse as a vindicator of governance modes in urban climate governance can contribute to a better understanding of how climate transitions are actually put into practise. The research suggests that climate leadership attributed to cities is in fact a complex and dynamic reality that has to be cautiously examined in order to understand the challenges of climate transitions.
DBU‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening and Retro‐Claisen Fragmentation of Dihydropyranones
Authors: Axelsson Anton , Hammarvid Emmelie , Rahm Martin , Sundén Henrik
Published: August 2020

We present a general protocol for the formal Michael addition of acetone to α,β‐unsaturated esters and amides, a transformation difficult to perform using current methods. The protocol comprises of an amidine catalyzed relay ring‐opening and fragmentation of 3,4‐dihydropyranones. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, has a broad substrate scope and the products can be isolated in good to excellent yields. The method can be applied to homochiral substrates with total preservation of chiral information, generating products in high optical purity. Kinetic experiments supported by quantum chemical modeling indicate a mechanism in which the catalyst takes a bifunctional role, acting both as a Brønsted base and as a hydrogen‐bond donor.
Exploring the biomechanics of walking and crowd “flow”
Authors: Thompson Peter , Nilsson Daniel , Boyce Karen , Molloy Martin , McGrath Denise
Published: August 2020

Crowd movement simulation models are generally based on aggregated speed and flow data collected more than 50 years ago. There appears to be no validated modelling capability to include the impact of recent and future changes in population demographics, resulting from an ageing population and increasing obesity rates. New analytical approaches and data gathering are required to successfully model crowd movement and safety for current and future generations. This study carried out (a) a review of the primary components of crowd movement, demographics and analytical techniques, (b) prototype experiments to investigate age‐related aspects of space and potential points of contact and (c) a new predictive model for crowd flow analysis based on pedestrian biomechanics and anthropometric data. The model uses the physical space taken up by the biomechanical walking process and the spatial buffer between points of potential contact with other pedestrians to predict the speed of movement at different levels of congestion. The new analytical model was used to predict single file speeds (for people with different demographics in congested space), which compared well with published experimental data. The next steps for model development for wider “flows” and additional experiments to provide data sets for wider demographics are also proposed.
Evaluation of fatty acid‐related nutritional quality indices in fried and raw nile tilapia, (Oreochromis Niloticus), fish muscles
Authors: Mekonnen Mengistu F. , Desta Derese T. , Alemayehu Fikadu R. , Kelikay Gezahegn N. , Daba Alemneh K.
Published: August 2020

During frying, fat degrade and many reactions occur resulting in numerous altered fatty acid products. This would lead to the formation of Tran's fatty acids and changes in nutritional qualities. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes during frying on fatty acid composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) fish muscle from local fish market of Hawassa, Ethiopia. Fish fryers reported that they usually use palm oil for frying. They also indicated that the oil is kept for days and reused for frying at different cycle. In fried fish, 35 types of fatty acids were identified and 27 in raw fish muscle. Palmitic, stearic, heptadecanoic, and tetradecenoic acids were the abundant saturated fatty acids in both fried and raw fish muscle. Oleic, Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Linoleic acid were the major unsaturated fatty acids. The percentages of total saturated fatty acids (SFA) of raw fish muscle (47.4%) were found to be lower compared with fried fish muscle (51.8%). The n‐6/n‐3 ratio (7.83), index of atherogenicity (0.85), and thrombogenicity (1.71) in the fried fish muscle were in the undesirable values. The hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio was relatively similar in the fried (1.09) and raw (1.02) fish muscles. The total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) level of raw fish muscle (52.2%) was higher than the fried fish muscle (47.2%). Higher percentage of Tran's fatty acid was identified in the fried fish muscle compared with raw. Frying considerably altered fatty acid composition of fish muscle. It increased saturated fatty acid concentration and decreased unsaturated. Hence, frying noticeably decreases the nutritional quality of fish muscle. Therefore, it is suggested that further analysis on fatty acid composition of oil usually used for frying and the nutritional quality index across frying cycles.
αV integrins in Schwann cells promote attachment to axons, but are dispensable in vivo
Authors: Catignas Kathleen K. , Frick Luciana R. , Pellegatta Marta , Hurley Edward , Kolb Zachary , Addabbo Kathryn , McCarty Joseph H. , Hynes Richard O. , van der Flier Arjan , Poitelon Yannick , Wrabetz Lawrence , Feltri Maria Laura
Published: August 2020

In the developing peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells (SCs) extend their processes to contact, sort, and myelinate axons. The mechanisms that contribute to the interaction between SCs and axons are just beginning to be elucidated. Using a SC‐neuron coculture system, we demonstrate that Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) peptides that inhibit αV‐containing integrins delay the extension of SCs elongating on axons. αV integrins in SC localize to sites of contact with axons and are expressed early in development during radial sorting and myelination. Short interfering RNA‐mediated knockdown of the αV integrin subunit also delays SC extension along axons in vitro, suggesting that αV‐containing integrins participate in axo‐glial interactions. However, mice lacking the αV subunit in SCs, alone or in combination with the potentially compensating α5 subunit, or the αV partners β3 or β8, myelinate normally during development and remyelinate normally after nerve crush, indicating that overlapping or compensatory mechanisms may hide the in vivo role of RGD‐binding integrins.
Click it or give it: Increased seat belt law enforcement and organ donation
Authors: Brewer Ben
Published: August 2020

Laws mandating that individuals wear a seat belt have the presumed goal of reducing motor vehicle accident fatalities, but the prevailing view is that they may reduce the number of organs available. I provide a conceptual model identifying mechanisms whereby the law could eitherincrease or decreaseorgan donation. Exploiting variation across states and time in the adoption of primary seat belt enforcement, I investigate these mechanisms and estimate the effect of the law on the supply of organs. The law increases seat belt usage and decreases motor vehicle accident fatalities, which translates to a sizeable reduction in the number of motor vehicle accident‐based organ donors. In contrast, the law is not associated with changes in the number of organ donors from nonmotor vehicle accident‐based sources and is robust to controlling for hospital‐specific effects. The effects are concentrated within organs expected to be most negatively impacted by the seat belt. Although primary enforcement represents a net‐gain to society in terms of lives saved, the negative impact on organ donation suggests further emphasis be placed on policies aimed at increasing the availability of organs.
Under‐reporting of COVID‐19 cases in Turkey
Authors: Kisa Sezer , Kisa Adnan
Published: August 2020

Having an accurate account of the number of national COVID‐19 cases is essential for understanding the national and global burden of the disease and managing COVID‐19 prevention and control efforts. There is also substantial under‐reporting of COVID‐19 cases and deaths in many countries. In this article, the COVID‐19 under‐reporting problem in Turkey is addressed, and examples and reasons for the under‐reporting are discussed.
Motivators for medical staff with a high gap in healthcare efficiency: Comparative research from Poland and Ukraine
Authors: Goncharuk Anatoliy G. , Lewandowski Roman , Cirella Giuseppe T.
Published: August 2020

Introduction

This article examines different motivators for medical staff in countries with a high gap in healthcare efficiency by comparing them in two healthcare systems—Polish (ie efficient) and Ukrainian (ie inefficient).

Method

This survey‐based study applies a six‐stage conceptual framework to two Polish and two Ukrainian hospitals as well as medical faculties of one university from each country. Following ethical approval, data were collected in the first quarter of 2019, using the ‘Evaluation of motivators questionnaire for medical staff’.

Findings

Medical staff perceived their working conditions in the inefficient healthcare system much worse than in the efficient system; however, they generally had a more optimistic outlook. Medical staff in efficient and inefficient healthcare systems has different motivational targets, including sizable differences from profession, gender, and age. These factors play an important role in developing a high‐performance healthcare system. Results are illustrated in terms of motivators for medical staff.

Conclusion

Optimising a healthcare system requires useful reform of enablers, especially in countries with inefficient systems, including policymaking and regulatory action. Best practices must incorporate all stakeholders interested in high healthcare performance—usage of suitable practices from abroad can act as an important resource.
Does financial development spur environmental and energy‐related innovation in Brazil?
Authors: Ahmed Khalid , Jahanzeb Agha
Published: August 2020

There is a well‐established set of literature on the energy‐growth‐finance nexus, especially for emerging economies; however, we identify two key gaps and address them in this study. First, the applied macroeconometrics literature suggests that macroeconomics time‐series possesses a potential structural break(s) if not identified, which may result in large estimation errors. Second, although assessing the impact of financial development, the role of market capitalization and innovation have been ignored. Therefore, this study fills these gaps and incorporates the role of technological innovation and market capitalization on energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions in the presence of financial development, gross domestic product (GDP) and exports. Using extended time‐series data over the period of 1980–2014 for Brazil, this study utilizes a structural break unit root test prior to autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to test the long‐run equilibrium relationship amongst all the underlying variables. The ARDL results found that all of the vectors are cointegrated. Furthermore, long‐run estimates validate the environmental Kuznet's curve (EKC) hypothesis for Brazil and conclude that exports are the key driver of CO2 emissions and energy demand in the country. However, financial development, market capitalization and technological innovation reduce the intensity of both the energy demand and emissions in the country. Causal analysis suggests that the exports increase financial development and innovation and in return, financial development and technological innovation decrease CO2 emissions in the country. The results are robust and useful for policy control use.
Financialization, household debt and income inequality: Empirical evidence
Authors: De Vita Glauco , Luo Yun
Published: August 2020

The aftermath of the most recent financial crisis has prompted a surge of interest in the impact of finance capitalism on national economies and individual livelihoods. Yet, research on the impact of financialization on income inequality, remains scant and inconclusive. Using data for 33 countries over 1996–2015, we provide evidence that of the three financialization dimensions ‐ of the financial, nonfinancial and household sectors ‐ only household financialization exerts a positive and robustly significant impact on income inequality. Re‐estimations by system generalized‐methods‐of‐moments (SYS‐GMM) and difference‐GMM as well as alternative income inequality measures, confirm the significant, positive impact of household indebtedness over all other financialization dimensions. Following disaggregation of household financialization into its three main components (mortgage, consumer and other purposes debt), we also uncover that it is increasing levels of household debt aimed at sustaining living standards that is accountable for the positive impact on income inequality, whilst mortgage debt reduces it.
Structural changes, financial and business regulatory measures, energy and tourism demand: Evidence from group of seven countries
Authors: Munir Irfan Ullah , Yue Shen , Nassani Abdelmohsen A. , Abro Muhammad Moinuddin Qazi , Hyder Shabir , Zaman Khalid
Published: August 2020

The structural change is largely proliferated to adjust the momentous growth in tourism and energy demand, which is regulated by sound financial and business oriented measures in order to sustained economic profit. The objective of the study is to examine the impact of financial factors and business regulatory measures on energy and tourism demand in a group of seven (G‐7) countries, by using a consistent time series data from 1995–2015. The results of panel fixed effect regression confirm that financial and business regulatory measures increase energy and tourism demand. The panel causality results confirmed the unidirectional relationship running from finance to tourism and from energy to business regulatory measures that establish the finance‐led tourism growth and energy‐led business regulation hypothesis, while there is feedback relationship between energy and tourism, and energy and finance, which encourages the implementation of energy expansionary policies for long‐run sustained finance and international tourism across countries.
Nonlinear impacts of board independence on debt financing: Contingent on the shareholdings of the largest shareholder
Authors: Kweh Qian Long , Ting Irene Wei Kiong , Le Hanh Thi My , Nourani Mohammad
Published: August 2020

Shareholder interest is unprotected until and unless precise financial decision making is in place. Although literature supports the independent directors' monitoring function in a decision‐making process, for a controversial debt financing issue, the influence of the largest shareholders may hinder such an action. This study aims to delineate the association between board independence and debt financing when the largest shareholders are likely to play a significant role between them. With a sample of Vietnamese listed companies from 2007 to 2016, our regression analyses show that a nonlinear U‐shaped relationship between level of board independence and debt financing is stronger among the largest shareholders with a high level of shareholdings in their shareholding group than the full sample. This finding implies the determining influence of the largest shareholders with a high level of shareholdings in a company. However, this association is not found in companies with a low level of shareholdings by the largest shareholders. Results reveal that the largest shareholders have the incentive to influence the decision making of independent directors about debt financing when their shareholdings are high. Specifically, issuing more debt to raise capital for business reduces the risk of the largest shareholders losing their controlling rights. The results are further supported by several robustness checks and controlling for economic events such as the global financial crisis and ASEAN Economic Community.
To EMU or not to EMU: Can TFP “provoke” the capital structure puzzle of SMEs?
Authors: Savvakis Georgios A. , Kenourgios Dimitris , Papageorgiou Theofanis
Published: August 2020

This article investigates the influence of the macroeconomic environment on corporate leverage. Using panel data of European listed SMEs, we examine the relationship between capital structure and country‐level total factor productivity (TFP), GDP growth, interest rates and stock market development across firm categories (micro, small, and medium) and monetary regimes (EMU and non‐EMU countries) for the period 2005–2015. By performing a dynamic panel data analysis into a vector error correction framework, along with several model specifications and robustness tests, we provide new evidence that country‐level TFP is an important determinant of capital structure choice, while its impact depends on the institutional environment (inside the EMU or not). Although there are both short‐run and long‐run dynamic relationships between the corporate leverage and the macroeconomic factors, to EMU or not to EMU is also evident when looking at the three size categories. Overall, our results suggest that all SMEs are not the same, and the determinants of their capital structure vary across size categories.
Evidence of speculative bubbles and regime switch in real estate market and crude oil price: Insight from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alola Andrew Adewale
Published: August 2020

The sector performances of many economies especially the oil‐producing ones, are consistently linked with the volatility of the international crude oil prices. Considering the significance of the international crude oil price to the economy of the Saudi Arabia, the current study investigates the dynamics of the crude oil price and the country's real estate market. This is achieved by investigating the evidence of both speculative bubbles and regime switching in the crude oil and real estate market from October 3, 2005, to March 29, 2018. As such, the Supremum Augmented Dickey–Fuller (SADF) and Markov switching regression model were employed. Although there is no significant evidence of speculative bubbles in the Saudi Arabia's real estate market, the result reveals statistical significant evidence of price bubbles in the Brent crude oil price especially between the period of 2007 to 2008, which coincides with the Global Financial Crisis period. However, the Markov switching investigation reveal that there is evidence of significant and positive impact of crude oil price return on the real estate market in the regimes. Importantly, empirical evidence shows that the impact is higher in Regime 2 even as the global factor (proxy volatility index) is evidently significant. Although the regimes are persistent, the expected regime duration of the stable regime is of the higher quarter. This investigation is statistically significant and robust, especially when Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) price of crude oil is used in lieu of the European Brent price. The estimation result encourages more strict energy policies that tackle the Saudi Arabia's energy and the real estate challenges.
Endoscopic Muscle Repair of Right Internal Carotid Artery Rupture Following Endovascular Procedure
Authors: Pathak Shravani , Spock Todd , Gray Mingyang , Liu Katherine , Shrivastava Raj , Iloreta Alfred
Published: August 2020

Carotid artery blowout syndrome (CBS) is a deadly complication usually linked to head and neck cancer therapy. We present a different etiology of endoscopic CBS, a complication of endovascular coiling of an intracranial aneurysm, treated with sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle graft packing. Case Presentation: An otherwise healthy 55‐year‐old female presented to the emergency room with right‐sided painless vision loss of 23 days. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated a right ophthalmic ICA aneurysm eroding into the right sphenoid sinus with optic nerve compression. Attempted endovascular repair of the aneurysm was complicated by ICA rupture into the sphenoid. An endovascular balloon was inflated proximal to the aneurysm to reduce hemorrhage as ENT performed an endoscopic sphenoidotomy. A hematoma was seen overlying the aneurysm in the superior lateral sphenoid sinus. Layers of SCM muscle were morselized and packed serially. Post‐repair angiography showed no further extravasation. Aggressive antiplatelet therapy was initiated. Packing was removed after 14 days. Twenty days postoperatively, the patient had profuse left‐sided epistaxis requiring a left sphenopalatine artery ligation. The patient's vision recovered. Discussion: Whereas CBS is often managed by endovascular coil embolism, in our case CBS was caused by this very treatment itself. This case shows the use of SCM muscle graft as an effective repair modality of ICA rupture due to endovascular coiling. Laryngoscope, 131:E764–E766, 2021
The effect of cell size on cellular Zn and Cd and Zn‐Cd‐CO2 colimitation of growth rate in marine diatoms
Authors: Li Weiying , Sunda William G. , Lin Wenfang , Hong Haizheng , Shi Dalin
Published: August 2020

Cadmium (Cd) can serve as nutrient in marine diatoms by partially replacing zinc (Zn) in Zn‐limited cells. A major basis for this is the replacement of Cd for Zn in a Cd‐containing carbonic anhydrase (CDCA) needed for cellular acquisition of CO2. As a result of these interactions, cells can become colimited by Zn, Cd, and CO2. Large cell size should restrict the cellular uptake of Zn, Cd, and CO2 due to decreasing surface to volume ratios and limitation of diffusive flux of these nutrients to the cell surface. Large cells are thus more likely to become Zn‐Cd‐CO2 colimited than smaller ones. These predictions were confirmed in experiments with three marine diatoms: Thalassiosira pseudonana, Thalassiosira weissflogii, and Ditylum brightwellii, ranging in cell volume from 50 to 6000 fL. Cellular Zn : C ratios decreased by 10‐fold between the largest and smallest species, and consequently, the largest diatom was more readily growth‐limited than smaller ones by low external concentrations of bioavailable dissolved inorganic Zn (Zn′). Decreasing cellular Zn : C ratios were accompanied by large increases in cellular Cd uptake rates and Cd : C ratios. However, at the lowest Zn′ concentrations, Cd uptake plateaued, with the larger cells having lower cellular concentrations of both Zn and Cd. Cellular replacement of Zn by Cd was accompanied by increases in cellular CDCA expression. The largest diatom had higher combined carbonic anhydrase activities for a given Zn‐, Cd‐limited growth rate, supporting the hypothesis that these cells could be colimited by Zn, Cd, and CO2 at low external CO2 concentrations.
Nonlocality Induced Cherenkov Threshold
Authors: Hu Hao , Lin Xiao , Zhang Jingjing , Liu Dongjue , Genevet Patrice , Zhang Baile , Luo Yu
Published: August 2020

Cherenkov radiation is generally believed to be threshold‐free in hyperbolic metamaterials owing to the extremely large photonic density of states in classical local framework. Although recent advances in nonlocal and quantum plasmonics extend our understanding of light‐matter interactions in metamaterials, how such effects influence Cherenkov radiation in hyperbolic metamaterials still remains unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that effects of nonlocality add a new degree of freedom to engineer Cherenkov thresholds in hyperbolic metamaterials. The interplay between finite structural dimensions and nonlocal nature of metallic electrons results in a nonzero Cherenkov threshold. Counterintuitively, such nonlocality‐induced Cherenkov threshold can be significantly smaller than the classically predicted one if the metamaterial is designed to work around the epsilon‐near‐zero frequency. This phenomenon is attributed to the excitation of longitudinal plasmon modes which are absent in classical electromagnetic framework. These findings apply to a general class of hyperbolic materials, including metallodielectric layered structures, nanorod/nanoribbon arrays, hyperbolic van der Waals crystals, etc.
Residual Injurious Symptoms and Its Association With Neurodegenerative Outcomes in Idiopathic Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Retrospective, Longitudinal Follow‐up Study
Authors: Wang Jing , Liu Yaping , Chau Steven W.H. , Zhang Jihui , Tsang Jessie , Yu Mandy Wai Man , Chan Ngan Yin , Chan Joey W.Y. , Li Shirley Xin , Huang Bei , Feng Hongliang , Mok Vincent , Wing Yun Kwok
Published: August 2020

Background

The risk of neurodegenerative disorders in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) patients with residual injurious symptoms (RIS) after symptomatic treatment with clonazepam and/or melatonin is unclear.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the rate and correlates of RIS and its association with the risk of neurodegenerative diseases in patients with iRBD.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. RIS was defined by the RBD Questionnaire–Hong Kong (RBDQ‐HK) as the presence of residual sleep‐related injuries or potential injurious behaviors for at least once a month after at least 1 year of treatment.

Results

A total of 15 out of 133 (11.3%) patients with iRBD (age at diagnosis = 66.5 ± 7.3 years, 77.4% male) had RIS after 2.7 years of treatment. Patients with RIS were younger at both onset and polysomnography‐confirmed diagnosis of iRBD (years, mean ± standard deviation, 56.3 ± 6.9 vs. 61.8 ± 7.6, P = 0.01; 61.2 ± 4.2 vs. 67.2 ± 7.4, P < 0.001, respectively), had more severe behavioral symptoms at diagnosis (both RBDQ‐HK total score and behavioral subscore, P = 0.01), and used a higher maximum dose of clonazepam (mg; median [interquartile range], 1.5 [1.0] vs. 1.0 [1.0], P = 0.01). RIS was probably associated with a higher risk of developing dementia with Lewy bodies (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 5.47 [1.71–17.46], adjusted for onset age of RBD), but not Parkinsons's disease in the follow‐up.

Conclusion

RIS is not uncommon in patients with iRBD despite long‐term medication treatment. An earlier onset and more severe clinical profile are associated with RIS. The prediction of RIS toward dementia with Lewy bodies but not PD suggests that RIS may probably help to identify the specific risk of different subtypes of α‐synucleinopathy. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Genetic counseling during COVID‐19 pandemic: Tuscany experience
Authors: Pagliazzi Angelica , Mancano Giorgia , Forzano Giulia , di Giovanni Fabiana , Gori Giulia , Traficante Giovanna , Iolascon Achille , Giglio Sabrina
Published: August 2020

Background

COVID‐19 outbreak prompted health centres to reorganize their clinical and surgical activity. In this paper, we show how medical genetics department's activity, in our tertiary pediatric hospital, has changed due to pandemic.

Methods

We stratified all our scheduled visits, from March 9th through April 30th, and assessed case‐by‐case which genetic consultations should be maintained as face‐to‐face visit, or postponed/switched to telemedicine.

Results

Out of 288 scheduled appointments, 60 were prenatal consultations and 228 were postnatal visits. We performed most of prenatal consultations as face‐to‐face visits, as women would have been present in the hospital to perform other procedures in addition to our consult. As for postnatal care, we suspended all outpatient first visits and opted for telemedicine for selected follow‐up consultations: interestingly, 75% of our patients’ parents revealed that they would have cancelled the appointment themselves for the fear to contract an infection.

Conclusions

Spread of COVID‐19 in Italy forced us to change our working habits. Given the necessity to optimize healthcare resources and minimize the risk of in‐hospital infections, we experienced the benefits of telegenetics. Current pandemic made us familiar with telemedicine, laying the foundations for its application to deal with the increasing number of requests in clinical genetics.
The influence of hybrid nanofluid and coolant flow direction on bubble mode absorption improvement
Authors: Ben Jaballah Rawya , Ben Hamida Mohamed Bechir , Almeshaal Mohammed A. , Chamkha Ali
Published: August 2020

This paper aims to study the influence of hybrid nanofluid and coolant flow direction on mass and heat transfer improvement for a bubble absorber in order to reduce the absorber length required for complete absorption. Hybrid nanofluid is used as the cooling medium. A finite difference method was used to solve the system of nonlinear differential equations. The absorber length is divided into differential elements of an incremental length dL along the absorber length. A parametric study comparing two different flow configuration (co/countercurrent coolant flow direction) of the bubble absorber was conducted to gage the influence of solid volume fraction (0% ≤ Phi ≤ 2%), direction of coolant flow, type of working fluid on heat, and mass transfer enhancement. The results show that the absorption process depends on the direction of coolant flow and the type of working medium. The absorption rate with coolant in countercurrent flow direction is higher than that cocurrent flow direction. In addition, results reveal that the heat and mass transfer, the mass absorption flux, the absorber thermal load, Stanton, and Reynolds number in binary hybrid nanofluids are enhanced more than that the binary nanofluid and NH3/H2O solution, which increase the absorption rate and consequently decrease the absorber length. The type of working medium and the solid volume fraction are the key parameters. Also results reveal that an optimal absorber length is found when using binary hybrid nanofluid as a working medium.
Theoretical aspects of micropolar nanofluid flow past a deformable rotating cone
Authors: Saleem Anber , Sabih Wajiha , Nadeem Sohail , Ghalambaz Mehdi , Issakhov Alibek
Published: August 2020

The intension of this investigation is to analyze the laminar boundary layer flow of micropolar nanofluid inside a deformable rotating cone. A comparison is carried out between three types of nanofluids with nanoparticles, that is, metal (Cu), metallic oxide (Al2O3), and a semiconductor (TiO2) with water as base fluid. Brinkman and Maxwell's model of effective dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity is considered. Using suitable similarity transformations, the governing coupled non‐linear boundary layer partial differential equations are reduced to non‐linear ordinary differential equations, which are further solved numerically by bvp4c technique. The results obtained reveal interesting effects of important pertinent parameters, that is, rotation parameter ω, nanoparticle concentration parameter φ, and micropolar parameter Δ on velocity, microrotation, and temperature profiles, which are analyzed graphically. A comparative analysis of the results of numerically calculated skin friction coefficients and Nusselt number for these parameters are also presented. The problem throughout the whole study is analyzed for both the strong and weak concentration of micro‐elements. It is found that the ω and Δ enhance the flow and ω, φ, and Δ boosts the rate of heat transfer in all cases of stretching/shrinking rotating cone except for the case of shrinking rotating cone in which the growth of Δ declines the rate of heat transfer for strong/weak concentration of microelements. Moreover, Cu–water has the highest skin friction and Nusselt number.
Interrogation system for optical sensor using filter bank and artificial neural network
Authors: Jucá Marco Aurélio , Haddad Diego Barreto , dos Santos Alexandre Bessa
Published: August 2020

Considering the increasingly wide application of optical fiber sensors, this article aims to present an alternative form of interrogation without the use of an optical spectrum analyzer or any other high‐cost devices. The sensor studied here is a long‐period grating being used to measure temperature. The interrogator is composed of optical filters and photodetectors whose responses are processed by a suitably trained artificial neural network. Results show that this technique enables effective interrogation of a range limited only by the optical bandwidth of the light source.
Multipass Electrofishing Sampling Efficiency for Stream Crayfish Population Estimates
Authors: Barnett Zanethia C. , Ochs Clifford A. , Hoeksema Jason D. , Adams Susan B.
Published: August 2020

We estimated the efficiency of electrofishing for collecting crayfishes in southern Appalachian Mountain streams (Alabama, USA). We conducted electrofishing depletion surveys at 20 sites in five large, species-rich streams in two drainages. We collected five crayfish species during the depletion surveys. On average, catchability was 34%, with depletion surveys collecting 73% of the individuals that were estimated to reside within stream sections. Catchabilities were lower for pass 1 than for the subsequent passes in 21% of the depletion surveys. The number of species that was collected increased during the second electrofishing pass, indicating that conducting two electrofishing passes may be more effective than a single electrofishing pass is for estimating the richness of crayfish species. Crayfish catchability by electrofishing was higher in streams with higher conductivities, longer crayfish, higher water temperatures, and lower percentages of adult males. Our results show that multipass electrofishing can precisely assess population density for various crayfish species in species-rich, large-stream habitats and that multipass electrofishing provides more precise estimates of species richness for crayfish than single-pass electrofishing does.