bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
2. Taking Instructions and Other Initial Matters
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: July 2020

This chapter begins with a look at the process of initial interviews with clients. At the start of any transaction it is important to establish a good working relationship with the client. The first interview marks the perfect time to do this, for it gives practitioners the opportunity to instil confidence in the client of their abilities as a conveyancer. The chapter then deals with estate agents; client care and advice on costs; advice on co-ownership; advice on finance; advice on survey; Law Society Conveyancing Protocol; professional conduct; and considerations for acting for either seller or buyer.
6. Preparing for and Implementing Exchange of Contracts
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: July 2020

This chapter first considers matters that must be attended to before an exchange of contracts when acting for the buyer and when acting for the seller. It then discusses implementing the exchange of contracts; actions taken after exchange; and death or insolvency of contracting parties between exchange and completion.
7. The Purchase Deed and Mortgage
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: July 2020

The principal purpose of the purchase deed is to transfer the legal estate in the property from the seller to the buyer. The transfer of a legal estate is void unless it is made by deed. This chapter discusses types of purchase deed; joint representation of borrower and lender; commercial mortgages; the mortgage deed; and post-completion steps; and mortgage fraud.
9. Post-Completion Procedures: Delays and Remedies
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: July 2020

This chapter considers two areas that provide practitioners with some of the more challenging parts of the conveyancing process: first, post-completion procedures; and, second, dealing with delays and seeking appropriate remedies. Practitioners must deal with time limits, with ‘what if’ scenarios, and with the mechanics of stamping and registration. In particular, delays affecting conveyancing contracts, and the consequential remedies available, are a fertile source for conflict between conveyancing practitioners.
11. New Properties
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: July 2020

This chapter deals with the special areas of concern for practitioners who are required to deal with the sale or purchase of new residential properties, either recently constructed or in the course of construction. It looks at the roles of the practitioners acting for the developer and prospective buyer respectively. It also considers the arrangements for roads and sewers on a new estate and the importance of insurance against structural defects in new properties.
12. Commercial Conveyancing
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: July 2020

This chapter focuses on commercial conveyancing, which involves the granting and renewal of business (or commercial) leases as well as the buying and selling of properties that are let to business occupants. It first considers revenue matters then turns to the key commercial area that most conveyancers will encounter in practice, the review of the contents of a commercial lease. The final section is devoted to the particular requirements a practitioner must bear in mind when acting for a client who is selling or buying a tenanted property. It also considers the Standard Commercial Property Conditions (SCPC) being commercial specific standard contractual terms.
Differences in Executive Function Among Patients With Schizophrenia, Their Unaffected First-Degree Relatives, and Healthy Participants
Authors: Kataoka Yuzuru , Shimada Takamitsu , Koide Yoko , Okubo Hiroaki , Uehara Takashi , Shioiri Toshiki , Kawasaki Yasuhiro , Ohi Kazutaka
Published: July 2020

Background

Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) display impaired executive functions compared with healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, unaffected first-degree relatives (FRs) of patients with SCZ independently perform worse executive functions than do HCs. However, few studies have investigated the differences in executive functions assessed among patients with SCZ, FRs, and HCs, and the findings are inconsistent.

Methods

We investigated diagnostic differences in executive functions, namely (1) numbers of categories achieved (CA), (2) total errors (TE), and (3) percentage of perseverative errors of Nelson types (%PEN), using the Wisconsin card sorting test among patients with SCZ (n = 116), unaffected FRs (n = 62), and HCs (n = 146) at a single institute. Correlations between these executive functions and clinical variables were investigated.

Results

Significant differences existed in all executive functions among diagnostic groups (CA, F2,319 = 15.5, P = 3.71 × 10–7; TE, F2,319 = 16.2, P = 2.06 × 10–7; and %PEN, F2,319 = 21.3, P = 2.15 × 10–9). Patients with SCZ had fewer CA and more TE and %PEN than those of HCs (CA, Cohen’s d = −0.70, P = 5.49 × 10–8; TE, d = 0.70, P = 5.62 × 10–8; and %PEN, d = 0.82, P = 2.85 × 10−10) and FRs (TE, d = 0.46, P = 3.73 × 10–3 and %PEN, d = 0.38, P = .017). Of the 3 executive functions, CA and %PEN of FRs were intermediately impaired between patients with SCZ and HCs (CA, d = −0.41, P = .011 and %PEN, d = 0.41, P = .012). In contrast, no significant difference in TE existed between FRs and HCs (d = 0.22, P = .18). Although CA and TE were affected by the duration of illness (P < .017), %PEN was not affected by any clinical variable in patients with SCZ (P > .017).

Conclusions

Executive function, particularly %PEN, could be a useful intermediate phenotype for understanding the genetic mechanisms implicated in SCZ pathophysiology.
A call for social informatics
Authors: Pantell Matthew S , Adler-Milstein Julia , Wang Michael D , Prather Aric A , Adler Nancy E , Gottlieb Laura M
Published: July 2020

As evidence of the associations between social factors and health outcomes continues to mount, capturing and acting on social determinants of health (SDOH) in clinical settings has never been more relevant. Many professional medical organizations have endorsed screening for SDOH, and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has recommended increased capacity of health information technology to integrate and support use of SDOH data in clinical settings. As these efforts begin their translation to practice, a new subfield of health informatics is emerging, focused on the application of information technologies to capture and apply social data in conjunction with health data to advance individual and population health. Developing this dedicated subfield of informatics—which we term social informatics—is important to drive research that informs how to approach the unique data, interoperability, execution, and ethical challenges involved in integrating social and medical care.
Recurrent lymphoepithelial cysts after parotidectomy in an undiagnosed HIV-positive patient
Authors: Wu Gregory , Yousaf Azeem , Kessler Evan , Seitelman Eric , Datta Rajiv
Published: July 2020

A benign lymphoepithelial cyst (BLEC) is defined as a rare, benign lesion composed of single or multiple cysts found within salivary glands or the lateral cervical area. Increasing reports suggest an association between BLEC and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), although its pathogenesis remains unclear. We report a 51-year-old male who presented with recurrent bilateral BLECs after initial parotidectomy of cyst. An HIV panel was then performed with a positive result. We review the surgical and medical managements of BLEC while also discussing further treatment recommendations. Clinicians should be aware that BLEC recurrence postparotidectomy may be the initial presenting symptom of HIV in a patient with no risk factors.
Under nonlimiting iron conditions pyocyanin is a major antifungal molecule, and differences between prototypic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains
Authors: Sass Gabriele , Nazik Hasan , Chatterjee Paulami , Stevens David A
Published: July 2020

Airways of immunocompromised patients, or individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), are common ground for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus infections. Hence, in such a microenvironment both pathogens compete for resources. While under limiting iron conditions the siderophore pyoverdine is the most effective antifungal P. aeruginosa product, we now provide evidence that under nonlimiting iron conditions P. aeruginosa supernatants lack pyoverdine but still possess considerable antifungal activity. Spectrometric analyses of P. aeruginosa supernatants revealed the presence of phenazines, such as pyocyanin, only under nonlimiting iron conditions. Supernatants of quorum sensing mutants of strain PA14, defective in phenazine production, as well as supernatants of the P. aeruginosa strain PAO1, lacked pyocyanin, and were less inhibitory toward A. fumigatus biofilms under nonlimiting iron conditions. When blood as a natural source of iron was present during P. aeruginosa supernatant production, pyoverdine was absent, and phenazines, including pyocyanin, appeared, resulting in an antifungal effect on A. fumigatus biofilms. Pure pyocyanin reduced A. fumigatus biofilm metabolism. In summary, P. aeruginosa has mechanisms to compete with A. fumigatus under limiting and non-limiting iron conditions, and can switch from iron-denial-based to toxin-based antifungal activity. This has implications for the evolution of the microbiome in clinical settings where the two pathogens co-exist. Important differences in the iron response of P. aeruginosa laboratory strains PA14 and PAO1 were also uncovered.
Investigating the within-person relationships between activity levels and sleep duration using Fitbit data
Authors: Liao Yue , Robertson Michael C , Winne Andrea , Wu Ivan H C , Le Thuan A , Balachandran Diwakar D , Basen-Engquist Karen M
Published: July 2020

The advancement of wearable technologies provides opportunities to continuously track individuals’ daily activity levels and sleep patterns over extended periods of time. These data are useful in examining the reciprocal relationships between physical activity and sleep at the intrapersonal level. The purpose of this study is to test the bidirectional relationships between daily activity levels and sleep duration. The current study analyzed activity and sleep data collected from a Fitbit device as part of a 6 month employer-sponsored weight loss program. A total of 105 overweight/obese adults were included (92% female, 70% obese, and 44% Hispanic). Multilevel models were used to examine (a) whether daily active and sedentary minutes predicted that night’s sleep duration and (b) whether sleep duration predicted active and sedentary minutes the following day. Potential extended effects were explored by using a 2 day average of the activity minutes/sleep duration as the predictor. No significant relationships between active minutes and sleep duration were found on a daily basis. However, having less sleep over two nights than one’s usual level was associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in some physical activity the following day. There was a significant bidirectional negative association between sedentary minutes and sleep duration for both the daily and 2 day models. Data from wearable trackers, such as Fitbit, can be used to investigate the daily within-person relationship between activity levels and sleep duration. Future studies should investigate other sleep metrics that may be obtained from wearable trackers, as well as potential moderators and mediators of daily activity levels and sleep.
Case Report: Beyond the Blood-retina Barrier: Intravitreal Caspofungin for Fungal Endophthalmitis
Authors: von Jagow Burkhard , Kurzai Oliver , Kakkassery Vinodh
Published: July 2020

SIGNIFICANCE

Two fungal endophthalmitis cases demonstrate safety and efficiency of intravitreal caspofungin as a new therapy option in fungal endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intravitreal application of caspofungin for the treatment of fungal endophthalmitis because rising resistance to voriconazole and amphotericin B leads to a need for new antifungal therapy options.

CASE REPORT

Initially, both patients with fungal endophthalmitis underwent pars plana vitrectomy. Microbiological analysis revealed Aspergillus terreus and Candida dubliniensis, which both possess atypical resistance patterns. Caspofungin has a low bioavailability in the eye when given systemically. It was injected intravitreally into the eyes affected by fungal endophthalmitis. An injection of 100 μg of caspofungin in a volume 0.1 mL was applied repeatedly. Clinical parameters were recorded. Both eyes were stabilized by the treatment. Finally, the intraocular infections with atypical mycotic agents were eliminated. Visual acuity improved to 0.4 logMAR (20/50 Snellen) in the first case and to 1.0 logMAR (20/200 Snellen) in the second case. During the treatment course, we have not seen any toxic effects or damage of intraocular structures related to the intravitreal administration of caspofungin.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, intravitreal caspofungin was effective and well tolerated in both cases. Therefore, caspofungin seems to be a safe and effective intravitreal alternative to voriconazole and amphotericin B in fungal endophthalmitis.
Novel Body Composition Predictors of Outcome in Patients With Angiosarcoma of the Breast: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Hemke Robert , Takayesu Jamie , Hughes Kevin S. , Chang Connie , DeLaney Thomas F. , Bernstein Karen De Amorim , Bredella Miriam A.
Published: July 2020

Objective

The aim of the study was to determine abdominal and breast adipose tissue parameters on 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) that may serve as outcome predictors in breast angiosarcoma patients.

Materials

Women with breast angiosarcoma (n = 13) who underwent 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT were identified. A control group was selected (n = 25). Abdominal subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were assessed on unenhanced computed tomographies. Breast adipose tissue (BAT) volumes of the uninvolved breast were quantified. Metabolic activity of VAT, SAT, and BAT was calculated (standardized uptake value [SUV]).

Results

Breast angiosarcoma patients had higher metabolic activity of VAT compared with controls (SUV 0.93 ± 0.39 vs 0.64 ± 0.11, P = 0.044). Within the patient group, there were 6 deaths (46.2%). Patients who died had higher SAT activity (SUV 0.52 ± 0.24 vs 0.29 ± 0.06, P = 0.027) and higher BAT metabolic activity (SUV 0.48 ± 0.20 vs 0.27 ± 0.11, P = 0.045) compared with nondeceased patients.

Conclusions

Patients with breast angiosarcoma have higher metabolic activity of VAT. Higher abdominal SAT and higher BAT metabolic activity of the uninvolved breast might predict mortality.
Turbo Spin-Echo Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Men With Pelvic Hardware
Authors: Pirasteh Ali , Johnson Brian , Dimitrov Ivan E. , Costa Daniel N. , Diaz de Leon Alberto , Xi Yin , Madhuranthakam Ananth J. , Pedrosa Ivan
Published: July 2020

We evaluated an alternative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) acquisition for prostate magnetic resonance imaging of men with pelvic hardware, using radial k-space sampling (MultiVane [MV]), short-tau inversion-recovery (STIR) fat suppression, and split acquisition of turbo spin-echo signals. The optimized STIR-MV-DWI reduced metal-associated artifacts and image distortion, and aided in visualization of the prostate and lesions. The STIR-MV-DWI can be a valuable adjunct in prostate magnetic resonance imaging of men with pelvic hardware, among whom the conventional echo-planar DWI is compromised.
Contribution of 1D topological states to the extraordinary thermoelectric properties of Bi
2
Te
3
Authors: Chudzinski P.
Published: July 2020

Topological insulators are frequently also one of the best-known thermoelectric materials. It has been recently discovered that in three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators each skew dislocation can host a pair of one-dimensional (1D) topological states—a helical Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid (TLL). We derive exact analytical formulae for thermoelectric Seebeck coefficient in TLL and investigate up to what extent one can ascribe the outstanding thermoelectric properties of Bi
2
Te
3
to these 1D topological states. To this end we take a model of a dense dislocation network and find an analytic formula for an overlap between 1D (the TLL) and 3D electronic states. Our study is applicable to a weakly
n
-doped Bi
2
Te
3
but also to a broader class of nano-structured materials with artificially created 1D systems. Furthermore, our results can be used at finite frequency settings, e.g. to capture transport activated by photo-excitations.
Duplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Achromobacter spp.
Authors: Price Erin P. , Soler Arango Valentina , Kidd Timothy J. , Fraser Tamieka A. , Nguyen Thuy-Khanh , Bell Scott C. , Sarovich Derek S.
Published: July 2020

Several members of the Gram-negative environmental bacterial genus

Achromobacter

are associated with serious infections, with

Achromobacter xylosoxidans

being the most common. Despite their pathogenic potential, little is understood about these intrinsically drug-resistant bacteria and their role in disease, leading to suboptimal diagnosis and management. Here, we performed comparative genomics for 158

Achromobacter

spp. genomes to robustly identify species boundaries, reassign several incorrectly speciated taxa and identify genetic sequences specific for the genus

Achromobacter

and for

A. xylosoxidans

. Next, we developed a Black Hole Quencher probe-based duplex real-time PCR assay, Ac-Ax, for the rapid and simultaneous detection of

Achromobacter

spp. and

A. xylosoxidans

from both purified colonies and polymicrobial clinical specimens. Ac-Ax was tested on 119 isolates identified as

Achromobacter

spp. using phenotypic or genotypic methods. In comparison to these routine diagnostic methods, the duplex assay showed superior identification of

Achromobacter

spp. and

A. xylosoxidans

, with five

Achromobacter

isolates failing to amplify with Ac-Ax confirmed to be different genera according to 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Ac-Ax quantified both

Achromobacter

spp. and

A. xylosoxidans

down to ~110 genome equivalents and detected down to ~12 and ~1 genome equivalent(s), respectively. Extensive in silico analysis, and laboratory testing of 34 non-

Achromobacter

isolates and 38 adult cystic fibrosis sputa, confirmed duplex assay specificity and sensitivity. We demonstrate that the Ac-Ax duplex assay provides a robust, sensitive and cost-effective method for the simultaneous detection of all

Achromobacter

spp. and

A. xylosoxidans

and will facilitate the rapid and accurate diagnosis of this important group of pathogens.
Quantifying the impacts of human mobility restriction on the spread of COVID-19: an empirical analysis from 344 cities of China
Authors: Tan Jing , Xiong Yiquan , Zhao Shaoyang , Liu Chunrong , Huang Shiyao , Lu Xin , Thabane Lehana , Xie Feng , Sun Xin , Li Weimin
Published: July 2020

Objective

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), human mobility restriction measures have raised controversies, partly due to inconsistent findings. Empirical study is urgently needed to reliably assess the causal effects of mobility restriction.

Methods

Our study applied the difference-in-difference (DID) model to assess declines of population mobility at the city level, and used the log-log regression model to examine the effects of population mobility declines on the disease spread measured by cumulative or new cases of COVID-19 over time, after adjusting for confounders.

Results

The DID model showed that a continual expansion of the relative declines over time in 2020. After four weeks, population mobility declined by 54.81% (interquartile ranges, −65.50% to −43.56%). The accrued population mobility declines were associated with significant reduction of cumulative COVID-19 cases throughout six weeks (i.e., 1% decline of population mobility was associated with 0.72% (95%CI 0.50% to 0.93%) reduce of cumulative cases for one week, 1.42% two weeks, 1.69% three weeks, 1.72% four weeks,1.64% five weeks and 1.52% six weeks). The impact on weekly new cases seemed greater in the first four weeks, but faded thereafter. The effects on cumulative cases differed by cities of different population sizes, with greater effects seen in larger cities.

Conclusion

Persistent population mobility restrictions are well deserved. However, a change in the degree of mobility restriction may be warranted over time, particularly after several weeks of rigorous mobility restriction. Implementation of mobility restrictions in major cities with large population sizes may be even more important.
Comparative multiplexed interactomics of SARS-CoV-2 and homologous coronavirus non-structural proteins identifies unique and shared host-cell dependencies
Authors: Davies Jonathan P. , Almasy Katherine M. , McDonald Eli F. , Plate Lars
Published: July 2020

Human coronaviruses (hCoV) have become a threat to global health and society, as evident from the SARS outbreak in 2002 caused by SARS-CoV-1 and the most recent COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Despite high sequence similarity between SARS-CoV-1 and −2, each strain has distinctive virulence. A better understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms mediating changes in virulence is needed. Here, we profile the virus-host protein-protein interactions of two hCoV non-structural proteins (nsps) that are critical for virus replication. We use tandem mass tag-multiplexed quantitative proteomics to sensitively compare and contrast the interactomes of nsp2 and nsp4 from three betacoronavirus strains: SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and hCoV-OC43 – an endemic strain associated with the common cold. This approach enables the identification of both unique and shared host cell protein binding partners and the ability to further compare the enrichment of common interactions across homologs from related strains. We identify common nsp2 interactors involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+signaling and mitochondria biogenesis. We also identifiy nsp4 interactors unique to each strain, such as E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes for SARS-CoV-1 and ER homeostasis factors for SARS-CoV-2. Common nsp4 interactors includeN-linked glycosylation machinery, unfolded protein response (UPR) associated proteins, and anti-viral innate immune signaling factors. Both nsp2 and nsp4 interactors are strongly enriched in proteins localized at mitochondrial-associated ER membranes suggesting a new functional role for modulating host processes, such as calcium homeostasis, at these organelle contact sites. Our results shed light on the role these hCoV proteins play in the infection cycle, as well as host factors that may mediate the divergent pathogenesis of OC43 from SARS strains. Our mass spectrometry workflow enables rapid and robust comparisons of multiple bait proteins, which can be applied to additional viral proteins. Furthermore, the identified common interactions may present new targets for exploration by host-directed anti-viral therapeutics.
Women in power: Female leadership and public health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Coscieme Luca , Fioramonti Lorenzo , Mortensen Lars F. , Pickett Kate E. , Kubiszewski Ida , Lovins Hunter , Mcglade Jacqueline , Ragnarsdóttir Kristín Vala , Roberts Debra , Costanza Robert , De Vogli Roberto , Wilkinson Richard
Published: July 2020

Some countries have been more successful than others at dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. When we explore the different policy approaches adopted as well as the underlying socio-economic factors, we note an interesting set of correlations: countries led by women leaders have fared significantly better than those led by men on a wide range of dimensions concerning the global health crisis. In this paper, we analyze available data for 35 countries, focusing on the following variables: number of deaths per capita due to COVID-19, number of days with reported deaths, peaks in daily deaths, deaths occurred on the first day of lockdown, and excess mortality. Results show that countries governed by female leaders experienced much fewer COVID-19 deaths per capita and were more effective and rapid at flattening the epidemic’s curve, with lower peaks in daily deaths. We argue that there are both contingent and structural reasons that may explain these stark differences. First of all, most women-led governments were more prompt at introducing restrictive measures in the initial phase of the epidemic, prioritizing public health over economic concerns, and more successful at eliciting collaboration from the population. Secondly, most countries led by women are also those with a stronger focus on social equality, human needs and generosity. These societies are more receptive to political agendas that place social and environmental wellbeing at the core of national policymaking.
Dissemination and co-circulation of SARS-CoV2 subclades exhibiting enhanced transmission associated with increased mortality in Western Europe and the United States
Authors: Hu Yuan , Riley Lee W.
Published: July 2020

Mechanisms underlying the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like clinical manifestations leading to deaths in patients who develop COVID-19 remain uncharacterized. While multiple factors could influence these clinical outcomes, we explored if differences in transmissibility and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV2 variants could contribute to these terminal clinical consequences of COVID-19. We analyzed 34,412 SARS-CoV2 sequences deposited in the Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) SARS-CoV2 sequence database to determine if regional differences in circulating strain variants correlated with increased mortality in Europe, the United States, and California. We found two subclades descending from the Wuhan HU-1 strain that rapidly became dominant in Western Europe and the United States. These variants contained nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations in the Orf1ab segment encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (C14408T), the spike protein gene (A23403G), and Orf1a (G25563T), which resulted in non-conservative amino acid substitutions P323L, D614G, and Q57H, respectively. In Western Europe, the A23403G-C14408T subclade dominated, while in the US, the A23403G-C14408T-G25563T mutant became the dominant strain in New York and parts of California. The high cumulative frequencies of both subclades showed inconsistent but significant association with high cumulative CFRs in some of the regions. When the frequencies of the subclades were analyzed by their 7-day moving averages across each epidemic, we found co-circulation of both subclades to temporally correlate with peak mortality periods. We postulate that in areas with high numbers of these co-circulating subclades, a person may get serially infected. The second infection may trigger a hyperinflammatory response similar to the antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) response, which could explain the ARDS-like manifestations observed in people with co-morbidity, who may not mount sufficient levels of neutralizing antibodies against the first infection. Further studies are necessary but the implication of such a mechanism will need to be considered for all current COVID-19 vaccine designs.
Differences by country-level income in COVID-19 cases, deaths, case-fatality rates, and rates per million population in the first five months of the pandemic
Authors: Sabawoon Wrihsmeen
Published: July 2020

Objective

To describe differences by country-level income in COVID-19 cases, deaths, case-fatality rates, incidence rates, and death rates per million population.

Methods

Publicly available data on COVID-19 cases and deaths from December 31, 2019 to June 3, 2020 were analyzed. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine associations of country-level income with COVID-19 cases, deaths, case-fatality rates, incidence rates, and death rates.

Results

A total of 380,803 deaths out of 6,348,204 COVID-19 cases were reported from 210 countries and territories globally in the period under study, and the global case-fatality rate was 6.0%. Of the total globally reported cases and deaths, the percentages of cases and deaths were 59.9% and 75.0% for high-income countries, and 30.9% and 20.7% for upper-middle-income countries. Countries in higher income categories had higher incidence rates and death rates. Between April and May, the incidence rates in higher-income groups of countries decreased, but in other groups it increased.

Conclusions

In the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic, most cases and deaths were reported from high-income and upper-middle-income countries, and those countries had higher incidence rates and death rates per million population than did lower-middle and low-income countries.
Post lockdown COVID-19 seroprevalence and circulation at the time of delivery, France
Authors: Mattern Jérémie , Vauloup-Fellous Christelle , Zakaria Hoda , Benachi Alexandra , Carrara Julie , Letourneau Alexandra , Bourgeois-Nicolaos Nadège , De Luca Daniele , Doucet-Populaire Florence , Vivanti Alexandre J.
Published: July 2020

Background

To fight the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown has been decreed in many countries worldwide. The impact of pregnancy as a severity risk factor is still debated, but strict lockdown measures have been recommended for pregnant women.

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the seroprevalence and circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in a maternity ward in an area that has been significantly affected by the virus.

Study design

Prospective study at the Antoine Béclère Hospital maternity ward (Paris area, France) from May 4 (one week before the end of lockdown) to May 31, 2020 (three weeks after the end of lockdown). All patients admitted to the delivery room during this period were offered a SARS-CoV-2 serology test as well concomitant SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR on a nasopharyngeal sample.

Results

A total of 249 women were included. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 8%. The RT-PCR positive rate was 0.5%. 47.4% of the SARS-CoV-2-IgG-positive pregnant women never experienced any symptoms. A history of symptoms during the epidemic, such as fever, myalgia and anosmia, was suggestive of previous infection.

Conclusions

Three weeks after the end of lockdown, SARS-CoV-2 infections were scarce in our region. A high proportion of SARS-CoV-2-IgG-negative pregnant women must be taken into consideration in the event of a resurgence of the pandemic in order to adapt public health measures to reduce exposure to the virus, such as social distancing and teleworking for this specific population.
Dental ontogeny in the most primitive bony fishLophosteusreveals the developmental relationship between teeth and dermal odontodes
Authors: Chen Donglei , Blom Henning , Sanchez Sophie , Tafforeau Paul , Märss Tiiu , Ahlberg Per E.
Published: July 2020

Ontogenetic data obtained by synchrotron microtomography of a marginal jawbone ofLophosteus superbus(Late Silurian, 422 Million years old), the phylogenetically basalmost stem osteichthyan, reveal developmental relationships between teeth and ornament that are not obvious from the adult morphology. The earliest odontodes are two longitudinal founder ridges formed at the ossification center. Subsequent odontodes that are added lingually to the ridges turn into conical teeth and undergo cyclic replacement, while those added labially achieve a stellate appearance. The stellate odontodes deposited directly on the bony plate are aligned with the alternate files of the teeth. Successive odontodes overgrowing the labial tooth rows become tooth-like and the replacement teeth near to them are ornament-like. We propose that teeth and ornament are modifications of a single odontode system regulated and differentiated by the oral and dermal signals; signal cross-communication between the two domains can occur around the oral-dermal boundary.
Effect of Hydroxychloroquine in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: Preliminary results from a multi-centre, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Horby Peter , Mafham Marion , Linsell Louise , Bell Jennifer L , Staplin Natalie , Emberson Jonathan R , Wiselka Martin , Ustianowski Andrew , Elmahi Einas , Prudon Benjamin , Whitehouse Anthony , Felton Timothy , Williams John , Faccenda Jakki , Underwood Jonathan , Baillie J Kenneth , Chappell Lucy , Faust Saul N , Jaki Thomas , Jeffery Katie , Lim Wei Shen , Montgomery Alan , Rowan Kathryn , Tarning Joel , Watson James A , White Nicholas J , Juszczak Edmund , Haynes Richard , Landray Martin J
Published: July 2020

Background

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have been proposed as treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the basis of in vitro activity, uncontrolled data, and small randomized studies.

Methods

The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 therapy (RECOVERY) trial is a randomized, controlled, open-label, platform trial comparing a range of possible treatments with usual care in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We report the preliminary results for the comparison of hydroxychloroquine vs. usual care alone. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality.

Results

1561 patients randomly allocated to receive hydroxychloroquine were compared with 3155 patients concurrently allocated to usual care. Overall, 418 (26.8%) patients allocated hydroxychloroquine and 788 (25.0%) patients allocated usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96 to 1.23; P=0.18). Consistent results were seen in all pre-specified subgroups of patients. Patients allocated to hydroxychloroquine were less likely to be discharged from hospital alive within 28 days (60.3% vs. 62.8%; rate ratio 0.92; 95% CI 0.85-0.99) and those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline were more likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (29.8% vs. 26.5%; risk ratio 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.25). There was no excess of new major cardiac arrhythmia.

Conclusions

In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine was not associated with reductions in 28-day mortality but was associated with an increased length of hospital stay and increased risk of progressing to invasive mechanical ventilation or death.

Funding

Medical Research Council and NIHR (Grant ref: MC_PC_19056).

Trial registrations

The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) andclinicaltrials.gov(NCT04381936).
Precise memory for pure tones is predicted by measures of learning-induced sensory system neurophysiological plasticity at cortical and subcortical levels
Authors: Rotondo Elena K. , Bieszczad Kasia M.
Published: July 2020

Despite identical learning experiences, individuals differ in the memory formed of those experiences. Molecular mechanisms that control the neurophysiological bases of long-term memory formation might control how precisely the memory formed reflects the actually perceived experience. Memory formed with sensory specificity determines its utility for selectively cueing subsequent behavior, even in novel situations. Here, a rodent model of auditory learning capitalized on individual differences in learning-induced auditory neuroplasticity to identify and characterize neural substrates for sound-specific (vs. general) memory of the training signal's acoustic frequency. Animals that behaviorally revealed a naturally induced signal-“specific” memory exhibited long-lasting signal-specific neurophysiological plasticity in auditory cortical and subcortical evoked responses. Animals with “general” memories did not exhibit learning-induced changes in these same measures. Manipulating a histone deacetylase during memory consolidation biased animals to have more signal-specific memory. Individual differences validated this brain-behavior relationship in both natural and manipulated memory formation, such that the degree of change in sensory cortical and subcortical neurophysiological responses could be used to predict the behavioral precision of memory.
Equitable optimized airspace sectorization based on constraint programming and OWA aggregation
Authors: Mogtit Abdessamed , Aribi Noureddine , Lebbah Yahia , Lagha Mohand
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Airspace sectorization is an important task, which has a significant impact in the everyday work of air control services. Especially in recent years, because of the constant increase in air traffic, existing airspace sectorization techniques have difficulties to tackle the large air traffic volumes, creating imbalanced sectors and uneven workload distribution among sectors. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach to find optimal airspace sectorization balancing the traffic controller workload between sectors, subject to airspace requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

A constraint programming (CP) model called equitable airspace sectorization problem (EQASP) relies on ordered weighted averaging (OWA) multiagent optimization and the parallel portfolio architecture has been developed, which integrates the equity into an existing CP approach (Trandac et al., 2005). The EQASP was evaluated and compared with the method of Trandac et al. (2005), according to the quality of workload balancing between sectors and the resolution performance. The comparison was achieved using real air traffic low-altitude network data sets of French airspace for five flight information regions for 24 h a day and the Algerian airspace for three various periods (off peak hours, peak hours and 24 h).

Findings

It has been demonstrated that the proposed EQASP model, which is based on OWA multicriteria optimization method, significantly improved both the solving performance and the workload equity between sectors, while offering strong theoretical properties of the balancing requirement. Interestingly, when solving hard instances, our parallel sectorization tool can provide, at any time, a workable solution, which satisfies all geometric constraints of sectorization.

Practical implications

This study can be used to design well-balanced air sectors in terms of workload between control units in the strategic phase. To fulfil the airspace users’ constraints, one can refer to this study to assess the capacity of each air sector (especially the overloaded sectors) and then adjust the sector’s shape to respond to the dynamic changes in traffic patterns.

Social implications

This theoretical and practical approach enables the development and support of the definition of the “Air traffic management (ATM) Concept Target” through improvements in human factors specifically (balancing workload across sectors), which contributes to raising the level of capacity, safety and efficiency (SESAR Vision of ATM 2035).

Originality/value

In their approach, the authors proposed an OWA-based multiagent optimization model, ensuring the search for the best equitable solution, without requiring user-defined balancing constraints, which enforce each sector to have a workload between two user-defined bounds (Wmin, Wmax).
A new three-phase multilevel DC-link inverter topology with reduced switch count for photovoltaic applications
Authors: P. Anbarasan , V. Krishnakumar , S. Ramkumar , S. Venkatesan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new MLI topology with reduced number of switches for photovoltaic applications. Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have been found to be prospective for renewable energy applications like photovoltaic cell, as they produce output voltage from numerous separate DC sources or capacitor banks with reduced total harmonic distortion (THD) because of a staircase like waveform. However, they endure from serious setbacks including larger number of capacitors, isolated DC sources, associated gate drivers and increased control difficulty for higher number of voltage levels.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a new three-phase multilevel DC-link inverter topology overpowering the previously mentioned problems. The proposed topology is designed for five and seven levels in Matlab/Simulink with gating pulse using multicarrier pulse width modulation. The hardware results are shown for a five-level MLI to witness the viability of the proposed MLI for medium voltage applications.

Findings

The comparison of the proposed topology with other conventional and other topologies in terms of switch count, DC sources and power loss has been made in this paper. The reduction of switches in proposed topology results in reduced power loss. The simulation and hardware show that the output voltage yields a very close sinusoidal voltage and lesser THD.

Originality/value

The proposed topology can be extended for any level of output voltage which is helpful for sustainable source application.
Dynamic safety prewarning mechanism of human–machine–environment using computer vision
Authors: Xu Wenpei , Wang Ting-Kwei
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study provides a safety prewarning mechanism, which includes a comprehensive risk assessment model and a safety prewarning system. The comprehensive risk assessment model is capable of assessing nine safety indicators, which can be categorised into workers’ behaviour, environment and machine-related safety indicators, and the model is embedded in the safety prewarning system. The safety prewarning system can automatically extract safety information from surveillance cameras based on computer vision, assess risks based on the embedded comprehensive risk assessment model, categorise risks into five levels and provide timely suggestions.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the comprehensive risk assessment model is constructed by adopting grey multihierarchical analysis method. The method combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the grey clustering evaluation in the grey theory. Expert knowledge, obtained through the questionnaire approach, contributes to set weights of risk indicators and evaluate risks. Secondly, a safety prewarning system is developed, including data acquisition layer, data processing layer and prewarning layer. Computer vision is applied in the system to automatically extract real-time safety information from the surveillance cameras. The safety information is then processed through the comprehensive risk assessment model and categorized into five risk levels. A case study is presented to verify the proposed mechanism.

Findings

Through a case study, the result shows that the proposed mechanism is capable of analyzing integrated human-machine-environment risk, timely categorising risks into five risk levels and providing potential suggestions.

Originality/value

The comprehensive risk assessment model is capable of assessing nine risk indicators, identifying three types of entities, workers, environment and machine on the construction site, presenting the integrated risk based on nine indicators. The proposed mechanism, which adopts expert knowledge through Building Information Modeling (BIM) safety simulation and extracts safety information based on computer vision, can perform a dynamic real-time risk analysis, categorize risks into five risk levels and provide potential suggestions to corresponding risk owners. The proposed mechanism can allow the project manager to take timely actions.
The logic of attraction: exploring the institutional complexity of job preferences
Authors: Petry Tanja , Treisch Corinna , Bullinger Bernadette
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Applying the institutional logics perspective to applicant attraction, this study investigates the level of uniformity among preferences for consulting job attributes associated with the institutional logics of the corporation, the profession and the family, and tests for the influence of anticipatory socialization differences.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a discrete choice experiment with 232 business students. A hierarchical Bayes approach to conjoint analysis uncovers part-worth heterogeneity and allows for subsequent cluster and regression analysis of the choice data.

Findings

The findings identify a dominant job-oriented preference type and a minor career-oriented preference type. Anticipatory socialization through personal prior work experience and the occupation of friends decreases adherence to the logic of profession and increases the relevance of the family logic. The parents' occupation has only a minimal influence on preferences.

Practical implications

The study provides attribute-based recommendations on how professional service firms can effectively address the complex expectations of potential applicants in their job ads for an entry position and underlines the role of intra-generational reference groups as important anticipatory socializers.

Originality/value

By testing individual socialization effects at the pre-hire stage and beyond the organizational level, the study fills a void in both the recruitment and the institutional literature.
Shaping the future of hospitality and travel: trends in energy, environmental, and labor force and work
Authors: Cetron Marvin J. , Davies Owen , DeMicco Fred , Song Mohan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to continue to forecast trends in the hospitality and travel industry with practical implications.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is the updated version of our previous list of trends. The new edition updates the previous report on the implications for the hospitality industry of major trends now shaping the future. We focus mainly on energy, environmental and labor force and work trends and discuss sub-trends under each trend. We then implicate how the trends affect the Hospitality and Travel industry.

Findings

We shared implications under each sub-trends.

Originality/value

The value of this article is to analyze the impact of the environment on the Hospitality and Travel industry from a macro perspective. For each trend, we implicate an estimate for future trends. We hope this article sheds light on the prediction of the Hospitality and Travel industry.
Linkages between group level task conflict and individual level outcomes in non-routine technical jobs
Authors: Yousaf Amna , Shaukat Razia , Umrani Waheed Ali
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to build on the existing research regarding workplace conflict by arguing that task conflict (TC) leads to resource gains for individuals with non-routine technical jobs, which increases individuals’ work engagement (WE) and leads to positive individual-level outcomes. Specifically, this study uses a resource investment/acquisition approach with the aim of offering insight into the consequences of group-level TC on individual-level outcomes, including task performance (TP), contextual performance and turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Multi-rater data was collected from 508 telecom engineers and 35 supervisors working in Pakistan’s telecom sector. The engineers were divided into 31 teams and the data were analysed using confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modelling to test the interrelationships among study constructs.

Findings

As expected, TC was positively correlated with both TP and contextual performance, while it was negatively correlated with turnover intention; these relationships were mediated by WE. The results reveal that TC in technical jobs leads to resource gains and, through WE, facilitates task and contextual performances at the individual level. Similarly, TC mitigates individual-level turnover intention through the mediation of WE.

Originality/value

The current study contributes to the literature on the conflict by delineating a resource investment/acquisition process within the conservation of resources theory, whereby TC (an exchange and acquisition of cognitive resources) leads to resource investment (in the form of WE), which, in turn, leads to positive individual-level outcomes.