bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission in the UK: A behavioural science approach to identifying options for increasing adherence to social distancing and shielding vulnerable people
Authors: Michie Susan , West Robert , Rogers M. Brooke , Bonell Chris , Rubin G. James , Amlôt Richard
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To describe and discuss a systematic method for producing a very rapid response (3 days) to a UK government policy question in the context of reducing SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission.

Methods

A group of behavioural and social scientists advising the UK government on COVID‐19 contributed to the analysis and writing of advice through the Government Office for Science. The question was as follows: What are the options for increasing adherence to social distancing (staying at home except for essential journeys and work) and shielding vulnerable people (keeping them at home and away from others)? This was prior to social distancing legislation being implemented. The first two authors produced a draft, based on analysis of the current government guidance and the application of the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) framework to identify and evaluate the options.

Results

For promoting social distancing, 10 options were identified for improving adherence. They covered improvements in ways of achieving the BCW intervention types of education, persuasion, incentivization, and coercion. For promoting shielding of vulnerable people, four options were identified covering the BCW intervention types of incentivization, coercion, and enablement.

Conclusions

Responding to policymakers very rapidly as has been necessary during the COVID‐19 pandemic can be facilitated by using a framework to structure the thinking and reporting of multidisciplinary academics and policymakers.
Functional analysis of thyroid peroxidase gene mutations resulting in congenital hypothyroidism
Authors: Zhao Defa , Li Yang , Shan Zhongyan , Teng Weiping , Li Jing , Teng Xiaochun
Published: May 2020

Objective

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is essential for thyroid hormone biosynthesis. TPO mutations might lead to congenital hypothyroidism. In the present study, we analysed the function of a compound heterozygous TPO mutation in a Chinese family.

Design

We studied a 23‐year‐old Chinese girl with a history of growth retardation and severe constipation from the age of 3 months, who was diagnosed as having congenital hypothyroidism.

Methods

Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples obtained from the patient's family members. The genomic DNA was sequenced to detect mutations in a panel of genes associated with congenital hypothyroidism. Bioinformatic analysis and structural modelling predicted the potential disease‐causing potential mutant genes and the microstructure of the mutant protein, respectively. Western blotting and ELISA were used to measure protein expression, and guaiacol oxidation assay measured the TPO activity of the mutant protein.

Results

We identified a compound heterozygous mutation (c.C1993T, c.T2473C) in the TPO gene. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that the TPO mutations were potentially disease causing. Structural modelling predicted damage to the microstructure of the mutant TPO protein. Western blotting and ELISA showed reduced protein levels of the mutant TPO protein compared with that of the wild‐type protein. The mutant TPO protein showed weaker activity compared with that of the wild‐type protein.

Conclusions

A novel compound heterozygous mutation of TPO gene was identified in a Chinese family. This mutation might alter the extracellular microstructure of TPO, and decrease its expression and the activity, resulting in congenital hypothyroidism.
Prioritizing debt conversion opportunities for marine conservation
Authors: McGowan Jennifer , Weary Rob , Carriere Leah , Game Edward T. , Smith Joanna L. , Garvey Melissa , Possingham Hugh P.
Published: May 2020

Incentivized debt conversion is a financing mechanism that can assist countries with a heavy debt burden to bolster their long‐term domestic investment in nature conservation. The Nature Conservancy, an international conservation‐based nongovernmental organization, is adapting debt conversions to support marine conservation efforts by small island developing states and coastal countries. Prioritizing debt conversion opportunities according to their potential return on investment can increase the impact and effectiveness of this finance mechanism. We developed guidance on how to do so with a decision‐support approach that relies on a novel threat‐based adaptation of cost‐effectiveness analysis. We constructed scenarios by varying parameters of the approach, including enabling conditions, expected benefits, and threat classifications. Incorporating both abatable and unabatable threats affected priorities across planning scenarios. Similarly, differences in scenario construction resulted in unique solution sets for top priorities. We show how environmental organizations, private entities, and investment banks can adopt structured prioritization frameworks for making decisions about conservation finance investments, such as debt conversions. Our guidance can accommodate a suite of social, ecological, and economic considerations, making the approach broadly applicable to other conservation finance mechanisms or investment strategies that seek to establish a transparent process for return‐on‐investment decision‐making.
The need for ecocentrism in biodiversity conservation
Authors: Taylor Bron , Chapron Guillaume , Kopnina Helen , Orlikowska Ewa , Gray Joe , Piccolo John J.
Published: May 2020

Over the past 5 decades, scientists have been documenting negative anthropogenic environmental change, expressing increasing alarm, and urging dramatic socioecological transformation in response. A host of international meetings have been held, but the erosion of biological diversity continues to accelerate. Why, then, has no effective political action been taken? We contend that part of the answer may lie in the anthropocentric ethical premises and moral rhetoric typically deployed in the cause of conservation. We further argue that it is essential to advance moral arguments for biodiversity conservation that are not just based on perceived human interests but on ecocentric values, namely, convictions that species and ecosystems have value and interests that should be respected regardless of whether they serve human needs and aspirations. A broader array of moral rationales for biodiversity conservation, we conclude, would be more likely to lead to effective plans, adopted and enforced by governments, designed to conserve biological diversity. A good place to start in this regard would be to explicitly incorporate ecocentric values into the recommendations that will be made at the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled to be held in October 2020.
Gender Differences in Professional Career Dynamics: New Evidence from a Global Law Firm
Authors: Ganguli Ina , Hausmann Ricardo , Viarengo Martina
Published: May 2020

We examine gender gaps in career dynamics in the legal sector using rich panel data from one of the largest global law firms in the world. The law firm studied is representative of multinational law firms and operates in 23 countries. The sample includes countries at different stages of development. We document the cross‐country variation in gender gaps and how these gaps have changed over time. We show that while there is gender parity at the entry level in most countries by the end of the period examined, there are persistent raw gender gaps at the top of the organization across all countries. We observe significant heterogeneity among countries in terms of gender gaps in promotions and wages, but the gaps that exist appear to be declining over the period studied. We also observe that women are more likely to report exiting the firm for family and work–life balance reasons, while men report leaving for career advancement. Finally, we show that various measures of national institutions and culture appear to play a role in the differential labour market outcomes of men and women.
Matching between students and universities: What are the sources of inequalities of access to higher education?
Authors: Prakhov Ilya , Sergienko Denis
Published: May 2020

It is assumed that a perfect balance between student academic achievement and the quality of the university they attend is beneficial both for students and higher education institutions (HEIs). Matching theory predicts the existence of perfect match between the two groups in the absence of transaction costs associated with university enrolment. However, in this study we show cases of mismatch situations in Russia under the Unified State Exam—the standardised student admission mechanism. The reasons for minimal transaction costs and the emergence of unequal access to HEIs were studied. Based on data on Moscow high school graduates who entered university, the determinants of the mismatch between the quality of universities and applicant abilities were assessed. Whilst overall favourable matching results are established, we show that individual student achievement results are subject to the influence of school and family characteristics. Thus, inequality of access can be formed at stages preceding higher education enrolment.
Utility of genetic testing for therapeutic decision‐making in adults with epilepsy
Authors: Johannesen Katrine M. , Nikanorova Natalya , Marjanovic Dragan , Pavbro Agnieszka , Larsen Line H. G. , Rubboli Guido , Møller Rikke S.
Published: May 2020

Objective

Genetic testing has become a routine part of the diagnostic workup in children with early onset epilepsies. In the present study, we sought to investigate a cohort of adult patients with epilepsy, to determinate the diagnostic yield and explore the gain of personalized treatment approaches in adult patients.

Methods

Two hundred patients (age span = 18‐80 years) referred for diagnostic gene panel testing at the Danish Epilepsy Center were included. The vast majority (91%) suffered from comorbid intellectual disability. The medical records of genetically diagnosed patients were mined for data on epilepsy syndrome, cognition, treatment changes, and seizure outcome following the genetic diagnosis.

Results

We found a genetic diagnosis in 46 of 200 (23%) patients. SCN1A, KCNT1, and STXBP1 accounted for the greatest number of positive findings (48%). More rare genetic findings included SLC2A1, ATP6A1V, HNRNPU, MEF2C, and IRF2BPL. Gene‐specific treatment changes were initiated in 11 of 46 (17%) patients (one with SLC2A1, 10 with SCN1A) following the genetic diagnosis. Ten patients improved, with seizure reduction and/or increased alertness and general well‐being.

Significance

With this study, we show that routine diagnostic testing is highly relevant in adults with epilepsy. The diagnostic yield is similar to previously reported pediatric cohorts, and the genetic findings can be useful for therapeutic decision‐making, which may lead to better seizure control, ultimately improving quality of life.
A neural approach for detecting inline mathematical expressions from scientific documents
Authors: Madisetty Sreekanth , Maurya Kaushal Kumar , Aizawa Akiko , Desarkar Maunendra Sankar
Published: May 2020

Scientific documents generally contain multiple mathematical expressions in them. Detecting inline mathematical expressions are one of the most important and challenging tasks in scientific text mining. Recent works that detect inline mathematical expressions in scientific documents have looked at the problem from an image processing perspective. There is little work that has targeted the problem from NLP perspective. Towards this, we define a few features and applied Conditional Random Fields (CRF) to detect inline mathematical expressions in scientific documents. Apart from this feature based approach, we also propose a hybrid algorithm that combines Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory networks (Bi‐LSTM) and feature‐based approach for this task. Experimental results suggest that this proposed hybrid method outperforms several baselines in the literature and also individual methods in the hybrid approach.
Serum polyunsaturated fatty acids in infancy are associated with body composition in adolescence
Authors: Flannagan Kerry , Gahagan Sheila , Das Arun , Burrows Raquel , Lozoff Betsy , Villamor Eduardo
Published: May 2020

Background

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been related to the development of adiposity. N‐3 PUFA appears to be protective against obesity risk, while n‐6 PUFA may be associated with greater adiposity. However, most studies have been conducted among adults. The role of PUFA in infancy is unknown.

Objective

To examine associations of serum PUFA at age 1 year with age‐ and sex‐adjusted body mass index Z score (BMIZ) change through age 16 years and body composition at 16 years.

Methods

We quantified serum PUFA in 636 Chilean infants aged 1 year. We measured BMIZ at ages 1, 5, 10 and 16 years, and body composition by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry at 16 years. We estimated differences in 1‐ to 16‐years BMIZ change between PUFA quartiles from multivariable linear mixed models with restricted cubic splines. At 16 years, we estimated differences in total fat mass (ToFM), truncal fat mass (TrFM), total lean mass (TLM), percent total fat mass (%ToFM) and percent truncal fat mass (%TrFM) between PUFA quartiles using linear regression.

Results

PUFA were not associated with BMIZ change. Alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) was positively associated with TrFM (P = .03) and %TrFM (P < .0001) at 16 years while eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was inversely associated with %TrFM (P = .001). Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) was positively associated with ToFM (P = .01), TrFM (P = .009), %ToFM (P = .02) and %TrFM (P = .02). Gamma‐linolenic acid (GLA) and the Δ6‐desaturase (D6D) activity index were each positively, linearly associated with ToFM, TrFM and %ToFM. The Δ5‐desaturase (D5D) activity index was inversely associated with %TrFM (P = .04).

Conclusions

ALA, DPA, GLA and the D6D index at 1 year of age were positively associated with adiposity at age 16 years, while EPA and the D5D index were inversely associated with central adiposity. Our results related to EPA and desaturase indices are in agreement with limited prior studies.
Borderline Personality Disorder: To diagnose or not to diagnose? That is the question
Authors: Campbell Katrina , Clarke Karen‐Ann , Massey Deb , Lakeman Richard
Published: May 2020

There is considerable controversy around psychiatric diagnosis generally and personality disorders specifically. Since its conception, borderline personality disorder has been controversial because of the stigma associated with the diagnosis and the therapeutic nihilism held by practitioners who encounter people with this high prevalence problem in acute settings. This paper reviews the history of the diagnosis of BPD and summarizes some of the controversy surrounding the categorical nature of diagnosis. Both the DSM 5 and ICD‐11 will be discussed; however, for the purposes of this paper, the DSM 5 will take the primary focus due to greater cultural significance. Recent developments in the treatment of borderline personality disorder suggest that it is a highly treatable condition and that full clinical recovery is possible. This paper formulates an argument that despite problems with psychiatric diagnosis that are unlikely to be resolved soon, a diagnosis should be made with an accompanying formulation to enable people to receive timely and effective treatment to enable personal and clinical recovery.
The power of the majority: Social conformity in sexual harassment punishment selection
Authors: Goodmon Leilani B. , Gavin David J. , Urs Medhini , Akus Sierra N.
Published: May 2020

In his famous social conformity experiments in the 1950's, Asch found 75% of participants conformed to confederates’ incorrect answers at least once, with an overall conformity rate of 32%, revealing that humans are highly likely to conform to group behavior even when that behavior is clearly wrong. The purpose of this study was to determine if the social conformity effect generalized to scenarios involving sexual harassment punishment selections in the workplace. Participants read various workplace sexual harassment scenarios and then witnessed four confederates chose one of three types of punishments (verbal warning, 1‐week suspension, or termination). The confederates stated aloud punishments that were either appropriate (i.e., similar to normative data) or inappropriate (i.e., deviating either too harshly or leniently to normative data). Participants then provided their punishments selection aloud, and confidentially rated their decision confidence. We found an overall conformity rate of 46%, as 82.67% conformed at least once to harsh or lenient punishment selections. Participants who conformed to incorrect punishment selections exhibited lower levels of decision confidence, indicating that conformity may have been due more to social normative influence. The current results imply the social responses of others (i.e., coworkers, supervisors, or HR) can impact responses to sexual harassment. The results imply that social influence may be a significant contributing factor in mislabeling, misreporting, or inappropriately punishing sexual harassment in some organizations.
Exosomes derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate viral myocarditis through activating AMPK/mTOR‐mediated autophagy flux pathway
Authors: Gu Xiaohong , Li Yuechun , Chen Kaixin , Wang Xingang , Wang Zhongyu , Lian Hao , Lin Yuanzheng , Rong Xing , Chu Maoping , Lin Jiafeng , Guo Xiaoling
Published: May 2020

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomes (hucMSC‐exosomes) have been implicated as a novel therapeutic approach for tissue injury repair and regeneration, but the effects of hucMSC‐exosomes on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)‐induced myocarditis remain unknown. The object of the present study is to investigate whether hucMSC‐exosomes have therapeutic effects on CVB3‐induced myocarditis (VMC). HucMSC‐exosomes were identified using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western blot. The purified hucMSC‐exosomes tagged with PKH26 were tail intravenously injected into VMC model mice in vivo and used to administrate CVB3‐infected human cardiomyocytes (HCMs) in vitro, respectively. The effects of hucMSC‐exosomes on myocardial pathology injury, proinflammatory cytokines and cardiac function were evaluated through haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Doppler echocardiography. The anti‐apoptosis role and potential mechanism of hucMSC‐exosomes were explored using TUNEL staining, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, Ad‐mRFP‐GFP‐LC3 transduction and Western blot. In vivo results showed that hucMSC‐exosomes (50 μg iv) significantly alleviated myocardium injury, shrank the production of proinflammatory cytokines and improved cardiac function. Moreover, in vitro data showed that hucMSC‐exosomes (50 μg/mL) inhibited the apoptosis of CVB3‐infected HCM through increasing pAMPK/AMPK ratio and up‐regulating autophagy proteins LC3II/I, BECLIN‐1 and anti‐apoptosis protein BCL‐2 as well as decreasing pmTOR/mTOR ratio, promoting the degradation of autophagy flux protein P62 and down‐regulating apoptosis protein BAX. In conclusion, hucMSC‐exosomes could alleviate CVB3‐induced myocarditis via activating AMPK/mTOR‐mediated autophagy flux pathway to attenuate cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which will be benefit for MSC‐exosome therapy of myocarditis in the future.
Prognostic significance of immune landscape in tumour microenvironment of endometrial cancer
Authors: Li Bi‐Lan , Wan Xiao‐Ping
Published: May 2020

Tumour microenvironment (TME) is crucial to tumorigenesis. This study aimed to uncover the differences in immune phenotypes of TME in endometrial cancer (EC) using Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) cohort and explore the prognostic significance. We employed GVSA enrichment analysis to cluster The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) EC samples into immune signature cluster modelling, evaluated immune cell profiling in UCEC cohort (n = 538) and defined four immune subtypes of EC. Next, we analysed the correlation between immune subtypes and clinical data including patient prognosis. Furthermore, we analysed the expression of immunomodulators and DNA methylation modification. The profiles of immune infiltration in TCGA UCEC cohort showed significant difference among four immune subtypes of EC. Among each immune subtype, natural killer T cells (NKT), dendritic cells (DCs) and CD8+T cells were significantly associated with EC patients survival. Each immune subtype exhibited specific molecular classification, immune cell characterization and immunomodulators expression. Moreover, the expression immunomodulators were significantly related to DNA methylation level. In conclusion, the identification of immune subtypes in EC tissues could reveal unique immune microenvironments in EC and predict the prognosis of EC patients.
FKF1 F‐box protein promotes flowering in part by negatively regulating DELLA protein stability under long‐day photoperiod in Arabidopsis
Authors: Yan Jindong , Li Xinmei , Zeng Bingjie , Zhong Ming , Yang Jiaxin , Yang Piao , Li Xin , He Chongsheng , Lin Jianzhong , Liu Xuanming , Zhao Xiaoying
Published: May 2020

FLAVIN‐BINDING KELCH REPEAT F‐BOX 1 (FKF1) encodes an F‐box protein that regulates photoperiod flowering in Arabidopsis under long‐day conditions (LDs). Gibberellin (GA) is also important for regulating flowering under LDs. However, how FKF1 and the GA pathway work in concert in regulating flowering is not fully understood. Here, we showed that the mutation of FKF1 could cause accumulation of DELLA proteins, which are crucial repressors in GA signaling pathway, thereby reducing plant sensitivity to GA in flowering. Both in vitro and in vivo biochemical analyses demonstrated that FKF1 directly interacted with DELLA proteins. Furthermore, we showed that FKF1 promoted ubiquitination and degradation of DELLA proteins. Analysis of genetic data revealed that FKF1 acted partially through DELLAs to regulate flowering under LDs. In addition, DELLAs exerted a negative feedback on FKF1 expression. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that FKF1 promotes flowering partially by negatively regulating DELLA protein stability under LDs, and suggesting a potential mechanism linking the FKF1 to the GA signaling DELLA proteins.
Isolation and next generation sequencing of archival formalin‐fixed DNA
Authors: Alqahtani Ahlam , Skelton Andrew , Eley Lorraine , Annavarapu Srinivas , Henderson Deborah J. , Chaudhry Bill
Published: May 2020

DNA from archived organs is presumed unsuitable for genomic studies because of excessive formalin‐fixation. As next generation sequencing (NGS) requires short DNA fragments, and Uracil‐N‐glycosylase (UNG) can be used to overcome deamination, there has been renewed interest in the possibility of genomic studies using these collections. We describe a novel method of DNA extraction capable of providing PCR amplicons of at least 400 bp length from such excessively formalin‐fixed human tissues. When compared with a leading commercial formalin‐fixed DNA extraction kit, our method produced greater yields of DNA and reduced sequence variations. Analysis of PCR products using bacterial sub‐cloning and Sanger sequencing from UNG‐treated DNA unexpectedly revealed increased sequence variations, compared with untreated samples. Finally, whole exome NGS was performed on a myocardial sample fixed in formalin for 2 years and compared with lymphocyte‐derived DNA (as a gold standard) from the same patient. Despite the reduction in the number and quality of reads in the formalin‐fixed DNA, we were able to show that bioinformatic processing by joint calling and variant quality score recalibration (VQSR) increased the sensitivity four‐fold to 56% and doubled specificity to 68% when compared with a standard hard‐filtering approach. Thus, high‐quality DNA can be extracted from excessively formalin‐fixed tissues and bioinformatic processing can optimise sensitivity and specificity of results. Sequencing of several sub‐cloned amplicons is an important methodological step in assessing DNA quality.
Chemical inhibition of Chlorella sp. by rotifers
Authors: Xu Ran , Zhang Litao , Liu Jianguo
Published: May 2020

To test the hypothesis that rotifers release one or more chemical microalgal growth inhibitors in addition to devouring the microalgal cells, the effects of different concentrations of filtered, bacteria‐free, rotifer culture filtrate (RCF) on the growth and physiological parameters of Chlorella sp., and the response of Chlorella sp. at different starting cell densities to 10% RCF, were studied. The results show that RCF significantly decreased Chlorella cell densities during the incubation, suggesting that rotifers release some chemical(s) that inhibit microalgal cell growth. Chlorella cell densities decreased with increasing RCF concentration. Increasing the initial cell density of Chlorella dispersed the inhibitory chemical(s) present in 10% RCF over more cells, reducing their effect. The results confirm that the action of the chemical(s) released by rotifers on microalgal cell growth was dependent on both the RCF concentration and the exposure time. They also demonstrate that ≥10% RCF significantly inhibited photosynthesis and respiration, which would account for some of the decreased Chlorella cell growth in the presence of RCF. Calculations based on the data indicate that the rotifer‐derived chemical(s) released hourly from each rotifer inhibits growth by 45.5 microalgal cells in addition to the rotifer predation, with a 48 h LC50 value of 18.8% RCF. Based on these results, fresh medium instead of the old culture medium was contaminated by the rotifers.
Dynamism and context‐dependency in diversification of the megadiverse plant genusSolanum(Solanaceae)
Authors: Echeverría‐Londoño Susy , Särkinen Tiina , Fenton Isabel S. , Purvis Andy , Knapp Sandra
Published: May 2020

Explosive radiations—substantial increases in net species diversification—have been considered one of the most intriguing diversification patterns across the Tree of Life, but the subsequent change, movement, and extinction of the constituent lineages make radiations hard to discern or understand as geological time passes. We used the megadiverse angiosperm genusSolanumL. (Solanaceae), with ca. 1200 currently accepted species distributed worldwide in a wide array of habitats, to explore these patterns on a global scale. We synthesized phylogenetic and distributional data for this ongoing radiation to show how dispersal events and past climatic changes have interacted to shape diversification. We find that, despite the vast diversity ofSolanumlineages in the Neotropics, lineages in the Old World are diversifying more rapidly. This recent increase in diversification coincides with a long‐distance dispersal event from the Neotropics to regions where major climatic changes were taking place. Two separate groups ofSolanumhave migrated and established in Australia, but only the arid‐adapted lineages underwent significant increases in diversification rate, as they were able to adapt to the continent's long‐term climatic trend towards seasonally dry and arid biomes (a pattern observed in the diversification of other arid‐adapted groups). Our findings provide a clear example of how successful colonization of new areas and niches can—but does not always—drive explosive diversifications.
Efficient Bayesian PARCOR approaches for dynamic modeling of multivariate time series
Authors: Zhao Wenjie , Prado Raquel
Published: May 2020

A Bayesian lattice filtering and smoothing approach is proposed for fast and accurate modeling and inference in multivariate non‐stationary time series. This approach offers computational feasibility and interpretable time‐frequency analysis in the multivariate context. The proposed framework allows us to obtain posterior estimates of the time‐varying spectral densities of individual time series components, as well as posterior measurements of the time‐frequency relationships across multiple components, such as time‐varying coherence and partial coherence. The proposed formulation considers multivariate dynamic linear models (MDLMs) on the forward and backward time‐varying partial autocorrelation coefficients (TV‐VPARCOR). Computationally expensive schemes for posterior inference on the multivariate dynamic PARCOR model are avoided using approximations in the MDLM context. Approximate inference on the corresponding time‐varying vector autoregressive (TV‐VAR) coefficients is obtained via Whittle's algorithm. A key aspect of the proposed TV‐VPARCOR representations is that they are of lower dimension, and therefore more efficient, than TV‐VAR representations. The performance of the TV‐VPARCOR models is illustrated in simulation studies and in the analysis of multivariate non‐stationary temporal data arising in neuroscience and environmental applications. Model performance is evaluated using goodness‐of‐fit measurements in the time‐frequency domain and also by assessing the quality of short‐term forecasting.
Probabilistic representations in perception: Are there any, and what would they be?
Authors: Gross Steven
Published: May 2020

Nick Shea's Representation in cognitive science commits him to representations in perceptual processing that are about probabilities. This commentary concerns how to adjudicate between this view and an alternative that locates the probabilities rather in the representational states’ associated “attitudes.” As background and motivation, evidence for probabilistic representations in perceptual processing is adduced, and it is shown how, on either conception, one can address a specific challenge Ned Block has raised to this evidence.
Better to Lose Your Head Than Use It: Working with Ethnographic Fiction and a New Evidential Paradigm at Minimalist Donald Judd’s The Chinati Foundation
Authors: Bovino Emily Verla
Published: May 2020

Writing through ethnographic fiction, art practice, and art historical research, this essay presents a study of minimalist Donald Judd’s The Chinati Foundation/La Fondacion Chinati (1979–1986), a museum in West Texas designed by the artist. It explores Chinati in relation to its site—the Texas‐Mexico borderlands—focusing on three objects of evidence found in and around it: a World War II–era German‐language sign inside the former military complex that Judd retrofitted for the museum, and that he dated and autographed; a wall of a derelict adobe building graffitied with a denouncement of Chinati; and a granite gravestone with an Arabic inscription, marking the final resting place of Lebanese peddler Ramon Karam, whose death on the Rio Grande in 1918 was used as evidence in Senate hearings in support of increased U.S. militarization at the border. The essay shows how working with ethnographic fiction toward a new evidential paradigm shifts perspectives on Chinati, Judd’s practice, the borderlands, and the relationship between scholarship and art practice.
Candida spp bloodstream infections in a Latin American Pediatric Oncology Reference Center: Epidemiology and associated factors
Authors: Paixao de Sousa da Silva Adriana Maria , de Moraes‐Pinto Maria Isabel , Teofilo Pignati Luara , Barbosa Teixeira Bruno , Cordeiro Lima Ana Paula , Costa Pimentel Germano Priscila , Petrilli Antonio Sergio , Marques Leticia Maria Acioli , Carlesse Fabianne
Published: May 2020

Background

Invasive fungal disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed children. The recognition of patients at risk for candidaemia is paramount to a better prognosis.

Objectives

To characterize Candida spp bloodstream infections (BSI) in a reference centre for paediatric oncology and to describe the most prevalent risk factors associated with candida infections.

Patients/Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study carried out with paediatric patients followed up with at the Institute of Pediatric Oncology, Brazil, who presented positive blood culture for Candida spp from January 2004 to December 2016.

Results

Ninety episodes of candidaemia were analysed; patients had a median age of 4.5 years, and 57.8% were males, with a diagnosis of solid tumours in 54.5% of cases. The most common Candida species were C albicans (35.6%), C parapsilosis (30.0%) and C tropicalis (16.7%). C tropicalis BSI was associated with neutropenia and skin lesions. Therapy was successful in 67.1% of the episodes. Older age and thrombocytopenia were associated with therapeutic failure. Death within 30 days occurred in 24.4% of patients; predictive factors were older age and admission to an ICU C parapsilosis candidaemia was a protective factor for death when compared to C albicans.

Conclusion

The main species isolated were C albicans, C parapsilosis and C tropicalis. C tropicalis BSI was associated with neutropenia and skin lesions. The death rate was significant, and a worse prognosis was associated with older age, thrombocytopenia and admission to an ICU C parapsilosis infection proved to be a protective factor against mortality.
Clinical, microscopic and molecular presentation in pediatric versus adult old world cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Authors: Dunya Gabriel , Loya Asif , Taraif Suad , Adib Houreih Mohammad , Khalifeh Ibrahim
Published: May 2020

Background

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an emerging uncontrolled tropical parasitic disease in endemic and nonendemic areas with a high prevalence in the pediatric age group.

Method

A total of 382 individuals from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Syria diagnosed with CL by punch biopsy/scrapings were grouped into adults (>18 years) and pediatrics (≤18 years). Data recorded included clinical features [number, location, type, size, and extensiveness (size larger than 3 cm, more than 5 lesions per patient, lesion present for more than 12 months, special types, disfiguring lesion or closeness to vital sensory organs) of lesions] and microscopic findings [Ridley's Parasitic Index and Ridley's Pattern]. In addition, molecular confirmation and speciation were performed.

Results

In comparison with adults, patients in the pediatric group (n = 158, 41.4%) showed significantly higher number of lesions, more facial involvement, and more extensive disease (P < .05). Microscopically, a more advanced Ridley's pattern was observed. The other variables did not show statistical difference between the two groups.

Conclusion

Historically, CL has been known to be a neglected tropical disease of poverty and pediatric predilection. In our pediatric group, CL manifests with more extensive disease clinically mirrored by more advanced lesions microscopically.
Hurry up! The role of supervisors’ time urgency and self‐perceived status for autocratic leadership and subordinates’ well‐being
Authors: Briker Roman , Walter Frank , Cole Michael S.
Published: May 2020

This study examines the connections among supervisors’ time urgency, their leadership behavior, and subordinate outcomes. Integrating cognitive perspectives on time urgency with contemporary thinking on the psychological experience of status, we reason that supervisors’ time‐urgent personality relates positively with their autocratic leadership behavior, and we cast supervisors’ self‐perceived status as a moderator of this linkage. Moreover, we enrich this leader‐centric perspective with a complementary, more follower‐centric view, recognizing that the consequences of supervisors’ time urgency likely extend beyond their own behavior to indirectly affect their subordinates’ well‐being at work. We tested our hypotheses using a field sample of 60 supervisors and 277 of their subordinates. Results indicate that (a) supervisors with higher time urgency are more likely to exhibit autocratic leadership behavior when they also perceive themselves as having relatively high status among subordinates, but not when perceiving lower status, and (b) supervisors’ time urgency exhibits a conditional indirect effect (via autocratic leadership) on subordinates’ work stress and time pressure experiences. Hence, this study illustrates an important boundary condition for the consequences of supervisors’ time urgency, and it demonstrates that this personality characteristic not only shapes supervisors’ leadership behavior but also affects the subordinates they are charged with leading.
Detection of graft fibrosis by vibration‐controlled transient elastography in pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Costa Peter , Kogan‐Liberman Debora , Rudolph Bryan , Silver Ellen , Ewart Michelle , Raizner Aileen , Cunningham Ryan , Ovchinsky Nadia
Published: May 2020

Pediatric liver transplant recipients are at risk of developing graft fibrosis which can affect patient survival. VCTE is a non‐invasive tool that measures LSM and has been shown to correlate with hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to therefore evaluate the ability of LSM to predict fibrosis in pediatric liver transplant recipients with different graft types. We performed a cross‐sectional study evaluating LSM of 28 pediatric liver transplant recipients who underwent a total of 20 liver biopsies within 1 month of LSM. LSM was compared to liver histology as well as graft type: WL or PL. The median LSM of all post‐transplant patients was 5.6 kPa (range = 2.7‐18.3). There was a statistically significant correlation between LSM and METAVIR fibrosis score (P = .001) and LAF score (P < .001). There was no difference in LSM between graft type (P = .088). The AUROC curve for LSM predicting any significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2) was 0.863. A cutoff value of 7.25 had a sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 100%, NPV of 87%, and PPV of 100% for significant fibrosis. LSM by VCTE is feasible in pediatric liver transplant recipients regardless of graft type. We found a significant correlation between LSM and hepatic fibrosis and established a cutoff value that may help determine which patients warrant further evaluation for graft fibrosis.
PD‐L1 expression on tumor or stromal cells of nodal cytotoxic T‐cell lymphoma: A clinicopathological study of 50 cases
Authors: Yamashita Daisuke , Shimada Kazuyuki , Kohno Kei , Kogure Yasunori , Kataoka Keisuke , Takahara Taishi , Suzuki Yuka , Satou Akira , Sakakibara Ayako , Nakamura Shigeo , Asano Naoko , Kato Seiichi
Published: May 2020

Inhibitors of programmed cell‐death 1 (PD‐1) and programmed cell‐death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) have revolutionized cancer therapy. Nodal cytotoxic T‐cell lymphoma (CTL) is characterized by a poorer prognosis compared to nodal non‐CTLs. Here we investigated PD‐L1 expression in 50 nodal CTL patients, with and without EBV association (25 of each). We identified seven patients (14%) with neoplastic PD‐L1 (nPD‐L1) expression on tumor cells, including three males and four females, with a median age of 66 years. One of the seven cases was TCRαβ type, three were TCRγδ type and three were TCR‐silent type. Six of the seven cases exhibited a lethal clinical course despite multi‐agent chemotherapy, of whom four patients died within one year of diagnosis. Morphological findings were uniform, with six cases showing centroblastoid appearance. Among nPD‐L1+ cases, two of three examined had structural variations of PD‐L1 disrupting 3′‐UTR region. Notably, all of the TCRγδ‐type nodal CTL cases showed nPD‐L1 or miPD‐L1 positivity (3 and 10 cases, respectively). TCRγδ‐type cases comprised 42% of nPD‐L1+ cases (P = 0.043 vs. PD‐L1−), and 35% of miPD‐L1+ cases (P = 0.037 vs. PD‐L1−). The results indicate that PD‐L1+ nodal CTL cases, especially of the TCRγδ type, are potential candidates for anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 therapies.
Immunogenetics in systemic lupus erythematosus: Transitioning from genetic associations to cellular effects
Authors: Hagberg Niklas , Lundtoft Christian , Rönnblom Lars
Published: May 2020

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous rheumatic autoimmune disease. Genetic studies have identified up to 100 SLE risk loci. Many of these encode proteins of importance in the immune system, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these associations are still elusive. In this review, we will highlight some of the SLE risk loci where mechanistic insights have been achieved recently by linking genetic risk polymorphisms to cellular or molecular phenotypes important for the disease process.
Step by step: Association of device‐measured daily steps with all‐cause mortality—A prospective cohort Study
Authors: Hansen Bjørge Herman , Dalene Knut Eirik , Ekelund Ulf , Wang Fagerland Morten , Kolle Elin , Steene‐Johannessen Jostein , Tarp Jakob , Alfred Anderssen Sigmund
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Walking is free, does not require special training, and can be done almost everywhere. Therefore, walking is a feasible behavior on which to tailor public health messages. This study assesses the prospective association and dose‐response relationship between daily steps and all‐cause mortality.

Materials and Methods

Daily steps were measured by waist‐mounted accelerometers in 2183 individuals (53% women) for seven consecutive days at baseline (2008‐09). Participants were followed for a median period of 9.1 years and associations between steps and all‐cause mortality determined by registry linkage were assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression with adjustment for relevant covariates.

Results

Mean age was 57.0 (SD 10.9) years at baseline. Median (IQR) daily steps across ascending quartiles were 4651 (3495‐5325), 6862 (6388‐7350), 8670 (8215‐9186), and 11 467 (10 556‐13 110), respectively. During follow‐up, 119 individuals died (68% men). Higher number of daily steps was associated with a lower risk of all‐cause mortality with hazard ratios of 1.00 (referent), 0.52 (0.29‐0.93), 0.50 (0.27‐0.94), and 0.43 (0.21‐0.88) across ascending quartiles of daily steps in the multivariable‐adjusted model with follow‐up commencing 2 years after baseline. Risk differences per 1000 individuals for ascending quartiles were 6.8 (2.9‐9.3), 7.1 (0.8‐11.1), and 8.0 (1.7‐12.1), respectively.

Conclusions

Daily steps were associated with lower mortality risk in a non‐linear dose‐response pattern. The risk is almost halved when comparing the least active referent against the second quartile equivalent to a difference of about 2200 daily steps. Encouraging those least active to increase their daily steps may have substantial public health implications.
Sex differences in murine myocutaneous flap revascularization
Authors: Brandenburg Jacquelyn S. , Clark Ross M. , Coffman Brittany , Sharma Geetanjali , Hathaway Helen J. , Prossnitz Eric R. , Howdieshell Thomas R.
Published: May 2020

Sex differences in susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion injury have been documented in humans. Premenopausal women have a lower risk of ischemic heart disease than age‐matched men, whereas after menopause, the risk is similar or even higher in women. However, little is known about the effects of sex on myocutaneous ischemia/reperfusion. To explore sex differences in wound revascularization, we utilized a murine myocutaneous flap model of graded ischemia. A cranial‐based, peninsular‐shaped, myocutaneous flap was surgically created on the dorsum of male and female mice. Physiological, pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular parameters were analyzed. Flaps created on female mice were re‐attached to the recipient site resulting in nearly complete viability at post‐operative day 10. In contrast, distal full‐thickness myocutaneous necrosis was evident at 10 days post‐surgery in male mice. Over the 10 day study interval, laser speckle imaging documented functional revascularization in all flap regions in female mice, but minimal distal flap reperfusion in male mice. Day 10 immunostained histologic sections confirmed significant increases in distal flap vessel count and vascular surface area in female compared to male mice. RT‐PCR demonstrated significant differences in growth factor and metabolic gene expression between female and male mice at day 10. In conclusion, in a graded‐ischemia wound healing model, flap revascularization was more effective in female mice. The recognition and identification of sex‐specific wound healing differences may lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of myocutaneous revascularization and drive novel discovery to improve soft tissue wound healing following tissue transfer for traumatic injury and cancer resection.
Courtroom Questioning Adapted to Psychological Motivations
Authors: Hu Haijuan
Published: May 2020

This paper focuses on analyzing courtroom questioning as a dynamic process of adaptation to the psychological motivations, which is complicated by the constantly changing communicative context. By analyzing the data collected from the Chinese courtroom trials, such strategies as repetition, reformulation and juxtaposition are found in the process of questioners’ making adaptation to their psychological motivations. By carefully choosing the strategies catering to different psychological motivations, questioners can successfully realize adaptation so as to achieve their specific communicative goals.
Benefits of Social Sciences Courses at Technical University As a Quality of Teaching
Authors: Lindr Jaroslav
Published: May 2020

Nowadays, the need for general development in the education of students is increasing. Implementation of social sciences to the curriculum of technical universities is a way to fulfil this concept. The paper focuses on the evaluation of the benefits of social sciences courses for students. The theoretical basis justifies the need for implementation of general subjects at a technical university in order to equip the graduates with professional and general key competencies for further professional and personal development. The paper attempts to find a connection between the quality of teaching and the benefits for students. A case study is based on the characteristics of teaching quality. It designs, develops and evaluates the criteria for assessing the quality of teaching in connection with the benefits of the courses. It provides a list of the most important criteria that influence the perception of social sciences benefits, e.g. motivation, relevance to the future work, contribution to the personal development, cultivation of intellectual skills, the relevance for technicians and others. The paper attempts to describe a mutual relationship between the criteria. The research revealed that the students appreciate the courses in which they feel a closer connection to the professional specialisation. Social sciences courses in a curriculum of a technical university represent an integral part of the humanisation of technical environment and they contribute to the cultivation of students.