bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of an ATP metabolism‐related signature associated with prognosis and immune microenvironment in gliomas
Authors: Huang Ruoyu , Li Guanzhang , Wang Zhiliang , Hu Huimin , Zeng Fan , Zhang Kenan , Wang Kuanyu , Wu Fan
Published: May 2020

As the core element of material and energy metabolism pathways, the biological functions and prognostic significance of ATP metabolism in diffuse gliomas have so far remained unclear. Based on comprehensive analysis of ATP metabolism‐related gene expression profiles, we constructed an ATP metabolism‐related risk signature to determine the role of ATP metabolism. We found that this ATP metabolism‐related gene expression profile could divide patients into 2 robust groups with distinct clinical characteristics and prognosis. Patients in the high‐risk group tended to be predicted as malignant entities, indicating that the activation of ATP metabolism may promote the malignant progress of diffuse gliomas. Cox regression and Kaplan‐Meier analyses suggested that this risk signature was an independent predictor for prognosis. Furthermore, we constructed an individualized prognosis prediction model through nomogram and time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Functional analysis suggested that, in addition to material and energy metabolism, ATP metabolism also played an essential role in the regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. In brief, the ATP metabolism‐related signature was tightly associated with regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment and could serve as an independent prognostic biomarker in diffuse gliomas.
Thymidylate synthase inhibitor raltitrexed can induce high levels of DNA damage in MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Yamashita Ken , Kiyonari Shinichi , Tsubota Shoma , Kishida Satoshi , Sakai Ryuichi , Kadomatsu Kenji
Published: May 2020

MYCN gene amplification is consistently associated with poor prognosis in patients with neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor arising from the sympathetic nervous system. Conventional anticancer drugs, such as alkylating agents and platinum compounds, have been used for the treatment of high‐risk patients with MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma, whereas molecule‐targeting drugs have not yet been approved. Therefore, the development of a safe and effective therapeutic approach is highly desired. Although thymidylate synthase inhibitors are widely used for colorectal and gastric cancers, their usefulness in neuroblastoma has not been well studied. Here, we investigated the efficacies of approved antifolates, methotrexate, pemetrexed, and raltitrexed (RTX), on MYCN‐amplified and nonamplified neuroblastoma cell lines. Cell growth‐inhibitory assay revealed that RTX showed a superior inhibitory activity against MYCN‐amplified cell lines. We found no significant differences in the protein expression levels of the antifolate transporter or thymidylate synthase, a primary target of RTX, among the cell lines. Because thymidine supplementation could rescue the RTX‐induced cell growth suppression, the effect of RTX was mainly due to the reduction in dTTP synthesis. Interestingly, RTX treatments induced single‐stranded DNA damage response in MYCN‐amplified cells to a greater extent than in the nonamplified cells. We propose that the high DNA replication stress and elevated levels of DNA damage, which are a result of deregulated expression of MYCN target genes, could be the cause of increased sensitivity to RTX.
Childhood vulnerability to drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa: Risk differences across age and sex
Authors: Simons Abigail , Govender Rajen , Saunders Colleen Jayne , Singh‐Adriaanse Robyn , Van Niekerk Ashley
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Drowning is amongst the leading causes of death of children and young people worldwide, with high concentrations in Southeast Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa. In the Western Cape province in South Africa, drowning mortality rates for children were reported at 3.8 per 100,000 population. Internationally, evidence suggests that unimpeded access to water bodies and containers and lapses in supervision together with the child's limited developmental capacities, place children at greater risk of drowning. This study examined the risk for fatal drowning by age cohort and sex in child and adolescent (0–19 years old) in the Western Cape.

Method

Demographic and descriptive data for child drowning fatalities from 2010 to 2016 were obtained from the Western Cape Forensic Pathology Service. Descriptive variables included location of drowning incident by body of water, time of day, day of week and season. Data were analysed by age cohorts aligned to child psychosocial developmental stages. Descriptive statistics reported fatality frequencies by age cohort and sex, and logistic regression was conducted to detect differences in drowning risk across these categories.

Results

A total of 538 childhood drowning fatalities were analysed, with the highest proportion occurring in children aged 13–19 years (29.6%) and the majority occurring in males (75.8%). Sex, location of drowning incident and season were significant predictors of drowning across the age cohorts. Relative to females, males between ages 0–1 and 2–3 years were less likely to drown when compared with older children.

Conclusion

This study confirms existing evidence that children younger than five are most at risk of drowning. In contrast to international and local research findings that have indicated a similar or higher risk for drowning amongst boys compared with girls aged 3 years and younger, this study identified that males were less likely to drown between the ages of 0 and 3 years compared with girls.
Interleukin‐17 is a potential player and treatment target in severe chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Sabag D. A. , Matanes L. , Bejar J. , Sheffer H. , Barzilai A. , Church M. K. , Toubi E. , Maurer M. , Vadasz Z.
Published: May 2020

Background

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is considered an autoimmune disorder in 50% of cases at least, in which T‐ and mast cell mediators are considered to be the primary cause of symptoms. However, H1‐antihistamines, cyclosporine A, and omalizumab fail to achieve complete symptom amelioration in up to 70% of patients. This suggests that other inflammatory pathways are involved and that additional and more effective treatments need to be developed.

Objective

This preliminary report examines the possibility that interleukin‐17 (IL‐17), a cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases, may contribute to CSU and its inhibition may offer a relevant therapeutic target.

Methods

The expression of IL‐17A in skin biopsies of 20 CSU patients and 10 healthy controls was determined by quantitative histomorphometry. We also assessed the response to secukinumab (anti‐IL‐17A) treatment patients of eight severe CSU (7‐day urticaria activity score UAS7 32‐40) who were H1‐antihistamine and omalizumab‐resistant.

Results

Increased numbers of CD4+ T cells and mast cells were present in both lesional and non‐lesional skin of CSU patients compared with healthy controls. Both types of cells were strongly positive for IL‐17A and found to be in close proximity to each other. All eight patients treated with the anti‐IL‐17A antibody, secukinumab, showed significant improvement in CSU disease activity. The action of secukinumab was shown to be relatively slow in onset. The significant reduction in disease activity from baseline UAS7 was demonstrated to be 55% and 82% at 30 and 90 days, respectively.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that IL‐17 is involved in the pathogenesis of CSU and that IL‐17 should be investigated as a therapeutic target in future studies with larger numbers of patients.
Case of an anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor encephalitis patient responding to cyclophosphamide with significant brain volume recovery
Authors: Ashida Shinji , Tanaka Eijirou , Ogura Shiori , Maezono Keiko , Nagakane Yoshinari
Published: May 2020

Background

Anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a severe form of limbic encephalitis. Some patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis do not respond to standard immunotherapy, resulting in poor outcomes.

Case presentation

We report an 18‐year‐old female patient with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis, without a tumor, who showed a marked response to cyclophosphamide. She was admitted due to a 1‐month history of headache, psychiatric symptoms, and consciousness disturbance. Despite administering first‐line immunotherapy, including steroid pulse, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange, she developed orofacial dyskinesia, central hypoventilation, and status epilepticus. Involuntary movements and seizure began to decrease only after the administration of cyclophosphamide (CPM), and she showed gradual improvement over the next 5 years. In addition, significant recovery from brain atrophy was observed on follow‐up MRI.

Conclusions

Cyclophosphamide should be considered for nonresponders to first‐line immunotherapy.
Guide Me in Analysis: A Framework for Guidance Designers
Authors: Ceneda Davide , Andrienko Natalia , Andrienko Gennady , Gschwandtner Theresia , Miksch Silvia , Piccolotto Nikolaus , Schreck Tobias , Streit Marc , Suschnigg Josef , Tominski Christian
Published: May 2020

Guidance is an emerging topic in the field of visual analytics. Guidance can support users in pursuing their analytical goals more efficiently and help in making the analysis successful. However, it is not clear how guidance approaches should be designed and what specific factors should be considered for effective support. In this paper, we approach this problem from the perspective of guidance designers. We present a framework comprising requirements and a set of specific phases designers should go through when designing guidance for visual analytics. We relate this process with a set of quality criteria we aim to support with our framework, that are necessary for obtaining a suitable and effective guidance solution. To demonstrate the practical usability of our methodology, we apply our framework to the design of guidance in three analysis scenarios and a design walk‐through session. Moreover, we list the emerging challenges and report how the framework can be used to design guidance solutions that mitigate these issues.
932. COELOGYNE ANNAMENSIS
Authors: Schuiteman André , Cribb Phillip , Want Terry , King Christabel
Published: May 2020

Coelogyne annamensis Rolfe is illustrated, and compared with C. assamica Linden & Rchb.f.), C. brunnea Lindl. and other members of Coelogyne section Fuscescentes Pfitzer & Kraenzl. Suggestions for its successful cultivation are given.
933. STRUMARIA ARGILLICOLA
Authors: Duncan Graham , Voigt Leigh
Published: May 2020

The new species Strumaria argillicola G.D. Duncan is described. This late‐summer‐flowering geophyte is endemic to seasonal muddy pans in the Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape, South Africa. Details of its history, taxonomy, habitat and cultivation are given, accompanied by a watercolour painting and habitat photographs.
936. PLUMERIA FILIFOLIA
Authors: Tiernan Nichole M. , Oviedo Prieto Ramona , Jestrow Brett , Francisco‐Ortega Javier
Published: May 2020

The Cuban endemic Plumeria filifolia Griseb. is illustrated from plants growing at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida. This species belongs to the charismatic group of plants commonly known as frangipani. Though several species are often found in cultivation, many of the endemic wild growing Caribbean species, including P. filifolia, have not yet reached their full ornamental potential. A historical overview of early collections of P. filifolia is presented, along with a detailed description, habitat, distribution map, list of known herbarium specimens and conservation status. A review of the nomenclature including the second‐step lectotypification is provided. The species complex with P. stenophylla is reviewed, and based on morphological grounds, P. stenophylla is here regarded as a distinct species. As no previous monographic revision exists, morphological and ecogeographical patterns for the rest of the genus are discussed.
937. PASSIFLORA PUNICEA
Authors: Vanderplank John , King Christabel
Published: May 2020

Passiflora punicea Ruiz & Pavón ex DC., considered by Maxwell T. Masters (1872) and E. P. Killip (1938) to be a synonym of P. vitifolia Kunth is here reinstated at species rank. It is described and illustrated in colour and with black and white line drawings. Its history, distribution, similarities to related species and cultivation are discussed. A key to its closest related species is provided.
PASSIFLORA INSOLITI
Authors: Vanderplank John , Ochoa Jorge
Published: May 2020

A
new species of Passiflora L. in subgenus Decaloba (DC.) Rchb. from Montebello Lake, Chiapas, Mexico is described; its history, taxonomy, distribution and cultivation are discussed.
Pursuing symmetry in reconstruction of the upper lip apical triangle with a hatchet flap
Authors: Tomás‐Velázquez Alejandra , Redondo Pedro
Published: May 2020

Various techniques have been described for the reconstruction of surgical defects of the upper lip after skin cancer. Here, we propose a technique for reconstructing medium or large defects located at the junction of the nasogenian and nasolabial folds with a hatchet flap. We report on three patients treated with this technique, describing the surgical procedure and some interesting caveats. Two patients reconstructed with direct closure in this location are described in order to emphasize the better aesthetic result achieved with the hatchet flap, especially in terms of symmetry. While direct closure tends to decrease the ipsilateral nasolabial fold, the hatchet flap extends the scar to the fold below the commissure in a natural wrinkle, becoming symmetrical and much less noticeable after a few months. We conclude that the hatchet flap is technically easy and rapidly implemented for defects in the apical triangle of the upper lip, and achieves better results in terms of facial symmetry than direct closure.
Re‐Induktion einer Checkpoint‐Inhibitor‐Therapie beim metastasierten Melanom
Authors: Reschke Robin , Ziemer Mirjana
Published: May 2020

Bisher sind nur wenige Ergebnisse einer Re‐Induktion (Rechallenge) von Checkpoint‐Inhibitor‐Therapien publiziert. Wir präsentieren die erste Übersicht aller dazu international, englischsprachig veröffentlichten Arbeiten. 570 Patienten konnten in die Analyse eingeschlossen werden. Für die Auswertung wurde in vier Gruppen unterteilt: 1) Rechallenge mit Anti‐PD1 nach Progress unter Anti‐PD1‐Therapie 2) Rechallenge mit Anti‐PD1 und CTLA4 nach Progress unter Anti‐PD1‐Therapie, 3) Rechallenge mit CTLA4 nach Progress unter Anti‐CTLA‐4 und 4) Rechallenge nach Therapieabbruch aufgrund von Nebenwirkungen.

Bei 85 Patienten mit Anti‐PD1‐Rechallenge nach Progress lagen die Krankheitskontrollrate (DCR) im Mittel bei 45,8 % und die Gesamtansprechrate (ORR) bei 15,5 %. Bei 114 Patienten, die unter Anti‐PD1‐Therapie progredient wurden und anschließend mit der Kombination aus Anti‐PD1 und Anti‐CTLA4 behandelt wurden, lagen die DCR im Mittel bei 40,6 % und die ORR im Mittel bei 20 %. Die DCR bei Progress und Rechallenge mit Ipilimumab lag, bezogen auf 182 Patienten, im Mittel bei 50,9 % und die ORR bei 20,4 %. Somit ist auch bei Patienten, die zuvor unter immunonkologischer Therapie einen Progress erlitten hatten, ein erneutes Ansprechen nach Wiedereinleitung prinzipiell möglich.

Bei 189 Patienten mit Rechallenge nach Nebenwirkungen bei mehrheitlich initialem Ansprechen lagen die DCR im Mittel bei 89,5 % und die ORR bei 70,2 %. Je ungefähr ein Fünftel der Patienten erlebte jedoch ein Rezidiv der vorbekannten (18 %) oder neu auftretende Nebenwirkungen (23 %).
Navigating the Best Path to Optimality in a University Grants Administration Workload Assignment Problem
Authors: Martin Megan Wydick , Ragsdale Cliff
Published: May 2020

This research addresses a preaward grant administration workload‐to‐agent assignment problem that occurs in the office of research and sponsored programs (ORSP) at many universities. We first identify the optimal (utopian) workload assignment plan using a mixed‐integer linear programming problem. This optimal assignment of academic department workload to ORSP administrators may differ considerably from the status quo, requiring multiple reassignments from the current state to reach optimality. The number of reassignments raises concerns related to loss of administrator–department relationship, loss of department‐related knowledge, and increase in managerial inconvenience. To achieve the best workload reassignment with the fewest changes from the current status quo, while still placing a greater emphasis on the effective use of limited resources, we propose and illustrate a multiple objective optimization technique to identify the N best departmental reassignments from the current state that provide the greatest progress toward the utopian balanced workload solution. Solving this problem over several values of N and plotting the results allow the decision maker to visualize the trade‐off between the number of reassignments and the resulting progress achieved toward the utopian solution. This system could support the manager of pre‐award administrators in making an informed decision about the best number of reassignments to choose based on an objective assessment of the relevant trade‐offs. The technique proposed in this article is widely relevant with slight modifications to the mathematical model. Additional applications include the management of employee‐to‐task assignments in home healthcare, youth sports, nurse scheduling, blood bank facilities, and early education.
Managing Service Systems via Disguised Queues: The Role of Retaliating Customers*
Authors: Çil Eren B.
Published: May 2020

Tourist attractions, such as observatory decks, boat tours, and museums, have recently started to manage their operations via hiding some parts of their waiting lines, which we will refer to as queue disguising behavior. If customers are not aware of these disguised parts of the queues, firms can potentially boost their revenues by using queue disguising strategy. However, it is not obvious that firms benefit from disguised queues when customers retaliate after experiencing that the queue management tactics led them to make erroneous decisions. Our goal in this article is to investigate the impacts of the retaliatory customer behavior on firms' queue disguising decisions and profits. In the absence of retaliating customers, we find that the optimal queue disguising strategy yields only negligible profit improvements, relative to letting customers observe the entire waiting line. One, then, may expect that the queue disguising should not be a profitable strategy in a system with retaliating customers. We establish that this intuition is only true for firms incurring negligible holding costs. If keeping customers in the queue is sufficiently high for a firm, we, surprisingly, find that the firm achieves sizable profit improvements via queue disguising in the presence of the retaliatory behavior. More interestingly, we show that these benefits become more pronounced as the holding cost increases, in contrast to the case without retaliating customers. Our results, then, suggest that firms that are subjected to nonnegligible holding costs should employ the queue disguising strategy only while facing retaliating customers.
Innovative therapeutic endoscopy in the upper gastrointestinal tract: Review of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopic Society Core Sessions
Authors: Yamamoto Yorimasa , Yahagi Naohisa , Yamamoto Hironori , Ono Hiroyuki , Inoue Haruhiro
Published: May 2020

Workshops on "Innovative Therapeutic Endoscopy" for upper gastrointestinal tract diseases were held four times as the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopic Society (JGES) Core Sessions at the 93rd to 96th Biannual Meetings of the JGES. A total of 48 research presentations (including two invited lectures) were reported, and various discussions were held on these topics. When the research presentations were categorized according to the therapeutic procedure, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was the most frequent with 28 presentations (58.3%), followed by laparoscopy endoscopy cooperative surgery (LECS) with six presentations (12.5%). When the research presentations were classified by the target organ of the therapeutic procedures, the duodenum was the most frequent with 26 presentations (54.1%), followed by the stomach with 13 presentations (27.1%). The most important issue was the establishment of a safe and reliable endoscopic resection method for duodenal lesions. Issues related to gastric ESD were establishing an efficient traction method and a method to prevent post‐ESD bleeding in high‐risk patients. Other important issues were establishment of an efficient traction method and methods of preventing delayed bleeding in high‐risk patients who undergo gastric ESD, expansion of indications for minimally invasive treatment using LECS for gastric cancer, the development of endoscopic full‐thickness resection (EFTR) for gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs), and improvement of per‐oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for esophageal achalasia and per‐oral endoscopic tumor resection (POET) for esophageal SMTs. Through the JGES Core Sessions, it is expected that the minimally invasive treatments using endoscopes developed in Japan will be further advanced.
Spontaneous regression of mismatch repair‐deficient colorectal cancers: Case series
Authors: Utsumi Takahiro , Miyamoto Shin'ichi , Shimizu Takahiro , Yokogawa Kasumi , Nakanishi Yuki , Nikaido Mitsuhiro , Hirata Ayako , Nishida Miyu , Aoyama Ikuo , Okuno Tomoko , Yoshizawa Akihiko , Kaneda Akihiro , Sakai Yoshiharu , Kawanami Chiharu , Seno Hiroshi
Published: May 2020

Spontaneous regression (SR) has been reported in various malignant tumors. However, SR in colorectal cancer (CRC) is particularly rare and the mechanism remains unclear. We here report three cases of CRCs displaying SR, which were experienced at two institutions. Intriguingly, all of these cases displayed the common endoscopic characteristics; superficial elevated lesion accompanied by a central depression (0‐IIa + IIc, in the Paris classification), with a nonpolypoid growth, located in the ascending colon. Furthermore, immunohistology of biopsy specimens revealed the lack of DNA mismatch repair proteins within the CRC lesions, suggesting that these were mismatch repair‐deficient (dMMR) CRCs. One of the major features of dMMR cancers is an increase in the number of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes. Thus, the dMMR phenotype might be associated with SR of CRCs through the activation of anti‐tumor host immune responses.
Beyond family‐level adversities: Exploring the developmental timing of neighborhood disadvantage effects on the brain
Authors: Gard Arianna M. , Maxwell Andrea M. , Shaw Daniel S. , Mitchell Colter , Brooks‐Gunn Jeanne , McLanahan Sara S. , Forbes Erika E. , Monk Christopher S. , Hyde Luke W.
Published: May 2020

A growing literature suggests that adversity is associated with later altered brain function, particularly within the corticolimbic system that supports emotion processing and salience detection (e.g., amygdala, prefrontal cortex [PFC]). Although neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage has been shown to predict maladaptive behavioral outcomes, particularly for boys, most of the research linking adversity to corticolimbic function has focused on family‐level adversities. Moreover, although animal models and studies of normative brain development suggest that there may be sensitive periods during which adversity exerts stronger effects on corticolimbic development, little prospective evidence exists in humans. Using two low‐income samples of boys (n = 167; n = 77), Census‐derived neighborhood disadvantage during early childhood, but not adolescence, was uniquely associated with greater amygdala, but not PFC, reactivity to ambiguous neutral faces in adolescence and young adulthood. These associations remained after accounting for several family‐level adversities (e.g., low family income, harsh parenting), highlighting the independent and developmentally specific neural effects of the neighborhood context. Furthermore, in both samples, indicators measuring income and poverty status of neighbors were predictive of amygdala function, suggesting that neighborhood economic resources may be critical to brain development.
Evidence for discrete profiles of children’s physiological activity across three neurobiological system and their transitions over time
Authors: Roubinov Danielle S. , Boyce William T. , Lee Matthew R. , Bush Nicole R.
Published: May 2020

The conceptualization of stress‐responsive physiological systems as operating in an integrated manner is evident in several theoretical models of cross‐system functioning. However, limited empirical research has modeled the complexity of multisystem activity. Moreover few studies have explored developmentally regulated changes in multisystem activity during early childhood when plasticity is particularly pronounced. The current study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to evaluate multisystem activity during fall and spring of children's transition to kindergarten in three biological systems: the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Latent transition analysis (LTA) was then used to examine the stability of profile classification across time. Across both timepoints, three distinct profiles of multisystem activity emerged. One profile was characterized by heightened HPA axis activity (HPA Axis Responders), a second profile was characterized by moderate, typically adaptive patterns across the PNS, SNS, and HPA axis (Active Copers/Mobilizers), and a third profile was characterized by heightened baseline activity, particularly in the PNS and SNS (Anticipatory Arousal/ANS Responders). LTA of fall‐to‐spring profile classifications indicated higher probabilities that children remained in the same profile over time compared to probabilities of profile changes, suggesting stability in certain patterns of cross‐system responsivity. Patterns of profile stability and change were associated with socioemotional outcomes at the end of the school year. Findings highlight the utility of LPA and LTA to detect meaningful patterns of complex multisystem physiological activity across three systems and their associations with early adjustment during an important developmental transition.
How earmarking has become self‐perpetuating in United Nations development co‐operation
Authors: Baumann Max‐Otto
Published: May 2020

Motivation

The share of earmarked funding to the development pillar of the United Nations (UN) has risen to a record level of 79% (2018) of its total revenue/spending. This poses severe implications for the organizational efficiency, aid effectiveness and multilateralism of the UN. Reforms have not been able to stem the trend towards earmarked funding, raising the question of what explains the continued rise of earmarking in the United Nations Development System (UNDS).

Purpose

This article aims to add a new perspective on earmarking, specifically in the UN. It tries to explain not the root causes of earmarking, but the dynamics of the significant rise over the last decade. The argument is that earmarking has been driven by three vicious circles: by the rational factors associated with a collective action breakdown, a change in norms of appropriateness, and institutional fragmentation.

Approach and methods

The article draws on funding data from the UN, on 65 interviews with UN staff and donor representatives conducted in the context of a recent research project, and on document analysis. Special attention is given to two donors, Sweden and Germany, dedicated multilateralists that have increased their earmarked resources in recent years.

Findings

Conventional explanations of earmarking in the UN—dissatisfaction with the performance of UN organizations, the desire for more accountability, policy differences with organizations—cannot fully explain the significant rise in earmarking over the last decade. Empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that the UN system has reached a tipping point, so that earmarking has become self‐perpetuating.

Policy implications

The findings put a question mark after the premises that have so far guided practical efforts by the UN and member states to reduce the share of earmarked funding. They suggest that more fundamental changes to rules and incentives are required to rebalance the UN’s funding towards core contributions. Four specific recommendations are derived from the analysis.
Association of hyponatraemia and renal function in type 1 cardiorenal syndrome
Authors: Liang Weihao , He Xin , Xue Ruicong , Wei Fangfei , Dong Bin , Wu Zexuan , Owusu‐Agyeman Marvin , Wu Yuzhong , Zhou Yuanyuan , Dong Yugang , Liu Chen
Published: May 2020

Background

Hyponatraemia predicts type 1 cardiorenal syndrome in acute decompensated heart failure patients, which associates with poor outcome. Recovery from hyponatraemia has been found to associate with better outcome in acute decompensated heart failure patients, but its prognostic value regarding renal function remains unknown.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of CARRESS‐HF trial, and all patients included had worsening renal function (≥0.3 mg/dL increase in serum creatinine than the nadir). The serum sodium levels of patients were evaluated at baseline and day 4 and day 7 after randomization. Patients were grouped according to the status of hyponatraemia: recovery from hyponatraemia; no hyponatraemia; persistent hyponatraemia; and new‐onset hyponatraemia. Their associations with persistent worsening renal function (serum creatinine ≥ 0.3 mg/dL higher than the nadir at discharge) were explored.

Results

A total of 118 patients suffered from persistent worsening renal function. Baseline hyponatraemia was not associated with persistent worsening renal function (odds ratio = 0.495, P = .086). Patients in the recovery from hyponatraemia group had a lowest risk of persistent worsening renal function among the study population. Further, baseline serum sodium level was not associated with the risk of persistent worsening renal function (odds ratio = 1.055, P = .233), while the increases in serum sodium level at day 4 (odds ratio = 0.858, P = .003) and at day 7 (odds ratio = 0.821, P < .001) significantly predicted a lower risk of persistent worsening renal function.

Conclusions

Recovery from hyponatraemia associates with a lower risk of persistent worsening renal function, suggesting that hyponatraemia correction may improve renal outcomes in acute decompensated heart failure patients with type 1 cardiorenal syndrome.
Performance of the African edible bush‐cricket, Ruspolia differens, on single and mixed diets containing inflorescences of their host plant species
Authors: Malinga Geoffrey M. , Valtonen Anu , Hiltunen Minna , Lehtovaara Vilma J. , Nyeko Philip , Roininen Heikki
Published: May 2020

The African edible bush‐cricket, Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), is an economically valuable insect in sub‐Saharan Africa. For its mass‐rearing, suitable diets that can sustain its performance need to be identified. This study aimed at finding inflorescence diets of 10 host plant species and their mixtures that result in the highest R. differens production. We reared newly hatched nymphs to adults on inflorescences of single host species, and also on a gradient of five diversifying dietary mixtures consisting of one and mixtures of two, three, five, and seven host plant species. For the single host‐plant diets, the developmental time was shortest on Pennisetum purpureum, Chloris gayana, and Brachiaria ruziziensis (approximately 63 days), whereas the fresh weight was highest on B. ruziziensis and P. purpureum (approximately 0.383 g). Survival was highest (>65%) on C. gayana, P. purpureum, B. ruziziensis, Setaria sphacelata, and Sporobolus pyramidalis, and lowest on Panicum maximum, Hyparrhenia rufa, Cynodon dactylon, and Paspalum scrobiculatum (<40%). With respect to diet mixtures, the developmental time was significantly shorter (on average 16 days shorter), and survival was higher, in the most diversified diets compared to the least diversified diets. The contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids and fatty acid composition did not differ significantly among the diets. However, the content of monounsaturated fatty acids differed significantly among the diets and there was a significant diet*sex interaction. From the applied point of view, based on our results, for maximal weight and survival plus fast development, we recommend rearing on P. purpureum, C. gayana, B. ruziziensis, and S. sphacelata, and on dietary mixtures of inflorescences. These findings are important in designing large‐scale rearing programs for this species.
First report on the Dutch elm disease pathogen Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi from Latvia
Authors: Matisone Ilze , Kenigsvalde Kristīne , Zaļuma Astra , Burņeviča Natālija , Šņepste Ilze , Matisons Roberts , Gaitnieks Tālis
Published: May 2020

During 2017, Dutch elm disease was investigated on 67 Ulmus glabra and 29 Ulmus laevis samples from 28 sites in Latvia. The presence of Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi was detected in 61.2% of the samples from U. glabra and in 34.5% of the samples from U. laevis. In 11% of cases, hybrids between subsp. novo‐ulmi and subsp. americana were identified, particularly in the sites in the southern part of Latvia. This study presents the first verified record of Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi and its subspecies in Latvia.
Self‐referential processing and emotion context insensitivity in major depressive disorder
Authors: McIvor Lucy , Sui Jie , Malhotra Tina , Drury David , Kumar Sanjay
Published: May 2020

We examined whether differential self‐perception influences the salience of emotional stimuli in depressive disorders, using a perceptual matching task in which geometric shapes were arbitrarily assigned to the self and an unknown other. Participants associated shapes with personal labels (e.g. “self” or “other”). Each geometric shape additionally contained a happy, sad or neutral line drawing of a face. Participants then judged whether shape‐label pairs were as originally shown or re‐paired, whilst facial emotion was task‐irrelevant. The results showed biased responses to self‐relevant stimuli compared to other‐relevant stimuli, regardless of facial emotion, for both control and depressed participants. This was reflected in sensitivity (d′) and drift rate (v) measures, suggesting that self‐bias and a bias towards emotion may reflect different underlying processes. We further computed bias scores by subtracting the “neutral” value of each measure (acting as baseline) from the “happy” and “sad” values of each measure, indexing an “emotional bias” (EB) score for “self” and “other” separately. Compared to control participants, depressed participants exhibited reduced “happy” and “sad” emotional biases, regardless of the self‐relevance of stimuli. This finding indicates that depressed participants may exhibit generalised Emotion Context Insensitivity (ECI), characterised by hyopoattention to both positive and negative information, at short stimulus presentations. The implications of this are discussed.
Ischaemic stroke in the time of coronavirus disease 2019
Authors: Tejada Meza H. , Lambea Gil Á. , Sancho Saldaña A. , Villar Yus C. , Pardiñas Barón B. , Sagarra Mur D. , Marta Moreno J. ,   Grupo de Seguimiento y Mejora del Programa de Atención al Ictus en Aragón
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

Stroke assistance is facing changes and new challenges since COVID‐19 became pandemic. A variation on the patient influx might be one of the greater concerns, due to fewer people coming to emergency departments or coming too late. However, no data quantifying this have been published until now. The aim was to analyse the impact of the COVID‐19 epidemic outbreak on hospital stroke admissions and their characteristics in our region.

Methods

The data of every patient admitted to any hospital of our healthcare system with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke between 30 December 2019 and 19 April 2020 were reviewed. Demographic and clinical data were recorded and compared between periods before and after the setting of the state of emergency secondary to the COVID‐19 outbreak.

Results

In total, 354 patients with ischaemic stroke were admitted in our study period. There was a weekly average of 27.5 cases before the setting of the state of emergency against 12 afterwards (P < 0.001). This drop in stroke cases occurred progressively from week 11, persisting in time despite the decrease in confirmed cases of COVID‐19. No differences in the proportion of intravenous thrombolysis (21.1% vs. 21.5%, P = 0.935) or endovascular therapy (12.4% vs. 15.2%, P = 0.510) were found, nor in other demographic or clinical characteristics except for median onset‐to‐door time (102 vs. 183 min, P = 0.015).

Conclusions

This observational study offers the perspective of a whole region in one of the countries more heavily stricken by the SARS‐CoV‐2 epidemic and shows that the decrease of stroke events, since the beginning of the COVID‐19 outbreak, happened globally and without any specific patient distribution.
A rat model of valproate teratogenicity from chronic oral treatment during pregnancy
Authors: Jazayeri Dana , Braine Emma , McDonald Stuart , Dworkin Sebastian , Powell Kim L. , Griggs Karen , Vajda Frank J. E. , O’Brien Terence J. , Jones Nigel C.
Published: May 2020

Objective

Sodium valproate (VPA), the most effective antiepileptic drug for patients with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE), is a potent human teratogen that increases the risk of a range of congenital malformations, including spina bifida. The mechanisms underlying this teratogenicity are not known, but may involve genetic risk factors. This study aimed to develop an animal model of VPA‐induced birth defects.

Methods

We used three different rat strains: inbred Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats From Strasbourg (GAERS), a model of GGE with absence seizures; inbred Non‐Epileptic Controls (NEC); and outbred nonepileptic Wistars. Female rats were fed standard chow or VPA (20 g/kg food) mixed in standard chow for 2 weeks prior to conception, and then mated with same‐strain males. Treatment continued throughout pregnancy. Fetuses were extracted via C‐section on gestational day 21 and examined for birth defects, including external assessment and spinal measurements.

Results

VPA‐exposed pups showed significant reductions in weight, length, and whole‐body development compared with controls of all three strains (P < .0001). Gestational VPA treatment altered intravertebral distances, and resulted in underdeveloped vertebral arches between thoracic region T11 and caudal region C2 in most pups (GAERS, 100%; NEC, 95%; Wistar, 80%), more frequently than in controls (9%, 13%, 19%).

Significance

Gestational VPA treatment results in similar developmental and morphological abnormalities in three rat strains, including one with GGE, indicating that the genetic underpinnings of epilepsy do not contribute markedly to VPA‐induced birth defects. This model may be used in future studies to investigate mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of antiepileptic drug–induced birth defects.
Technical set‐up and case illustrations of orthopaedic cone beam computed tomography in the standing horse
Authors: Koch C. , Pauwels F. , Schweizer‐Gorgas D.
Published: May 2020

Computed tomography (CT) is a widely utilised cross‐sectional imaging modality in the horse. However, most CT imaging of horses’ limbs has so far been restricted to applications under general anaesthesia. CT configurations that allow for imaging of the extremities in standing, sedated horses up to and including the carpus and tarsus have not yet been published. Here, a detailed description of the infrastructure and technical set‐up for CT examinations of horses’ limbs under standing sedation and using a mobile cone beam CT unit is provided.
My Brother’s Keeper? The Sibling Subsystem in the Context of Physical and Sexual Child Abuse
Authors: Katz Carmit , Tener Dafna
Published: May 2020

The sibling subsystem is of central importance and a possible protective factor for children. Nevertheless, it remains surprisingly understudied and lacks any theoretical or conceptual framework. The current study explored the sibling subsystem in the context of child abuse (CA). Thorough thematic analysis was conducted on the narratives of 30 children referred to forensic interviews following suspected physical or sexual abuse by a parent. Aged 4–14, all had at least one sibling each and referred to this sibling during their interviews in the specific context of the CA they had experienced. Their narratives shed light on two dynamics that can characterize the sibling subsystem in the context of CA: compensation and spillover of the trauma into the sibling subsystem. They stress the centrality of the sibling subsystem in the children’s lives and the siblings’ role in the children's survival of CA. The current study’s findings emphasize the urgency of continuing to develop studies in this area, as they will likely contribute to both prevention and intervention efforts.
Therapist Factors Matter: A Systematic Review of Parent Interventions Directed at Children’s Behavior Problems
Authors: Leitão Sara M. , Seabra‐Santos Maria João , Gaspar Maria Filomena
Published: May 2020

The present review systematically explored research examining the relationship between therapist‐related factors and the outcomes of parent interventions directed at children’s behavior problems. A systematic search of the literature was conducted with online scientific databases, parenting programs, web sites, and bibliographic references of the selected articles, according to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 24 quantitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Although some methodological limitations were identified with respect to the measurement of therapist factors, the reviewed research strongly suggests that the therapist plays a critical role in parent interventions directed at behavior problems. In particular, many parent outcomes are found to be related to the parent–therapist alliance, the therapist’s fidelity to the intervention, specific therapist’s in‐session actions, and the therapist’s personal variables. The parent–therapist alliance and therapist fidelity to the intervention consistently relate to changes in parenting practices, and alliance additionally relates to fewer perceived barriers to participation in treatment, more treatment acceptability, and greater parenting satisfaction and self‐efficacy. In addition, specific in‐session therapist interpersonal actions relate to parents’ engagement and satisfaction, while both the therapist’s interpersonal actions and more active skills relate to parent change. Therapist’s personal variables have been scarcely or poorly studied to date, but the results found justify the need to develop further research in this area. In conclusion, more attention should be given to the role of the therapist when implementing parenting programs directed at behavior problems, and more and better research is needed that can overcome the methodological limitations identified.
Common Practices for Divorce Education
Authors: Schramm David G. , Becher Emily H.
Published: May 2020

Co‐parenting plays a key role in children's outcomes when parents dissolve their intimate relationship. As a result, educators have developed divorce education programs to support healthy co‐parenting and parenting practices among parents going through the process of separation and divorce. Despite much progress, challenges remain concerning how to measure the impact of divorce education programs, limitations in research and evaluation study design, and development and delivery of programming tailored to unique contexts. In this article, we aim to provide scholars and practitioners an overview of common practices related to divorce education. Additionally, we examine promising areas for growth to encourage scholarship that can move beyond describing common practices toward recommending best practices that increase positive outcomes for families who experience divorce.
Psychometric Properties of the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement Scale in a Community Sample of Turkish Adults
Authors: Zeytinoğlu‐Saydam Senem , Erdem Gizem , Söylemez Yudum
Published: May 2020

Objective

The current study explored the psychometric properties of the Brief Accessibility, Responsivity, and Engagement (BARE) scale in a sample of Turkish adults in ongoing committed relationships (N = 509).

Background

The sense of safety that results from accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement in a romantic relationship predicts more positive expectations and affect about one's partner, as well as better emotion regulation and communication skills in a relationship. However, there are no studies investigating the measurement of these behaviors in the context of Turkish culture.

Method

The data for this study were collected through either social media and online listservs or three college campuses in Istanbul from November 2016 to June 2017. Participants were 27.26 (SD = 9.82) years old on average and mostly women (82.9%, n = 422), and approximately one quarter were married (23.4%, n = 121).

Results

Results showed that the BARE scale demonstrated good internal and test–retest reliability, as well as adequate concurrent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 12‐item structure of the BARE scale, but there was no support for the 2‐item by six‐subscale structure in the Turkish sample. Due to the high overlap between the BARE Self and Partner subscales, the scale appears to be a single‐factor measure when used in the Turkish context with a community sample of adults in romantic relationships.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to test the BARE scale's psychometric qualities among distressed and clinical samples, using reports of both partners.
Intersectional Family Systems Approach: LGBTQ+ Latino/a Youth, Family Dynamics, and Stressors
Authors: Schmitz Rachel M. , Robinson Brandon Andrew , Sanchez Julissa
Published: May 2020

Objective

We developed an intersectional family systems framework to examine how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Latino/a youth experience stressors stemming from familial resistance to their marginalized LGBTQ+ identities.

Background

Anti‐LGBTQ+ sentiments surrounding LGBTQ+ young people of color's multiple marginalized identities shape stressors. Specifically, LGBTQ+ Latino/a youth navigate distressing family experiences, yet how such family dynamics influence their well‐being remains unclear.

Method

By qualitatively analyzing in‐depth interviews with 41 LGBTQ+ Latino/a young adults between 18 and 25 years of age who were either born in or had moved to the United States as children, we developed an intersectional family systems approach.

Results

Anti‐LGBTQ+ familial derogation shaped youth's stressors. Further, familial religious pressure constrained young people's identity expression. Finally, participants navigated their mental well‐being through familial identity management strategies.

Conclusion

By advancing an intersectional family systems approach, we explicate the diverse ways LGBTQ+ youth of color perceive and respond to intersecting sources of oppression within their family systems.

Implications

These findings may inform service providers working with LGBTQ+ Latino/a young people and their families to improve mental health outcomes.