bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transient analysis of computing system with reboot and recovery delay
Authors: Shekhar Chandra , Gupta Amit , Jain Madhu , Kumar Neeraj
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a sensitivity analysis of fault-tolerant redundant repairable computing systems with imperfect coverage, reboot and recovery process.

Design/methodology/approach

In this investigation, the authors consider the computing system having a finite number of identical working units functioning simultaneously with the provision of standby units. Working and standby units are prone to random failure in nature and are administered by unreliable software, which is also likely to unpredictable failure. The redundant repairable computing system is modeled as a Markovian machine interference problem with exponentially distributed failure rates and service rates. To excerpt the failed unit from the computing system, the system either opts randomized reboot process or leads to recovery delay.

Findings

Transient-state probabilities have been determined with which the authors develop various reliability measures, namely reliability/availability, mean time to failure, failure frequency, and so on, and queueing characteristics, namely expected number of failed units, the throughput of the system and so on, for the predictive purpose. To spectacle the practicability of the developed model, a numerical simulation, sensitivity analysis and so on for different parameters have also been done, and the results are summarized in the tables and graphs. The transient results are helpful to analyze the developing model of the system before having the stability of the system. The derived measures give direct insights into parametric decision-making.

Social implications

The conclusion has been drawn, and future scope is remarked. The present research study would help system analyst and system designer to make a better choice/decision in order to have the economical design and strategy based on the desired mean time to failure, reliability/availability of the systems and other queueing characteristics.

Originality/value

Different from previous investigations, this studied model provides a more accurate assessment of the computing system compared to uncertain environments based on sensitivity analysis.
Economic policy uncertainty and fine wine prices
Authors: Shankar Nithya , Francis Bill
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) (i.e. uncertainty due to government policies) on fine wine prices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the Bakeret al.(2016) monthly news-based measure of EPU for the leading wine markets: the USA, the UK, France, Germany and China in conjunction with monthly fine wine pricing data from the London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex). The wine sub-indices used are the Liv-ex 500 (Bordeaux), Burgundy 150, Champagne 50, Rhone 100, Italy 100, California 50, Port 50 and Rest of the World 50. The Prais–Winsten and Cochrane–Orcutt regressions are used for our analyses to correct for effects of serial correlation. Time lags are chosen based on the appropriate information criterion.

Findings

Changes in EPU levels negatively impact changes in the Liv-ex 500 index for all our leading wine markets except France, the Champagne 50 index for the UK and the Burgundy 150 and the Rhone 100 indices for Germany, with the effects being significant for at least up to a quarter before EPU is detected. The authors did not find significant results for the EPU of France.

Practical implications

The paper aims to provide insights into whether EPU creates opportunities or threats for investors and wineries.

Originality/value

A forward-looking news-based EPU measure is used to gain insights into how the different Liv-ex sub-indices react to increases in uncertainty centered around government policies across a sample of different countries.
Making body work sequences visible: an ethnographic study of acute orthopaedic hospital wards
Authors: Backhouse Tamara , Hammond Simon P. , Cross Jane L. , Lambert Nigel , Varley Anna , Penhale Bridget , Fox Chris , Poland Fiona
Published: April 2020

Within health and social care, academic attention is increasingly paid to understanding the nature and centrality of body work. Relatively little is known about how and where body work specifically fits into the wider work relations that produce it in healthcare settings. We draw on ethnographic observations of staff practice in three National Health Service acute hospital wards in the United Kingdom to make visible the micro‐processes of patient care sequences including both body work and the work contextualising and supporting it. Our data, produced in 2015, show body work interactions in acute care to be critically embedded within a context of initiating, preparing, moving and restoring and proceeding. Shades of privacy and objectification of the body are present throughout these sequences. While accomplishing tasks away from the physical body, staff members must also maintain physical and cognitive work focussed on producing body work. Thus, patient care is necessarily complex, requiring much staff time and energy to deliver it. We argue that by making visible the micro‐processes that hospital patient care depends on, including both body work and the work sequences supporting it, the complex physical and cognitive workload required to deliver care can be better recognised. (A virtual version of this abstract is available at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_979cmCmR9rLrKuD7z0ycA)
The neuronal receptor tyrosine kinase Alk is a target for longevity
Authors: Woodling Nathaniel S. , Aleyakpo Benjamin , Dyson Miranda Claire , Minkley Lucy J. , Rajasingam Arjunan , Dobson Adam J. , Leung Kristie H. C. , Pomposova Simona , Fuentealba Matías , Alic Nazif , Partridge Linda
Published: April 2020

Inhibition of signalling through several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), including the insulin‐like growth factor receptor and its orthologues, extends healthy lifespan in organisms from diverse evolutionary taxa. This raises the possibility that other RTKs, including those already well studied for their roles in cancer and developmental biology, could be promising targets for extending healthy lifespan. Here, we focus on anaplastic lymphoma kinase (Alk), an RTK with established roles in nervous system development and in multiple cancers, but whose effects on aging remain unclear. We find that several means of reducing Alk signalling, including mutation of its ligand jelly belly (jeb), RNAi knock‐down of Alk, or expression of dominant‐negative Alk in adult neurons, can extend healthy lifespan in female, but not male, Drosophila. Moreover, reduced Alk signalling preserves neuromuscular function with age, promotes resistance to starvation and xenobiotic stress, and improves night sleep consolidation. We find further that inhibition of Alk signalling in adult neurons modulates the expression of several insulin‐like peptides, providing a potential mechanistic link between neuronal Alk signalling and organism‐wide insulin‐like signalling. Finally, we show that TAE‐684, a small molecule inhibitor of Alk, can extend healthy lifespan in Drosophila, suggesting that the repurposing of Alk inhibitors may be a promising direction for strategies to promote healthy aging.
Plot by Plot: Plotting Urbanism as an Ordinary Process of Urbanisation
Authors: Karaman Ozan , Sawyer Lindsay , Schmid Christian , Wong Kit Ping
Published: April 2020

With this paper, we analyse an ordinary urban process, which has received little attention so far, and propose a new concept to take account of it: plotting urbanism. It is usually subsumed under terms like “urban informality” or “incremental urbanism” and not studied as a distinct process. In comparing Lagos, Istanbul and Shenzhen we captured four defining features of plotting urbanism: first, it unfolds in a piecemeal fashion with limited comprehensive planning. Second, it emerges from specific territorial compromises often resulting from conflicts between overlapping modes of territorial regulation, land tenure and property rights. Third, plotting is based on commodification of housing and land, which might accentuate socio‐economic differentiations between property‐owners, who often live in the same area, and their tenants. The term “plotting” highlights the key role of the plot in the process. It also alludes to strategic acts of collaboration for individual and collective benefit.
Adult neurodevelopmental services in Singapore: A sociodemographic and clinical profile at a tertiary psychiatric hospital
Authors: Moon James Patrick , Tan Ho Teck , Lam Kwok Foong , Lim Jan Mei , Cheak Ching Cheng , Wei Ker‐Chiah , Sajith Sreedharan Geetha , Chai Suet Bin , Tan Giles Ming Yee
Published: April 2020

Introduction

The Adult Neurodevelopmental Service in Singapore is the first service of its kind in South‐East Asia for adults with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, few studies have documented and compared the sociodemographic characteristics and clinical needs of this subpopulation group.

Methods

Initial assessments conducted from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed for this descriptive study.

Results

A total of 272 patients were included in the study (mean age 28.3 ± 11.5; 200 males, 72 females). Adults with ID comprised the largest percentage (52.9%), followed by those with ASD (30.2%), and then those with co‐occurring ASD and ID (16.9%). The ASD subgroup had the highest proportion of individuals with employment, postsecondary school education, functional capabilities, and a psychiatric disorder. In comparison, adults with only ID and adults with co‐occurring ASD and ID shared similar lower levels of education and employment, and had a higher proportion of individuals with epilepsy and aggressive behavior.

Discussion

In this study, adults with ASD had a unique social profile with different clinical needs compared to adults with only ID or to adults with co‐occurring ASD and ID. Adults with only ID and those with co‐occurring ASD shared many of the same social characteristics and high clinical needs. The analysis of these profiles will be useful in developing services that better meet the needs of this complex group.
Bayesian inference of causal effects from observational data in Gaussian graphical models
Authors: Castelletti Federico , Consonni Guido
Published: April 2020

We assume that multivariate observational data are generated from a distribution whose conditional independencies are encoded in a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG). For any given DAG, the causal effect of a variable onto another one can be evaluated through intervention calculus. A DAG is typically not identifiable from observational data alone. However, its Markov equivalence class (a collection of DAGs) can be estimated from the data. As a consequence, for the same intervention a set of causal effects, one for each DAG in the equivalence class, can be evaluated. In this paper, we propose a fully Bayesian methodology to make inference on the causal effects of any intervention in the system. Main features of our method are: (a) both uncertainty on the equivalence class and the causal effects are jointly modeled; (b) priors on the parameters of the modified Cholesky decomposition of the precision matrices across all DAG models are constructively assigned starting from a unique prior on the complete (unrestricted) DAG; (c) an efficient algorithm to sample from the posterior distribution on graph space is adopted; (d) an objective Bayes approach, requiring virtually no user specification, is used throughout. We demonstrate the merits of our methodology in simulation studies, wherein comparisons with current state‐of‐the‐art procedures turn out to be highly satisfactory. Finally we examine a real data set of gene expressions forArabidopsis thaliana.
Clinical outcome of 302 zygomatic implants in 110 patients with a follow‐up between 6 months and 7 years
Authors: Goker Funda , Grecchi Emma , Del Fabbro Massimo , Grecchi Francesco
Published: April 2020

Background

Zygomatic implant surgery is considered as a safe and successful alternative to the conventional implant surgery with bone grafts for patients with severe atrophic maxilla.

Purpose

The aim of this retrospective clinical case series was to report clinical outcome of zygomatic implants with a follow‐up between 6 months and 7 years.

Materials and methods

A total of 110 patients with 302 zygomatic implants were included in this study. The intra and postoperative complications and survival rate of zygomatic implants were evaluated.

Results

The study included 110 consecutively treated patients with an age range of 21 to 76 years (mean 57.35 years, SD 10.42). The overall zygomatic implant survival rate was 98.34%. There were five implant failures in four patients. One intraoperative and 17 postoperative complications developed in 18 patients. There were no dropouts and the median follow‐up of the patients was 41.75 months (with a range of 6‐89 months).

Conclusions

According to the results, in cases of severely atrophic posterior maxilla, zygomatic implant surgery can be considered as an effective and safe alternative to conventional implants and bone grafting procedures.
Distance dynamics based overlapping semantic community detection for node‐attributed networks
Authors: Sun Heli , Jia Xiaolin , Huang Ruodan , Wang Pei , Wang Chenyu , Huang Jianbin
Published: April 2020

In recent years, due to the rise of social, biological, and other rich content graphs, several novel community detection methods using structure and node attributes have been proposed. Moreover, nodes in a network are naturally characterized by multiple community memberships and there is growing interest in overlapping community detection algorithms. In this paper, we design a weighted vertex interaction model based on distance dynamics to divide the network, furthermore, we propose a distance Dynamics‐based Overlapping Semantic Community detection algorithm(DOSC) for node‐attribute networks. The method is divided into three phases: Firstly, we detect local single‐attribute subcommunities in each attribute‐induced graph based on the weighted vertex interaction model. Then, a hypergraph is constructed by using the subcommunities obtained in the previous step. Finally, the weighted vertex interaction model is used in the hypergraph to get global semantic communities. Experimental results in real‐world networks demonstrate that DOSC is a more effective semantic community detection method compared with state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Placental endovascular extravillous trophoblasts (enEVTs) educate maternal T‐cell differentiation along the maternal‐placental circulation
Authors: Ma Yeling , Yang Qian , Fan Mengjie , Zhang Lanmei , Gu Yan , Jia Wentong , Li Zhilang , Wang Feiyang , Li Yu‐xia , Wang Jian , Li Rong , Shao Xuan , Wang Yan‐Ling
Published: April 2020

Objectives

During human pregnancy, the endothelial cells of the uterine spiral arteries (SPA) are extensively replaced by a subtype of placental trophoblasts, endovascular extravillous trophoblasts (enEVTs), thus establishing a placental‐maternal circulation. On this pathway, foetus‐derived placental villi and enEVTs bath into the maternal blood that perfuses along SPA being not attacked by the maternal lymphocytes. We aimed to reveal the underlying mechanism of such immune tolerance.

Methods

In situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, ELISA and FCM assay were performed to examine TGF‐β1 expression and distribution of regulatory T cells (Tregs) along the placental‐maternal circulation route. The primary enEVTs, interstitial extravillous trophoblasts (iEVTs) and decidual endothelial cells (dECs) were purified by FACS, and their conditioned media were collected to treat naïve CD4+ T cells. Treg differentiation was measured by FLOW and CFSE assays.

Results

We found that enEVTs but not iEVTs or dECs actively produced TGF‐β1. The primary enEVTs significantly promoted naïve CD4+ T‐cell differentiation into immunosuppressive FOXP3+ Tregs, and this effect was dependent on TGF‐β1. In recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) patients, an evidently reduced proportion of TGF‐β1–producing enEVTs and their ability to educate Tregs differentiation were observed.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate a unique immune‐regulatory characteristic of placental enEVTs to develop immune tolerance along the placental‐maternal circulation. New insights into the pathogenesis of RSA are also suggested.
Formation for public life: Bonhoeffer's approach to theological education
Authors: Norris Kristopher
Published: April 2020

This essay addresses the role of theological education in shaping how Christian leaders and institutions respond to public debate, conflict, and crisis by analyzing Bonhoeffer's approach to theological education in times of conflict and crisis. It argues that his pedagogical approach of education as formation for public life should inform our pedagogical practice, as the church increasingly engages in a diverse pluralistic public and political life.
The evo‐devo of molluscs: Insights from a genomic perspective
Authors: Yang Zhihui , Zhang Lingling , Hu Jingjie , Wang Jing , Bao Zhenmin , Wang Shi
Published: April 2020

Molluscs represent one of ancient and evolutionarily most successful groups of marine invertebrates, with a tremendous diversity of morphology, behavior, and lifestyle. Molluscs are excellent subjects for evo‐devo studies; however, understanding of the evo‐devo of molluscs has been largely hampered by incomplete fossil records and limited molecular data. Recent advancement of genomics and other technologies has greatly fueled the molluscan “evo‐devo” field, and decoding of several molluscan genomes provides unprecedented insights into molluscan biology and evolution. Here, we review the recent progress of molluscan genome sequencing as well as novel insights gained from their genomes, by emphasizing how molluscan genomics enhances our understanding of the evo‐devo of molluscs.
Comparative genomics approach to evolutionary process connectivity
Authors: Gagnaire Pierre‐Alexandre
Published: April 2020

The influence of species life history traits and historical demography on contemporary connectivity is still poorly understood. However, these factors partly determine the evolutionary responses of species to anthropogenic landscape alterations. Genetic connectivity and its evolutionary outcomes depend on a variety of spatially dependent evolutionary processes, such as population structure, local adaptation, genetic admixture, and speciation. Over the last years, population genomic studies have been interrogating these processes with increasing resolution, revealing a large diversity of species responses to spatially structured landscapes. In parallel, multispecies meta‐analyses usually based on low‐genome coverage data have provided fundamental insights into the ecological determinants of genetic connectivity, such as the influence of key life history traits on population structure. However, comparative studies still lack a thorough integration of macro‐ and micro‐evolutionary scales to fully realize their potential. Here, I present how a comparative genomics framework may provide a deeper understanding of evolutionary process connectivity. This framework relies on coupling the inference of long‐term demographic and selective history with an assessment of the contemporary consequences of genetic connectivity. Standardizing this approach across several species occupying the same landscape should help understand how spatial environmental heterogeneity has shaped the diversity of historical and contemporary connectivity patterns in different taxa with contrasted life history traits. I will argue that a reasonable amount of genome sequence data can be sufficient to resolve and connect complex macro‐ and micro‐evolutionary histories. Ultimately, implementing this framework in varied taxonomic groups is expected to improve scientific guidelines for conservation and management policies.
Disentangling the Relations Between Different Components of Family Socioeconomic Status and Chinese Preschoolers’ School Readiness
Authors: Ren Lixin , Hu Bi Ying , Zhang Xiao
Published: April 2020

Family socioeconomic status (SES) has been frequently linked to children’s early development. Treating SES as an aggregated variable has many issues, as different components of SES may relate to child outcomes through divergent mechanisms. The purpose of the study was to examine whether parents’ engagement in home learning activities and children’s participation in extracurricular activities (EAs) would function as pathways through which individual SES components related to children’s school readiness. A total of 588 families with preschool‐aged children were recruited from Guangdong province in China. Children’s receptive vocabulary, Chinese reading, and early math skills were individually assessed at three time points, and children’s social skills were rated by parents. Parents reported their engagement in home learning activities with children and their children’s participation in EAs. The results showed that all three components of family SES were related to multiple aspects of children’s school readiness, but through different pathways. Parental income was related to children’s school readiness through EA participation only; parental education and occupational status were associated with school readiness via both parental engagement and child EA participation. The findings suggest that considering SES components separately will produce a more nuanced understanding of the divergent pathways through which family SES may relate to children’s school readiness. Chinese government may provide parent education programs focused on cognitive stimulation for low‐SES families to promote children’s school readiness. Furthermore, the government needs to ensure children’s equal access to EAs to prevent increasing the developmental gap among children from discrepant socioeconomic backgrounds.
Seasonal variation in the strength of interference competition among headwater stream predators
Authors: Cecala Kristen K. , Walker Eli H. , Ennen Joshua R. , Fix Shawna M. , Davenport Jon M.
Published: April 2020

Vertebrate communities in headwater streams are assumed to be regulated through competitive and predatory interactions. Although documented predation is rare, studies regularly report competitive dominance by fish that, as larger competitors reliant on aquatic habitat, exclude semi‐aquatic salamanders to marginal stream habitat. However, it is unclear whether fish interact with stream‐breeding salamanders through indirect effects such as competition for resources (e.g. food or cover) or fear (i.e. threat of predation) nor is it known whether these interactions are consistent through time.

This study used a novel caging approach to determine if competitive outcomes between a headwater fish and salamanders were regulated primarily through resource depletion (exploitative competition) or behavioural avoidance (interference competition).

We paired banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae) and larval red salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) of similar body size in independent flow through mesocosms with intra‐ and inter‐specific pairs allowed to interact physically or non‐physically. The experiment was repeated in the autumn and in the spring when stream salamander larvae begin to transform into terrestrial juveniles.

Banded sculpin negatively influenced growth of red salamanders regardless of whether they were allowed to physically interact, suggesting interference competition and behavioural avoidance. This asymmetrical effect was strongest in the spring when salamanders underwent metamorphosis at higher rates in the presence of fish. However, in the autumn, the effects were more balanced between the two species with salamanders impacting fish through exploitative competition.

By studying the temporal relationships between two competitors and using a caging method novel to competition studies, we established that the outcomes of competition are dependent on season and may vary in type relative to the timing of life‐history events. For this community, these results suggest that outcomes of competition are highly dependent on season and could indicate a biotic mechanism maintaining headwater salamander distributions through source–sink dynamics. Our results also suggest that, in this species interaction, it may be unwarranted to assume that the outcomes of competition at one time represent the complex relationships regulating community interactions.
Olfactory co‐receptor is involved in host recognition and oviposition in Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Ma Chao , Cui Shaowei , Bai Qiang , Tian Zhenya , Zhang Yan , Chen Guangmei , Gao Xuyuan , Tian Zhenqi , Chen Hongsong , Guo Jianying , Wan Fanghao , Zhou Zhongshi
Published: April 2020

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a notorious invasive weed that has spread across most temperate regions of the world. The beetle (Ophraella communa) is considered to be an effective control agent against A. artemisiifolia. As an oligophagous insect, its olfactory system is extremely important for host seeking in the wild. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report on the molecular mechanisms underlying olfaction recognition in this beetle. Hence, in this study, we characterized the odorant receptor co‐receptor of O. communa and named it as ‘OcomORco’. Real‐time quantitative PCR (qRT‐PCR) showed that, compared to the control treatment, RNA interference (RNAi) strongly reduced the expression of OcomORco by 89% in male and 90% in female beetles. Electroantennogram assay showed that the antennal response of both male and female beetles to four volatiles of A. artemisiifolia was significantly reduced. The injected male or female beetles lost their preference for plant leaves as observed in the behavioural tests. In addition, disruption of the expression of OcomORco resulted in a reduction of oviposition, while there was no difference in larval hatching rate between control and knockdown females. We demonstrated that OcomORco plays a vital role in olfactory perception and host search in O. communa, and it is involved in oviposition in an indirect way.
Expanding social health protection in Cambodia: An assessment of the current coverage potential and gaps, and social equity considerations
Authors: Kolesar Robert J. , Pheakdey Sambo , Jacobs Bart , Chan Narith , Yok Samedy , Audibert Martine
Published: April 2020

The Royal Government of Cambodia recently launched its National Social Protection Policy framework to strengthen and expand social security and assistance. To inform social health protection policy, we examine socio‐economic survey data and administrative coverage data to assess the coverage potential of existing coverage mechanisms and current gaps; and compare equitable contribution rates. Over 53 per cent of the population currently has no social health protection coverage mechanism, and about 16 per cent of the population who do have access to a mechanism are not yet enrolled. Current expansion efforts focus on the formal employee scheme, primarily benefiting individuals from higher income households. In addition, recent coverage expansion to some informal workers leaves significant gaps, particularly among the informal sector. We find out‐of‐pocket health care expenditure to be an excessive share of income among lower wealth quintile individuals and conclude they are financially vulnerable. Finally, we illustrate that an equitable approach to individual, monthly health care contributions among the lower three quintiles has a severely limited potential for revenue generation, and collection costs could exceed the amount collected. Therefore, we recommend that vulnerable groups should be exempted from contribution payments as social health protection is expanded.
Low‐temperature sintering of magnesium aluminate spinel doped with manganese: Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects
Authors: Nakajima Kimiko , Li Hui , Shlesinger Noah , Rodrigues Neto João B. , Castro Ricardo H. R.
Published: April 2020

This work describes the role of manganese (Mn) as a sintering aid for magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) nanoparticles. Mn‐doped MgAl2O4 nanoparticles, synthesized by coprecipitation method, showed increased surface area when contrasted to undoped MgAl2O4. Fast firing of compacted‐doped nanoparticles achieved high degree of densification at temperatures as low as 1100°C with very moderate grain growth, resulting in average sizes at the nanoscale (~60 nm). Differential scanning calorimetry was used to quantify the exothermic heat effects of sintering, which combined with quantitative microstructural evolution analysis enabled calculation of both surface and grain boundary energies. The results revealed that Mn effectively reduces the surface and grain boundary energies which led to dihedral angle broadening and consequently increased sintering stress. Experimental data also revealed a concomitant decrease in the activation energy of sintering with Mn doping which dropped from 644 kJ/mol for undoped MgAl2O4 to 285 kJ/mol, informing Mn acts as a sintering aid in a thermokinetic manner.
Autophagy promotes phagocytosis and clearance of Treponema pallidum via the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages
Authors: Xu S.‐L. , Lin Y. , Zhu X.‐Z. , Liu D. , Tong M.‐L. , Liu L.‐L. , Yang T.‐C. , Lin L.‐R.
Published: April 2020

Background

Elucidating the mechanism of the macrophage phagocytic response will improve our knowledge of host defence against Treponema pallidum.

Objective

To explore whether autophagy promotes T. pallidum phagocytosis and clearance via the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages.

Methods

The interactions between autophagy and phagocytosis and the role of NLRP3 in these processes in T. pallidum‐treated macrophages were investigated through experiments using human monocytic cell line (THP‐1)‐derived macrophages. Treponema pallidum clearance after phagocytosis was evaluated by inoculating rabbits with macrophage–treponeme mixtures.

Results

Activation of autophagy and phagocytosis in T. pallidum‐treated macrophages occurred in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. The percentage of spirochete‐positive macrophages (22.34% vs. 70.93%, P < 0.001) and spirochete internalization (MFI: 9.62 vs. 20.33, P < 0.001) were notably reduced by silencing Beclin1. Inoculation of macrophage–treponeme mixtures into rabbits showed a 3.00‐day delay in lesion development (17.55 ± 3.73 vs. 14.55 ± 1.99 days) and decreased lesion numbers [11 (36.7%) vs. 20 (66.7%) of 30; χ2 = 5.406, P = 0.020] in the control compared with the si‐Beclin1 group. Furthermore, silencing NLRP3 decreased the mRNA and protein levels of Beclin‐1 and LC3B [mRNA: 49.86% and 43.02%; protein: 22.31% and 24.24%, respectively, differing significantly from the control group (P < 0.001)] and reduced the percentage of spirochete‐positive macrophages (30.29% vs. 70.53%, P < 0.001) and spirochete internalization (MFI: 9.82 vs. 19.33, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Treponema pallidum induces autophagy in macrophages to promote phagocytosis and clearance. The NLRP3 inflammasome modulates autophagy and phagocytosis in vitro. These data may be useful for understanding the host–pathogen relationship and establish the groundwork for strategies to combat syphilis.
Association of CHA2DS2‐VASc Score with Stroke, Thromboembolism, and Death in Hip Fracture Patients
Authors: Hjelholt Thomas J. , Johnsen Søren P. , Brynningsen Peter K. , Pedersen Alma B.
Published: April 2020

OBJECTIVES

Patients undergoing hip fracture surgery have a 10 times increased risk of stroke compared with the general population. We aimed to evaluate the association between the CHA2DS2‐VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, previous stroke/TIA [transient ischemic attack]/systemic embolism (2 points), vascular disease, age 65‐74 years, and female sex) score and the risk of stroke, thromboembolism, and all‐cause mortality in patients with hip fracture with or without atrial fibrillation (AF).

DESIGN

Nationwide prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Danish hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Subjects were all incident hip fracture patients in Denmark age 65 years and older with surgical repair procedures between 2004 and 2016 (n = 78,096). Participants were identified using the Danish Multidisciplinary Hip Fracture Registry.

MEASUREMENTS

We calculated incidence rates, cumulative incidences, and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by CHA2DS2‐VASc score, stratified on AF history.

RESULTS

The cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke 1 year after hip fracture increased with ascending CHA2DS2‐VASc score, and it was 1.9% for patients with a score of 1 and 8.6% for patients with a score above 5 in the AF group. Corresponding incidences in the non‐AF group were 1.6% and 7.6%. Compared with a CHA2DS2‐VASc score of 1, adjusted HRs were 5.53 (95% CI = 1.37‐22.24) among AF patients and 4.91 (95% CI = 3.40‐7.10) among non‐AF patients with a score above 5. A dose‐response–like association was observed for all cardiovascular outcomes. All‐cause mortality risks and HRs were substantially higher for all CHA2DS2‐VASc scores above 1 in both the AF group and the non‐AF group.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with hip fracture, a higher CHA2DS2‐VASc score was associated with increased risk of stroke, thromboembolism, and death. This finding applied both to patients with and without AF. Patients with high CHA2DS2‐VASc scores had almost similar absolute risks for cardiovascular outcomes, irrespective of AF. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1698‐1705, 2020.
Magnetic resonance imaging and gasless laparoendoscopic single‐site surgery for the diagnosis and management of isolated tubal torsion with a paratubal cyst at 31 weeks of gestation: A case report and literature review
Authors: Takeda Akihiro , Kitami Kazuhisa , Shibata Mayu
Published: April 2020

A 30‐year‐old nulliparous woman was transferred under suspicion of acute appendicitis, due to the sudden onset of severe right lower quadrant pain at 31 weeks and 4 days of gestation. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a cystic mass measuring 40 mm in diameter in the right lower abdomen. Because the right ovary without edematous swelling was noted adjacent to the cystic mass, isolated tubal torsion was strongly suspected. Emergency gasless laparoendoscopic single‐site surgery showed isolated torsion of the right fallopian tube with a paratubal cyst. The right ovary was not involved in this torsion. Because the color tone of the distal portion of the fallopian tube did not recover sufficiently after detorsion, right salpingectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the infusion of magnesium sulfate was initiated due to increased uterine contraction and continued until 36 weeks of gestation. At 38 weeks and 1 day of gestation, uneventful vaginal delivery yielded a healthy female infant.
Self‐rated sensory performance in profoundly deaf individuals. Do deaf people share the conviction about sensory compensation?
Authors: Pieniak Michal , Lachowicz‐Tabaczek Kinga , Masalski Marcin , Hummel Thomas , Oleszkiewicz Anna
Published: April 2020

Sensory deficits in one modality lead to functional changes of brain structures. Neural reorganization may result in sensory compensation and enhanced performance in sensory sensitivity tests. Many studies investigated how deafness affects functioning of the intact senses. Overall, their results remain inconclusive, mainly due to the statistically underpowered conclusions. A limited number of studies have focused on deaf people's convictions on their sensory abilities. This study compared a large sample of profoundly deaf subjects (n = 74) with hearing individuals (n = 100) in terms of their convictions about own sensory performance. First, participants were screened with speech perception tests. Then, they were asked to rate their own sensory sensitivity using two reference categories: (1) other people and (2) their usual sensitivity. Results show that majority of deaf individuals rated their intact senses (i.e., vision, smell, taste, and touch) as more sensitive than hearing controls. Furthermore, on the day of testing deaf individuals reported increased performance of the intact senses as referred to the usual performance. Explanations of the positive self‐evaluations of sensory abilities focus on the common belief among deaf people about sensory compensation and on using self‐enhancement strategies.

Practical applications

Reported study introduces important knowledge about positive self‐views on sensory sensitivity of deaf individuals. Although these positive self‐views are unlikely to reflect the actual sensory performance, presented results are of high significance for the sensory scientists. Functional aspects of self‐views in domain of sensory sensitivity should guide educational programs and product design targeted to deaf individuals.
Canaliculorhinostomy as a treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction in dogs and cats
Authors: Wallin‐Haakansson N. , Berggren K.
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To create a replacement nasolacrimal system, using the puncta and canaliculi, with prolonged implant retention and minimal use of Elizabethan collars or other restraint devices.

Materials and Methods

The method was used in 11 dogs and two cats. Silicone tubing was placed through both canaliculi and,viaa drill hole, into the nasal cavity. Distally, the tubing ends were tied in a subcutaneous pocket lateral to the premaxilla. Tubing retention time was 4 to 7 months. Elizabethan collars were used only until skin suture removal at 2 weeks.

Results

In all animals, a functional nasolacrimal system was re‐created and remained patent over prolonged follow‐up periods. Adverse effects and complications were mild.

Clinical significance

The described method is relatively straightforward, thereby making relief of tear outflow problems widely accessible.
Identification of Novel EXT Mutations in Patients with Hereditary Multiple Exostoses Using Whole‐Exome Sequencing
Authors: Liang Chao , Wang Yong‐jie , Wei Yu‐xuan , Dong Yang , Zhang Zhi‐chang
Published: April 2020

Objective

To find novel potential gene mutations other than EXT1 and EXT2 mutations, to expand the mutational spectrum of EXT and to explore the correlation between clinical outcome and genotype in patients with hereditary multiple exostoses (HME).

Methods

The study recruited seven families diagnosed with multiple osteochondromas (MO). Family histories and clinical information were collected in detail through comprehensive physical and image examination. Patients with deformities and functional limitations were classified as “severe” and the remaining without functional limitations were classified as “mild,” in accordance with previous study. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was performed on a total of 13 affected individuals, 1 available unaffected relative, and 10 healthy unrelated individuals. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the screened mutations. Finally, the structural change in protein caused by pathogenic mutations was analyzed using information from the relevant database online and we attempted to correlate clinical phenotype with genotype in patients with HME.

Results

Other than EXT1 and EXT2, no novel potential gene mutations were found through WES. We identified nine heterozygous mutations in EXT1 or EXT2. Of these mutations, four have not been reported previously. These are c.996delT in exon 2 of EXT1 (family 1), c.544C > T in exon 3 of EXT2 (family 2), c.1171C > T in exon 7 of EXT2 (family 5), and c.823–824delAA in exon 5 of EXT1 (family 7). The other five mutations have already been reported in previous works. It was surprising that we found two mutation sites, in exon 2 and exon 5, respectively, of EXT1 in 1 patient diagnosed with MO, when his father had two mutation sites, in exon 6 and exon 5, respectively, of EXT1 and EXT2 (family 4). In addition, 1 patient showed degeneration, while his father only exhibited slight symptoms (family 7). In our study, among 51 affected patients in seven families, the sex ratio (male vs female) was 58.9% (n = 30) vs 41.2% (n = 21). Male patients seemed to show more severe symptoms compared to females, but because the sample was small, we did not obtain statistically significance results.

Conclusion

Whole‐exome sequencing to screen pathogenic gene mutations was applied successfully. Although no third‐gene mutation associated with HME was found, a total of nine mutations across EXT1 and EXT2 were identified, four of which are novel. Our results expand the mutational spectrum of EXT and can be used in genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for patients with MO.
The psychological and behavioural effects of an animal‐assisted therapy programme in Korean older adults with dementia
Authors: Baek Seung‐Min , Lee Yaelim , Sohng Kyeong‐Yae
Published: April 2020

Aim

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological and behavioural effects of animal‐assisted therapy on cognitive function, emotional state, problematic behaviours, and activities of daily living among older adults with dementia.

Methods

A nonequivalent control group pretest and post‐test study design was used in this study. Twenty‐eight participants—14 in the intervention group and 14 in the control group—were recruited from two hospitals in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, between February and April 2015. The intervention group received two 60‐min sessions of animal‐assisted therapy weekly for 8 weeks, while the control group received conventional care. The cognitive function, emotional state (mood, depression), activities of daily living, and problematic behaviours of the two groups were compared at three points (before the study, at week 4, and at week 8).

Results

The results showed significant group‐by‐time interactions of cognitive function (P < 0.001), mood status (P < 0.001), depressive symptoms (P < 0.01), degrees of activities of daily living (P < 0.001), and problematic behaviours (P < 0.001). There were no significant group differences, but significant time differences were observed in cognitive function (P < 0.001), mood status (P < 0.05), degrees of activities of daily living (P < 0.01), and problematic behaviours (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings of the study suggest the adoption of animal‐assisted therapy in the daily care of older adults with dementia for improving their psychological and behavioural problems.
Robust Estimation via Robust Gradient Estimation
Authors: Prasad Adarsh , Suggala Arun Sai , Balakrishnan Sivaraman , Ravikumar Pradeep
Published: April 2020

We provide a new computationally efficient class of estimators for risk minimization. We show that these estimators are robust for general statistical models, under varied robustness settings, including in the classical Huber ε-contamination model, and in heavy-tailed settings. Our workhorse is a novel robust variant of gradient descent, and we provide conditions under which our gradient descent variant provides accurate estimators in a general convex risk minimization problem. We provide specific consequences of our theory for linear regression and logistic regression and for canonical parameter estimation in an exponential family. These results provide some of the first computationally tractable and provably robust estimators for these canonical statistical models. Finally, we study the empirical performance of our proposed methods on synthetic and real data sets, and we find that our methods convincingly outperform a variety of baselines.
Palaeoecological, sedimentological and stratigraphical insights into microbially induced sedimentary structures of the lower Cambrian successions of Iran
Authors: Bayet‐Goll Aram , Daraei Mehdi
Published: April 2020

Micro‐organisms producing microbially induced sedimentary structures, particularly epibenthic cyanobacteria, are not facies‐dependent and could flourish in any environment if appropriate ecological conditions were provided. Hence, the changes in environmental parameters are the controlling factors on ecological tolerance of the producers. This study on the lower Cambrian successions of the Lalun Formation in Central Iran shows that paralic environments reacted differently to changes in parameters such as river and tide energy, palaeo‐topography, the rate of sediment supply and fluctuations in sea‐level, even though all were characterized by sandy substrates suitable for the development of microbially induced sedimentary structures. Therefore, the abundance and preservation of microbially induced sedimentary structures varied in the different paralic environments. From a sequence stratigraphic viewpoint, this study demonstrates that erosional discontinuities lacked the conditions required for the substrate stabilization by microbial communities. The distribution, size and type of microbially induced sedimentary structures within high frequency cycles generally follow the trends of changes in vertical facies stacking patterns. Within systems tracts, the pattern, morphological diversity and size of microbially induced sedimentary structures are not dependent on the type of systems tract, but on the type of depositional system developed such as delta, incised valley, coastal plain, estuaries and shoreline to shelf systems. Generally, estuarine and peritidal carbonates record an increase in the development of mat colonization during the transgressive systems tract, owing to decreased sedimentation rate as well as extended shallow water habitats. In contrast, the existence of microbially induced sedimentary structures depends on the pattern of shoreline shift in depositional systems developed during the highstand systems tract, such as open coast tidal flat and delta environments. If a shoreline regression was continuous (depositional trend and stacking pattern are a set of high frequency cycles), a greater increase in the aggradational component than the progradational component would cause intensified destructive processes hindering the development of microbial communities.
Variation in Suicide Risk among Subgroups of Sexual and Gender Minority College Students
Authors: Horwitz Adam G. , Berona Johnny , Busby Danielle R. , Eisenberg Daniel , Zheng Kai , Pistorello Jacqueline , Albucher Ronald , Coryell William , Favorite Todd , Walloch Joseph C. , King Cheryl A.
Published: April 2020

Objective

Sexual and gender minorities are at elevated risk for suicide, yet few studies have examined differences in risk within many sexual and gender minority subgroups. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in prevalence for suicide risk factors among a wide range of sexual orientations and gender identities.

Method

Forty‐one thousand four hundred and twelve college students (62% cis‐female, 37% cis‐male, 1% transgender/genderqueer) completed a wellness screen that included four suicide risk factors (depression, heavy alcohol use, suicide ideation, suicide attempt).

Results

Gender minority students (i.e., transgender, genderqueer/non‐binary) had significantly higher rates of depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts relative to cisgender peers, although there were no within‐group differences among gender minority students. Adjusted odds ratios for endorsing two or more (2+) suicide risk factors were substantially higher for all sexual minority subgroups relative to heterosexuals. Among sexual minorities, those identifying as pansexual, bisexual, queer, or mostly gay/lesbian had greater odds of endorsing 2+ suicide risk factors relative to students identifying as mostly heterosexual, gay/lesbian, asexual, or ‘other sexual minority’. Pansexual students had 33% greater odds of endorsing 2+ suicide risk factors relative to bisexual students.

Conclusions

These findings highlight significant variation in suicide risk among sexual minority subgroups and the need for targeted interventions for subgroups at highest risk.