bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatigue and Pruritus in Patients with Advanced Fibrosis Due to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: The Impact on Patient‐Reported Outcomes
Authors: Younossi Zobair M , Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun , Anstee Quentin M. , Romero‐Gomez Manuel , Trauner Michael H. , Harrison Stephen A. , Lawitz Eric J. , Okanoue Takeshi , Camargo Marianne , Kersey Kathryn , Myers Robert P. , Goodman Zachary , Stepanova Maria
Published: August 2020

Fatigue and pruritus are common in patients with chronic liver diseases of all etiologies, but clinical awareness is mostly restricted to those with cholestatic liver diseases. We assessed the impact of fatigue and pruritus on patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) of patients with advanced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Specifically, PROs (Short Form–36, Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire–NASH, Euro‐Qol 5 Dimension, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment instruments) were assessed at baseline in patients with histologically confirmed bridging fibrosis (F3) or compensated cirrhosis (F4) due to NASH enrolled in STELLAR 3 and 4. Presence of fatigue and pruritus were indicated by a score of 4 or less on the respective items of the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire–NASH (scale range, 1‐7). Among the included 1,669 patients with advanced NASH (mean age = 58 ± 9 years, 48% F3, 42% with psychiatric comorbidities), 33% and 27% had fatigue and pruritus, respectively. Patients with NASH with fatigue were younger, more likely to be female, cirrhotic, and diabetic, and had higher body mass index and more comorbidities (all P < 0.05). All PRO scores of patients with fatigue were significantly impaired (mean up to −31% of a PRO range size in comparison to patients without fatigue). In multivariate analysis, predictors of fatigue included diabetes, history of depression or nervous system comorbidities, and lower serum albumin (P < 0.05). Patients with pruritus had demographic characteristics similar to those with fatigue, but a higher prevalence of dermatologic comorbidities. All PROs were impaired (by up to −19% of a range size, all P < 0.01) in patients with NASH with pruritus. Female gender, lower serum albumin, and a history of depression, nervous system, and dermatologic comorbidities were associated with increased risk of pruritus (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Clinically significant fatigue and pruritus are common in patients with advanced NASH, and these symptoms negatively affect PROs.
Spatial encoding in dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus is related during deliberation
Authors: Hasz Brendan M. , Redish A. David
Published: August 2020

Deliberation is thought to involve the internal simulation of the outcomes of candidate actions, the valuation of those outcomes, and the selection of the actions with the highest expected value. While it is known that deliberation involves prefrontal cortical areas, specifically the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), as well as the hippocampus (HPC) and other brain regions, how these areas process prospective information and select actions is not well understood. We recorded simultaneously from ensembles in dmPFC and CA1 of dorsal HPC in rats during performance of a spatial contingency switching task, and examined the relationships between spatial and reward encoding in these two areas during deliberation at the choice point. We found that CA1 and dmPFC represented either goal locations or the current position simultaneously, but that when goal locations were encoded, HPC and dmPFC did not always represent the same goal location. Ensemble activity in dmPFC predicted when HPC would represent goal locations, but on a broad timescale on the order of seconds. Also, reward encoding in dmPFC increased during hippocampal theta cycles where CA1 ensembles represented the goal location. These results suggest that dmPFC and HPC share prospective information during deliberation, that dmPFC may influence whether HPC represents prospective information, and that information recalled about goal locations by HPC may be integrated into dmPFC reward representations on fast timescales.
Pediatric randomized trial EORTC CLG 58951: Outcome for adolescent population with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Olivier‐Gougenheim Laura , Arfeuille Chloe , Suciu Stefan , Sirvent Nicolas , Plat Geneviève , Ferster Alina , de Moerloose Barbara , Domenech Carine , Uyttebroeck Anne , Rohrlich Pierre‐Simon , Cavé Helene , Bertrand Yves
Published: August 2020

Over the years, the prognosis of adolescents treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has improved. However, this age group still represents a challenge with an overall survival (OS) of 60% compared to 85% in younger children. Herein, we report the outcome of adolescents treated in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 58951 clinical trial. EORTC 58951 clinical trial included patients with de novo ALL between 1998 and 2008. For this study, we analyzed data of all adolescents between 15 and under 18. Data from 97 adolescents were analyzed, 70 had B‐lineage and 27 had T‐lineage ALL. The 8‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and OS for the B‐cell precursor ALL cases were 72.3% (59.4%–81.7%) and 80.8% (67.4%–89.1%), respectively. For the T‐lineage, the 8‐year EFS and OS were 57.4% (36.1%–74.0%) and 59.0% (36.1%–76.2%), respectively. “B‐other” ALL, defined as BCP‐ALL lacking any known recurrent genetic abnormalities were more frequent in our adolescent population (52.8%) than in younger children (27.1%). Outcome of adolescents in the EORTC 58951 study is supporting the findings that adolescents have better outcome in pediatric compared to adults' trials. Nevertheless, in pediatric studies, adolescents still have a worse prognosis than younger children. Despite the fact that specific unfavorable characteristics may be linked to the adolescent population, a careful study and characterization of adolescents “B‐other” genetic abnormalities in ALL is critical to improve the outcome of this population.
Utility of a scale to assess Australian children’s perceptions of their swimming competence and factors associated with child and parent perception
Authors: De Pasquale Carla , De Sousa Morgado Liliane , Jidovtseff Boris , De Martelaer Kristine , Barnett Lisa M.
Published: August 2020

Issue Addressed

Drowning is a global public health issue. Aims were to assess: (a) face validity of the “Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC),” (b) the association between child and parent perception of child swimming competence and (c) factors associated with perception of child swimming competence.

Methods

Child‐parent dyads and swim instructors were recruited for a mixed method study. Children aged 4‐8 years (n = 51) reported on: familiarity, progressions and their own swim competence in 17 swimming situations. Parents (n = 51) reported on child competence and swimming experience. Swim instructors (n = 15) were interviewed. Spearman's rank correlation was used to assess whether child and parent swim perception were associated. The Mann‐Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test or Kruskal‐Wallis test were used to assess which factors were associated with child and/or parent report.

Results

Children reported high familiarity of scenarios and could sequence items. Swim instructors concluded the PSPWC depicted swim skills accurately. There was no association between child and parent perception of children's swimming ability. Swimming level was positively associated with child perception but not parent proxy report. Swimming lesson experience, child sex, country of birth and disadvantage were not associated with child perception or parent proxy report. Older children perceived higher swimming competence but parent report was not associated with child age.

Conclusions

Children have a better understanding of their swim competence than their parents do, suggesting parent education is needed.

So what?

The PSPWC could be used by teachers (both swimming and classroom) to inform parents how their child estimates their swim competence. If use of this tool was incorporated into education practice this could assist in creating awareness, which can be the start of advocacy towards the creation of policy to assist in the provision of accessible swim education for all Australian children.
Downsizing and surviving employees' engagement and strain: The role of job resources and job demands
Authors: Dlouhy Katja , Casper Anne
Published: August 2020

Downsizing is widely assumed to detrimentally affect surviving employees' engagement and health through increased demands and decreased resources. Building on job demands–resources theory, we assess whether these effects occur and whether job demands and resources moderate the detrimental effects of downsizing on employee health and engagement. We conceptualize downsizing as a stressor event, and we explain its relationship with employee health through the job demands work overload and job insecurity are (two) job demands, as well as its relationship with employee engagement through the job resources supervisor support and opportunities for development are job resources. Using data from two large representative samples of German employees, we show that job demands mediate the negative relationship between downsizing and employees' psychological and physical health and that job resources mediate the negative relationship between downsizing and engagement. We find little support for the assumption that job resources alleviate the indirect effects of downsizing on surviving employees' health, or that job demands strengthen the indirect effects of downsizing on surviving employees' engagement. We discuss how these findings expand our understanding of downsizing and outline practical implications for human resource practitioners.
Productivity enhancement of traditional solar still by using sandbags of El Oued, Algeria
Authors: Attia Mohammed El Hadi , Kabeel Abd Elnaby , Abdelgaied Mohamed , Driss Zied
Published: August 2020

This manuscript aims to study the experimental analysis of solar still with sandbags as energy storage materials. To achieve this idea, 25 bags filled with El Oued sand was fixed inside a square basin vertically and distributed regularly, this is called the modified solar still with sandbags (MSS‐SB). The sand used in this study is very effective than many store mediums considered within many previous works such as glass balls, sponges, phosphate, yellow sand, black sand, and black gravel. This fact is due to its components characterized by high thermal conductivity. By using the Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray fluorescence, it has been confirmed that the chemical properties of El Oued sand are composed mainly by 97.6% quartz (SiO2) and 0.56% calcite (CaCO3) and very low concentrations of some other oxides. To obtain the influences of the sandbags utilized in this study, the performance of MSS‐SB and traditional solar still (TSS) was tested at the same climatic conditions of the southeast of Algeria throughout 24 hours. Experimental results revealed that the overall cumulative distillate yield of TSS reached 3.76 L/m2/d, while for utilization the sandbags for MSS‐SB increase the cumulative distillate yield to 5.06 L/m2/d, representing 34.57% improvement in cumulative distillate yield. Also, the daily efficiency of TSS 33.1%, while for utilization the sandbags for MSS‐SB increases the daily efficiency to 44.63%, representing 34.83% improvement in daily efficiency.
Assessing the significance of wet‐canopy evaporation from forests during extreme rainfall events for flood mitigation in mountainous regions of theUnited Kingdom
Authors: Page Trevor , Chappell Nick A. , Beven Keith J. , Hankin Barry , Kretzschmar Ann
Published: August 2020

There is increased interest in the potential of tree planting to help mitigate flooding usingnature‐based solutionsornatural flood management. However, many publications based upon catchment studies conclude that, as flood magnitude increases, benefit from forest cover declines and is insignificant for extreme flood events. These conclusions conflict with estimates of evaporation loss from forest plot observations of gross rainfall, through fall and stem flow. This study explores data from existing studies to assess the magnitudes of evaporation and attempts to identify the meteorological conditions under which they would be supported. This is achieved using rainfall event data collated from publications and data archives from studies undertaken in temperate environments around the world. The meteorological conditions required to drive the observed evaporation losses are explored theoretically using the Penman–Monteith equation. The results of this theoretical analysis are compared with the prevailing meteorological conditions during large and extreme rainfall events in mountainous regions of the United Kingdom to assess the likely significance of wet canopy evaporation loss. The collated dataset showed that eventEwclosses between approximately 2 and 38% of gross rainfall (1.5 to 39.4 mm day−1) have been observed during large rainfall events (up to 118 mm day−1) and that there are few data for extreme events (>150 mm day−1). Event data greater than 150 mm (reported separately) included similarly high percentage evaporation losses. Theoretical estimates of wet‐canopy evaporation indicated that, to reproduce the losses towards the high end of these observations, relative humidity and the aerodynamic resistance for vapour transport needed to be lower than approximately 97.5% and 0.5 to 2 s m−1respectively. Surface meteorological data during large and extreme rainfall events in the United Kingdom suggest that conditions favourable for high wet‐canopy evaporation are not uncommon and indicate that significant evaporation losses during large and extreme events are possible but not for all events and not at all locations. Thus the disparity with the results from catchment studies remains.
Metabolic syndrome biomarkers and prostate cancer risk in the UK Biobank
Authors: Monroy‐Iglesias Maria J. , Russell Beth , Crawley Danielle , Allen Naomi E. , Travis Ruth C. , Perez‐Cornago Aurora , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Beckmann Kerri
Published: August 2020

We investigated the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components and risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in a cohort of men enrolled in the UK Biobank. Our study cohort included 220 622 PCa‐free men with baseline measurements of triglycerides (TGs), HDL‐cholesterol (HDL), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and waist circumference (WC). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze associations with PCa for: individual metabolic components (TG, HDL, HbA1c, BP, WC), combinations of two and three components, and MetS overall (three or more components). We conducted mediation analyses to examine potential hormonal and inflammatory pathways (total testosterone [TT], C‐reactive protein [CRP], insulin‐like growth factor 1 [IGF‐1]) through which MetS components may influence PCa risk. A total of 5409 men in the study developed PCa during a median follow‐up of 6.9 years. We found no significant association between MetS and PCa risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92‐1.06). No associations were found with PCa risk and individual measurements of TG, HDL, BP, or WC. However, an inverse association was observed with elevated HbA1c (≥42 mmol/mol) (HR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.79‐0.98). Consistent inverse associations were observed between HbA1c and risk of PCa. Mediation analysis revealed TT, CRP, and IGF‐1 as potential mediating factors for this association contributing 10.2%, 7.1%, and 7.9% to the total effect, respectively. Overall MetS had no association with PCa risk. However, a consistent inverse association with PCa risk was found for HbA1c. This association may be explained in part through hormonal and inflammatory pathways.
miR‐34a is upregulated in AIP‐mutated somatotropinomas and promotes octreotide resistance
Authors: Bogner Eva‐Maria , Daly Adrian F. , Gulde Sebastian , Karhu Auli , Irmler Martin , Beckers Johannes , Mohr Hermine , Beckers Albert , Pellegata Natalia S.
Published: August 2020

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are intracranial tumors associated with significant morbidity due to hormonal dysregulation, mass effects and have a heavy treatment burden. Growth hormone (GH)‐secreting PAs (somatotropinomas) cause acromegaly‐gigantism. Genetic forms of somatotropinomas due to germline AIP mutations (AIPmut+) have an early onset and are aggressive and resistant to treatment with somatostatin analogs (SSAs), including octreotide. The molecular underpinnings of these clinical features remain unclear. We investigated the role of miRNA dysregulation in AIPmut+ vs AIPmut− PA samples by array analysis. miR‐34a and miR‐145 were highly expressed in AIPmut+ vs AIPmut− somatotropinomas. Ectopic expression of AIPmut (p.R271W) in Aip−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) upregulated miR‐34a and miR‐145, establishing a causal link between AIPmut and miRNA expression. In PA cells (GH3), miR‐34a overexpression promoted proliferation, clonogenicity, migration and suppressed apoptosis, whereas miR‐145 moderately affected proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, high miR‐34a expression increased intracellular cAMP, a critical mitogenic factor in PAs. Crucially, high miR‐34a expression significantly blunted octreotide‐mediated GH inhibition and antiproliferative effects. miR‐34a directly targets Gnai2 encoding Gαi2, a G protein subunit inhibiting cAMP production. Accordingly, Gαi2 levels were significantly lower in AIPmut+ vs AIPmut− PA. Taken together, somatotropinomas with AIP mutations overexpress miR‐34a, which in turn downregulates Gαi2 expression, increases cAMP concentration and ultimately promotes cell growth. Upregulation of miR‐34a also impairs the hormonal and antiproliferative response of PA cells to octreotide. Thus, miR‐34a is a novel downstream target of mutant AIP that promotes a cellular phenotype mirroring the aggressive clinical features of AIPmut+ acromegaly.
Regime switching dynamics in mutual fund cash holdings, risk, and size threshold effect
Authors: Lee Joe‐Ming
Published: August 2020

This paper examines the relationships among cash holdings, fund risk, fund turnover, and market risk for equity funds over the period 2007–2017 under the scale effect threshold. From the empirical results of the panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) model, cash holdings and scale effect in equity funds are indeed non‐linear relationship. The findings show that the relationships among cash holdings, fund risk, fund turnover, and market risk differ widely based on taking into account the scale effect.
From point through density valuation to individual risk assessment in the discounted cash flows method
Authors: Dec Marcin
Published: August 2020

We review the developments and practice of the discounted cash‐flow method in finance with an intermediate goal of presenting parsimonious methods of generating density valuation rather than point forecasts. Our ultimate aim is to select, propose and discuss some density‐based risk measures that may be used by appraisers and investment analysts when conducting discounted cash‐flow valuation for broad group of heterogeneous (by risk appetite) final users or investors. Such a toolbox may be applied directly by the latter group without necessity to rely on aggregated point valuations and recommendations.
Factors influencing dividend decisions of Indian construction, housing and real estate companies: An empirical panel data analysis
Authors: Sharma Rakesh Kumar
Published: August 2020

This paper makes an attempt to identify the factors influencing dividend policy by analysing data of 125 companies enngaged in housing, construction and real estate business in India. These companies are selected which have paid dividend throughout the study period. Most of these companies are listed with either Bombay Stock Exchange or National Stock Exchange. This paper applies three alternative methods to verify and validate the results obtained from each other method. These methods are fully modified ordinary least squares (OLS), dynamic OLS and generalized methods of moments (GMM). Empirical findings of this research article depict that firm size, leverage and liquidity are significantly affecting dividend payout ratios and these variables have a negative relationship with the dividend payout ratio of the selected real estate firms. The results indicate that firm risk as measured through price–earnings ratio (P/E ratio) has a positive association with dividend payout ratio of selected real estate firms. Lagged dividend payout ratio used in the GMM test as an exogenous variable is showing positive significant association with dividend payout ratio. A firm's growth shows a negative relationship with dividend payout ratio using GMM technique. The present study shall be useful to different stakeholders of real estate companies. Various significant determinants as identified can be used by management for designing optimum dividend policy and providing maximum benefits to existing shareholders. Similarly existing as well as prospective shareholders may predict the future payment of dividend and accordingly they may take investment decisions in these firms, as the future fund's requirement of a firm depends upon dividend payment and retention ratio.
Efficiency and productivity analysis of Pakistan's banking industry: ADEAapproach
Authors: Zhu Nan , Shah Wasi Ul Hassan , Kamal Muhammad Abdul , Yasmeen Rizwana
Published: August 2020

The objective of this study is to investigate operational efficiency, productivity, and associated differences between the operational efficiency and productivity of Pakistan's private, public, and foreign banks over the period 2006–2017. To measure the operational efficiency scores and productivity growth change, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Malmquist productivity index (MPI) simultaneously. Kruskal–Wallis test was used to check the significant differences between the mean technical efficiencies of different commercial banking industries of Pakistan. Empirical results revealed that mean technical and pure technical efficiency scores of foreign banks are better than domestic banks; however, the mean scale efficiency score of domestic banking is relatively better than foreign banks. Further public sector banks performed well than the private banking industry during the period 2006–2017. Kruskal–Wallis test demonstrated a significant difference between the mean technical efficiency scores of three different banking sectors (public, private, and foreign) of the Pakistan commercial banking industry. Moreover, the MPI results indicated that there is (1.9%) decline in mean total factor productivity change for all commercial banks during the sample period. Further, total factor productivity change of foreign commercial banks shows growth, while a decaying trend is observed for domestic commercial banks.
Stock market transmission channel of monetary policy: Empirical evidence from Turkey
Authors: Gunduz Ilhami
Published: August 2020

Monetary policy is one of the instruments that policymakers use to provide both sustainable economic growth and price stability. In this study, I analyse the stock market transmission channel of the monetary policy of the Turkish economy not only at the aggregate but also at the sectoral level in a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) framework. I adopt alternative variables as a policy instrument. When the spread is used as a policy instrument, I find that contractionary monetary policy has a significant negative effect on both output and the price level, and it appreciates the Turkish Lira. Besides, the tight monetary policy reduces both aggregate and sectoral market returns. Hence, I observe that there are effective interest rate, exchange rate, and asset price channels in the Turkish economy.
Impacts of geopolitical risks and economic policy uncertainty on Chinese tourism‐listed company stock
Authors: Jiang Yonghong , Tian Gengyu , Wu Yiqi , Mo Bin
Published: August 2020

This paper investigates how geopolitical risk (GPR) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU) impact the Chinese tourism stock return using the quantile‐on‐quantile method and causality‐in‐quantiles approach. Compared to the conventional linear regression model and the quantile regression, the quantile‐on‐quantile method can capture more factors of uncertainty and provide more accurate and detailed empirical results. Besides, we consider the upper quantile and lower quantile of stock return as the tourism peak season and off‐season respectively. Overall, the empirical results indicate GPR exerts a lasting negative effect on tourism stock return and that the negative effect of GPR at low quantile is more significant than that at high quantile. Besides, the Chinese categorical EPU influences both negatively and positively the stock returns at different distribution levels. And during tourist off‐season, the asymmetric phenomena between GPR, EPU and stock return are more obvious at lower quantiles and upper quantiles.
The role of intermediary capital risk in predicting oil volatility
Authors: Yin Libo
Published: August 2020

This paper aims to investigate the ability of market‐based intermediary capital risk to predict the volatility of crude oil futures. Using shocks to the market‐based intermediary capital ratio (IC_RF) of primary dealers as a predictor, this paper shows that IC_RF exhibits statistically and economically significant predictive power for the volatilities of crude oil futures, from both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample perspectives. The revealed predictability is also of economic significance, because it enables examining of the performance of portfolios that are constructed on IC_RF‐based forecasts of oil volatility. Additionally, IC_RF contains robust predictive power beyond what is embedded in traditional fundamental variables. Further analysis provides solid evidence supporting the superiority of asymmetric and regime change models over linear specifications in forecasting oil realized volatility, and it only provides weak evidence for implied oil volatility.
Oil price uncertainty and the risk‐return relation in stock markets: Evidence from oil‐importing and oil‐exporting countries
Authors: He Zhifang , Chen Jiaqi , Zhou Fangzhao , Zhang Guoqing , Wen Fenghua
Published: August 2020

This article examines the role of oil price uncertainty measured by the crude oil volatility index (OVX) in the risk‐return relation of stock markets from oil‐importing and exporting countries with the extended GARCH‐M models. It is found that oil price uncertainties have significant impacts on the stock risk‐return relationship in oil importers and exporters. Specifically, there is a positive risk‐return relation during the decreasing period of oil price uncertainty. This positive correlation will be undermined and become negative during the rising period of oil price uncertainty in most countries studied. What's more, change in oil price uncertainty negatively affects the stock risk‐return relation in general, and it has a more significant asymmetric effect in oil exporters than that in oil importers for the whole sample. In addition, we examine whether the impact of oil price uncertainty is sensitive to the global financial crisis in 2008. Our empirical results reveal that, on average, the stock risk‐return relation is more susceptible to OVX changes after the crisis period than that during the crisis period, suggesting impacts of OVX changes are undermined due to the extremely unstable global economy.
Do movements in macroeconomic determinants affect American depository receipt prices? Evidence from France
Authors: Ahad Muhammad , Anwer Zaheer
Published: August 2020

This study investigates the impact of home country macroeconomics variables on American Depository Receipt (ADR) prices for the period 2000–2016 for France using combined cointegration approach. The results reveal strong association between ADR prices and macroeconomic variables. It is observed that, in the long run, money supply, oil price, real exchange rate and market index increase ADR prices while inflation and economic growth significantly decrease ADR prices. Similarly, the short run results reveal that exchange rate and share price index exert positive and significant effect on ADR prices whereas economic growth has negative and significant effect on ADR prices. Furthermore, bi‐directional causality between ADR prices and explanatory variables is observed. This study highlights some significant policy implications for ADR investors.
Threshold effects of housing affordability and financial development on the house price‐consumption nexus
Authors: Coskun Esra Alp , Apergis Nicholas , Coskun Yener
Published: August 2020

The study explores the asymmetric effect of housing and financial wealth on household consumption behaviour using panel data from 24 OECD countries, spanning the period 2000–2016 by employing a financial development (FD) index (proxy for financial deepening) and the house price‐to‐income (HPI) ratio (proxy for housing affordability) through a threshold empirical framework. The analysis tests certain hypotheses, such as: (i) the housing wealth effect on consumption is stronger than its financial counterpart, (ii) overall wealth effects increase (decrease) during bubble (post bubble) periods, (iii) the higher level of financial development and the lower level of housing affordability ratio both result in stronger wealth effects, (iv) increasing wealth effects show a bubble formation. The results suggest that housing wealth has generally a greater positive effect on consumption. The effect of housing and financial wealth on consumption increases, depending on higher financial development and declining housing affordability. The evidence also suggests that the impact of housing and stock market wealth has increased during the dot.com and housing bubble periods.
Multi‐criteria evaluation of locations for irrigation system implementation*
Authors: Hadelan Lari , Jez Rogelj Mateja , Gugic Josip , Crncan Ana , Zrakic Magdalena
Published: August 2020

The aim of this paper is to compare and rank three possible locations for the construction of an irrigation system in different parts of Croatia. The need for this kind of research stems from the high investment costs of the irrigation system and possible long‐term negative consequences of an incorrectly selected location. This paper applies a multi‐criteria method of business decision making and ranking—the analytical hierarchy process. The overall rating of the locations was obtained from six partial grades in the following criteria: drought risk level, plant production structure at a selected location, suitability of the land for irrigation, investment costs of irrigation system per unit area, presence of young farmers and unemployment rate. The best option for the construction of an irrigation system is location 1 in Istria County, primarily because of the favourable structure of plant production with a high share of labour‐intensive crops, characterized by a favourable ratio of additional revenue and costs in irrigation conditions.
Monocyte Subsets With High Osteoclastogenic Potential and Their Epigenetic Regulation Orchestrated by IRF8
Authors: Das Amitabh , Wang Xiaobei , Kang Jessica , Coulter Alyssa , Shetty Amol C , Bachu Mahesh , Brooks Stephen R , Dell'Orso Stefania , Foster Brian L , Fan Xiaoxuan , Ozato Keiko , Somerman Martha J , Thumbigere-Math Vivek
Published: August 2020

Osteoclasts (OCs) are bone-resorbing cells formed by the serial fusion of monocytes. In mice and humans, three distinct subsets of monocytes exist; however, it is unclear if all of them exhibit osteoclastogenic potential. Here we show that in wild-type (WT) mice, Ly6Chi and Ly6Cint monocytes are the primary source of OC formation when compared to Ly6C− monocytes. Their osteoclastogenic potential is dictated by increased expression of signaling receptors and activation of preestablished transcripts, as well as de novo gain in enhancer activity and promoter changes. In the absence of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8), a transcription factor important for myelopoiesis and osteoclastogenesis, all three monocyte subsets are programmed to display higher osteoclastogenic potential. Enhanced NFATc1 nuclear translocation and amplified transcriptomic and epigenetic changes initiated at early developmental stages direct the increased osteoclastogenesis in Irf8-deficient mice. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into the transcription factors and active cis-regulatory elements that regulate OC differentiation. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
A role for social media? A community‐based response to guns, gangs, and violence online
Authors: Sichel Corianna E. , Javdani Shabnam , Shaw Stephanie , Liggett Roberta
Published: August 2020

Social media represents a relatively novel environment for prevention efforts targeting youth gun and gang violence, and associated trauma. The aim of this study is, therefore, to present findings from a novel intervention designed to complement existing, community‐based violence prevention efforts. In doing so, we focus on the role of adult empathy in the relationships between youth and the adult credible messengers (CMs) who deliver the program. Guided by the purpose of complementarity, our mixed methods data analyses combine insights gained from CM's quantitative reports of 145 instances of risky online behavior with qualitative analyses of three focus groups addressing their experiences. Results underscore the complexities of social media as a context with the potential to simultaneously contribute to, and serve to prevent, trauma. Results also indicate that empathic concern and perspective taking were important in informing the type of intervention tactics employed by CMs. Relatedly, CM's perspective taking mattered not only in their responses to risky and/or trauma‐related content, but also in their identification of some relevant social media posts.
Retinal characterization in the eyes of two bats endemic in the Egyptian fauna, the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and insectivorous bat (Pipistrellus kuhlii), using the light microscope and transmission electron microscope
Authors: Aboelnour Asmaa , Noreldin Ahmed E. , Massoud Diaa , Abumandour Mohamed M. A.
Published: August 2020

Bats are the only mammals that can fly in the dark without eye usage. This study was conducted to describe the structural and functional adaptations of the retina of two bats very common in the Egyptian fauna having a different lifestyle: the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and insectivorous bat (Pipistrellus kuhlii). Seven eyes were collected from adult individuals of each species. Examination of the retina using a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope was carried out. The retina of P. kuhlii was thicker than that of R. aegyptiacus, which had many projections extended from the choroid layer into retina forming papillae. Despite rods being dominant in retinae of both species, cone photoreceptors were encountered in both retinae. The outer plexiform layer of R. aegyptiacus was arranged into islets between the outer nuclear layer produced differences in its thickness. However, the retina of P. kuhlii showed a normal arrangement of retinal structure. The retinal pigment epithelium of both bat species consists of a single layer of the cuboidal cells with a round to oval vesicular nuclei, which showed a lack of pigmentation in R. aegyptiacus and poor pigmentation in the P. kuhlii. In conclusion, our investigation detected many structural and ultrastructural differences between the two bat species. The presence of many projections protruded from the choroid layer of R. aegyptiacus retina is considered the most characteristic difference between the retinae of R. aegyptiacus and P. kuhlii.
Addressing treatment and care needs of older adults living with HIV who use drugs
Authors: Chayama Koharu Loulou , Ng Cara , McNeil Ryan
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Older adults living with HIV (OALHIV; ≥50 years) who use drugs face unique needs and challenges that compromise their health and wellbeing due to the structural and environmental barriers they experience, in addition to being disproportionately affected by comorbidities. Nevertheless, research on this population is limited and work is needed to tailor and optimize their care and services. The purpose of this commentary is to address the key research gaps pertaining to OALHIV who use drugs.

Discussion

We identified four key research gaps specific to OALHIV who use drugs. Gap 1: Increased understanding of how older adults manage HIV alongside comorbidities in the context of substance use is critical to optimize their care management. Gap 2: More information on the geriatric characteristics of OALHIV who use drugs and the need and role of harm reduction in geriatric care is necessary for the provision of appropriate and effective care. Gap 3: Greater knowledge around the adoption of harm reduction and case manager approaches in various care facilities is essential to ensure equitable access to care for OALHIV who use drugs. Gap 4: Improved understanding of barriers to high‐quality palliative care among OALHIV who use drugs is important to enhance quality of life across their life course.

Conclusions

Addressing the identified gaps in literature will lead to a more fulsome understanding of the issues encountered by OALHIV who use drugs and inform the development and implementation of strategies that address disparities at the intersection of HIV, substance use and ageing.
The Effect of Weather Variability on Child Marriage in Bangladesh
Authors: Tsaneva Magda
Published: August 2020

Bangladesh has one of the world's highest child marriage rates. It is also one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. This paper studies the effect of climate variability on child marriage using data from five waves of the Demographic and Health Surveys. I find that a higher number of dry months in a given year significantly increases the probability of early marriage. Importantly, precipitation fluctuations only affect rural but not urban populations, suggesting that the main channel through which climate affects early marriage is likely an income channel. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automated Assessment of Cerebral Arterial Perforator Function on 7T MRI
Authors: Arts Tine , Siero Jeroen C.W. , Biessels Geert Jan , Zwanenburg Jaco J.M.
Published: August 2020

Background

Blood flow velocity and pulsatility of small cerebral perforating arteries can be measured using 7T quantitative 2D phase contrast (PC) MRI. However, ghosting artifacts arising from subject movement and pulsating large arteries cause false positives when applying a previously published perforator detection method.

Purpose

To develop a robust, automated method to exclude perforators located in ghosting artifacts.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

Fifteen patients with vascular cognitive impairment or carotid occlusive disease and 10 healthy controls.

Field Strength/Sequence

7T/cardiac‐gated 2D PC MRI.

Assessment

Perforators were automatically excluded from ghosting regions, which were defined as bands in the phase‐encoding direction of large arteries. As reference, perforators were manually excluded by two raters (T.A., J.J.M.Z.), based on perforator location with respect to visible ghosting artifacts. The performance of both censoring methods was assessed for the number of (Nincluded), mean velocity (Vmean), and pulsatility index (PI) of the included perforators.

Statistical Tests

For within‐method comparisons, inter‐ and intrarater reliability were assessed for the manual method, and test–retest reliability was assessed for both methods from repeated 2D PC scans (without repositioning). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined for Nincluded, Vmean, and PI for all within‐method comparisons. The ICC to compare between the two methods was determined with the use of both (test–retest) scans using a multilevel nonlinear mixed model.

Results

The automated censoring method showed a moderate to good ICC (95% CI) vs. manual censoring for Nincluded (0.73 [0.58–0.87]) and Vmean (0.90 [0.84–0.96]), and a moderate ICC for PI (0.57 [0.37–0.76]). The test–retest reliability of the manual censoring method was considerably lower than the interrater and intrarater reliability, indicating that scanner noise dominates the uncertainty of the analysis.

Data Conclusion

The proposed automated censoring method can reliably exclude small perforators affected by ghosting artifacts.

Level of Evidence

3.

Technical Efficacy Stage

1.
Management of SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia
Authors: Sagnelli Caterina , Celia Benito , Monari Caterina , Cirillo Salvatore , De Angelis Giulia , Bianco Andrea , Coppola Nicola
Published: August 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection has rapidly spread throughout the world since December 2019 to become a global public health emergency for the elevated deaths and hospitalizations in Intensive Care Units. The severity spectrum of SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia ranges from mild to severe clinical conditions. The clinical course of SARS‐CoV‐2 disease is correlated with multiple factors including host characteristics (genetics, immune status, age, and general health), viral load and, above all, the host distribution of the airways and lungs of the viral receptor cells. In this review, we will briefly summarize the current knowledge of the characteristics and management of coronavirus disease 2019‐pneumonia. However, other studies are needed to better understand the pathogenetic mechanisms induced by SARS‐Cov‐2 infection, and to evaluate the long‐term consequences of the virus on the lungs.
Beyond barrier functions: Roles of pericytes in homeostasis and regulation of neuroinflammation
Authors: Bhattacharya Anindita , Kaushik Deepak Kumar , Lozinski Brian Mark , Yong V. Wee
Published: August 2020

Pericytes are contractile cells that extend along the vasculature to mediate key homeostatic functions of endothelial barriers within the body. In the central nervous system (CNS), pericytes are important contributors to the structure and function of the neurovascular unit, which includes endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons. The understanding of pericytes has been marred by an inability to accurately distinguish pericytes from other stromal cells with similar expression of identifying markers. Evidence is now growing in favor of pericytes being actively involved in both CNS homeostasis and pathology of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and Alzheimer's disease among others. In this review, we discuss the current understanding on the characterization of pericytes, their roles in maintaining the integrity of the blood–brain barrier, and their contributions to neuroinflammation and neurorepair. Owing to its plethora of surface receptors, pericytes respond to inflammatory mediators such as CCL2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1) and tumor necrosis factor‐α, in turn secreting CCL2, nitric oxide, and several cytokines. Pericytes can therefore act as promoters of both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Much like professional phagocytes, pericytes also have the ability to clear up cellular debris and macromolecular plaques. Moreover, pericytes promote the activities of CNS glia, including in maturation of oligodendrocyte lineage cells for myelination. Conversely, pericytes can impair regenerative processes by contributing to scar formation. A better characterization of CNS pericytes and their functions would bode well for therapeutics aimed at alleviating their undesirable properties and enhancing their benefits.
Time‐varying trends in frost indicators in the U.S. Southern Great Plains
Authors: Zhang Yongjun , Gowda Prasanna , Brown David , Rice Charles , Zambreski Zachary , Kutikoff Seth , Lin Xiaomao
Published: August 2020

Climatic frost indicators, including the dates of the last spring frost (LSF), the dates of the first fall frost (FFF), and the length of the frost‐free season (FFSL), are critical factors in anthropogenic and natural ecosystem management and can be directly calculated from daily minimum temperatures. Daily minimum temperature from the Applied Climate Information System was used to determine long‐term trends of frost indicators across the U.S. Southern Great Plains. The results demonstrated statistically significant trends of earlier LSF in eastern Kansas, western and eastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas from 1950 to 2017. However, significantly later FFF trends and longer FFSL trends were mainly identified in eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas. Overall, the region was characterized by the trends toward earlier LSF, later FFF, and longer FFSL from 1950 to 2017. In addition, the choice of time period in the climatic time series played an important role in LSF, FFF, and FFSL trends. Furthermore, the results from the correlation analysis of LSF and FFF with multiple climate indices indicated that the increasing trends in the spring Arctic Oscillation (AO) were consistent with the earlier onset of spring in Kansas and Texas, and the fall Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) was positively correlated with the later FFF dates in Kansas.
An appraisal of the gut health modulatory effects of a calf faecal‐origin probiotic Lactobacillus salivariusCPN60 using Wistar rats with dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis
Authors: Gupta Mokshata , Pattanaik Ashok K , Singh Asmita , Sharma Shalini , Jadhav Sunil E
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Probiotics of varied origins are being developed for augmenting the gut health of human and animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a calf‐origin probiotic supplement on the gut health of Wistar rats for both healthy and colitis conditions.

RESULTS

Forty‐eight rats were randomly distributed into four equal groups. The 42‐day study involved feeding basal diet alone (CON) or diet supplemented with the calf‐origin Lactobacillus salivarius strain CPN60 (PRO). The third (CONc) and fourth (PROc) groups of rats also received the same dietary treatments (CON and PRO, respectively) but were subjected to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced colitis after 32 days of feeding. The results of a digestion trial conducted after 5 days of DSS administration revealed no influence of probiotic on the digestibility of nutrients. However, the reduced digestibility of protein and fat seen in the CONc rats was improved in the PROc group. The concentrations of lactate and acetate, propionate and butyrate, as well as total short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA), were increased (P < 0.05) in the caecal and colonic digesta upon probiotic supplementation, together with significantly reduced colonic ammonia levels. Furthermore, there were reductions (P < 0.05) in acetate, butyrate and total SCFA levels in the caecal contents as a result of colitis. Probiotic supplementation increased (P < 0.05) lactobacilli and bifidobacteria counts in the colon, whereas clostridia and coliform counts were reduced (P < 0.05). These were reversed by the probiotic supplementation.

CONCLUSION

Dietary supplementation of L. salivarius CPN60 had a positive effect with respect to improving the overall gut health of healthy rats, as well as that of rats exposed to experimental colitis. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry