bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Checking Our Blind Spots: The Most Common Mistakes Made by Social Marketers
Authors: Cook Julie , Fries Sarah , Lynes Jennifer
Published: February 2020

Background:

The work of social marketers and the environment in which they work is complex, which inevitably results in mistakes being made and sometimes, the failure of a social marketing program. Unfortunately, social marketers do not often report their own mistakes. Even when failures or mistakes are reported, it is usually for the purpose of one study, as opposed to a wider understanding of mistakes made by social marketers in the field. This is a significant gap in the development of social marketing practice since understanding the nature of the most common mistakes made by social marketers could assist them in assessing their own shortcomings and potentially lead to more effective programs.

Focus:

This article is related to research and evaluation of the social marketing field.

Research Question:

What are the perceptions of social marketing experts regarding the most common mistakes made by social marketers?

Importance to the Field:

A greater understanding of the common mistakes made by social marketers will allow practitioners to assess their own shortcomings, improve program outcomes, and raise the status of the social marketing field.

Methods:

This research is qualitative and exploratory, with a constructivist, grounded theory methodology. In-depth interviews with 17 social marketing experts were conducted. Experts were purposefully chosen based on a set of criteria including the number of years of experience they had in the field.

Results:

The interviews revealed nine mistake categories: inadequate research, poor strategy development, ad hoc approaches to programs, mismanagement of stakeholders, poorly designed program objectives, weak evaluation and monitoring, poor execution of pilots, inadequate segmentation and targeting, and poor documentation. Additionally, the interviews revealed two other emergent, crosscutting themes that affect the mistakes being made: external influences that the social marketer may not have direct control over and the social marketer’s own preconceptions that they bring to the program.

Recommendations for Research or Practice:

Future research may explore (1) the extent to which external influences lead to social marketing program success or failure, particularly in comparison to mistakes made by social marketers and (2) perspectives from the social marketing community as to the most common mistakes made by social marketers. Social marketers may consider being more reflexive in their work, including reporting their own mistakes and failed programs, as well as challenging the biases they may bring to the work that they do.

Limitations:

The sample size is small and therefore not generalizable to all social marketing experts or the social marketing community. Also, there are many parts of the world in which social marketers practice, but which are not represented by the social marketing experts. Additionally, the “mistakes” listed are based on opinion as opposed to direct observation, which may make them more susceptible to bias.
Discoveries and developments of CXCR4-targeted HIV-1 entry inhibitors
Authors: Zhang Chaozai , Zhu Ruohan , Cao Qizhi , Yang Xiaohong , Huang Ziwei , An Jing
Published: February 2020

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is required for the entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) into target cells and its expression correlates with more profound pathogenicity, rapid progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and greater AIDS-related mortality. There is still no cure for AIDS and no method for preventing or eradicating HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 entry begins with the interaction of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 and the primary receptor CD4, and subsequently with the coreceptors, CCR5 or CXCR4, on the host cells. Blocking the interaction of HIV-1 and its coreceptors is therefore a promising strategy for developing new HIV-1 entry inhibitors. This approach has a dual benefit, as it prevents HIV-1 infection and progression while also targeting the reservoirs of HIV-1 infected, coreceptor positive macrophages and memory T cells. To date, multiple classes of CXCR4-targeted anti-HIV-1 inhibitors have been discovered and are now at different preclinical and clinical stages. In this review, we highlight the studies of CXCR4-targeted small-molecule and peptide HIV-1 entry inhibitors discovered during the last two decades and provide a reference for further potential HIV-1 exploration in the future.

Impact statement

This minireview summarized the current progress in the identification of CXCR4-targeted HIV-1-entry inhibitors based on discovery/developmental approaches. It also provided a discussion of the inhibitor structural features, antiviral activities, and pharmacological properties. Unlike other reviews on anti-HIV-1 drug development, which have generally emphasized inhibitors that target intracellular viral replication and host genomic integration, this review focused on the drug discovery approaches taken to develop viral-entry inhibitors aimed at disturbing the initial step of viral interaction with uninfected host cells and preventing the subsequent viral replication/genomic integration. This review amalgamated recently published and important work on bivalent CXCR4-targeted anti-HIV-1-entry candidates/conjugates, discussed the research challenges faced in developing drugs to prevent and eradicate HIV-1 infection, and provided a perspective on strategies that can lead to future drug discoveries. The findings and strategies summarized in this review will be of interest to investigators throughout the microbiological, pharmaceutical, and translational research communities.
Research on android infiltration technology based on the silent installation of an accessibility service
Authors: Sun Haitao , Jin Chengjie , Helu Xiaohan , Lu Hui , Zhang Man , Tian Zhihong
Published: February 2020

This work focuses mainly on the penetration test function and stability of Android smartphones under Kali 2019 and creates a stable penetration function of Android smartphones to form a strong reverse transmission control protocol connection. Using the silent installation technology supported by the Accessibility Service (integrated on a nontoxic functional platform), the Android Package that injects the penetration function successfully bypasses the common mobile phone antivirus software on the market to improve the penetration efficiency.
Indigenous Perspectives on Leadership: A Communal Reflection
Authors: Abeyta Joseph , Gachupin Raymond , Gulibert Felisa , Lovato Ron , Andriamanana Rijasoa , Merchant Betty
Published: February 2020

The authors who contributed the interviews that follow did so with the understanding that their individual interviews, when considered collectively, could help readers gain a preliminary understanding of some of the fundamental values associated with indigenous leadership. Consistent with this intent, readers are urged to read all five interviews before engaging in discussions related to this material. Readers should resist the temptation to focus on traditional, western models of leadership as exemplars, and refrain as much as possible, from relying on their taken-for-granted assumptions about education, schooling, community involvement, and decision-making. Instead, readers are encouraged to be open to the ways in which their own leadership knowledge and practice could be transformed by these indigenous leaders.
Ultrasound of bone fractures
Authors: Qadi Hammad , Davidson Juliet , Trauer Michael , Beese Richard
Published: February 2020

The World Health Organisation estimates only 33% of the world's population has local access to diagnostic imaging. Doctors operating in austere locations in Canada and Australia are using point-of-care ultrasound to differentiate between bone injury and soft tissue injury. Studies have demonstrated ultrasound to be a highly sensitive diagnostic tool for bone fracture. We present an ultrasound pictorial review of various bone fractures to demonstrate its value as an extension of the clinical examination in identifying fracture and to support the need for further imaging. Innovative and affordable ultrasound devices have been developed, which will improve accessibility to imaging.
“Leadership as a social problem”: A conversational engagement with the ideas of Alvin Gouldner
Authors: Spector Bert
Published: February 2020

Sociologist Alvin W. Gouldner’s (1950) book of original and previously published chapters collected under the title Studies in Leadership: Leadership and Democratic Action opens with the proclamation: “Leadership as a Social Problem.” Although Gouldner’s work is rarely cited in contemporary critical leadership discourse, he and his coauthors make an important contribution to an analysis of the potentially counter-democratic role of leaders. By using an unusual methodology—an imagined conversational engagement between this article’s author and Gouldner (who has been dead for 40 years)—the article offers an historical appraisal of the contribution of Studies in Leadership to critical leadership; a contribution that is especially relevant when elected leaders are undermining the institutions and norms that together maintain democratic societies.
Sleep for Stroke Management and Recovery Trial (Sleep SMART): Rationale and methods
Authors: Brown Devin L , Durkalski Valerie , Durmer Jeffrey S , Broderick Joseph P , Zahuranec Darin B , Levine Deborah A , Anderson Craig S , Bravata Dawn M , Yaggi H Klar , Morgenstern Lewis B , Moy Claudia S , Chervin Ronald D
Published: February 2020

Rationale

Obstructive sleep apnea is common among patients with acute ischemic stroke and is associated with reduced functional recovery and an increased risk for recurrent vascular events.

Aims and/or hypothesis

The Sleep for Stroke Management and Recovery Trial (Sleep SMART) aims to determine whether automatically adjusting continuous positive airway pressure (aCPAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea improves clinical outcomes after acute ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack.

Sample size estimate

A total of 3062 randomized subjects for the prevention of recurrent serious vascular events, and among these, 1362 stroke survivors for the recovery outcome.

Methods and design

Sleep SMART is a phase III, multicenter, prospective randomized, open, blinded outcome event assessed controlled trial. Adults with recent acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack and no contraindication to aCPAP are screened for obstructive sleep apnea with a portable sleep apnea test. Subjects with confirmed obstructive sleep apnea but without predominant central sleep apnea proceed to a run-in night of aCPAP. Subjects with use (≥4 h) of aCPAP and without development of significant central apneas are randomized to aCPAP plus usual care or care-as-usual for six months. Telemedicine is used to monitor and facilitate aCPAP adherence remotely.

Study outcomes

Two separate primary outcomes: (1) the composite of recurrent acute ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and all-cause mortality (prevention) and (2) the modified Rankin scale scores (recovery) at six- and three-month post-randomization, respectively.

Discussion

Sleep SMART represents the first large trial to test whether aCPAP for obstructive sleep apnea after stroke/transient ischemic attack reduces recurrent vascular events or death, and improves functional recovery.
Pregnancy in a woman with a chronic descending thoracic aortic dissection
Authors: Nair Govind Krishna Kumar , Bhagra Catriona , Sermer Mathew , Silversides Candice K , Pfaller Birgit
Published: February 2020

Pregnancy increases aortic wall stress and, for a woman with a chronic dissection, this can lead to extension of the dissection, aortic rupture, and death. We report a pregnancy in a woman with a history of a chronic type B aortic dissection. As a child, she had repeat balloon dilation of aortic coarctation, and one of the procedures was complicated by an iatrogenic dissection at the dilation site. At the age of 27 years, she had a planned pregnancy.
Is exposure to family member incarceration during childhood linked to diabetes in adulthood? Findings from a representative community sample
Authors: White Bradley A , West Keri J , Fuller-Thomson Esme
Published: February 2020

Objectives:

Diabetes is a prevalent and serious public health problem, particularly among older adults. A robust literature has shown that adverse childhood experiences contribute to the development of health problems in later life, including diabetes. Family member incarceration during childhood is an under-investigated yet increasingly common adverse childhood experience in the United States. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between family member incarceration during childhood and diabetes in adulthood, while considering the role of gender as well as the impact of a range of potential confounds.

Methods:

A large representative community sample of adults aged 40 and older (n = 8790 men, 14,255 women) was drawn from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2012 optional adverse childhood experiences module to investigate the association between family member incarceration during childhood and diabetes. For each gender, nine logistic regression analyses were conducted using distinct clusters of variables (e.g. socioeconomic status and health behaviors).

Results:

Among males, the odds of diabetes among those exposed to family member incarceration during childhood ranged from 2.00 to 1.59. In the fully adjusted model, they had elevated odds of 1.64 (95% confidence interval = 1.27, 2.11). Among women, the odds of diabetes was much lower, hovering around 1.00.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest that family member incarceration during childhood is associated with diabetes in men, even after adjusting for a wide range of potential risk factors (e.g. sociodemographics, health behaviors, healthcare access, and childhood risk factors). Future research should explore the mechanisms linking family member incarceration during childhood and long-term negative health outcomes in men.
The Beguiling: Glamour in/as Platformed Cultural Production
Authors: Hearn Alison , Banet-Weiser Sarah
Published: February 2020

Arguing that questions of power expressed through aesthetic form are too often left out of current approaches to digital culture, this article revives the modernist aesthetic category of glamour in order to analyze contemporary forms of platformed cultural production. Through a case study of popular feminism, the article traces the ways in which glamour, defined as a beguiling affective force linked to promotional capitalist logics, suffuses digital content, metrics, and platforms. From the formal aesthetic codes of the ubiquitous beauty and lifestyle Instagram feeds that perpetuate the beguiling promise of popular feminism, to the enticing simplicity of online metrics and scores that promise transformative social connection and approbation, to the political economic drive for total information awareness and concomitant disciplining, predicting and optimizing of consumer-citizens, the article argues that the ambivalent aesthetic of glamour provides an apt descriptor and compelling heuristic for digital cultural production today.
A full-thickness chemical burn to the hand using formic acid-based anti-wart treatment: a case report and literature review
Authors: Sjökvist Olivia , Smolle Christian , Jensson David , Huss Fredrik
Published: February 2020

Introduction:

Chemical burns are comparably rare but often result in full-thickness skin defects with frequent involvement of underlying structures. Hands are the most commonly affected injury site and impaired functional outcome is common. We present a case of an unusual chemical burn to the dorsum of the hand of a child secondary to application of a topical anti-wart treatment containing formic acid.

Case report:

An 11-year-old girl was referred to our outpatient department with a full-thickness injury resulting from a chemical burn having used a topical formic acid solution in the treatment of common warts. On examination, a 20-mm circular full-thickness defect was noted to the dorsum of the hand. The extensor tendons were not involved and there were no signs of infection. She required surgical debridement and local flap coverage. The postoperative recovery was unremarkable.

Conclusion:

Through a comprehensive literature review, four common topical solutions used in anti-wart treatment were identified to be associated with burns. Together with our case, this highlights the importance of careful patient education in the usage of common topical over-the-counter treatments.
All the Muslims Fit to Print: Racial Frames as Mechanisms of Muslim Ethnoracial Formation in the New York Times from 1992 to 2010
Authors: Yazdiha Hajar
Published: February 2020

A generative turn in scholarship examines the institutional and political dimensions of Islamophobia, conceptualizing Muslim representations as a mechanism of ethnoracial formation in which the media is one such site of racialization. Moments of great political and cultural transformation can motivate and activate these racial projects, generating racialized representations that attach racial meaning to bodies. Much of the research on Muslim representations in news media centers on this very question: did the attacks of 9/11 usher in a new racial project? Previous studies offer competing hypotheses. Bridging social movement and communication theories with a theory of ethnoracial formation, the author develops an approach for evaluating racial framing processes through a comparison of diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational frames. The author applies this approach using computational text analysis techniques to examine latent shifts in the racial framing of Muslims in the New York Times in the decade before and after 9/11. The author finds evidence of increasingly racialized, but more complex, representations of Muslims in the decade after 9/11 in which diagnostic frames evolve from locating social problems in states and institutions to locating social problems in Muslim bodies. Prognostic frames shift from institutional reforms to those targeting group pathology. The author argues that excavating the latent mechanisms of racial projects helps us better understand the dynamic and ongoing processes of ethnoracial formation.
Dr. Thomas A. Lambie: Missionary-Entrepreneur in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Abyssinia, and Palestine
Authors: Balisky E. Paul
Published: February 2020

Dr. Thomas A. Lambie was spiritually nourished within the American United Presbyterian Church. He served as a missionary in British Sudan (1907–17, 1938–42), Abyssinia/Ethiopia (1918–36), and Palestine (1946–54). Using gifts of diplomacy and medical prowess, Lambie, from 1927, headed the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) in Abyssinia, which sought to evangelize the primal religionists of southern Abyssinia. During ten years of pioneering mission effort by Lambie and nearly 100 SIM cohorts, a young church of fifty baptized believers was formed. He was instrumental in building a hospital in Abyssinia and, later, a tuberculosis sanatorium in Bethlehem, Palestine.
Optical coherence tomography in pediatric patients: a clinical review
Authors: Gundlach Bradley S. , Tsui Irena
Published: February 2020

Optical coherence tomography has improved the ophthalmic clinical examination due to its ability to more accurately characterize pathology of the eye. Optical coherence tomography is now an integral imaging modality for many adult diseases of the retina and is a ubiquitous part of a retinal practice. However, although its use in adults is well recognized, the adoption of optical coherence tomography in pediatric patients may be undervalued as macular diseases in children are relatively uncommon. Recent technological advancements have made optical coherence tomography scans quicker and more precise, generating normative data and leading to more widespread use in children. In this review article, we discuss how pediatric optical coherence tomography data can be used to understand normal development, as well as diagnose and monitor retinal disease. In particular, we highlight clinical optical coherence tomography findings of several pediatric retinal conditions, including retinopathy of prematurity, congenital infections, retinal dystrophies, and phakomatoses such as neurofibromatosis.
Fire agate from the Deer Creek deposit (Arizona, USA) – new insights into structure and mineralogy
Authors: Natkaniec-Nowak Lucyna , Dumańska-Słowik Magdalena , Gaweł Adam , Łatkiewicz Anna , Kowalczyk-Szpyt Joanna , Wolska Anna , Milovská Stanislava , Luptáková Jarmila , Ładoń Karolina
Published: February 2020

Fire agates from Deer Creek are highly appreciated gemstones due to the presence of optical phenomena and rainbow colours that cause fiery effects to be observed on their characteristic brown base. The specific morphology of poorly ordered chalcedony (crystallinity index = 0.1–1.5) with an admixture of mogánite (av. 6.6%), micro-quartz and opal-C forming a colloform texture seems to be responsible for the presence of fire effect in these agates. The multi-layered silica spheroidal forms (‘bubble’-like structure), already noted in hand specimens, could be the centres of reflection and interference of white light. Numerous, microscopic inclusions of Fe and Ti compounds randomly scattered within some silica zones, together with microstructural features of agate, could determine the colour and size of the domains with the optical effect. Deer Creek fire agates form veins within their host volcanic rocks. The silica mineralisation filling the network of fissures in the host rocks was supplied cyclically with aqueous fluids of varying composition, enriched periodically in CO2, Fe, Ti, Mn, Zn and Ca. As a result, the red-brown colour of fire agates was created by scattered pigments of tiny iron oxides (magnetite, maghemite) and titanium oxides (rutile, anatase) within the silica matrix. The precipitation of strongly disordered silica with a characteristic colloform texture is diagnostic for boiling processes in this area.
Sensitive Cross-Linked SnO2:NiO Networks for MEMS Compatible Ethanol Gas Sensors
Authors: Tong Weiguang , Wang Ying , Bian Yuzhi , Wang Anqi , Han Ning , Chen Yunfa
Published: February 2020

Nowadays, it is still technologically challenging to prepare highly sensitive sensing films using microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) compatible methods for miniaturized sensors with low power consumption and high yield. Here, sensitive cross-linked SnO2:NiO networks were successfully fabricated by sputtering SnO2:NiO target onto the etched self-assembled triangle polystyrene (PS) microsphere arrays and then ultrasonically removing the PS microsphere templates in acetone. The optimum line width (~ 600 nm) and film thickness (~ 50 nm) of SnO2:NiO networks were obtained by varying the plasma etching time and the sputtering time. Then, thermal annealing at 500 °C in H2 was implemented to activate and reorganize the as-deposited amorphous SnO2:NiO thin films. Compared with continuous SnO2:NiO thin film counterparts, these cross-linked films show the highest response of ~ 9 to 50 ppm ethanol, low detection limits (< 5 ppm) at 300 °C, and also high selectivity against NO2, SO2, NH3, C7H8, and acetone. The gas-sensing enhancement could be mainly attributed to the creating of more active adsorption sites by increased stepped surface in cross-linked SnO2:NiO network. Furthermore, this method is MEMS compatible and of generality to effectively fabricate other cross-linked sensing films, showing the promising potency in the production of low energy consumption and wafer-scale MEMS gas sensors.
Rational synthesis, characterization, and application of environmentally friendly (polymer–carbon dot) hybrid composite film for fast and efficient UV-assisted Cd2+ removal from water
Authors: Jlassi Khouloud , Eid Kamel , Sliem Mostafa H. , Abdullah Aboubakr M. , Chehimi Mohamed M. , Krupa Igor
Published: February 2020

Background

Carbon dots (CDs) are of particular interest in numerous applications. However, their efficiency for heavy metal removal from wastewater was not yet reported. Herein, we rationally synthesized CDs from petroleum coke waste via hydrothermal treatment in the presence of ammonia.

Results

This drove the formation of outstanding photoluminescent, water-soluble, biocompatible, and high yield of monodispersed sub-5 nm CDs. The CDs are co-doped with high 10% of N and 0.2% of S. The as-prepared CDs possess unprecedented photoluminescent properties over broad pH range making these dots unique efficient pH sensor.

Conclusions

Chitosan (CH)–CDs hybrid hydrogel nanocomposite film was further prepared as a platform membrane for the removal Cd2+ metal from wastewater. The as-prepared CH–CDs membranes show relatively good mechanical properties, based on stress resistance and flexibility to facilitate handling. The equilibrium state was reached within 5 min. Intriguingly, the UV-light illuminations enhanced the Cd2+ removal efficiency of the photoluminescent CDs substantially by four times faster under. It was found that adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity at 25 °C was found to be 112.4 mg g−1 at pH 8. This work paves the way to new applications of CDs in water treatment.
GeDi: applying suffix arrays to increase the repertoire of detectable SNVs in tumour genomes
Authors: Coleman Izaak , Corleone Giacomo , Arram James , Ng Ho-Cheung , Magnani Luca , Luk Wayne
Published: February 2020

Background

Current popular variant calling pipelines rely on the mapping coordinates of each input read to a reference genome in order to detect variants. Since reads deriving from variant loci that diverge in sequence substantially from the reference are often assigned incorrect mapping coordinates, variant calling pipelines that rely on mapping coordinates can exhibit reduced sensitivity.

Results

In this work we present GeDi, a suffix array-based somatic single nucleotide variant (SNV) calling algorithm that does not rely on read mapping coordinates to detect SNVs and is therefore capable of reference-free and mapping-free SNV detection. GeDi executes with practical runtime and memory resource requirements, is capable of SNV detection at very low allele frequency (<1%), and detects SNVs with high sensitivity at complex variant loci, dramatically outperforming MuTect, a well-established pipeline.

Conclusion

By designing novel suffix-array based SNV calling methods, we have developed a practical SNV calling software, GeDi, that can characterise SNVs at complex variant loci and at low allele frequency thus increasing the repertoire of detectable SNVs in tumour genomes. We expect GeDi to find use cases in targeted-deep sequencing analysis, and to serve as a replacement and improvement over previous suffix-array based SNV calling methods.
A mitogenomic phylogeny of chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora)
Authors: Irisarri Iker , Uribe Juan E. , Eernisse Douglas J. , Zardoya Rafael
Published: February 2020

Background

Polyplacophora, or chitons, have long fascinated malacologists for their distinct and rather conserved morphology and lifestyle compared to other mollusk classes. However, key aspects of their phylogeny and evolution remain unclear due to the few morphological, molecular, or combined phylogenetic analyses, particularly those addressing the relationships among the major chiton lineages.

Results

Here, we present a mitogenomic phylogeny of chitons based on 13 newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes along with eight available ones and RNAseq-derived mitochondrial sequences from four additional species. Reconstructed phylogenies largely agreed with the latest advances in chiton systematics and integrative taxonomy but we identified some conflicts that call for taxonomic revisions. Despite an overall conserved gene order in chiton mitogenomes, we described three new rearrangements that might have taxonomic utility and reconstructed the most likely scenario of gene order change in this group. Our phylogeny was time-calibrated using various fossils and relaxed molecular clocks, and the robustness of these analyses was assessed with several sensitivity analyses. The inferred ages largely agreed with previous molecular clock estimates and the fossil record, but we also noted that the ambiguities inherent to the chiton fossil record might confound molecular clock analyses.

Conclusions

In light of the reconstructed time-calibrated framework, we discuss the evolution of key morphological features and call for a continued effort towards clarifying the phylogeny and evolution of chitons.
Comparative transcriptome analysis uncovers regulatory roles of long non-coding RNAs involved in resistance to powdery mildew in melon
Authors: Gao Chao , Sun Jianlei , Dong Yumei , Wang Chongqi , Xiao Shouhua , Mo Longfei , Jiao Zigao
Published: February 2020

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with more than 200 nucleotides in length, which play vital roles in a wide range of biological processes. Powdery mildew disease (PM) has become a major threat to the production of melon. To investigate the potential roles of lncRNAs in resisting to PM in melon, it is necessary to identify lncRNAs and uncover their molecular functions. In this study, we compared the lncRNAs between a resistant and a susceptible melon in response to PM infection.

Results

It is reported that 11,612 lncRNAs were discovered, which were distributed across all 12 melon chromosomes, and > 85% were from intergenic regions. The melon lncRNAs have shorter transcript lengths and fewer exon numbers than protein-coding genes. In addition, a total of 407 and 611 lncRNAs were found to be differentially expressed after PM infection in PM-susceptible and PM-resistant melons, respectively. Furthermore, 1232 putative targets of differently expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were discovered and gene ontology enrichment (GO) analysis showed that these target genes were mainly enriched in stress-related terms. Consequently, co-expression patterns between LNC_018800 and CmWRKY21, LNC_018062 and MELO3C015771 (glutathione reductase coding gene), LNC_014937 and CmMLO5 were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Moreover, we also identified 24 lncRNAs that act as microRNA (miRNA) precursors, 43 lncRNAs as potential targets of 22 miRNA families and 13 lncRNAs as endogenous target mimics (eTMs) for 11 miRNAs.

Conclusion

This study shows the first characterization of lncRNAs involved in PM resistance in melon and provides a starting point for further investigation into the functions and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in the resistance to PM.
Activating the interleukin-6-Gp130-STAT3 pathway ameliorates ventricular electrical stability in myocardial infarction rats by modulating neurotransmitters in the paraventricular nucleus
Authors: Gao Meng , Yin Dechun , Chen Jugang , Qu Xiufen
Published: February 2020

Background

Malignant ventricular arrhythmia (VA) is the most common cause of death associated with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Recent studies have revealed direct involvement of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the occurrence of VA. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated changes in the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-glycoprotein 130-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway in the PVN during acute MI and the effects of this pathway on ventricular stability.

Methods

Rats were divided into a control group, a MI group, a PVN-injected anti-IL-6 antibody group and a PVN-injected SC144 group to observe how IL-6 and its downstream glycoprotein 130-STAT3 pathway in the PVN affect ventricular stability. The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to induce MI. After that, an anti-IL-6 antibody and SC144 were injected into the PVNs of rats. All data are expressed as the mean ± SE and were analysed by ANOVA with a post hoc LSD test. p < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results

After MI, the concentration of the inflammatory factor IL-6 increased, and its downstream glycoprotein 130-STAT3 pathway was activated in the PVN. After injection of MI rat PVNs with the anti-IL-6 antibody or glycoprotein 130 inhibitor (SC144), glutamate levels increased and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels decreased in the PVN. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations also increased after treatment, which increased the vulnerability to VA.

Conclusions

In summary, IL-6 in the PVN exerts a protective effect in MI rats, and the glycoprotein 130-STAT3 pathway plays a key role in this process. We anticipate that our findings will provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of arrhythmia after MI.
Preventable clinical and psychosocial factors predicted two out of three recurrent cardiovascular events in a coronary population
Authors: Sverre E. , Peersen K. , Weedon-Fekjær H. , Perk J. , Gjertsen E. , Husebye E. , Gullestad L. , Dammen T. , Otterstad J. E. , Munkhaugen J.
Published: February 2020

Background

The relative importance of lifestyle, medical and psychosocial factors on the risk of recurrent major cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE) in coronary patients’ needs to be identified. The main objective of this study is to estimate the association between potentially preventable factors on MACE in an outpatient coronary population from routine clinical practice.

Methods

This prospective follow-up study of recurrent MACE, determine the predictive impact of risk factors and a wide range of relevant co-factors recorded at baseline. The baseline study included 1127 consecutive patients 2–36 months after myocardial infarction (MI) and/or revascularization procedure. The primary composite endpoint of recurrent MACE defined as CV death, hospitalization due to MI, revascularization, stroke/transitory ischemic attacks or heart failure was obtained from hospital records. Data were analysed using cox proportional hazard regression, stratified by prior coronary events before the index event.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 4.2 years from study inclusion (mean time from index event to end of study 5.7 years), 364 MACE occurred in 240 patients (21, 95% confidence interval: 19 to 24%), of which 39 were CV deaths. In multi-adjusted analyses, the strongest predictor of MACE was not taking statins (Relative risk [RR] 2.13), succeeded by physical inactivity (RR 1.73), peripheral artery disease (RR 1.73), chronic kidney failure (RR 1.52), former smoking (RR 1.46) and higher Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale score (RR 1.04 per unit increase). Preventable and potentially modifiable factors addressed accounted for 66% (95% confidence interval: 49 to 77%) of the risk for recurrent events. The major contributions were smoking, low physical activity, not taking statins, not participating in cardiac rehabilitation and diabetes.

Conclusions

Coronary patients were at high risk of recurrent MACE. Potentially preventable clinical and psychosocial factors predicted two out of three MACE, which is why these factors should be targeted in coronary populations.

Trial registration

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02309255.

Registered at December 5th, 2014, registered retrospectively.
Homogeneity score test of AC1 statistics and estimation of common AC1 in multiple or stratified inter-rater agreement studies
Authors: Honda Chikara , Ohyama Tetsuji
Published: February 2020

Background

Cohen’s κ coefficient is often used as an index to measure the agreement of inter-rater determinations. However, κ varies greatly depending on the marginal distribution of the target population and overestimates the probability of agreement occurring by chance. To overcome these limitations, an alternative and more stable agreement coefficient was proposed, referred to as Gwet’s AC1. When it is desired to combine results from multiple agreement studies, such as in a meta-analysis, or to perform stratified analysis with subject covariates that affect agreement, it is of interest to compare several agreement coefficients and present a common agreement index. A homogeneity test of κ was developed; however, there are no reports on homogeneity tests for AC1 or on an estimator of common AC1. In this article, a homogeneity score test for AC1 is therefore derived, in the case of two raters with binary outcomes from K independent strata and its performance is investigated. An estimation of the common AC1 between strata and its confidence intervals is also discussed.

Methods

Two homogeneity tests are provided: a score test and a goodness-of-fit test. In this study, the confidence intervals are derived by asymptotic, Fisher’s Z transformation and profile variance methods. Monte Carlo simulation studies were conducted to examine the validity of the proposed methods. An example using clinical data is also provided.

Results

Type I error rates of the proposed score test were close to the nominal level when conducting simulations with small and moderate sample sizes. The confidence intervals based on Fisher’s Z transformation and the profile variance method provided coverage levels close to nominal over a wide range of parameter combination.

Conclusions

The method proposed in this study is considered to be useful for summarizing evaluations of consistency performed in multiple or stratified inter-rater agreement studies, for meta-analysis of reports from multiple groups and for stratified analysis.
A systematic review of methodology used in the development of prediction models for future asthma exacerbation
Authors: Bridge Joshua , Blakey John D. , Bonnett Laura J.
Published: February 2020

Background

Clinical prediction models are widely used to guide medical advice and therapeutic interventions. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases globally and is characterised by acute deteriorations. These exacerbations are largely preventable, so there is interest in using clinical prediction models in this area. The objective of this review was to identify studies which have developed such models, determine whether consistent and appropriate methodology was used and whether statistically reliable prognostic models exist.

Methods

We searched online databases MEDLINE (1948 onwards), CINAHL Plus (1937 onwards), The Cochrane Library, Web of Science (1898 onwards) and ClinicalTrials.gov, using index terms relating to asthma and prognosis. Data was extracted and assessment of quality was based on GRADE and an early version of PROBAST (Prediction study Risk of Bias Assessment Tool). A meta-analysis of the discrimination and calibration measures was carried out to determine overall performance across models.

Results

Ten unique prognostic models were identified. GRADE identified moderate risk of bias in two of the studies, but more detailed quality assessment via PROBAST highlighted that most models were developed using highly selected and small datasets, incompletely recorded predictors and outcomes, and incomplete methodology. None of the identified models modelled recurrent exacerbations, instead favouring either presence/absence of an event, or time to first or specified event. Preferred methodologies were logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression.

The overall pooled c-statistic was 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.73 to 0.80), though individually some models performed no better than chance. The meta-analysis had an I2 value of 99.75% indicating a high amount of heterogeneity between studies. The majority of studies were small and did not include internal or external validation, therefore the individual performance measures are likely to be optimistic.

Conclusions

Current prognostic models for asthma exacerbations are heterogeneous in methodology, but reported c-statistics suggest a clinically useful model could be created. Studies were consistent in lacking robust validation and in not modelling serial events. Further research is required with respect to incorporating recurrent events, and to externally validate tools in large representative populations to demonstrate the generalizability of published results.
Correction to: How do Dutch general practitioners detect and diagnose atrial fibrillation? Results of an online case vignette study
Authors: Verbiest-van Gurp N. , van Mil D. , van Kesteren H. A. M. , Knottnerus J. A. , Stoffers H. E. J. H.
Published: February 2020

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors opted to remove the authors full name from:
Does the institutionalization influence elderly’s quality of life? A systematic review and meta–analysis
Authors: de Medeiros Mariana Marinho Davino , Carletti Talita Malini , Magno Marcela Baraúna , Maia Lucianne Cople , Cavalcanti Yuri Wanderley , Rodrigues-Garcia Renata Cunha Matheus
Published: February 2020

Background

Institutionalization is a global phenomenon and its impact on elderly’s quality of life (QoL) is under discussion. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the influence of the institutionalization on elderly’s QoL.

Methods

Searches were performed in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, Cochrane Library and SIGLE by two independent reviewers up to May 2019. The eligibility criteria were based on PECO strategy, considering observational studies in elderly (P), which were (E) or not (C) institutionalized to identify differences in their QoL (O). For qualitative synthesis, data were extracted and risk of bias was evaluated through a validated guideline. Meta-analysis was based on Mean Difference (MD) and Standard Mean Difference (SMD) calculation (p ≤ 0.05). The evidence was quality-tested using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Results

The initial search identified 3841 articles. Duplicates were removed, titles and abstracts were read and eligibility criteria were applied, remaining 16 sixteen cross-sectional studies that were included for data extraction and qualitative synthesis. Out of 16 articles, 14 evaluated the Health-Related Quality of Life, using Leipad (n = 2), WHOQOL-BREF and/or OLD (n = 8), SF-36 or RAND-36 (n = 4) questionnaires, and two assessed the Oral Health–Related Quality of Life, through GOHAI questionnaire. One eligible article was considered as low risk of bias. In the meta-analysis, 12 studies were included. Leipad questionnaire did not show differences on elderly’s QoL (MD 0.11 [− 0.10, 0.32] I2 = 76%). Differences on elderly’s QoL were detected through WHOQOL-BREF (SMD -0.70 [CI95%: − 0.94, − 0.47] I2 = 93%), WHOQOL-OLD (SMD -1.13 [− 1.47, − 0.80] I2 = 91%) and SF-36/RAND-36 (MD -5.97 [CI95%: − 11.29, − 0.64] I2 = 90%). All studies had very low or low certainty of evidence, since the study design influenced evidence classification, and show high heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Although the institutionalization influences negatively the elderly’s QoL, further well-designed studies are needed to confirm this evidence.
Application of whole-genome sequencing in a case study of renal tuberculosis in a child
Authors: Aleinikova Darja , Pole Ilva , Kimsis Janis , Skangale Anita , Bobrikova Olga , Kazelnika Regina , Jansone Inta , Norvaisa Inga , Ozere Iveta , Ranka Renate
Published: February 2020

Background

Urogenital tuberculosis (TB) is rare in children and usually develops due to reactivation of the foci in the genitourinary tract after the latency period following initial infection. Urogenital TB in children has no pathognomonic clinical features that can result in overlooking or misdiagnosing this clinical entity. Here, we report important findings regarding the pathogenesis and transmission of TB by using genotyping and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in a study of renal TB case in a child.

Case presentation

A 13-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital because of high fever, severe dry cough, flank pain and painful urination. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT revealed an 8 mm calculus in the kidney, and clinical findings were initially interpreted as nephrolithiasis. Nevertheless, due to the atypical clinical presentation of kidney stone disease, additional investigations for possible TB were performed. The QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus test was positive, and the Mantoux test resulted in 15 mm of induration, confirming infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Chest X-ray was normal. Chest CT revealed calcified intrathoracic lymph nodes. The urine sample tested positive for acid-fast bacilli, and Mtb cultures were obtained from urine and bronchial aspirate samples, resulting in a final diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node and renal TB. Contact investigation revealed that the child’s father was diagnosed with TB when the child was 1 year old. Genotyping and WGS analysis of Mtb isolates of the child and his father confirmed the epidemiological link and pointed to the latency of infection in the child.

Conclusions

This case report confirmed the development of active TB from calcified lesions in adolescent after 12 years of exposure, demonstrated the absence of microevolutionary changes in the Mtb genome during the period of latency, and proved the importance of appropriate evaluation and management to prevent the progression of TB infection to active TB disease. The use of WGS provided the ultimate resolution for the detection of TB transmission and reactivation events.
Discrimination of mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes in NSCLC based on radiomic features in different phases of CT imaging
Authors: Sha Xue , Gong Guanzhong , Qiu Qingtao , Duan Jinghao , Li Dengwang , Yin Yong
Published: February 2020

Background

We aimed to develop radiomic models based on different phases of computed tomography (CT) imaging and to investigate the efficacy of models for diagnosing mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Eighty-six NSCLC patients were enrolled in this study, and we selected 231 mediastinal LNs confirmed by pathology results as the subjects which were divided into training (n = 163) and validation cohorts (n = 68). The regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated on CT scans in the plain phase, arterial phase and venous phase, respectively. Radiomic features were extracted from the CT images in each phase. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to select features, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to build models. We constructed six models (orders 1–6) based on the radiomic features of the single- and dual-phase CT images. The performance of the radiomic model was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).

Results

A total of 846 features were extracted from each ROI, and 10, 9, 5, 2, 2, and 9 features were chosen to develop models 1–6, respectively. All of the models showed excellent discrimination, with AUCs greater than 0.8. The plain CT radiomic model, model 1, yielded the highest AUC, specificity, accuracy and PPV, which were 0.926 and 0.925; 0.860 and 0.769; 0.871 and 0.882; and 0.906 and 0.870 in the training and validation sets, respectively. When the plain and venous phase CT radiomic features were combined with the arterial phase CT images, the sensitivity increased from 0.879 and 0.919 to 0.949 and 0979 and the NPV increased from 0.821 and 0.789 to 0.878 and 0.900 in the training group, respectively.

Conclusions

All of the CT radiomic models based on different phases all showed high accuracy and precision for the diagnosis of LN metastasis (LNM) in NSCLC patients. When combined with arterial phase CT, the sensitivity and NPV of the model was be further improved.