bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pyramidal weakness: Is it time to retire the term?
Authors: Castle‐Kirszbaum Mendel , Goldschlager Tony
Published: December 2020

Pyramidal weakness, that is, the weakness that preferentially spares the antigravity muscles, is considered an integral part of the upper motor neuron syndrome. Despite its name, pyramidal weakness has very little to do with the pyramidal tract, and preeminent texts on neurology, neuroanatomy, and clinical examination differ considerably in their descriptions and localization of this enigmatic finding. Evidence from human and nonhuman primate studies demonstrates that lesions confined only to the corticospinal (pyramidal) tract cause significant deficits in fine motor control of the hand, but do not cause posturing or patterned weakness of the extremities. Lesioning of the corticofugal fibers, particularly the corticoreticular and corticopontine tracts, leads to dysbalanced output from reticulospinal, and vestibulospinal systems, which along with changes in rubrospinal tract output balance, probably accounts for the pyramidal weakness pattern. Importantly, this would delineate that pyramidal weakness could only be incited by lesions above the brainstem. It has also been suggested that the inherently greater strength of the antigravity musculature is the substrate for pyramidal weakness, independent of any preferential motor innervation. These hypotheses require further testing in myometric studies with carefully selected participants.
Early hypertension and neutropenia are predictors of treatment efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancer patients administered FOLFIRI and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors as second‐line chemotherapy
Authors: Osumi Hiroki , Shinozaki Eiji , Ooki Akira , Wakatsuki Takeru , Kamiimabeppu Daisaku , Sato Taro , Nakayama Izuma , Ogura Mariko , Takahari Daisuke , Chin Keisho , Yamaguchi Kensei
Published: December 2020

Background

Three vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, Bevacizumab (BEV), ramucirumab (RAM), and aflibercept (AFL), are widely used for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who are treated with second‐line chemotherapy. The difference in outcome between the three drugs has not been evaluated. In contrast to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, VEGF inhibitors have few candidate predictors of efficacy.

Methods

Consecutive mCRC patients who were treated with second‐line chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled. Overall response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety were assessed. Subgroup analyses of prognostic and predictive efficacy markers were performed.

Results

A total of 119 (41.2%), 107 (37.0%), and 63 patients (21.8%) were treated with FOLFIRI +BEV, RAM, or AFL, respectively. ORR, PFS, and OS showed no significant differences between three groups. However, the frequency of grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs) in the FOLFIRI +AFL group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (p < 0.001). Patients with grade 3 or 4 AEs, especially hypertension and neutropenia within the first four cycles of treatment had significantly longer PFS and OS than those without AEs, irrespective of treatment with VEGF inhibitors (p < 0.001). PFS in patients without prior BEV exposure was also significantly longer than that in patients with prior BEV exposure (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Chemotherapeutic efficacy did not differ between the groups. Grade 3 or 4 AEs within the first four cycles of treatment and prior BEV exposure may be an effective predictor of treatment efficacy in mCRC patients administered VEGF inhibitors as second‐line chemotherapy.
Dedicated plug based closure for large bore access –The MARVEL prospective registry
Authors: Kroon Herbert G. , Tonino Pim A.L. , Savontaus Mikko , Amoroso Giovanni , Laine Mika , Christiansen Evald H. , Toggweiler Stefan , ten Berg Jur , Sathananthan Janarthanan , Daemen Joost , de Jaegere Peter P. , Brueren Guus B.R.G. , Malmberg Markus , Slagboom Ton , Moriyama Noriaki , Terkelsen Christian J. , Moccetti Federico , Gheorghe Livia , Webb John , Wood David , Van Mieghem Nicolas M.
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To study safety and performance of the MANTA Vascular closure device (VCD) under real world conditions in 10 centers.

Background

The MANTA is a novel plug‐based device for large bore arteriotomy closure.

Methods

We included all eligible patients who underwent transfemoral large bore percutaneous procedures. Exclusion criteria were per operator's discretion and included severe calcification or marked tortuosity of the access vessel, presence of marked obesity/cachexia or a systolic blood pressure above 180 mmHg. The primary performance endpoint was time to hemostasis. Primary and secondary safety endpoints were major and minor access site related vascular complications up to 30 days, respectively. Vascular complications were adjudicated by an independent clinical event committee according to VARC‐2 criteria. We performed multivariable logistic regression to estimate the effect of baseline and procedural characteristics on any and major vascular complications.

Results

Between February 2018 and July 2019 500 patients were enrolled undergoing Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR, N = 496), Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV, N = 2), Mechanical circulatory support (MCS, N = 1) or Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, N = 1). Mean age was 80.8 ± 6.6 years with a median STS‐score of 2.7 [IQR 2.0–4.3] %. MANTA access site complications were major in 20 (4%) and minor in 28 patients (5.6%). Median time to hemostasis was 50 [IQR 20–120] sec. Severe femoral artery calcification, scar presence in groin, longer procedure duration, female gender and history of hypertension were independent predictors for vascular complications.

Conclusion

In this study, MANTA appeared to be a safe and effective device for large bore access closure under real‐world conditions.
Beyond the dyad: the role of mother and father in newborns’ global DNA methylation during the first month of life—a pilot study
Authors: Pellicano Gaia Romana , Carola Valeria , Bussone Silvia , Cecchini Marco , Tambelli Renata , Lai Carlo
Published: December 2020

The study aimed to longitudinally explore the effects of parental prenatal attachment and psychopathological symptomatology on neonatal global DNA methylation (5‐mC) variation between birth and the first month of life. Eighteen mothers and thirteen fathers were assessed before childbirth (t0) by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Prenatal‐Attachment Inventory, and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale; 48 hr after childbirth (t1) by SCL‐90‐R; and one month after childbirth (t2) by PSS. At t1 and t2, buccal swabs from parents and newborns were collected. In newborns’ 5‐mC and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DAT, MAOA, BDNF, and 5‐HTTLPR genes were detected, while in parents only SNPs were measured. At t1, newborns’ 5‐mC was negatively associated with maternal psychopathological symptoms, while at t2, newborns’ 5‐mC was positively associated with paternal psychopathological symptoms and negatively with paternal prenatal attachment. The variation of newborns’ 5‐mC from t1 to t2 was predicted by paternal psychopathological symptoms. No significant correlations among parental SNPs and 5‐mC levels were found. Results highlight parent‐specific influences on newborn's DNA methylation. At birth, maternal psychological symptoms seem to have an effect on newborns’ 5‐mC, while after one month of life, paternal psychological characteristics could have a specific role in modulating the newborns’ epigenetic responses to the environment.
Severe limitations of the FEve metric of functional evenness and some alternative metrics
Authors: Kosman Evsey , Scheiner Samuel M. , Gregorius Hans‐Rolf
Published: December 2020

The metric of functional evenness FEve is an example of how approaches to conceptualizing and measuring functional variability may go astray. This index has several critical conceptual and practical drawbacks:

Different values of the FEve index for the same community can be obtained if the species have unequal species abundances; this result is highly likely if most of the traits are categorical.

Very minor differences in even one pairwise distance can result in very different values of FEve.

FEve uses only a fraction of the information contained in the matrix of species distances. Counterintuitively, this can cause very similar FEve scores for communities with substantially different patterns of species dispersal in trait space.

FEve is a valid metric only if all species have exactly the same abundances. However, the meaning of FEve in such an instance is unclear as the purpose of the metric is to measure the variability of abundances in trait space.

We recommend not using the FEve metric in studies of functional variability. Given the wide usage of FEve index over the last decade, the validity of the conclusions based on those estimates is in question. Instead, we suggest three alternative metrics that combine variability in species distances in trait space with abundance in various ways. More broadly, we recommend that researchers think about which community properties (e.g., trait distances of a focus species to the nearest neighbor or all other species, variability of pairwise interactions between species) they want to measure and pick from among the appropriate metrics.
Improved freshwater macroinvertebrate detection from environmental DNA through minimized nontarget amplification
Authors: Leese Florian , Sander Mandy , Buchner Dominik , Elbrecht Vasco , Haase Peter , Zizka Vera M. A.
Published: December 2020

DNA metabarcoding of freshwater communities typically relies on PCR amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene with degenerate primers. The advantage of COI is its taxonomic resolution and the availability of an extensive reference database. However, when universal primers are used on environmental DNA (eDNA) isolated from water, benthic invertebrate read and OTU numbers are typically “watered down,” that is, under represented, compared to whole specimen “bulk samples” due to greater co‐amplification of abundant nontarget taxa (e.g., fungi, algae, and bacteria). Because benthic stream invertebrate taxa are of prime importance for regulatory biomonitoring, more effective ways to capture their diversity via eDNA isolated from water are important. In this study, we aimed to improve benthic invertebrate assessment from eDNA by minimizing nontarget amplification. Therefore, we generated eDNA data using universal primers BF2/BR2 on samples collected throughout 15 months from a German Long‐Term Ecological Research site (Rhine‐Main‐Observatory, Kinzig River) to identify most abundant nontarget taxa. Based on these data, we designed a new reverse primer (EPTDr2n) with 3’‐specificity toward benthic invertebrate taxa and validated its specificity in silico together with universal forward primer fwhF2 using available data from GenBank and BOLD. We then performed in situ tests using 20 Kinzig River eDNA samples. We found that the percentage of target reads was much higher for the new primer combination compared to two universal benthic invertebrate primer pairs, BF2/BR2 and fwhF2/fwhR2n (99.6% versus 25.89% and 39.04%, respectively). Likewise, the number of detected benthic invertebrate species was substantially higher (305 versus 113 and 185) and exceeded the number of 153 species identified by expert taxonomists at nearby sites across two decades of sampling. While few taxa, such as flatworms, were not detected, we show that the optimized primer avoids the nontarget amplification bias and thus significantly improves benthic invertebrate detection from eDNA.
Autophagy regulates long‐term cross‐presentation by murine dendritic cells
Authors: Ho Nataschja I. , Camps Marcel G. M. , Verdoes Martijn , Münz Christian , Ossendorp Ferry
Published: December 2020

Autophagy has been reported to be involved in supporting antigen cross‐presentation by dendritic cells (DCs). We have shown that DCs have the ability to store antigen for a prolonged time in endolysosomal compartments and thereby sustain MHCI antigen cross‐presentation to CD8+ T cells. In the current study, we investigated the role of autophagy in long‐term antigen presentation. We show that the autophagy machinery has a negative impact on storage of antigen in DCs. Atg5–/–DCs which are deficient in autophagy or DCs treated with common autophagy inhibitors showed enhanced antigen storage and antigen cross‐presentation. This augmented antigen cross‐presentation effect is independent of altered proteasome enzyme activity or MHCI surface expression on DCs. We visualized that the storage compartments are in close proximity to LC3 positive autophagosomes. Our results indicate that autophagosomes disrupt antigen storage in DCs and thereby regulate long‐term MHCI cross‐presentation.
A comparative study of clinical profile and symptom control in overweight and normal weight school‐age children with mild persistent asthma
Authors: Manivannan Sharmila , Chandrasekaran Venkatesh , Subramanian Nandheeswari
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To find out the proportion of children with poor symptom control in overweight/obese and normal weight children with mild persistent asthma and to know the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of poor symptom control in them.

Materials and Methods

Children aged 6 to 12 years with mild persistent asthma with BMI Z score for age and sex more than +1 Z score on WHO BMI Z score chart for age and sex formed the cases. Age‐ and sex‐matched asthmatics with BMI Z score for age and sex between −2 Z and +1 Z score formed the controls. FEV1, FEV1/FVC were measured in both groups using Care Fusion Jaeger spirometer. Symptom control was assessed by ACT score. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 19 and Vassarstats.

Results

The proportion of children with poor control was 19.1% in the overweight/obese group and 23.4% in the normal weight group. There was no significant correlation between BMI and symptom control as assessed by the ACT score. Overweight/obese children with good control showed a slightly lower FEV1/FVC ratio and higher median eosinophil count compared to children with normal weight. Gastroesophageal reflux and allergic rhinitis were more commonly seen in overweight/obese children. In the poor control group, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and median eosinophil counts were not significantly different between overweight/obese and normal weight group but were less when compared to good control group.

Conclusion

The proportion of poor symptom control was not high in overweight/obese asthmatic children compared to normal weight asthmatic children. No significant risk factors for poor symptom control could be identified in our study for either of the groups.
The somatic care situation of people with mental illness
Authors: Haussleiter Ida , Emons Barbara , Hoffmann Knut , Juckel Georg
Published: December 2020

Background and Aims

People with mental illness have worse physical health and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. Nevertheless, their medical care is often insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the somatic status of people with mental illness with a focus on somatic diagnoses, metabolic risk factors, regular somatic care, and routine check‐ups.

Methods

This study used a 14‐item questionnaire to survey the somatic care situation of psychiatric university hospital patients. Main survey topics were psychiatric and somatic diagnoses, metabolic risk factors, regular somatic care, and routine check‐ups.

Results

Four‐hundred and thirty‐five people with mental illness (48.3% male, mean age 45.4 years) were included. More than three quarters of the participating people with mental illness had access to a general practitioner. People with affective and anxiety disorders reported significantly more contact with medical specialists for somatic diseases, but schizophrenic patients did not receive enough care. Not all people with mental illness and on psychiatric medication received regular somatic care. Somatic diseases increased with number of diagnoses, and the duration of the psychiatric illness was positively correlated with treatment motivation.

Conclusion

The observed unmet medical needs in this study might reflect the lack of treatment motivation in people with mental illness, but could also represent their obstacles to access care as well as a suboptimal communication between the treating psychiatrist and the referring general practitioner. Increasing awareness of somatic diseases in psychiatric patients and easier access to somatic care have to be implemented in psychiatric clinical routine. The risk of stigmatization in somatic institutions and the lack of self‐care management in people with mental illness are complicating factors.
Capturing carbon dioxide in Na–CO2 batteries: A route for green energy
Authors: Jena Anirudha , Tong Zizheng , Chang Ho , Hu Shu‐Fen , Liu Ru‐Shi
Published: December 2020

Limiting the carbon emission to the atmosphere requires the efficient utilization of carbonaceous gases and their capture via well‐designed platforms. Metal–CO2 batteries are currently being demonstrated as the route to utilize CO2 and produce energy simultaneously. In particular, Na–CO2 batteries are considered an alternative to Li‐batteries because of their abundance and low cost. In the current review, the developments in the field of Na–CO2 batteries are discussed. Carbon dioxide reactions to the decomposition of discharge products have been discussed elaborately. The main discharge products of Na–CO2 batteries are Na2CO3 and C. In the current review, various strategies are discussed to decompose the discharge products and hence improve cycle stability. The fraction of CO2 has a substantial influence on cell cycles. A plausible route of battery reaction can be drawn with the help of an ex situ analysis of the electrodes. The final part of the review focuses on the use of solid‐state Na‐ion conductors in Na–CO2 batteries.
Inflammation‐induced cholestasis in cancer cachexia
Authors: Thibaut Morgane M. , Sboarina Martina , Roumain Martin , Pötgens Sarah A. , Neyrinck Audrey M. , Destrée Florence , Gillard Justine , Leclercq Isabelle A. , Dachy Guillaume , Demoulin Jean‐Baptiste , Tailleux Anne , Lestavel Sophie , Rastelli Marialetizia , Everard Amandine , Cani Patrice D. , Porporato Paolo E. , Loumaye Audrey , Thissen Jean‐Paul , Muccioli Giulio G. , Delzenne Nathalie M. , Bindels Laure B.
Published: December 2020

Background

Cancer cachexia is a debilitating metabolic syndrome contributing to cancer death. Organs other than the muscle may contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia. This work explores new mechanisms underlying hepatic alterations in cancer cachexia.

Methods

We used transcriptomics to reveal the hepatic gene expression profile in the colon carcinoma 26 cachectic mouse model. We performed bile acid, tissue mRNA, histological, biochemical, and western blot analyses. Two interventional studies were performed using a neutralizing interleukin 6 antibody and a bile acid sequestrant, cholestyramine. Our findings were evaluated in a cohort of 94 colorectal cancer patients with or without cachexia (43/51).

Results

In colon carcinoma 26 cachectic mice, we discovered alterations in five inflammatory pathways as well as in other pathways, including bile acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and xenobiotic metabolism (normalized enrichment scores of −1.97, −2.16, and −1.34, respectively; all Padj < 0.05). The hepatobiliary transport system was deeply impaired in cachectic mice, leading to increased systemic and hepatic bile acid levels (+1512 ± 511.6 pmol/mg, P = 0.01) and increased hepatic inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil recruitment to the liver of cachectic mice (+43.36 ± 16.01 neutrophils per square millimetre, P = 0.001). Adaptive mechanisms were set up to counteract this bile acid accumulation by repressing bile acid synthesis and by enhancing alternative routes of basolateral bile acid efflux. Targeting bile acids using cholestyramine reduced hepatic inflammation, without affecting the hepatobiliary transporters (e.g. tumour necrosis factor α signalling via NFκB and inflammatory response pathways, normalized enrichment scores of −1.44 and −1.36, all Padj < 0.05). Reducing interleukin 6 levels counteracted the change in expression of genes involved in the hepatobiliary transport, bile acid synthesis, and inflammation. Serum bile acid levels were increased in cachectic vs. non‐cachectic cancer patients (e.g. total bile acids, +5.409 ± 1.834 μM, P = 0.026) and were strongly correlated to systemic inflammation (taurochenodeoxycholic acid and C‐reactive protein: ρ = 0.36, Padj = 0.017).

Conclusions

We show alterations in bile acid metabolism and hepatobiliary secretion in cancer cachexia. In this context, we demonstrate the contribution of systemic inflammation to the impairment of the hepatobiliary transport system and the role played by bile acids in the hepatic inflammation. This work paves the way to a better understanding of the role of the liver in cancer cachexia.
Evaluation of three sample preparation methods for the identification of clinical strains by using two MALDI‐TOF MS systems
Authors: Wang Jinghua , Wang Hualiang , Cai Keya , Yu Peijuan , Liu Yajuan , Zhao Gaoling , Chen Rong , Xu Rong , Yu Maowen
Published: December 2020

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) has revolutionized the microbial identification, especially in the clinical microbiology laboratories. However, although numerous studies on the identification of microorganisms by MALDI‐TOF MS have been reported previously, few studies focused on the effect of pretreatment on identification. Due to the sensitivity of MALDI‐TOF MS, different preparation methods will lead to changes in microbial protein fingerprints. In this study, for evaluating a more appropriate preparation method for the clinical microbiology identification, we analyzed the performance of three sample preparation methods on two different MALDI‐TOF MS systems. A total of 321 clinical isolates, 127 species, were employed in the comparative study of three different sample preparation methods including the direct colony transfer method (DCTM), the on‐target extraction method (OTEM), and the in‐tube extraction method (ITEM) compatible with MALDI‐TOF MS. All isolates were tested on the Microflex LT and Autof ms1000 devices. The spectra were analyzed using the Bruker biotyper and the Autof ms1000 systems. The results were confirmed by 16/18S rRNA sequencing. Results reveal that the accuracies of isolates identification by Bruker biotyper successfully identified 83.8%, 96.0%, and 95.3% after performing the DCTM, OTEM, and ITEM, respectively, while the Autof ms1000 identified 97.5%, 100%, and 99.7%. These data suggested that the identification rates are comparable among the three preparation methods using the Autof ms1000 and Bruker microflex LT systems but the OTEM is more suitable and necessary for clinical application, owing to its key advantages of simplicity and accuracy.
Geographic and Socioeconomic Factors on Survival in Esthesioneuroblastoma
Authors: Mikhael Sandra T. , Tadrosse Abanoob F. , Tadrosse Marina F. , Yassa Arsany , Mikhael Mina T. , Barinsky Gregory L. , Grube Jordon G. , Fang Christina H. , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare sinonasal malignancy with little known regarding how regional and socioeconomic differences in the United States alter disease survival. The aim of this study is to explore the geographic difference in clinical features, socioeconomic factors, and survival outcomes of ENB patients.

Methods

ENB cases were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry from 1975–2016. Patient data were stratified based on geographical location and comparative analyses of socioeconomic features, disease characteristics, and survival patterns were performed. Kaplan–Meier regression analyses were used to estimate disease‐specific survival (DSS).

Results

A total of 987 patients were identified: 56.4% West, 14.0% South, 12.7% Midwest, and 16.6% East. The West had the highest proportion of patients with Medicaid coverage (P < .001), stage A malignancy (P < .001), and treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy (P < .001). The South had the highest proportion of patients who were Black (P < .001), uninsured (P < .001), and resided in rural areas (P < .001). Five‐year DSS patterns were 81.0% (West), 79.8% (East), 67.4% (Midwest), and 72.7% (South) [P = .018]. Ten‐year DSS outcomes were 74.0% (West), 73.7% (East), 60.9% (Midwest), and 63.6% (South) [P = .017].

Conclusion

In ENB patients, survival disparity exists in the United States based on geographical region. Patients from the West and East exhibit higher survival than those from the South and Midwest.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2162–E2168, 2021
Divergent processes and trends of desertification in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia
Authors: Guo Xiaona , Chen Ruishan , Thomas David S.G. , Li Qiang , Xia Zilong , Pan Zhenzhen
Published: December 2020

Desertification and the expansion of deserts are regarded as a major threat to human livelihoods and ecosystem services, as well as achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Humans have been recognized as significant agents in the expansion of desert‐like conditions, through the agency of desertification/land degradation, and through contributions to global climate change. Yet, how desertification changes and whether human or climate change drives these processes and trends over the whole Mongolia Plateau is still not clear. Here we first use MODIS data for 2000–2019 to assess the long‐term vegetation changes across the Mongolian Plateau, both in Inner Mongolia of PR China and the Mongolian People's Republic. We then appied a General Linear Model to analyze the additional climate and human attribute data sets to explore relationships between the observed desert extent reduction and their potential drivers. Results show that from 2000–2019, desert extent declined by over 7%, comprised of an almost 11% reduction in Inner Mongolia and 5% reduction in Mongolia, and a reduction in the degree of desert conditions, as measured by vegetation cover grades, across the whole region (37.5% decline ‐ one grade in PR China, 28.75% in Mongolia). The majority of desert area reduction occurs in the northern and eastern areas of the Mongolia Plateau. We found that the main drivers of changing desert extent is not because of a reduction in human pressures on the land, but an increasing trend of both precipitation and temperature, which explains over 75% of all the observed changes. Besides, urbanization, and a reduction of population pressures on the land, contribute to most of the remaining changes. Our results suggest that although the climate has been the primary driver of changing desert area and severity, human interventions have played an important role, although the way it intervenes and the intensity varies in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia. Human's active response to land degradation in the desert contributes to more land restoration in Inner Mongolia than in Mongolia.
FT‐MS in the de novo top‐down sequencing of natural nontryptic peptides
Authors: Lebedev Albert T. , Vasileva Irina D. , Samgina Tatiana Y.
Published: December 2020

The present review covers available results on the application of FT‐MS for the de novo sequencing of natural peptides of various animals: cones, bees, snakes, amphibians, scorpions, and so forth. As these peptides are usually bioactive, the animals efficiently use them as a weapon against microorganisms or higher animals including predators. These peptides represent definite interest as drugs of future generations since the mechanism of their activity is completely different in comparison with that of the modern antibiotics. Utilization of those peptides as antibiotics can eliminate the problem of the bacterial resistance development. Sequence elucidation of these bioactive peptides becomes even more challenging when the species genome is not available and little is known about the protein origin and other properties of those peptides in the study. De novo sequencing may be the only option to obtain sequence information. The benefits of FT‐MS for the top‐down peptide sequencing, the general approaches of the de novxxo sequencing, the difficult cases involving sequence coverage, isobaric and isomeric amino acids, cyclization of short peptides, the presence of posttranslational modifications will be discussed in the review.
Lead investors and information disclosure: A test of signaling theory by fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis approach
Authors: Li Yaokuang , Ling Li , Zhang Daru , Wu Juan
Published: December 2020

This article aims to examine the complexity of lead investor's signaling by information disclosure in equity crowdfunding. We use 40 samples from a Chinese equity crowdfunding source to explore why lead investor influences followers' decision making and how lead investor signals effectively by using fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach. Our findings enrich the literature on the lead investors and syndicate by testing the complexity of signaling in equity crowdfunding, shed new light on investigating the decision‐making model of individuals at a disadvantage of information asymmetry, and offer insights into signaling strategically online.
Some new inequalities for generalized h‐convex functions involving local fractional integral operators with Mittag‐Leffler kernel
Authors: Sun Wenbing
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we firstly construct two local fractional integral operators with Mittag‐Leffler kernel on Yang's fractal sets. Then, two local fractional integral identities with the first‐ and second‐order derivatives are derived. With these as auxiliary tools, we establish some new Hermite‐Hadamard–type local fractional integral inequalities involving the local fractional integral operators with Mittag‐Leffler kernel for generalized h‐convex functions. In addition, we obtain some special inequalities when the parameter β and function h take special values. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the application of the results.
Neuromuscular ultrasound findings in carpal tunnel syndrome with symptoms mainly in the nondominant hand
Authors: Chompoopong Pitcha , Preston David C
Published: December 2020

Background

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may be associated with structural lesions or anatomical variations at the wrist, especially in patients whose symptoms are more severe in, or limited to, the nondominant hand. The aims of this study were to identify the type and frequency of structural abnormalities and anatomical variations, and to demonstrate the contribution of ultrasound in this subgroup of CTS patients.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients referred to the electromyography laboratory who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for CTS and who underwent neuromuscular ultrasound.

Results

Of 114 CTS patients with symptoms mainly in nondominant hand, 51 (44.7%) had structural abnormalities or anatomical variations detected by ultrasound. In multivariable analysis, symptoms mainly in the nondominant hand and a body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m2 were the only independent variables significantly associated with structural findings, odds ratios 2.3 (P < .001) and 1.9 (P = .006), respectively.

Conclusions

Neuromuscular ultrasound, in addition to electrodiagnostic studies, should be considered in all CTS patients with symptoms more severe in nondominant hand as a significant number have abnormal structural abnormalities or anatomical variations that may be causative or change the therapeutic approach.
Nocturia and electrocardiographic abnormalities among patients at an inner‐city cardiology clinic
Authors: Mekki Pakinam , Monaghan Thomas F. , Lee Lily , Agudelo Christina W. , Gong Fred , George Christopher D. , Michelson Kyle P. , Wu Zhan D. , Weiss Jeffrey P. , Everaert Karel , Dmochowski Roger R. , Bliwise Donald L. , Wein Alan J. , Lazar Jason M.
Published: December 2020

Aims

Nocturia has been increasingly recognized as a potential manifestation of cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between nocturia and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities has not been studied. This study aims to characterize the diagnostic utility of nocturia in identifying left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left atrial enlargement (LAE), and prolonged QTc on ECG.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of nocturnal voiding frequency and contemporaneous ECG data from consecutive patients evaluated at a university‐based outpatient cardiology clinic. Three sets of three incremental binary multiple logistic regression models controlling for (1) age, (2) sex and race, and (3) body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and diuretic utilization were performed to determine whether nocturia was predictive of LVH, LAE, and prolonged QTc.

Results

Included patients (n = 143, 77.6% nocturia) were predominantly African‐American (89.5%), female (74.1%), and obese (61.5%), of whom 44.1%, 41.3%, and 27.3% had LVH, LAE, and prolonged QTc, respectively. Older age, African‐American race, obesity, hypertension, diuretic use, LVH, and LAE were significantly associated with nocturia on univariate analysis. No significant differences were observed in the strength of associations between nocturia and LVH, LAE, or QTc prolongation based on age. Nocturia independently predicted LVH in Models I–III (odds ratios [ORs], 2.99–3.20; relative risks [RRs], 1.18 for all, p ≤ .046) and LAE in Models I–III (ORs, 4.24–4.72; RRs, 1.21 for all, p ≤ .015). No significant associations were observed between nocturia and prolonged QTc.

Conclusions

Nocturia may be a risk marker for underlying structural cardiac abnormalities.
Daily garden use and quality of life in persons with advanced dementia living in a nursing home: A feasibility study
Authors: van der Velde‐van Buuringen Melanie , Achterberg Wilco P. , Caljouw Monique A.A.
Published: December 2020

Aim

To evaluate the process of daily going outside in a nursing home garden and explore the effect of garden use on quality of life and neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia.

Design

A feasibility study with quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Methods

Twenty residents with a diagnosis of moderate‐to‐severe dementia participated. The intervention consisted of at least 30 min of garden use, whereby any activity outside is possible as long as it is person‐centred and fitting within usual daily nursing home practice. Interviews were held with caregivers, and questionnaires were sent to other disciplines involved. Quality of life (QUALIDEM) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI‐NH) were collected at baseline, intervention and postintervention.

Results

Caregivers experienced and observed benefits of going outside for themselves, in residents and relatives. Incorporating daily garden use does not imply an additional task, but rather rearranging priorities and doing the usual activities outside a part of the time.
The migration pathway to economic mobility: Does gender matter?
Authors: Wessel Terje , Magnusson Turner Lena
Published: December 2020

Inter‐regional migration is conventionally seen as an important path to economic mobility. We investigate this proposition for Norway, focusing on earnings rank in the 1974 birth cohort. Our data include migrations and educational achievements between 1990 and 2009, with added information for parental background from 1988 to 1992. We measure annual earnings between 1990 and 2014, with measures that capture static effects, dynamic effects and long‐term outcomes. Using a structural equation model and fixed‐effects regression, we show that upward spatial migration across three geographical levels has different impacts for men and women. The benefit compared with peers who stay at lower levels, or peers who move in the opposite direction, is larger for women. This difference is due to migration before finished education and is linked to employment opportunities in origin locations. Female migrants obtain higher upward economic mobility through increased work hours and shift of industrial sector; that is, women do not obtain higher wage for the same type of work. Much of the difference materialises immediately after relocation (‘static effect’); it also depends on destination: Oslo is relatively favourable to women, possibly because this region has a quintessential post‐industrial structure and a well‐developed transport system.
Non‐proportional hazards in immuno‐oncology: Is an old perspective needed?
Authors: Magirr Dominic
Published: December 2020

A fundamental concept in two‐arm non‐parametric survival analysis is the comparison of observed versus expected numbers of events on one of the treatment arms (the choice of which arm is arbitrary), where the expectation is taken assuming that the true survival curves in the two arms are identical. This concept is at the heart of the counting‐process theory that provides a rigorous basis for methods such as the log‐rank test. It is natural, therefore, to maintain this perspective when extending the log‐rank test to deal with non‐proportional hazards, for example, by considering a weighted sum of the “observed ‐ expected” terms, where larger weights are given to time periods where the hazard ratio is expected to favor the experimental treatment. In doing so, however, one may stumble across some rather subtle issues, related to difficulties in the interpretation of hazard ratios, that may lead to strange conclusions. An alternative approach is to view non‐parametric survival comparisons as permutation tests. With this perspective, one can easily improve on the efficiency of the log‐rank test, while thoroughly controlling the false positive rate. In particular, for the field of immuno‐oncology, where researchers often anticipate a delayed treatment effect, sample sizes could be substantially reduced without loss of power.
The electronic structure of the actinide oxides and their singly and doubly charged cations: A ligand field approach
Authors: Kaledin Leonid A. , Kaledin Alexey L. , Heaven Michael C.
Published: December 2020

Ligand field theory (LFT) calculations of energy levels were performed for the neutral actinide monooxides (AnO) and their singly and doubly ionized cations (AnO+ and AnO2+) by treating the molecular electronic states as Anm+ free‐ion energy levels (where An ∈ Th through Lr and m = 1, 2, 3, or 4) perturbed by the electric field of O2−or O−. LFT parameters obtained from fits to the energy levels of ThO, ThO+, UO, and UO+ were used to compute molecular energy levels for the lowest energy (maximum Sc, maximum Lc) 5f‐core states of An4+, An3+, An2+, and An+ for the majority of the An4+O2−, An3+O−, An3+O2−, An2+O−, An2+O2−, and An+O− electronic configurations. Simple linear relationships enabled predictions of the dissociation energies for AnO, AnO+ and AnO2+ (where An ∈ Bk through Lr) and ionization energies for AnO and AnO+ (where An ∈ Bk through Lr), mainly based on recent accurate experimental data for the ionization energies of An atoms (where An ∈ Fm, Md, No, and Lr) and correlations with the energetics of the atoms and ions.
Topological indices computing on random chain structures
Authors: Li Siman , Shi Li , Gao Wei
Published: December 2020

Topological indices are a vital tool in QSAR/QSPR study, and Randić index and Zagreb index are mostly historical and well‐known indices which have been widely used to predict the properties of compounds. In recent years, to meet the demands from various engineering applications, some variants of Randić index and Zagreb index are defined and investigated. In this work, we determine the redefined Zagreb indices, forgotten index, reduced reciprocal Randić index and reduced second Zagreb index for random polyphenyl chain and random spiro chain which are produced by zeroth‐order Markov process and frequently appears in the field of materials and pharmacology. Furthermore, the average values and special settings in p1 or p2 to be zero are discussed.
Chemopreventive effect of dieckol against 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced skin carcinogenesis model by modulatory influence on biochemical and antioxidant biomarkers
Authors: Xiao Wenming , Liu Hongyan , Lei Ying , Gao Huawei , Alahmadi Tahani Awad , Peng Haitao , Chen Wei
Published: December 2020

Skin cancer is the commonly found type, which contributes to 40% of whole cancer incidences worldwide. Dieckol is an active compound occurs in the marine algae with many biological benefits. In this exploration, we intended to investigate the therapeutic potency of dieckol against the 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)‐triggered skin carcinogenesis in mice. The skin cancer was stimulated to the animals via injecting the 25 μg of DMBA in 100 μL of acetone in shaved dorsal portion along with the 30 mg/kg of dieckol supplementation for 25 week. The antioxidant enzymes and phase‐I and –II detoxifying enzymes in the test animals were inspected via standard protocols. Pro‐inflammatory markers (IL‐6, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α) level was examined via ELISA kits and the expression of inflammatory molecular markers like p‐NF‐ƙB, IƙBα and p‐IƙBα were studied through western blotting. The expression status of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins (p53, Bax, Bcl‐2, caspase‐3, caspase‐9, COX‐2, TGF‐β1) was investigated via real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Our results revealed that the 30 mg/kg of dieckol supplementation noticeably regained the body and liver weight and also diminished the tumor incidence in the DMBA‐incited animals. Dieckol treatment exhibited an enhanced antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH) and reduced phase‐I enzymes Cyt‐p450 and Cyt‐b5 in the DMBA‐induced animals. Dieckol also diminished the pro‐inflammatory modulators like IL‐6, IL‐1β and TNF‐α. Western blotting result evidenced that the dieckol was inhibited the IƙB/NF‐ƙB signaling pathway. RT‐PCR study proved the enhanced expression of pro‐apoptotic protein (p53, Bax, caspase‐3 and ‐9) in the dieckol treated animals. Histological study also confirmed the therapeutic benefits of Dieckol. Altogether with these findings, it was clear that the dieckol has appreciably allayed the DMBA activated skin tumorigenesis in the mice and it could be a promising agent to treat the human skin cancer in future.
Simultaneous Strain and Temperature Measurement Based on Chaotic Brillouin Optical Correlation-Domain Analysis in Large-Effective-Area Fibers
Authors: Zhang Xiaocheng , Liu Shuangshuang , Zhang Jianzhong , Qiao Lijun , Wang Tao , Gao Shaohua , Zhang Mingjiang
Published: December 2020

Chaotic Brillouin optical correlation domain analysis (BOCDA) has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated with the advantage of high spatial resolution. However, it faces the same issue of the temperature and strain cross-sensitivity. In this paper, the simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain can be preliminarily achieved by analyzing the two Brillouin frequencies of the chaotic laser in a large-effective-area fiber (LEAF). A temperature resolution of 1 °C and a strain resolution of 20 µε can be obtained with a spatial resolution of 3.9 cm. The actual temperature and strain measurement errors are 0.37 °C and 10 µε, respectively, which are within the maximum measurement errors.
Normativity in Plato’s Philebus
Authors: Fisher Jeffrey J.
Published: December 2020

This paper extracts and articulates the account of normativity in Plato’s Philebus. Central to this account is the concept of measure, which plays both an ontological and a normative role. With regard to the former, measure is what makes particular things to be the specific kind of thing they are; with regard to the latter, measure supplies the appropriate standard for determining whether or not those things are good or bad instances of their kind. As a result of measure playing these two roles, normative evaluation is grounded in the ontological structure of the thing being evaluated.
Management of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Emergency Dental Settings: Current Knowledge and Personal Experience
Authors: Negucioiu Marius , Bucur Alexandru , Lucaciu Ondine , Soanca Andrada , Roman Alexandra
Published: December 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has seen a violent and fast spread worldwide. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a predominantly respiratory transmission through droplets and aerosol with serious implications for dental settings. This article is based on recent research, guidelines issued by relevant authorities, as well as on the authors’ experience acquired through their involvement in setting up an emergency dental care hub in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The present article aims to provide a brief description of COVID-19 implications in dental office and to recommend preventive protocols for dental practitioners to ensure a safe and healthful workplace. The recommendations for infection control presented in this article address the specific risks of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The article provides a special customized guideline covering patient triage and entrance into the dental practice, personnel protection, dental treatment, and after-treatment management. The implementation of strict preventive measures has been found to be efficient in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 contamination because no infections have been reported among our staff or patients. COVID-19 is a major emergency worldwide marked by a rapid evolution and warranting a need for further assessment of the implications of COVID-19 outbreak in dental practice.
Municipality-Level Predictors of COVID-19 Mortality in Mexico: A Cautionary Tale
Authors: Contreras-Manzano Alejandra , Guerrero-López Carlos M. , Aguerrebere Mercedes , Sedas Ana Cristina , Lamadrid-Figueroa Héctor
Published: December 2020

Objective:

Local characteristics of populations have been associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. We analyze the municipality-level factors associated with a high COVID-19 mortality rate (MR) of in Mexico.

Methods:

We retrieved information from cumulative confirmed symptomatic cases and deaths from COVID-19 as of June 20, 2020, and data from most recent census and surveys of Mexico. A negative binomial regression model was adjusted, the dependent variable was the number of COVID-19 deaths, and the independent variables were the quintiles of the distribution of sociodemographic and health characteristics among the 2457 municipalities of Mexico.

Results:

Factors associated with high MRs from COVID-19, relative to quintile 1, were diabetes and obesity prevalence, diabetes mortality rate, indigenous population, economically active population, density of economic units that operate essential activities, and population density. Among factors inversely associated with lower MRs from COVID-19 were high hypertension prevalence and houses without sewage drainage. We identified 1351 municipalities without confirmed COVID-19 deaths, of which, 202 had high and 82 very high expected COVID-19 mortality (mean = 8 and 13.8 deaths per 100,000, respectively).

Conclusion:

This study identified municipalities of Mexico that could lead to a high mortality scenario later in the epidemic and warns against premature easing of mobility restrictions and to reinforce strategies of prevention and control of outbreaks in communities vulnerable to COVID-19.