bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intraspecific variation in surface water uptake in a perennial desert shrub
Authors: Zaiats Andrii , Lazarus Brynne E. , Germino Matthew J. , Serpe Marcelo D. , Richardson Bryce A. , Buerki Sven , Caughlin T. Trevor
Published: February 2020

Despite broad recognition that water is a major limiting factor in arid ecosystems, we lack an empirical understanding of how this resource is shared and distributed among neighbouring plants. Intraspecific variability can further contribute to this variation via divergent life‐history traits, including root architecture. We investigated these questions in the shrub Artemisia tridentata and hypothesized that the ability to access and utilize surface water varies among subspecies and cytotypes.

We used an isotope tracer to quantify below‐ground zone of influence in A. tridentata, and tested whether spatial neighbourhood characteristics can alter plant water uptake. We introduced deuterium‐enriched water to the soil in plant interspaces in a common garden experiment and measured deuterium composition of plant stems. We then applied spatially explicit models to test for differential water uptake by A. tridentata, including intermingled populations of three subspecies and two ploidy levels.

The results suggest that lateral root functioning in A. tridentata is associated with intraspecific identity and ploidy level. Subspecies adapted to habitats with deep soils generally had a smaller horizontal reach, and polyploid cytotypes were associated with greater water uptake compared to their diploid variants. We also found that plant crown volume was a weak predictor of water uptake, and that neighbourhood crowding had no discernable effect on water uptake.

Intraspecific variation in lateral root functioning can lead to differential patterns of resource acquisition, an essential process in arid ecosystems in the contexts of changing climate and seasonal patterns of precipitation. Altogether, we found that lateral root development and activity are more strongly related to genetic variability within A. tridentata than to plant size. Our study highlights how intraspecific variation in life strategies is linked to mechanisms of resource acquisition.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Progress and prospects in the management of bacterial infections and developments in Phytotherapeutic modalities
Authors: Akram Muhammad , Riaz Muhammad , Munir Naveed , Rasul Akhtar , Daniyal Muhammad , Ali Shah Syed Muhammad , Shariati Mohammad Ali , Shaheen Ghazala , Akhtar Naheed , Parveen Farzana , Akhter Naheed , Owais Ghauri Aymen , Chishti Abdul Wadood , Usman Sarwar Muhammad , Said Khan Fahad
Published: February 2020

The advent of antibiotics revolutionized medical care resulting in significantly reduced mortality and morbidity caused by infectious diseases. However, excessive use of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic resistance and indeed, the incidence of multidrug‐resistant pathogens is considered as a major disadvantage in medication strategy, which has led the scholar's attention towards innovative antibiotic sources in recent years. Medicinal plants contain a variety of secondary metabolites with a wide range of therapeutic potential against the resistant microbes. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore the antibacterial potential of traditional herbal medicine against bacterial infections. More than 200 published research articles reporting the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants against drug‐resistant microbial infections were searched using different databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), etc., with various keywords like medicinal plants having antibacterial activities, antimicrobial potentials, phytotherapy of bacterial infection, etc. Articles were selected related to the efficacious herbs easily available to local populations addressing common pathogens. Various plants such as Artocarpus communis, Rheum emodi, Gentiana lutea L., Cassia fistula L., Rosemarinus officinalis, Argemone maxicana L, Hydrastis canadensis, Citrus aurantifolia, Cymbopogon citrates, Carica papaya, Euphorbia hirta, etc, were found to have significant antibacterial activities. Although herbal preparations have promising potential in the treatment of multidrug‐resistant bacterial infection, still more research is required to isolate phytoconstituents, their mechanism of action as well as to find their impacts on the human body.
Sewing terror: price dynamics of the strawberry needle crisis
Authors: Schaefer K. Aleks , Scheitrum Daniel
Published: February 2020

In September 2018, a former strawberry‐picking supervisor for a strawberry farm in New South Wales was arrested for inserting sewing needles in hundreds of punnets of fresh strawberries sold in retail stores across several Australian states. This paper analyses the 2018 Australian strawberry needle scare as a case study on the market impacts of agro‐terrorism events. We develop a novel four‐step procedure to estimate the effects of the strawberry needle contamination on wholesale fresh strawberry prices. Our results indicate a drop in wholesale fresh strawberries prices of about 20% while the needle crisis was ongoing. However, public and private supply restrictions caused wholesale prices to rise by up to 94% relative to expected dynamics over several weeks in the immediate wake of the incident.
Incidence of lichen sclerosus and subsequent causes of death: a nationwide Finnish register study
Authors: Halonen P , Jakobsson M , Heikinheimo O , Gissler M , Pukkala E
Published: February 2020

Objective

To assess the incidence of lichen sclerosus (LS) in women and the all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality of women with LS.

Design

Population‐based descriptive study.

Setting

Finland.

Population

All Finnish women, including 7790 women diagnosed with LS during the period 1969–2012.

Methods

Information gathered from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register on women with LS was combined with dates and causes of death from Statistics Finland and the Finnish Cancer Registry. Population statistics are from Statistics Finland.

Main outcome measures

Crude and age‐adjusted incidence rates of LS and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs).

Results

The incidence rate of LS adjusted for age (European Standard Population) increased from 14 per 100 000 woman‐years in 2003 to 22 per 100 000 woman‐years in 2010–2012. The age‐specific incidence rate was highest in postmenopausal women (24–53 per 100 000) but was also elevated in girls aged 5–9 years (seven per 100 000). The all‐cause mortality of women with LS was lower than in the general female population (SMR 0.84, 95% CI 0.78–0.90), mostly as a result of decreased mortality from circulatory diseases (SMR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72–0.89) and dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (SMR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62–0.88). The cancer mortality equalled that of the population, but the vulvar cancer mortality was increased (SMR 28.1, 95% CI 19.3–39.4).

Conclusions

Lichen sclerosus is a common disease of elderly women. The overall mortality is decreased whereas the mortality as a result of vulvar cancer is increased.

Tweetable abstract

The likelihood of getting LS by age 80 years is 1.6%. The mortality of women with LS is reduced compared with that of the population.
Deoxynivalenol: Masked forms, fate during food processing, and potential biological remedies
Authors: Guo Hongyan , Ji Jian , Wang Jia‐sheng , Sun Xiulan
Published: February 2020

Deoxynivalenol (DON) has drawn global attention because of its prevalence and significant effects on human or animal health. Biological remedies for DON have been developed from preharvest to postharvest. Applying microbes, including bacteria, fungi (yeast and molds), and enzymes, results in inhibited synthesis, structural destruction, or adsorption of DON. DON can be degraded into masked forms by phase I metabolism or phase II metabolism. During food processing, DON content changes dynamically and is even transformed. Physical, chemical, thermal, or biological processes physically reduce DON content. Temperature, heating time, enzymes, food additives, microorganisms, food composition, contamination level, and other ingredients are key factors. Although DON content can be reduced during food processing, increases in other toxins, such as DON‐3‐β‐d‐glucoside and 3‐acetyl‐DON, can be potentially risky. The application of biodegradation methods in food processing bears research significance. Both microorganisms and enzymes can be potentially used. Novel techniques, such as RNA interference, omics technologies, or enzymes coupled with the genetic engineering method, can be introduced. This review systematically updates the understanding of masked forms of DON, biological degradation strategy, fate of DON during processing, and future trends for biodegradation. Challenges to the successful application of biological methods may include the stability and suitability of the detoxification agents, security of degradation products, and successful application for industrial production.
Incidence and outcomes of aortic dissection for emergency departments in New South Wales, Australia 2017–2018: A data linkage study
Authors: Dinh Michael M , Bein Kendall J , Delaney John , Berendsen Russell Saartje , Royle Tim
Published: February 2020

Objective

The aims of the present study were to describe the age‐specific incidence and 30‐day mortality of aortic dissection patients presenting to the EDs in New South Wales (NSW).

Methods

This was a data linkage study involving emergency, inpatient and death registry administrative data from NSW.

Results

The present study found 273 instances of aortic dissection in NSW from July 2017 to July 2018. Calculated incidence was 3.47 per 100 000. Incidence increased exponentially with age. The 30‐day mortality rate among this cohort was 35.53% (n = 97). Mortality was significantly associated with age and pre‐existing comorbidity burden, but was not associated with gender, level of hospital or time of presentation.

Conclusions

The present study found the incidence of aortic dissection within the NSW population to be 3.4 per 100 000. The incidence of aortic dissection in our population increased from 8.6 per 100 000 for people aged between 60 and 80 years to 32 per 100 000 for those aged over 80 years.
Structural characterization of the micropatterned egg plastron in the mosquito, Aedes albopictus
Authors: Kim Hoon , Sun Yan , Bae Chae‐Gyeom , Moon Myung‐Jin
Published: February 2020

Eggs of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus are fully covered with an air‐covering plastron network that enables them to stay below the surface of the water. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the chorionic surface was covered with clusters of globular tubercles of different sizes. Histologically, the eggshell provides a typical water‐repellent microarchitecture consisting of an outer exochorion, a membranous endochorion and an intermediate pillar layer. The eggshell has a distinct chorionic tubercle that increases the surface area for gas exchange to enhance respiration capacity. In particular, the chorionic wall gives rise to a hexagonal pattern with smooth and elevated boundaries. In A. albopictus, a set of micropatterns for each hexagon was specified, and each central tubercle was surrounded by 20 small peripheral tubercles. Our fine structural analysis revealed that the partitioning of the surface into numerous hexagonal chorionic sculptures is associated with the Voronoi partition (tessellation), based on the distance to a point in a specific area of the plane. Therefore, the micropatterned surface of the mosquito eggshell appears to not only resist wetting by hydrostatic pressure but also provide resistance to lysate deposition by the biofouling process.
Wounds and Wonder: Emotion, Imagination and War in the Cultures of Romantic Surgery
Authors: Brown Michael
Published: February 2020

Abstract: This article uses the writings of the surgical siblings John and Charles Bell to explore the relationships between surgery, war and emotion in the Romantic era. Drawing on the argument that it was in this period that war came to be constructed as the ‘ultimate' emotional experience, rich in pathos and distinct from anything in civil life, it argues that surgeons such as the Bells might capitalise on the cultural cachet of war to bridge the professional and experiential divide between the civil and military spheres, but that this process was fraught with complexity and ambiguity, both politically and emotionally.
Abolishing Cruelty: The Concurrent Growth of Anti‐Slavery and Animal Welfare Sentiment in British and Colonial Literature
Authors: Carey Brycchan
Published: February 2020

This article argues that anti‐slavery and animal welfare writers actively and concurrently extended the boundaries of sympathy to promote an anti‐cruelty ethos that encompassed both suffering animals and suffering people and demanded that this shift in sensibilities be enshrined in legislation. It charts this from the 1680s to the 1770s in pamphlets and novels by Thomas Tryon, Sarah Scott, Humphrey Primatt and Laurence Sterne, before exploring parallel early nineteenth‐century debates over bull‐baiting and the abolition of slavery in texts by Thomas Day, Percival Stockdale and Elizabeth Heyrick.
Inhibition of USP7 activity selectively eliminates senescent cells in part via restoration of p53 activity
Authors: He Yonghan , Li Wen , Lv Dongwen , Zhang Xin , Zhang Xuan , Ortiz Yuma T. , Budamagunta Vivekananda , Campisi Judith , Zheng Guangrong , Zhou Daohong
Published: February 2020

The accumulation of senescent cells (SnCs) is a causal factor of various age‐related diseases as well as some of the side effects of chemotherapy. Pharmacological elimination of SnCs (senolysis) has the potential to be developed into novel therapeutic strategies to treat these diseases and pathological conditions. Here we show that ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 7 (USP7) is a novel target for senolysis because inhibition of USP7 with an inhibitor or genetic depletion of USP7 by RNA interference induces apoptosis selectively in SnCs. The senolytic activity of USP7 inhibitors is likely attributable in part to the promotion of the human homolog of mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) ubiquitination and degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome system. This degradation increases the levels of p53, which in turn induces the pro‐apoptotic proteins PUMA, NOXA, and FAS and inhibits the interaction of BCL‐XL and BAK to selectively induce apoptosis in SnCs. Further, we show that treatment with a USP7 inhibitor can effectively eliminate SnCs and suppress the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) induced by doxorubicin in mice. These findings suggest that small molecule USP7 inhibitors are novel senolytics that can be exploited to reduce chemotherapy‐induced toxicities and treat age‐related diseases.
Shared Decision Making in Patients With Suspected Uncomplicated Ureterolithiasis: A Decision Aid Development Study
Authors: Schoenfeld Elizabeth M. , Houghton Connor , Patel Pooja M. , Merwin Leanora W. , Poronsky Kye P. , Caroll Anna L. , Sánchez Santana Carol , Breslin Maggie , Scales Charles D. , Lindenauer Peter K. , Mazor Kathleen M. , Hess Erik P.
Published: February 2020

Objective

The objective was to develop a decision aid (DA) to facilitate shared decision making (SDM) around whether to obtain computed tomography (CT) imaging in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected uncomplicated ureterolithiasis.

Methods

We used evidence‐based DA development methods, including qualitative methods and iterative stakeholder engagement, to develop and refine a DA. Guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS), and a steering committee made up of stakeholders, we conducted interviews and focus groups with a purposive sample of patients, community members, emergency clinicians, and other stakeholders. We used an iterative process to code the transcripts and identify themes. We beta‐tested the DA with patient–clinician dyads facing the decision in real time.

Results

From August 2018 to August 2019, we engaged 102 participants in the design and iterative refinement of a DA focused on diagnostic options for patients with suspected ureterolithiasis. Forty‐six were ED patients, community members, or patients with ureterolithiasis, and the remaining were emergency clinicians (doctors, residents, advanced practitioners), researchers, urologists, nurses, or other physicians. Patients and clinicians identified several key decisional needs including an understanding of accuracy, uncertainty, radiation exposure/cancer risk, and clear return precautions. Patients and community members identified facilitators to SDM, such as a checklist of signs and symptoms. Many stakeholders, including both patients and ED clinicians, expressed a strong pro‐CT bias. A six‐page DA was developed, iteratively refined, and beta‐tested.

Conclusions

Using stakeholder engagement and qualitative inquiry, we developed an evidence‐based DA to facilitate SDM around the question of CT scan utilization in patients with suspected uncomplicated ureterolithiasis. Future research will test the efficacy of the DA in facilitating SDM.
A review of drugs that contribute to bleeding risk in general dental practice
Authors: Teoh L , Moses G , McCullough MJ
Published: February 2020

The risk of postoperative bleeding is a daily concern for many general dental practitioners. A thorough medical and medication history must be taken to consider all risk factors, particularly drugs, that contribute to bleeding risk. While the risk from drugs such as aspirin, warfarin and clopidogrel are well known, the extent to which new antiplatelet agents and direct oral anticoagulants affect bleeding risk is less well understood. In addition, there are drugs other than antithrombotics, such as antidepressants and complementary medicines that also impair haemostasis. The aim of this paper is to provide dentists with an updated overview of the drugs commonly encountered in general dental practice that can contribute to a patient’s postoperative bleeding risk.
Characterization of wild bee communities in apple and blueberry orchards
Authors: Nooten Sabine S. , Odanaka Katherine , Rehan Sandra M.
Published: February 2020

Wild bees provide invaluable ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes such as pollination. However, in recent decades, pollinator biodiversity, especially in wild bees, is declining on a global scale, with potentially far‐reaching consequences for crop production. Thus, there is an urgent need to determine whether wild bees are present in agricultural systems, such as fruit orchards.

In the present study, we examined the wild bee fauna at species and community levels during the period of bee activity (May to August) in apple and high‐bush blueberry orchards in New England.

Bee communities are crop‐specific and dominated by very few species, which fluctuate according to crop and season. The blueberry associated bee fauna was more diverse. In apple, communities were phylogenetically clustered at the genus level and dominated by solitary ground nesting bees within the genus Andrena. Species fluctuated widely in presence and abundance throughout the season, leading to differences in community composition and functional trait structure.

The results obtained in the present study show that apple and blueberry harbour a distinct and diverse bee fauna that performs vital pollination services in orchards. Our results provide essential baseline data for wild bees in blueberry and apple orchards and this can be used to improve management and conservation strategies for wild bee preservation in these crops.
Heterozygotes for ACAN dwarfism alleles in horses have reduced stature
Authors: Graves K. T. , Eberth J. E. , Bailey E.
Published: February 2020

Homozygous and compound heterozygous Miniature horses for ACAN alleles D1, D2, D3* and D4 exhibit chondrodysplastic dwarfism (OMIA 001271‐9796). In a previous study, the carrier rate for these four alleles, combined, was 26.2%. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether carriers of these dwarfism‐causing alleles had a shorter withers height than non‐carriers. A total of 245 Miniature horses were tested for these four ACAN alleles and also were measured for withers height. Of these horses, 98 were carriers and 147 were non‐carriers. A statistically significant difference of 1.43 inches was observed with the carriers being shorter (P = 1.72E − 11). The range of heights for the two groups overlapped, indicating that other factors, including genes, have an impact on withers height. However, the high carrier rate of these dwarfism‐causing variants may be due to selection for decreased height.
E‐referrals and teledermatoscopy grading for melanoma: a successful model of care
Authors: Sunderland Michael , Teague Rebecca , Gale Katherine , Rademaker Marius , Oakley Amanda , Martin Richard C. W.
Published: February 2020

Background/Objectives

An e‐referral system was developed at a tertiary care hospital in Auckland, New Zealand in 2014 for suspected cutaneous malignancy. E‐referrals include patient information, a description of the lesion(s), biopsy results and/or attached photograph(s). Experienced surgical oncologists prioritised the referrals and selected a management option or referred them for a teledermatoscopy opinion. Our aim was to review the efficacy of e‐referrals for improving diagnostic accuracy for melanoma.

Methods

Referrals received in 2016 including images and categorisation as confirmed, likely or suspected melanoma by the triage specialist were evaluated. Concordance of the pathological diagnosis with the triage diagnosis and teledermatoscopy diagnosis was determined for each referral.

Results

809 of 3470 e‐referrals for skin cancer were categorised as confirmed, likely or suspected melanoma. 230 (28.4%) of these included a referral histopathology confirming melanoma/melanoma in situ. Of the remaining 579 referrals, 315 were sent for urgent diagnostic excision and 264 were referred for teledermatoscopy. 120 of the 315 sent for urgent excision were confirmed as melanoma (53) or melanoma in situ (67) on histopathology: a positive predictive value (PPV) of 38.1% and number needed to excise (NNE) of 2.6. Less than 10% of referrals triaged for teledermatoscopy were confirmed as melanoma (24/264). Almost half of all referrals (374/809, 45.6%) included melanoma/melanoma in situ. The melanoma: melanoma in situ ratio was 1: 1.18.

Conclusions

The e‐referral and teledermatoscopy service for suspected melanoma has proven fewer unnecessary excisions of benign lesions than previously reported.
Antibiotic use during pregnancy increases offspring asthma severity in a dose‐dependent manner
Authors: Alhasan Moumen M. , Cait Alissa M. , Heimesaat Markus M. , Blaut Michael , Klopfleisch Robert , Wedel Alexander , Conlon Thomas M. , Yildirim Ali Ö. , Sodemann Elisa B. , Mohn William W. , Bereswill Stefan , Conrad Melanie L.
Published: February 2020

Background

The use of antibiotics during pregnancy is associated with increased allergic asthma risk in the offspring, and given that approximately 25% of pregnant women are prescribed antibiotics, it is important to understand the mechanisms contributing to this phenomenon. Currently, there are no studies that directly test this association experimentally. Our objective was to develop a mouse model in which antibiotic treatment during pregnancy results in increased offspring asthma susceptibility.

Methods

Pregnant mice were treated daily from gestation day 8‐17 with an oral solution of the antibiotic vancomycin, and three concentrations were tested. At weaning, offspring were subjected to an adjuvant‐free experimental asthma protocol using ovalbumin as an allergen. The composition of the gut microbiome was determined in mothers and offspring with samples collected from five different time points; short‐chain fatty acids were also analyzed in allergic offspring.

Results

We found that maternal antibiotic treatment during pregnancy was associated with increased offspring asthma severity in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, maternal vancomycin treatment during pregnancy caused marked changes in the gut microbiome composition in both mothers and pups at several different time points. The increased asthma severity and intestinal microbiome changes in pups were also associated with significantly decreased cecal short‐chain fatty acid concentrations.

Conclusion

Consistent with the “Developmental Origins Hypothesis,” our results confirm that exposure to antibiotics during pregnancy shapes the neonatal intestinal environment and increases offspring allergic lung inflammation.
Long‐term results of simultaneous and delayed liver resections of synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastases
Authors: Slupski Maciej , Jasinski Milosz , Pierscinski Stanislaw , Wicinski Michal
Published: February 2020

Background

Complete resection is the only potential curative treatment of synchronous colorectal liver metastases. Although simultaneous liver and colon resections became an accepted procedure at specialized centres for selected patients, there is still little data about the long‐term results of simultaneous operative procedures compared with those of delayed operations. In this retrospective study, the long‐term survival rates of the patients who underwent simultaneous or delayed resections were presented.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of liver resections in our institution between 1997 and 2012 was performed. Among 131 patients presented with synchronous colorectal liver metastases, 52 underwent simultaneous and 79 delayed resection. Patients with extrahepatic metastases were excluded, except for 10 patients with metastases limited to liver and lungs that were qualified as resectable.

Results

Age, sex and localization of the primary tumour were similar in the two groups. In the delayed resection group, the majority of colon resections were performed in different hospitals. The frequency of complications did not differ between the groups. The 1, 5 and 10 years survival rates were 77%, 43% and 20% in simultaneous and 86%, 37% and 19% in delayed resection group, respectively. No cancer related deaths occurred after more than 10 years of observation.

Conclusion

The long‐term outcome of simultaneous resection of synchronous colorectal liver metastases is comparable to delayed resection.
A novel roller pump for physiological flow
Authors: Chong Albert , Sun Zhonghua , van de Velde Lennart , Jansen Shirley , Versluis Michel , Reijnen Michel M. P. J. , Groot Jebbink Erik
Published: February 2020

Having physiological correct flow waveforms is a key feature for experimental studies of blood flow, especially in the process of developing and testing a new medical device such as stent, mechanical heart valve, or any implantable medical device that involves circulation of blood through the device. It is also a critical part of a perfusion system for cardiopulmonary bypass and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation procedures. This study investigated the feasibility of a novel roller pump for use in experimental flow phantoms. Flow rates of carotid flow profile measured directly with the ultrasonic flow meter matched well with the reference flow rates programmed into the machine with similarity index of 0.97 and measured versus programmed flow rates at specific time‐points of peak systolic velocity (PSV): 0.894 vs 0.880, end systolic velocity (ESV): 0.333 vs 0.319, and peak diastolic velocity (PDV): 0.514 vs 0.520 L/min. Flow rates derived from video analysis of the pump motion for carotid, suprarenal, and infrarenal flows also matched well with references with similarity indices of 0.99, 0.99, and 0.96, respectively. Measured flow rates (mean/standard deviation) at PSV, ESV, and PDV time‐points for carotid: 0.883/0.016 vs 0.880, 0.342/0.007 vs 0.319, and 0.485/0.009 vs 0.520; suprarenal: 3.497/0.014 vs 3.500, 0.004/0.003 vs 0, and 1.656/0.073 vs 1.453; infrarenal: 4.179/0.024 vs 4.250, −1.147/0.015 vs −1.213, and 0.339/0.017 vs 0.391 L/min, respectively. The novel roller pump is suitable for benchtop testing of physiological flow.
Productivity and Wage Effects of Firm‐Level Collective Agreements: Evidence from Belgian Linked Panel Data
Authors: Garnero Andrea , Rycx François , Terraz Isabelle
Published: February 2020

How do firm‐level collective agreements affect firm performance in a multi‐level bargaining system? Using detailed Belgian‐linked employer–employee panel data, our findings show that firm‐level agreements increase both wage costs and labour productivity (with respect to sector‐level agreements). Relying on approaches developed by Bartolucci and Hellerstein et al., they also indicate that firm‐level agreements exert a stronger impact on wages than on productivity, so that profitability is hampered. However, this rent‐sharing effect mostly holds in sectors where firms are more concentrated or less exposed to international competition. Firm agreements are thus mainly found to raise wages beyond labour productivity when the rents to be shared between workers and firms are relatively big. Overall, this suggests that firm‐level agreements benefit both employers and employees — through higher productivity and wages — without being very detrimental to firms’ performance.
A measurement of affluence and poverty interdependence across countries: Evidence from the application of tail copula
Authors: Matkovskyy Roman
Published: February 2020

This paper examines affluence and poverty interdependence across 185 countries and its evolution over 1969–2014. To estimate affluence and poverty interdependence and derive tail interdependences the tail copulae are applied to multivariate density function. The tail coefficients are estimated in the non‐parametric way as in Schmidt and Stadtmüller (2006). The estimates show, that poverty is less interdependent and continue to decrease, while affluence has asymptotically high global dependence, meaning a higher global dependence on and sensitivity to the well‐being of the affluent countries.

The received results derive the pattern of the extreme interdependence and can help to identify poverty and affluence spill‐over across countries and regions and calculate the average sensitivity of a country to these phenomena on the global level and can potentially help in poverty reduction strategies within the Sustainable Development Goal by the United Nations.
Downstream offshoring and firm‐level employment
Authors: Merlevede Bruno , Michel Bernhard
Published: February 2020

When engaging in offshoring, firms import not only intermediates they used to produce in‐house but also intermediates they previously sourced from non‐affiliated domestic suppliers. This leads to a negative demand shock for the latter. We label this demand shock “downstream offshoring” and develop a novel measure capturing its extent for a firm in a given upstream industry. According to our instrumental variables estimations for a rich sample of Belgian manufacturing firms for the period of 1997 to 2007, downstream offshoring has a robust negative effect on employment.
Does Reconciliation and Racial Justice Necessitate a Struggle against White Supremacy?
Authors: Wilkes Rima
Published: February 2020

Several literatures including those focusing on settler colonialism, critical antiracism as well as ethnic studies and sociology more broadly often position racial injustice and genocide as a struggle against whiteness and white supremacy. Here I use my own positionality to illustrate what might be unseen in the current thinking about the meaning of what whiteness entails. Then I propose the preliminary workings of a nonbinary approach to thinking about racial justice and reconciliation that still centers the specific experiences of oppression but that does not also entail blaming a particular group as oppressor. While I focus on Canada and responsibility for Indigenous genocide and, to some extent, anti‐Black racism, my hope is that the theoretical logic will also be of utility for thinking about moving forward on issues of racial justice and genocide in other contexts.
Management of Insulin Autoimmune Hypoglycaemia: Single‐centre experience from Western India with systematic review of world literature
Authors: Patel Muniraj , Shah Ravikumar , Ramteke‐Jadhav Swati , Patil Virendra , Patel Shivendra Kumar , Lila Anurag , Shah Nalini , Bandgar Tushar
Published: February 2020

Background

Awareness about Insulin Autoimmune Hypoglycaemia (IAH) and its management remains limited.

Methodology

We describe two cohorts: Cohort 1 (n = 7) included patients with IAH from a tertiary care centre in India and Cohort 2 (n = 294) included systematic review of published English literature from PubMed. They were compared with our insulinoma patients (n = 41).

Results

Cohort 1 included seven female patients where two had drugs (carbimazole and thiocolchicoside) as triggering factors. Except for one patient requiring oral prednisolone, others had spontaneous remission. The unique features from our series are being first case series of IAH from India and reporting of second case of thiocolchicoside triggered IAH.

Cohort 2 had 294 patients identified from 149 publications. Mean age was 54 ± 19 years. Thirty‐five different triggers were identified from 160 cases. Antithyroid drugs were most common triggers in Japanese patients and most common HLA allele was DRB1*0406, while it was alpha‐lipoic acid and HLA DRB1*0403 in non‐Asians. Serum Insulin >100 µIU/mL and insulin to C‐peptide molar ratio (ICMR) >0.25 had specificity of 100% and 97.5%, respectively, for IAH as compared to insulinoma. 56% patients had remission with complex carbohydrate diet and trigger removal while 43% required immunosuppressants. 70% achieved remission within 6 months.

Conclusions

Middle age remains most common age group. Sulfhydryl drugs are most common triggers. Serum Insulin >100 µIU/mL and ICMR > 0.25 in critical sample are good predictors for diagnosis of IAH, which needs to be confirmed by IAA. Conservative management with dietary modification and trigger removal usually suffices in majority. Rests need immunosuppressants.
Front Cover
Authors: Alkuraya Hisham , Patel Nisha , Ibrahim Niema , Al Ghamdi Bandar , Alsulaiman Sulaiman M. , Nowilaty Sawsan R. , Abboud Emad , Alturki Ramadan , Alkharashi Abdullah , Eyaid Wafaa , Almasseri Zainab , Alzaidan Hamad , Alotaibi Mohammed D. , Abu El‐Asrar Ahmed M. , Alamro Bandar , Helaby Rana , Elshaer Amani , Almontashiri Naif A.M. , Al‐Hussaini Abdulrahman A. , Alkuraya Fowzan S.
Published: February 2020

The cover image is based on the Original Article Phenotypic delineation of the retinal arterial macroaneurysms with supravalvular pulmonic stenosis syndrome by Hisham Alkuraya et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/cge.13676.

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Are People Sensitive to Problems in Communication?
Authors: Micklos Ashley , Walker Bradley , Fay Nicolas
Published: February 2020

Recent research indicates that interpersonal communication is noisy, and that people exhibit considerable insensitivity to problems in communication. Using a dyadic referential communication task, the goal of which is accurate information transfer, this study examined the extent to which interlocutors are sensitive to problems in communication and use other‐initiated repairs (OIRs) to address them. Participants were randomly assigned to dyads (N = 88 participants, or 44 dyads) and tried to communicate a series of recurring abstract geometric shapes to a partner across a text–chat interface. Participants alternated between directing (describing shapes) and matching (interpreting shape descriptions) roles across 72 trials of the task. Replicating prior research, over repeated social interactions communication success improved and the shape descriptions became increasingly efficient. In addition, confidence in having successfully communicated the different shapes increased over trials. Importantly, matchers were less confident on trials in which communication was unsuccessful, communication success was lower on trials that contained an OIR compared to those that did not contain an OIR, and OIR trials were associated with lower Director Confidence. This pattern of results demonstrates that (a) interlocutors exhibit (a degree of) sensitivity to problems in communication, (b) they appropriately use OIRs to address problems in communication, and (c) OIRs signal problems in communication.
Toward improved impact evaluation of community forest management in Indonesia
Authors: Meijaard Erik , Santika Truly , Wilson Kerrie A. , Budiharta Sugeng , Kusworo Ahmad , Law Elizabeth A. , Friedman Rachel , Hutabarat Joseph A. , Indrawan Tito P. , Sherman Julie , St. John Freya A. V. , Struebig Matthew J.
Published: February 2020

Many tropical countries continue to devolve forest management to forest‐dwelling communities. The assumption is that local knowledge of forests and community engagement in forest management will attain multiple social and environmental co‐benefits, such as poverty alleviation and reduced deforestation and fires. Evidence for this, however, is scant, commonly hampered by data availability and a lack of technical capacity for implementing statistically robust impact evaluations. Based on a practice‐based review of policy implementation, impact evaluation of case studies and examples of counterfactual analyses from Indonesia, we demonstrate that it is increasingly feasible to determine the conditions under which community forest management will most likely achieve its social and environmental objectives. Adapting community forest management implementation based on feedback from accurate impact evaluation could lead to positive outcomes for people and environment in Indonesia, and across the tropical realm.
Disparities in DCD organ procurement policy from a national OPO survey: A call for standardization
Authors: Choubey Ankur Pranjal , Siskind Eric J. , Ortiz Alex C. , Nayebpour Mehdi , Koizumi Naoru , Wiederhold Paul , Ortiz Jorge
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Procurement practices across organ procurement organizations (OPOs) for donation after cardiac death (DCD) transplants have not been evaluated.

Methods

A national telephone survey of all 58 OPOs inquiring about their procurement practices of DCD organs was conducted. Policies concerning maximum donor body mass index (BMI), location of care withdrawal, pre‐mortem heparin administration, vasodilator use, wait times after declaration of death before incisions, inclinations between rapid laparotomy and pre‐mortem cannulation, and maximum time before aborting DCD procurement were queried.

Results

The survey revealed substantial differences across OPOs. Donor BMI restriction was considered by 36 of 58 OPOs, and 23 sites preferred OR for donor withdrawal of care. Pre‐mortem heparin was utilized by 53 OPOs. Only 2 recommended vasodilators. Minimum wait time of 5‐minutes was implemented by 41 OPOs. Rapid laparotomy was preferred by 57 organizations. 28 OPOs had a 90‐minute limit before aborting DCD procurement.

Conclusion

There are substantial variations across OPO protocols for procuring DCD organs. Current practices do not conform to ASTS guidelines for DCD procurement. Further investigations are needed to quantify the impact of OPO policies on transplant outcomes.
Temporary contraindication of obese recipients in kidney transplantation: A new morphometric tool for decision support
Authors: Pinar Ugo , Renard Yohann , Bedretdinova Dina , Parier Bastien , Hammoudi Yacine , Irani Jacques , Bessede Thomas
Published: February 2020

Background

Morbid obesity, based on body mass index (BMI) and/or clinical examination, can be a temporary contraindication (TCI) of kidney transplantation. However, BMI alone does not evaluate the intra‐ or extra‐peritoneal distribution of fatty tissue, and clinical examination alone is subjective. The objective was to evaluate the interest of morphometric criteria to ensure reproducible and consensual decision of TCI.

Methods

We retrospectively included patients with a BMI >30 transplanted or temporarily contraindicated because of their weight from 2012 to 2017. The following measurements were performed on CT scan sections using a semiautomatic Hounsfield density detection software: subcutaneous adipose tissue surface (SAT), visceral adipose tissue surface (VAT), vessel‐to‐skin distance (VSK), abdominal perimeter (AP), and psoas index. Performance of morphometric measures to predict TCI was assessed through ROC analysis.

Results

Ninety‐seven patients were included: 76 kidney transplant recipients and 21 on the TCI list. The area under the curve (AUC, 95%CI) for the BMI model to predict TCI was 0.81 (0.72‐0.90). A 5‐variable model including BMI, VAT, VSK, AP, and age gave an AUC of 0.88 (0.78‐0.98).

Conclusions

Morphometric obesity parameters are associated with TCI decision‐making for kidney transplantation: When combined with BMI in a “morphometric tool,” they were predictive of a TCI decision.
Monetary Policies versus Regulatory Policies: Management of Peer to Peer Market Interest Rates
Authors: Li Cangshu
Published: February 2020

This paper studies how monetary and regulatory policies manage peer to peer (P2P) interest rates. Based on selected representative monetary and regulatory policies, this paper finds that easy monetary policies reduce the demand for online loans, thus reducing the market's interest rates. Monetary policies may increase the supply of online loans through rational expectation channels or reduce the demand for online loans through bank risk‐taking channels. Normative market‐based regulatory policy enables the P2P market to return to rationality, eliminates high‐risk investors and borrowers, and subsequently reduces market interest rates. Risk disposal‐based regulatory policy reduces market supply to some extent, resulting in a small increase in interest rates. Both easy monetary policies and regulatory policies have a great impact on the normal platforms. The interest rate of high‐risk platforms is less affected by the relevant policies, which is evidence that such platforms do not behave in accordance with the financial rules in general. Monetary policies mainly affect platforms with interest rates in a relatively normal range, while regulatory policies mainly focus on platforms with abnormal interest rates.
Monetary Policy and Borrowers’ Loan Defaults: Research Based on Data from Renrendai
Authors: Song Wenda , Zhang Haiyang
Published: February 2020

This paper uses Renrendai data to study the relationship between monetary policy and the default behavior of borrowers, and analyzes the transmission channels. The research shows that tight monetary policy will lead to a significant increase in a borrower's probability to default, and this effect will continue for several months. There may be two transmission channels: (i) monetary policy changes a debtor's liquidity through credit and balance sheet channels, which directly affects their current repayment behavior; and (ii) monetary policy may affect a borrower's investment, production and profitability, thus changing their long‐term solvency. The paper also finds that the repayment behavior of productive borrowers is more susceptible to monetary policy than consumptive borrowers, and that the default behavior of borrowers in coastal provinces is more susceptible to monetary policy than of borrowers in inland provinces. These findings provide new evidence for understanding how monetary policy affects individual behavior and its transmission mechanisms.
Quantitative image analysis for CD8 score in lung small biopsies and cytology cell‐blocks
Authors: Monaco Sara E. , Dacic Sanja , Seigh Lindsey , Hartman Douglas J. , Xing Juan , Pantanowitz Liron
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Immunotherapy has shown promising results in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for which tumour‐infiltrating cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells play a critical role. We investigated the utility of image analysis (IA) to quantify CD8+ T cells in a series of matched small biopsies and resections of NSCLC.

Methods

CD8 immunohistochemistry was performed on cell‐blocks (CB), core needle biopsies (CNB) and corresponding resections from primary NSCLCs. Slides were digitised using an Aperio AT2 scanner (Leica) and annotated by whole slide image (WSI) or fields of view occupied by tissue spots (TS). Quantitative IA was performed with a customised Aperio algorithm (Leica). CD8 scores (number of T cells with 1‐3+ staining/total area) were then compared.

Results

Forty‐four cases with CB or CNB material and a corresponding resection were analysed. Average CD8 score was determined in CB (7.67 WSI, 77.67 TS) and/or CNB (47.35 WSI, 325.67 TS), and corresponding resections (190.35 WSI, 336.58 TS). CD8 score concordance was highest (78.6%) for CNBs using WSI annotation. Overall, small biopsies (CB or CNB) correlated with the resection in 71.4% cases using WSI and 63.3% cases using TS annotation. IA performed better for low CD8 scores.

Conclusions

These findings show that CD8 density in NSCLC can be quantified by IA in small biopsies and cell blocks, achieving the best concordance using WSI scores. Discrepancies were attributed to values near the cut‐off and background detection of staining. These data warrant future studies with more cases and follow‐up data to further investigate the clinical utility of IA for CD8 analysis in NSCLC.
Hereditary angioedema in a single family with specific mutations in both plasminogen and SERPING1 genes
Authors: Bork Konrad , Zibat Arne , Ferrari David M. , Wollnik Bernd , Schön Michael P. , Wulff Karin , Lippert Undine
Published: February 2020

Background

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a group of genetic diseases characterized by recurrent, painful and potentially lethal tissue swelling. The most common form results from mutations in the SERPING1 gene, leading to reduced function of complement 1 inhibitor (C1‐INH). Rarer forms with normal C1‐INH may arise from mutations in the coagulation factor F12 gene, but mostly the genetic background is unknown. Recently, a novel HAE mutation in the plasminogen (PLG) gene was shown.

Patients and methods

We analyzed the various clinical manifestations of HAE in 14 related patients using clinical data, biochemical analysis for C1‐INH and C4 as well as gene sequencing.

Results

Patients’ symptoms were assigned to two different forms of HAE. In ten patients suffering from swelling of the lips or tongue but not of the extremities, a mutation in the PLG gene (c.988A>G) was found whereas in the only four patients with swelling of the gastrointestinal tract and extremities, a mutation in the SERPING1 gene (c.1480C>T) was identified. In two cases this was additional to PLG c.988A>G.

Conclusions

This unique finding of two different HAE‐specific mutations in a large family not only explains the divergent phenotypes but also supports a genotype‐phenotype correlation showing that abdominal attacks and swelling of the extremities are common with HAE‐C1‐INH but unusual with HAE‐PLG.