bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of an Alternative Laboratory-Based HIV Diagnostic Testing Algorithm Using HIV-1 RNA Viral Load
Authors: Pitasi Marc A. , Patel Shilpa N. , Wesolowski Laura G. , Masciotra Silvina , Luo Wei , Owen S. Michele , Delaney Kevin P.
Published: December 2019

Background

Since 2014, the recommended algorithm for laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection in the United States has consisted of an HIV-1/2 antigen/antibody (Ag/Ab) test followed by an HIV-1/2 antibody (Ab) differentiation test and, if necessary, a diagnostic HIV-1 nucleic acid test to resolve discordant or indeterminate results.

Methods

Using stored specimens from persons seeking HIV testing who had not received a previous diagnosis or treatment, we compared the performance of a 3-step alternative algorithm consisting of an Ag/Ab test followed by a quantitative HIV-1 RNA viral load assay and, if viral load is not detected, an Ab differentiation test, to that of the recommended algorithm. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of 5 Ag/Ab tests and the proportion of specimens correctly classified by the alternative algorithm compared with the recommended algorithm. Results were examined separately for specimens classified as early infection, established infection, and false-reactive screening.

Results

Sensitivity and specificity were similar among all Ag/Ab tests. Viral load quantification correctly classified all specimens from early infection, all false-reactive screening specimens, and the majority of specimens from established infection.

Conclusions

Although cost, regulatory barriers, test availability, and the ability to differentiate early from established infection must be considered, this alternative algorithm can potentially decrease the total number of tests performed and reduce turnaround time, thereby streamlining HIV diagnosis and initiation of treatment.
Parental Knowledge of Appropriate Placement of Child Restraint Systems Before and After Educational Intervention in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Perez Vanessa , Zidan Marwan A. , Sethuraman Usha
Published: December 2019

Objective

This study aimed to determine caregiver's knowledge of appropriate car restraint systems (CRSs) use and compare this with the actual use among children presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED), and to determine the efficacy of PED-based intervention on improving knowledge.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, intervention study of children (<8 years old) during a 12-month period in the PED. Based on their height and weight, children were assigned to group 1 (rear facing), group 2 (forward facing), or group 3 (booster). Caregivers were surveyed in their baseline CRS knowledge. Certified child passenger safety technicians evaluated each CRS and gave caregivers one-on-one education. Participants were called back to answer a posttest to determine if the information given was retained.

Results

Of the 170 children enrolled, 64 (37.6%) were assigned to group 1, 68 (40%) to group 2, and 38 (22.3%) to group 3. Of these, 63% were not aware of the state law regarding CRS use. Among those without a CRS, 18% belonged to group 1, 36% to group 2, and 46% to group 3. Even among those who reportedly had CRS, 13% of children did not have one-on-on inspection. After inspection, 84% of group 1, 71% of group 2, and 70% of group 3 were in the appropriate one. Nearly 45% were not compliant with American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines of children riding in rear-facing CRS until 2 years of age.

Conclusions

A significant proportion of children visiting the PED are not in appropriate CRS, and caretaker knowledge about correct CRS types and installation is poor. Future educational efforts should focus on rear-facing and booster seat age-group children.
Discrepant Perception of Lupus Disease Activity
Authors: Elera-Fitzcarrald Claudia , Vega Karen , Gamboa-Cárdenas Rocío V. , Zúñiga Katiuska , Medina Mariela , Pimentel-Quiroz Victor , Pastor-Asurza César , Perich-Campos Risto , Rodríguez Bellido Zoila , Griffin Russell , Aranow Cynthia , Alarcón Graciela S. , Calvo Armando , Ugarte-Gil Manuel F.
Published: December 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare patient and physician (MD) assessment of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2016 and December 2017 at 2 Peruvian hospitals. One group assessed disease activity using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0–100 mm) and the other one using a numerical rating scale (NRS, 0–4), before and after their MD's visit. MDs assessed it with the Mexican Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity (Mex-SLEDAI) (0–32) and with the SLICC/ACR Damage Index (SDI) for damage. Health-related quality of life was ascertained with the LupusQoL. Visual analog scale and NRS were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the correlation between disease activity as assessed by the patient and the Mex-SLEDAI, SDI, and LupusQoL with the Spearman rank correlation.

Results

Two hundred forty patients were included; mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 34.9 (12.9) years; most patients were Mestizo. Disease duration was 10.1 (7.0) years. The Mex-SLEDAI was 1.9 (2.7) and the SDI 1.2 (1.5). Disease activity as assessed by the patient, either by VAS or NRS, did not correlate with the Mex-SLEDAI or the SDI. In contrast, patient assessment of disease activity, by VAS or NRS, significantly correlated with several components of the LupusQoL (physical health, pain, planning, emotional health, and fatigue).

Conclusions

Physician's and patient's assessments of disease activity are discrepant; overall, patients score higher than their MDs. Patients score how they perceive the disease is affecting them, rather than disease activity per se. The VAS could be more useful than the NRS as a measurement of disease activity.
Performance of an Automated Workflow for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Prostate
Authors: Esser Michael , Zinsser Dominik , Kündel Matthias , Lingg Andreas , Kiefer Berthold , Weiland Elisabeth , Nikolaou Konstantin , Othman Ahmed E.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of an automated workflow for multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate compared with a manual mpMRI workflow.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study was approved by the local ethics committee. Two MR technicians scanned 2 healthy volunteers with a prototypical highly automated workflow (Siemens Healthineers GmbH, Erlangen, Germany) and with a manually adjusted scan protocol each. Thirty patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 68 ± 11 years; range, 41–93 years) with suspected prostate cancer underwent mpMRI on a 3 T MRI scanner. Fifteen patients were examined with the automated workflow and 15 patients with a conventional manual workflow. Two readers assessed image quality (contrast, zone distinction, organ margins, seminal vesicles, lymph nodes), organ coverage, orientation (T2w sequences), and artifacts (motion, susceptibility, noise) on a 5-point scale (1, poor; 5, excellent). Examination time and MR technicians' acceptance were compared between both groups. Interreader agreement was evaluated with Cohen's kappa (κ).

Results

The automated workflow proved consistent for sequence orientation and image quality in the intraindividual comparisons. There were no significant differences in examination time (automated vs manual; median 26 vs 28 minutes; interquartile range [IQR], 25–28 minutes each; P = 0.57), study volume coverage, artifacts, or scores for T2w sequence orientation (5 vs 4 each; P > 0.3). Overall image quality was superior for automated MRI (4.6 vs 3.8; IQR, 3.9–4.8 vs 3.2–4.3; P = 0.002), especially concerning organ delineation and seminal vesicles (P = 0.045 and P = 0.013). The acceptance score was higher for the manual workflow (median, 10 vs 8; IQR, 10 vs 7–10; P = 0.002). General interreader agreement was excellent (κ = 0.832; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The automated workflow for prostate MRI ensures accurate sequence orientation and maintains high image quality, whereas examination time remained unaffected compared with the manual procedure in our institution.
Impact of Acuity Circles on Outcomes for Pediatric Liver Transplant Candidates
Authors: Mogul Douglas B. , Perito Emily R. , Wood Nicholas , Mazariegos George V. , VanDerwerken Douglas , Ibrahim Samar H. , Mohammad Saeed , Valentino Pamela L. , Gentry Sommer , Hsu Evelyn
Published: December 2019

Background.

In December 2018, United Network for Organ Sharing approved an allocation scheme based on recipients’ geographic distance from a deceased donor (acuity circles [ACs]). Previous analyses suggested that ACs would reduce waitlist mortality overall, but their impact on pediatric subgroups was not considered.

Methods.

We applied Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from 2011 to 2016 toward the Liver Simulated Allocation Model to compare outcomes by age and illness severity for the United Network for Organ Sharing–approved AC and the existing donor service area–/region-based allocation schemes. Means from each allocation scheme were compared using matched-pairs t tests.

Results.

During a 3-year period, AC allocation is projected to decrease waitlist deaths in infants (39 versus 55; P < 0.001), children (32 versus 50; P < 0.001), and teenagers (15 versus 25; P < 0.001). AC allocation would increase the number of transplants in infants (707 versus 560; P < 0.001), children (677 versus 547; P < 0.001), and teenagers (404 versus 248; P < 0.001). AC allocation led to decreased median pediatric end-stage liver disease/model for end-stage liver disease at transplant for infants (29 versus 30; P = 0.01), children (26 versus 29; P < 0.001), and teenagers (26 versus 31; P < 0.001). Additionally, AC allocation would lead to fewer transplants in status 1B in children (97 versus 103; P = 0.006) but not infants or teenagers. With AC allocation, 77% of pediatric donor organs would be allocated to pediatric candidates, compared to only 46% in donor service area–/region-based allocation (P < 0.001).

Conclusions.

AC allocation will likely address disparities for pediatric liver transplant candidates and recipients by increasing transplants and decreasing waitlist mortality. It is more consistent with federally mandated requirements for organ allocation.
The Freemartin Cattle and Clinical Transplantation: From the Ancients to Modern Day
Authors: Lovasik Brendan P.
Published: December 2019

This historical retrospective explores the study of the freemartin condition and its impact on the discovery of immunologic tolerance and the field of transplant surgery—from the ancient Romans, to early modern anatomists Valsalva, Scarpa, and Hunter, to contemporary immunologists Owen, Medawar, and Billingham, and to legendary transplant surgeon Joseph Murray. The legacy of freemartin cattle in the understanding of acquired tolerance and transplant immunology represents generations of scientific inquiry guided by careful observation and occasional serendipity, and the present-day immunologists and surgeons exploring immune transplant tolerance owe much to the history of the freemartin, several millennia in the making.
Craniofacial Autonomic Dysfunction in Migraine: Implications for Treatment and Prognosis
Authors: Cortez Melissa M. , Millsap Leah , Brennan K. C. , Campbell Corey L.
Published: December 2019

Background:

Craniofacial autonomic signs and symptoms (CASS) are relatively underrecognized in the evaluation of migraine headache. Yet, these features provide insight into diagnostic criterion, therapeutic approaches, and overarching disease burden.

Evidence Acquisition:

This review aims to summarize relevant literature evaluating autonomic dysfunction, with focus on CASS, in migraine through targeted literature searches in PubMed. Full articles of original data published between 1974 and 2019 were identified using MeSH terms with no search limits.

Results:

Although CASS are typically clinically evaluated by subjective patient report, investigational measures of cranial autonomic function have identified marked distinctions between headache attack and attack-free intervals. The presence of CASS during an attack does not differ based on age, sex, or presence of aura. Unilateral CASS may be predictive of longer, more frequent, and/or severe attacks and often co-occur with sensory dysfunction such as allodynia and photophobia. Although limited research has been performed to evaluate targeted therapeutics for migraine with CASS, triptans and onabotulinumtoxinA may demonstrate greater effects in this group.

Conclusions:

Migraine remains a debilitating disorder with significant community-wide impacts, necessitating continued evaluation of contributing features. Consideration of CASS provides important insight into potential treatment approaches and the effectiveness of novel therapeutic interventions aimed at improving overall disease burden. However, further investigation is needed to fully understand primary craniofacial features in migraine, and how these might inform individualized treatment decisions.
Joining of aluminium alloy to pre-holed carbon steel by aluminium extrusion using friction spot method
Authors: Abdullah Isam Tareq , Hussein Sabah Khammass , Hussein Abbas Khammas
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to join sheets of an aluminium alloy together with pre-holed carbon steel via friction spot technique.

Design/methodology/approach

An AISI 1006 steel sheet was a pre-holed with a 4.8 mm diameter and put under AA5052 sheet with a lap joint configuration. The joining process was carried out by extruding the aluminium through the steel hole using a rotating tool of 10 mm diameter. Furthermore, three process parameters (pre-heating time, rotating speed and plunging depth of the tool) with three values for each parameter were used to study their effects on the joints quality. In order to join samples, nine experiments were designed according to a Taguchi method. Shear strength, microstructure and X-ray diffraction tests of the joint were carried out.

Findings

The joining mechanism occurred by a mechanical interlock of the extruded aluminium with the inner surface of the steel hole. The tool plunging depth had a significant effect on the shear strength of the joint. The shear strength of two joints exceeded the shear strength of the wrought material (AA5052). All samples failed with two modes: pull-out and shearing of the extruded aluminium.

Originality/value

For the first time, the extrusion technique was used to join AA5052 sheet together with pre-holed carbon steel, with a perfect joint efficiency.
Student teachers’ development as teacher leaders during the practicum experience
Authors: Chaaban Youmen , Sawalhi Rania
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of student teachers’ development as teacher leaders during a 12-week practicum experience at Qatari government schools.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation involved a qualitative research methodology entailing multiple data generation methods, including pre/post interviews, weekly journals, mid- and post-reflective essays, classroom observations and multiple assignments. Data analysis was carried out using deductive and inductive methods, by adapting the conceptual framework of teacher leadership practices, identity and views, but allowing for new analytical themes to emerge.

Findings

Upon initiating leadership practices, two pathways to leadership development were revealed, mediated by the presence or absence of supportive factors. Both pathways, however, led to the development of divergent teacher leadership identities and varying views toward teacher leadership.

Originality/value

The study includes implications for the design of initial teacher preparation programs designed to prepare student teachers as teacher leaders.
A significant impact: a grassroots community of practice
Authors: O’Callaghan Robin , King Hunter , Miller Carrie Lewis
Published: December 2019

Purpose

To determine the effectiveness of the Instructional Technologies and Learning Spaces Special Interest Group (SIG), a study was planned for the 2016–2017 academic year. An anonymous attitudinal survey was designed to help researchers determine the following: if the SIG webinars were useful to their teaching practice; if the participants had positive experiences in the webinars; what participants gained through webinar participation; if the webinar format was easy to use; if the participants intended to continue participating in future SIG offerings; and what gaps in SIG programming might exist. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This mixed method study examines the attitudes of faculty who participated in events hosted by a SIG that was used to support faculty development for the fourth largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the USA.

Findings

Results of the study indicate that the methods used by the SIG were well-received by faculty across the state and that the programming was found to be valuable and helpful in informing their pedagogical practice, particularly in online environments.

Research limitations/implications

Given the subjective nature of this study (i.e. mixed methods), some caution should be taken when interpreting the results.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight into a potential method of providing high-quality professional development to faculty at multiple institutions or across large geographic distances, including adjuncts and teaching assistants.
Integrating selection-based aspect sentiment and preference knowledge for social recommender systems
Authors: Chen Yoke Yie , Wiratunga Nirmalie , Lothian Robert
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Recommender system approaches such as collaborative and content-based filtering rely on user ratings and product descriptions to recommend products. More recently, recommender system research has focussed on exploiting knowledge from user-generated content such as product reviews to enhance recommendation performance. The purpose of this paper is to show that the performance of a recommender system can be enhanced by integrating explicit knowledge extracted from product reviews with implicit knowledge extracted from analysis of consumer’s purchase behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors introduce a sentiment and preference-guided strategy for product recommendation by integrating not only explicit, user-generated and sentiment-rich content but also implicit knowledge gleaned from users’ product purchase preferences. Integration of both of these knowledge sources helps to model sentiment over a set of product aspects. The authors show how established dimensionality reduction and feature weighting approaches from text classification can be adopted to weight and select an optimal subset of aspects for recommendation tasks. The authors compare the proposed approach against several baseline methods as well as the state-of-the-art better method, which recommends products that are superior to a query product.

Findings

Evaluation results from seven different product categories show that aspect weighting and selection significantly improves state-of-the-art recommendation approaches.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed approach recommends products by analysing user sentiment on product aspects. Therefore, the proposed approach can be used to develop recommender systems that can explain to users why a product is recommended. This is achieved by presenting an analysis of sentiment distribution over individual aspects that describe a given product.

Originality/value

This paper describes a novel approach to integrate consumer purchase behaviour analysis and aspect-level sentiment analysis to enhance recommendation. In particular, the authors introduce the idea of aspect weighting and selection to help users identify better products. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate the practical benefits of this approach on a variety of product categories and compare the approach with the current state-of-the-art approaches.
Four decades of China’s agricultural extension reform and its impact on agents’ time allocation
Authors: Cai Jinyang , Jia Yao , Hu Ruifa , Zhang Chao
Published: December 2019

The Chinese Government has initiated a series of agricultural reforms since the 1970s to encourage agents to provide more services to farmers. In 2006, a new round of agricultural reforms was extended nationwide; however, the effectiveness of these reforms has not been examined. Based on a comparison of survey data sets before and after the reforms, we found that overall they significantly increased the time agents spend on agricultural extension services, although their effectiveness differs among three major components of the reforms. While the financial assurance reform had little impact on agents’ time allocation, the administrative reform actually reduced the time allocation to agricultural extension. However, we found strong evidence that the ‘three rights’ management reform (comprising the rights of personnel, financial and asset management) successfully increased agents’ time allocation to agricultural extension services. We also found that institutional incentives and the Government’s investment did not increase the time agents spent on agricultural extension. The lack of incentives is a problem that needs to be addressed in future reforms. We found that professional agents spent more time providing extension services than their non‐professional counterparts. We suggest that local Governments should avoid recruiting non‐professional agents into agricultural extension stations.
The importance of discretion for welfare services to minorities: Examining workload and anti‐immigration attitudes
Authors: Schütze Carolin , Johansson Håkan
Published: December 2019

Migration influx in Western countries resulting in increasingly diverse societies results in more complex situations for bureaucrats in their client interactions in welfare organizations. The role of discretion for services to clients has received much attention in the public administration research and therefore this study explores the relation among perceived workload, anti‐immigration attitudes, perceived discretion, and perceived difficulty in working with migrants. The paper examines the function of perceived discretion as moderator or mediator variable in this constellation. The relations are examined by using structural equation modelling based on a survey among Swedish welfare bureaucrats (N = 1,319). The results show that heavier perceived workload increased the likelihood of experiencing work with migrants as difficult and that greater perceived discretion decreased the likelihood of experiencing work with migrants as difficult. The results suggest that perceived discretion functions as a mediator for the relation between perceived workload and difficulty in work with migrants: potentially functioning as a ‘buffer’ for organizational pressure. We also found that bureaucrats who hold negative attitudes towards migrants were more likely to express their work with migrants as more difficult. This paper contributes to the public administration literature by increasing our knowledge on how discretion has significance in relation to when bureaucrat's behaviour is determined by specific organizational and personal factors.
Aortic dissection in a patient treated with anlotinib for metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jiang Bailing , Li Junhe , Chen Jun , Xiang Xiaojun , Xiong Jianping , Deng Jun
Published: December 2019

Anlotinib is an anti‐angiogenic drug that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet‐derived growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor, c‐Kit, and other kinases and has been approved for the treatment of advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As in other small‐molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, adverse effects such as hypertension and cardiotoxicity may be seen. However, the relationship between anlotinib and aortic dissection has not been previously reported. Here, we present a case of aortic dissection in a 58‐year‐old male patient with advanced NSCLC without history of hypertension who received anlotinib as third‐line treatment. After four courses of anlotinib treatment, he suffered a sudden onset of back pain, sweating, anxiety, and high blood pressure (180/120 mmHg) and heart rate (137 bpm). Emergency computed tomographic angiography revealed aortic dissection and thrombosis of the distal false lumen. Thereafter, the patient was administered nitroglycerin as antihypertensive treatment and he underwent stent‐graft intervention for aortic dissection. Anticoagulants and antihypertensive drugs were administered after the operation, and a moderate control of blood pressure was achieved. Thus, the adverse reactions of antolinib must be monitored and clinicians must be vigilant.
The incidence of turnip yellows virus in oilseed rape crops (Brassica napusL.) in three different regions of England over three consecutive growing seasons and the relationship with the abundance of flyingMyzus persicae
Authors: Asare‐Bediako Elvis , Jones Julie E. , Hambidge Angela J. , Stevens Mark , Mead Andrew , Jenner Carol E. , Walsh John A.
Published: December 2019

Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) is the most important virus infecting oilseed rape in the United Kingdom. The incidence and spatial distribution of TuYV in winter oilseed rape (WOSR) crops in three regions of England were determined over three growing seasons. Leaf samples were collected from three fields in each region, in autumn (November–December) and spring (April) of the three crop seasons and tested for virus presence by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Infection was detected in all fields except one. Higher TuYV incidences were recorded in 2007–2008 (≤89%) and 2009–2010 (≤100%) crop seasons than in 2008–2009 (≤24%). Highest incidences were recorded in Lincolnshire (≤100%), followed by Warwickshire (≤88%), with lowest incidences in Yorkshire (1–74%). There was a significant increase in incidence detected between autumn and spring sampling in eight fields, a significant decrease in one field and no significant change in 18 fields. Rothamsted Insect Survey suction trap data for the aphidMyzus persicaein Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire revealed two peaks of flight activity in most years (2007–2009). The second peak (September–November) coincided with emergence of WOSR. The highest cumulative (August–November) trap catches in the three regions during the three crop seasons occurred in Lincolnshire and the lowest in Yorkshire; catches in autumn 2009 were highest and lowest in autumn 2008. Regression analysis revealed a highly significant association between the cumulative numbers ofM. persicaecaught in the suction traps closest to the crops between August and November each year and the incidence of TuYV detected in the WOSR crops in the autumn of each year. Results are discussed in the light of factors affecting the spread of TuYV and future possibilities for control.
Nothing Sells like Whiteness: Race, Ontology, and American Advertising
Authors: Shankar Shalini
Published: December 2019

In this article, I examine how white supremacy is reproduced and circulated through advertising. I explore the shift from the racial and ethnic specificities of “multiculturalism” to the more open‐ended concept of “diversity,” which indexes difference in unspecific and nonthreatening ways. How diversity is represented in general‐market advertising and how it differs from multicultural advertising offers a window into white supremacy and the role of advertising in furthering its agenda. Advertising has long acted as a vehicle for white supremacy, and by analyzing diversity, there is something to be learned about the current work done by this medium. [race/ethnicity, advertising, media, diversity, white supremacy]
The Persistence of White Supremacy: Indigenous Women Migrants and the Structures of Settler Capitalism
Authors: Speed Shannon
Published: December 2019

Since the 2016 presidential election, there has been a resurgence of openly white supremacist discourse and action in the United States. The public debate following the election often suggested that Trump and his followers represented a backlash against the assumed progress of a multicultural and potentially even postracial society. However, the assumption inherent in this perspective, that white supremacy can be voted out or voted back in, is problematic. In this article, based on ten years of research with Indigenous women migrants from Mexico and Central America, I will apply an analytic of settler colonialism in order to explore how white supremacy is structured into our institutions and everyday social relations. In particular, I will consider the intersection of capitalism and the settler state, and how the changing needs of capitalism shape discourses of race differently over time yet remain fundamentally underwritten by white supremacist assumptions. Examining the shift from neoliberal multiculturalism to what I callneoliberal multicriminalism, I argue that neoliberal multiculturalism, with its accompanying discourses of tolerance and rights, may have reached its limits, and that the resurgence of open white supremacy is a response to the changing needs of white settler capitalist power. [white supremacy, patriarchy, settler colonialism, neoliberalism, migration]
5‐(Hydroxymethyl)furfural restores low‐oxygen rheology of sickle trait blood in vitro
Authors: Hansen Scott , Wood David K. , Higgins John M.
Published: December 2019

Sickle cell trait (SCT) is the benign heterozygous carrier state for the sickle variant of the HBB gene. Most of the ~300 million people with SCT worldwide will not experience any significant complications. However, accumulating evidence finds SCT associated with increased risk for the common conditions of chronic kidney disease and venous thromboembolism, and severe but rare renal medullary carcinoma and exercise‐induced rhabdomyolysis. The mechanism is uncertain, but probably involves pathological rheology of SCT blood in regions of low oxygen tension, resulting from sickle haemoglobin polymerization in SCT red cells and leading to reduced blood flow and further tissue hypoxia and damage. Here, we used an in vitro microfluidic flow system to study the oxygen‐dependent rheology of SCT blood and show that 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural, a natural breakdown product of glucose and fructose‐containing foods, such as fruit juices, can reduce the effects of hypoxia on SCT blood rheology in vitro, restoring near‐normal flow velocities at very low oxygen. While opinions regarding the clinical significance of the risks associated with SCT are still evolving, these results suggest that a compound present in some food may provide a potential approach for managing risks that may be associated with SCT.
Illuminating the Dark Ages: Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Expectancy Violation Across the Life Span
Authors: Krüger Markus , Bartels Wolfgang , Krist Horst
Published: December 2019

Mainly for methodological reasons, little is known about the course of development of early cognitive competencies diagnosed with the violation of expectation (VoE) method in infants. The goal of this research was to evaluate the use of pupillometry as a unified approach to assess expectancy violations during and beyond the “dark ages” between 1 and 3 years. We tested children aged 1–6 years and adults (N = 279) with pictures of animals combined with matching or mismatching animal sounds. All age groups exhibited significantly greater pupil dilation in mismatched than matched trials. We conclude that pupillometry is a viable alternative to the VoE method that, by contrast to the latter, can be used throughout the life span.
IGFBP7 acts as a negative regulator of RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis and oestrogen deficiency‐induced bone loss
Authors: Ye Chenyi , Hou Weiduo , Chen Mo , Lu Jinwei , Chen Erman , Tang Lan , Hang Kai , Ding Qianhai , Li Yan , Zhang Wei , He Rongxin
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) is a low‐affinity insulin growth factor (IGF) binder that may play an important role in bone metabolism. We previously reported that IGFBP7 enhanced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) via the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. In this study, we tried to reveal its function in osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis.

Methods

We used both in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the effects of IGFBP7 on RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoporosis, together with the underlying molecular mechanisms of these processes.

Results

We show that IGFBP7 inhibited receptor activation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) ligand (RANKL)‐induced osteoclastogenesis, F‐actin ring formation and bone resorption, which was confirmed by using recombinant IGFBP7 protein, lentivirus and siRNA. The NF‐κB signalling pathway was inhibited during this process. Moreover, in a mouse ovariectomy‐induced osteoporosis model, IGFBP7 treatment attenuated osteoporotic bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast activity.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings show that IGFBP7 suppressed osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo and suggest that IGFBP7 is a negative regulator of osteoclastogenesis and plays a protective role in osteoporosis. These novel insights into IGFBP7 may facilitate the development of potential treatment strategies for oestrogen deficiency‐induced osteoporosis and other osteoclast‐related disorders.
Visuoperceptual profiles of children using the Flemish cerebral visual impairment questionnaire
Authors: Ben Itzhak Nofar , Vancleef Kathleen , Franki Inge , Laenen Annouschka , Wagemans Johan , Ortibus Els
Published: December 2019

Aim

To investigate the underlying factor structure of the 46‐item Flemish cerebral visual impairment (CVI) questionnaire, differentiate the factor scores of children with and without CVI, and examine the impact of comorbidities on factor scores.

Method

The records of 630 children (386 males, 244 females; median age 77mo; interquartile range 63–98mo) who visited the CVI clinic and the Centre for Developmental Disabilities at the University Hospitals of Leuven from 2001 to 2018 were reviewed systematically. Inclusion criteria included an up‐to‐date questionnaire, a definitive diagnosis, and clinical assessment.

Results

Three hundred and forty‐five children (179 with CVI [108 males, 71 females; median age 74mo; interquartile range 61–93mo] and 166 without CVI [110 males, 56 females; median age 88mo; interquartile range 70–107mo]) were included. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 5‐factor (object and face processing impairments; visual (dis)interest; clutter and distance viewing impairments; moving in space impairments; and anxiety‐related behaviours) biologically and clinically plausible model, which retained 35 items and explained 56% of the total variance. Mann–Whitney U tests indicated that factors 1 to 4 were significantly higher in children with CVI compared to children without CVI (p‐values ranged from p<0.001 to p<0.05; effect sizes ranged from 0.11 to 0.33); factor 5 showed no differences. Autism, developmental coordination disorder, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy impacted factor scores.

Interpretation

A 5‐factor structure of the Flemish CVI questionnaire differentiates children with and without CVI. Comorbidities should be accounted for when researching CVI.

What this paper adds

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is characterized by impaired object and face processing and impaired visual interest.

CVI is also characterized by impaired clutter and distance viewing, and impaired moving in space.

All children (with or without CVI) demonstrated anxiety‐related behaviours.

Autism affected object/face processing, whereas developmental coordination disorder, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy affected visual interest.
Glycan biomarkers for Alzheimer disease correlate with T‐tau and P‐tau in cerebrospinal fluid in subjective cognitive impairment
Authors: Schedin‐Weiss Sophia , Gaunitz Stefan , Sui Ping , Chen Qiushi , Haslam Stuart M. , Blennow Kaj , Winblad Bengt , Dell Anne , Tjernberg Lars O.
Published: December 2019

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a devastating disease and a global health problem, and current treatments are only symptomatic. A wealth of clinical studies support that the disease starts to develop decades before the first symptoms appear, emphasizing the importance of studying early changes for improving early diagnosis and guiding toward novel treatment strategies. Protein glycosylation is altered in AD but it remains to be clarified why these alterations occur and how they affect the disease development. Here, we used a glycomics approach to search for alterations in protein glycosylation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in AD compared with nondemented controls. Using both matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time of flight and liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry, we observed an increase in N‐glycans carrying bisecting N‐acetylglucosamine in AD. Based on those findings, we designed an enzyme‐linked multiwell plate assay to quantify N‐glycans binding to the lectin Phaseolus vulgaris Erythroagglutinin (PHA‐E), which is specific for N‐glycans containing bisecting N‐acetylglucosamine. Using this assay, we found a similar increase in CSF in AD compared with controls. Further analysis of CSF from 242 patients with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or AD dementia revealed significantly increased binding to PHA‐E in MCI and AD compared to SCI. Interestingly, PHA‐E binding correlated with CSF levels of phosphorylated tau and total tau and this correlation was most prominent in the SCI group (R = 0.53–0.54). This study supports a link between N‐glycosylation, neurodegeneration, and tau pathology in AD and suggests that glycan biomarkers have potential to identify SCI cases at risk of developing AD.
The role of bioenergy for global deep decarbonization: CO2 removal or low‐carbon energy?
Authors: Butnar Isabela , Broad Oliver , Solano Rodriguez Baltazar , Dodds Paul E.
Published: December 2019

Bioenergy is expected to have a prominent role in limiting global greenhouse emissions to meet the climate change target of the Paris Agreement. Many studies identify negative emissions from bioenergy generation with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) as its key contribution, but assume that no other CO2 removal technologies are available. We use a global integrated assessment model, TIAM‐UCL, to investigate the role of bioenergy within the global energy system when direct air capture and afforestation are available as cost‐competitive alternatives to BECCS. We find that the presence of other CO2 removal technologies does not reduce the pressure on biomass resources but changes the use of bioenergy for climate mitigation. While we confirm that when available BECCS offers cheaper decarbonization pathways, we also find that its use delays the phase‐out of unabated fossil fuels in industry and transport. Furthermore, it displaces renewable electricity generation, potentially increasing the likelihood of missing the Paris Agreement target. We found that the most cost‐effective solution is to invest in a basket of CO2 removal technologies. However, if these technologies rely on CCS, then urgent action is required to ramp up the necessary infrastructure. We conclude that a sustainable biomass supply is critical for decarbonizing the global energy system. Since only a few world regions carry the burden of producing the biomass resource and store CO2 in geological storage, adequate international collaboration, policies and standards will be needed to realize this resource while avoiding undesired land‐use change.
Knowledge, attitude and behaviour of dental health care providers towards health electronic record systems in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Sayed Mohammed E.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The present study aimed to discuss the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of dental health care providers towards electronic health record system in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

The study adopted a questionnaire survey in which information regarding demographics, maintenance and effectiveness of electronic health record systems (EHRs) were mentioned. The data were collected from 270 participants from five regions in Saudi Arabia.

Discussion

Electronic health record systems were found to be an important tool in collecting the information of patients without wasting time. An agreement between participants regarding the potentiality of EHRs to reduce medical errors was also detected.

Conclusions

Few factors such as privacy concerns, staff compliance and cost were found to be the factors influencing the attitudes of health care providers towards the adoption of EHRs. Thus, EHRs can be made efficient by addressing the problems to change the perceptions of health care providers.
Combining effects of TiO6 octahedron rotations and random electric fields on structural and properties in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3
Authors: Hao Kaijun , Ge Wenwei , Ren Zhenan , Liu Xiaojuan , Luo Laihui , Li Xiaobing , Luo Haosu , Viehland Dwight
Published: December 2019

The structural and dielectric properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT) ceramics and crystals have been investigated and are compared to that of Pb(Zr0.55Ti0.45)O3 (PZT55/45) and Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.72Ti0.28O3 (PMNT 72/28) ceramics. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) profiles for (100), (110), (111), (200), (220), and (222) (referred to cubic structure) reveal that the monoclinic structure with Cc space group exists both in the NBT single crystal and ceramics. The diffraction profile obtained with high resolution laboratory XRD for the NBT single crystal can be well described, using Cc model instead of R3c model. The dielectric constant of NBT below Thump shows some similarity to that of PZT45/55 ceramics below 50°C in which oxygen octahedron rotations cause the frequency dispersion of the dielectric constant. The temperature‐dependent dielectric constant for NBT can be deconvolved into two independent processes. The lower temperature process shows a typical relaxor characteristic and follows the Vogel‐Fulcher relationship. The other process at higher temperature shows less frequency‐dependent behavior. Comparing the dielectric constant of NBT with that of PZT55/45 and PMNT72/28 reveals that both oxygen octahedral rotations and random electric fields play an important role in the frequency dispersion of the dielectric constant for NBT relaxor feroelectric.
Structural neural markers of response to cognitive behavioral therapy in pediatric obsessive‐compulsive disorder
Authors: Pagliaccio David , Cha Jiook , He Xiaofu , Cyr Marilyn , Yanes‐Lukin Paula , Goldberg Pablo , Fontaine Martine , Rynn Moira A. , Marsh Rachel
Published: December 2019

Background

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective, first‐line treatment for pediatric obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD). While neural predictors of treatment outcomes have been identified in adults with OCD, robust predictors are lacking for pediatric patients. Herein, we sought to identify brain structural markers of CBT response in youth with OCD.

Methods

Twenty‐eight children/adolescents with OCD and 27 matched healthy participants (7‐ to 18‐year‐olds, M = 11.71 years, SD = 3.29) completed high‐resolution structural and diffusion MRI (all unmedicated at time of scanning). Patients with OCD then completed 12–16 sessions of CBT. Subcortical volume and cortical thickness were estimated using FreeSurfer. Structural connectivity (streamline counts) was estimated using MRtrix.

Results

Thinner cortex in nine frontoparietal regions significantly predicted improvement in Children’s Yale‐Brown Obsessive‐Compulsive Scale (CY‐BOCS) scores (all ts > 3.4, FDR‐corrected ps < .05). These included middle and superior frontal, angular, lingual, precentral, superior temporal, and supramarginal gyri (SMG). Vertex‐wise analyses confirmed a significant left SMG cluster, showing large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.42) with 72.22% specificity and 90.00% sensitivity in predicting CBT response. Ten structural connections between cingulo‐opercular regions exhibited fewer streamline counts in OCD (all ts > 3.12, Cohen’s ds > 0.92) compared with healthy participants. These connections predicted post‐treatment CY‐BOCS scores, beyond pretreatment severity and demographics, though not above and beyond cortical thickness.

Conclusions

The current study identified group differences in structural connectivity (reduced among cingulo‐opercular regions) and cortical thickness predictors of CBT response (thinner frontoparietal cortices) in unmedicated children/adolescents with OCD. These data suggest, for the first time, that cortical and white matter features of task control circuits may be useful in identifying which pediatric patients respond best to individual CBT.
Nd:YAG laser vs IPL in inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesion treatment
Authors: Monib Khaled Mohey El‐Din , Hussein Mohamed Saber
Published: December 2019

Background

Several topical and systemic therapies are available for the treatment of acne vulgaris but are associated with several limitations, and recently, intense pulse light (IPL) and long‐pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser have shown efficacy.

Aims

The current study aimed to compare the efficacy of Nd:YAG laser and IPL in inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions.

Patients and Methods

Thirty patients with inflammatory and noninflammatory facial acne were assigned randomly and equally into two groups, the Nd:YAG and IPL groups. The patients received three sessions of laser 2 weeks apart, and the clinical improvement was assessed by the reduction in the number of lesions.

Results

At baseline, the two groups showed a nonsignificant difference as regards total number (P = .476), inflammatory (P = .457), and noninflammatory lesions (P = .420). The improvement in total lesions was significant in the Nd:YAG Group but nonsignificant in the IPL Group (P < .001, P = .13, respectively). Three patients (20%) in the IPL Group showed exacerbation after the first and second sessions. One month after the last session, the difference in improvement between noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions showed a significant difference in the Nd:YAG Group (P = .017) and a nonsignificant difference in the IPL Group (P = .823). Nd:YAG, compared to the IPL Group, showed a significant difference as regards the improvement score in noninflammatory lesions (P = .0099) and a nonsignificant difference in inflammatory lesions (P = .4295).

Conclusion

The significant improvement in noninflammatory lesions and the absence of a significant flare‐up of acne as seen among patients treated with IPL make Nd:YAG a better therapeutic modality for acne.