bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding pathways to inequalities in child mental health: a counterfactual mediation analysis in two national birth cohorts in the UK and Denmark
Authors: Lai Eric TC , Schlüter Daniela K , Lange Theis , Straatmann Viviane , Andersen Anne-Marie Nybo , Strandberg-Larsen Katrine , Taylor-Robinson David
Published: October 2020

Objectives

We assessed social inequalities in child mental health problems (MHPs) and how they are mediated by perinatal factors, childhood illness and maternal mental health in two national birth cohorts.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study

Setting

We used data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study and the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We applied causal mediation analysis to longitudinal cohort data. Socioeconomic conditions (SECs) at birth were measured by maternal education. Our outcome was child MHPs measured by the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire at age 11. We estimated natural direct, indirect and total effects (TEs) of SECs on MHPs. We calculated the proportion mediated (PM) via three blocks of mediators—perinatal factors (smoking/alcohol use during pregnancy, birth weight and gestational age), childhood illness and maternal mental health.

Results

At age 11 years, 9% of children in the UK and 3.8% in Denmark had MHPs. Compared with high SECs, children in low SECs had a higher risk of MHPs (relative risk (RR)=4.3, 95% CI 3.3 to 5.5 in the UK, n=13 112; and RR=6.2, 95% CI 4.9 to 7.8 in Denmark, n=35 764). In the UK, perinatal factors mediated 10.2% (95% CI 4.5 to 15.9) of the TE, and adding maternal mental health tripled the PM to 32.2% (95% CI 25.4 to 39.1). In Denmark, perinatal factors mediated 16.5% (95% CI 11.9 to 21.1) of the TE, and including maternal mental health increased the PM to 16.9% (95% CI 11.2 to 22.6). Adding childhood illness made little difference in either country.

Conclusion

Social inequalities in child mental health are partially explained by perinatal factors in the UK and Denmark. Maternal mental health partially explained inequalities in the UK but not in Denmark.
Achieving universal health coverage for people with stroke in South Africa: protocol for a scoping review
Authors: van Niekerk Sjan-Mari , Inglis-Jassiem Gakeemah , Kamalakannan Sureshkumar , Fernandes Silke , Webster Jayne , English Rene , Smythe Tracey , Louw QA
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Stroke is the second most common cause of death after HIV/AIDS and a significant health burden in South Africa. The extent to which universal health coverage (UHC) is achieved for people with stroke in South Africa is unknown. Therefore, a scoping review to explore the opportunities and challenges within the South African health system to facilitate the achievement of UHC for people with stroke is warranted.

Methods and analysis

The scoping review will follow the approach recommended by Levac, Colquhoun and O’Brien, which includes five steps: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) selecting the studies, (4) charting the data, and (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results. Health Systems Dynamics Framework and WHO Framework on integrated people-centred health services will be used to map, synthesise and analyse data thematically.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for this scoping review, as it will only include published and publicly available data. The findings of this review will be published in an open-access, peer-reviewed journal and we will develop an accessible summary of the results for website posting and stakeholder meetings.
Safety and efficacy of AMG 820, an anti-colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor antibody, in combination with pembrolizumab in adults with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Razak Albiruni RA , Cleary James M , Moreno Victor , Boyer Michael , Calvo Aller Emiliano , Edenfield William , Tie Jeanne , Harvey R Donald , Rutten Annemie , Shah Manish A , Olszanski Anthony J , Jäger Dirk , Lakhani Nehal , Ryan David P , Rasmussen Erik , Juan Gloria , Wong Hansen , Soman Neelesh , Smit Marie-Anne Damiette , Nagorsen Dirk , Papadopoulos Kyriakos P
Published: October 2020

Background

To determine the safety and efficacy of the anti-colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (anti-CSF1R) monoclonal antibody AMG 820 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with select solid tumors.

Patients and methods

Patients had advanced, refractory mismatch repair-proficient colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with low (<50%) programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and were naïve to anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 or had relapsed/refractory NSCLC after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment with low or high (≥50%) PD-L1 expression; all were anti-CSF1/CSF1R naïve. Patients received 1100 mg or 1400 mg AMG 820 plus 200 mg pembrolizumab intravenously every 3 weeks. The primary endpoints were incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and adverse events (AEs) and objective response rate per immune-related Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours at the recommended combination dose.

Results

Overall, 116 patients received ≥1 dose of AMG 820 plus pembrolizumab (18 at 1400 mg AMG 820; 98 at 1100 mg AMG 820). Most patients (64%) were male; the median age was 64 (range 30–86) years. Seven patients had DLTs (1 at 1400 mg AMG 820; 6 at 1100 mg AMG 820). Almost all patients (99.1%) had AEs, 87.9% with grade ≥3 AEs. The most common AEs were increased aspartate aminotransferase (59.5%), fatigue (48.3%), periorbital/face edema (48.3%), and rash/maculopapular rash (37.1%). The best response was immune-related partial response in 3 patients (3%; duration of response 9.2, 10.0, 12.5 months) and immune-related stable disease in 39 patients (34%). None of the completed phase II cohorts met the predefined threshold for efficacy. Post-treatment there was accumulation of serum colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) and interleukin-34, reduction in CSF1-dependent CD16-expressing monocytes, and increased PD-L1 expression and CD4 and CD8 cell numbers in tumor biopsies.

Conclusions

The recommended combination dose of 1100 mg AMG 820 plus 200 mg pembrolizumab had an acceptable safety profile. Although pharmacodynamic effects were observed, antitumor activity was insufficient for further evaluation of this combination in selected patient populations.

Trial registration number

NCT02713529
The Synchronizing Probability Function for Primitive Sets of Matrices
Authors: Catalano Costanza , Jungers Raphaël M.
Published: October 2020

Motivated by recent results relating synchronizing DFAs and primitive sets, we tackle the synchronization process and the related longstanding Černý conjecture by studying the primitivity phenomenon for sets of nonnegative matrices having neither zero-rows nor zero-columns. We formulate the primitivity process in the setting of a two-player probabilistic game and we make use of convex optimization techniques to describe its behavior. We develop a tool for approximating and upper bounding the exponent of any primitive set and supported by numerical results we state a conjecture that, if true, would imply a quadratic upper bound on the reset threshold of a new class of automata.
Risks to the Public
Authors: Neumann Peter G.
Published: October 2020

Edited by PGN (Risks Forum Moderator, with contribu- tions by others as indicated. Opinions are individual rather than organizational, with usual disclaimers implied. We ad- dress problems relating to software, hardware, people, and other circumstances relevant to computer systems. Ref- erences (R i j) to the online Risks Forum denote RISKS vol i number j. Cited RISKS items generally identify contributors and sources, together with URLs. Official RISKS archives are available at www.risks.org, with nice html formatting and search engine courtesy of Lindsay Mar- shall at Newcastle:; http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/i.j.html (also ftp://www.sri.com/risks). CACM Inside Risks: http://www.csl.sri.com/neumann/insiderisks.html
Pains and Gains of Peer-Reviewing in Software Engineering (3)
Authors: Soldani Jacopo
Published: October 2020

The 'Pains and Gains of Peer-Reviewing in Software Engineering' column of SEN aims at fostering a constructive and stimulating discussion on peer-reviewing in software engineering venues. This third editorial introduces two new contributions to the column, providing the positions and perspectives by the Editors-in-Chief of two internationally renowned software engineering journals.
Peer Reviewing in Software Engineering
Authors: Hierons Robert M. , Xie Tao
Published: October 2020

In this short article, we discuss perspectives on issues related to peer reviewing in software engineering journals and conferences. These perspectives are based on our experiences, which have been informed by being authors, reviewers, conference organisers, members of journal editorial boards, and also co-editors-in-chief of a journal, i.e., The Journal of Software Testing, Verification and Reliability (STVR).
Cyclic
b
-Multiplicative

A
,
B

-Hardy–Rogers-Type Local Contraction and Related Results in
b
-Multiplicative and
b
-Metric Spaces
Authors: Al-Mazrooei Abdullah Eqal , Shoaib Abdullah , Ahmad Jamshaid
Published: October 2020

The aim of this paper is to define cyclic

b

-multiplicative Hardy–Rogers-type local contraction in the context of generalized spaces named as

b

-multiplicative spaces to extend various results of the literature including the main results of Yamaod et al. In this way, we apply a new generalized contractive condition only on a closed set instead of a whole set and by using

b

-multiplicative space instead of multiplicative metric space. We apply our results to obtain new results in

b

-metric spaces. Examples are given to show the usability of our results, when others cannot.
Translating Cancer Risk Prediction Models into Personalized Cancer Risk Assessment Tools: Stumbling Blocks and Strategies for Success
Authors: Waters Erika A. , Taber Jennifer M. , McQueen Amy , Housten Ashley J. , Studts Jamie L. , Scherer Laura D.
Published: October 2020

Cancer risk prediction models such as those published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention are a cornerstone of precision medicine and public health efforts to improve population health outcomes by tailoring preventive strategies and therapeutic treatments to the people who are most likely to benefit. However, there are several barriers to the effective translation, dissemination, and implementation of cancer risk prediction models into clinical and public health practice. In this commentary, we discuss two broad categories of barriers. Specifically, we assert that the successful use of risk-stratified cancer prevention and treatment strategies is particularly unlikely if risk prediction models are translated into risk assessment tools that (i) are difficult for the public to understand or (ii) are not structured in a way to engender the public's confidence that the results are accurate. We explain what aspects of a risk assessment tool's design and content may impede understanding and acceptance by the public. We also describe strategies for translating a cancer risk prediction model into a cancer risk assessment tool that is accessible, meaningful, and useful for the public and in clinical practice.
Exploring the Legality of the Constitutional and Independence Referendums in Nagorno-Karabakh under International Law
Authors: Bagheri Saeed
Published: October 2020

As a result of the constitutional referendum held on 20 February 2017 in the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, both the name and administration of the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh changed. According to the new Constitution, adopted with an 87 per cent majority, Nagorno-Karabakh’s name is now the Republic of Artsakh, its Armenian name, and the system is changing from semi-presidential to presidential. This study discusses the legality of the referendum, the third since Nagorno-Karabakh was established in 1991; it evaluates the referendum in the context of the secession and the right to self-determination in international law. Having looked at similar cases, the article challenges the compatibility of all referenda held in the region with the uti possidetis juris principle and principle of territorial integrity under international law.
New data on the genus Cheilosia Meigen (Diptera, Syrphidae) from Central Asia, with descriptions of two new species and a key to the ‘group C’
Authors: BARKALOV ANATOLIJ V.
Published: October 2020

New information is given on the distribution of Cheilosia Meigen species (Diptera, Syrphidae) in Central Asia, together with a description of two new species. The new species, Cheilosia teneripilosa sp. nov. and Cheilosia vadimi sp. nov., belong to the subgenus Montanocheila Barkalov. Cheilosia teneripilosa differs from its close allies by a set of the following characters: eyes with long black hairs, legs of male completely black, abdomen predominantly with light hairs, superior lobe of hypandrium with a very small left process. Cheilosia vadimi is close to C. kirgizorum Peck, but differs by shorter hairs on the eyes and scutum, and a completely different shape of the superior lobe of the hypandrium. A revised key is given to the ‘group C’ species of Cheilosia from Central Asia (those with haired eyes, bare face and absence of strong bristles on scutellar hind margin). The descriptions of the new species are accompanied by drawings of the head and male genitalia.
Review of the aberrant spider wasp genus Irenangelus Schulz (Pompilidae: Ceropalinae) from the Indian subcontinent with the description of a new species
Authors: BINOY C. , WAHIS RAYMOND , KUMAR P. GIRISH
Published: October 2020

The little-known spider wasp genus Irenangelus Schulz, 1906 (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) is studied from the Indian subcontinent. A new species, I. acuminatus Binoy & Girish Kumar, sp. nov., is described with illustrations from India (Rajasthan). Diagnosis of species occurring in the Indian subcontinent, key to species and a distribution map are provided.
Rotated Spectral Principal Component Analysis (rsPCA) for Identifying Dynamical Modes of Variability in Climate Systems
Authors: Guilloteau Clément , Mamalakis Antonios , Vulis Lawrence , Le Phong V. V. , Georgiou Tryphon T. , Foufoula-Georgiou Efi
Published: October 2020

Spectral PCA (sPCA), in contrast to classical PCA, offers the advantage of identifying organized spatiotemporal patterns within specific frequency bands and extracting dynamical modes. However, the unavoidable trade-off between frequency resolution and robustness of the PCs leads to high sensitivity to noise and overfitting, which limits the interpretation of the sPCA results. We propose herein a simple nonparametric implementation of sPCA using the continuous analytic Morlet wavelet as a robust estimator of the cross-spectral matrices with good frequency resolution. To improve the interpretability of the results, especially when several modes of similar amplitude exist within the same frequency band, we propose a rotation of the complex-valued eigenvectors to optimize their spatial regularity (smoothness). The developed method, called rotated spectral PCA (rsPCA), is tested on synthetic data simulating propagating waves and shows impressive performance even with high levels of noise in the data. Applied to global historical geopotential height (GPH) and sea surface temperature (SST) daily time series, the method accurately captures patterns of atmospheric Rossby waves at high frequencies (3–60-day periods) in both GPH and SST and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) at low frequencies (2–7-yr periodicity) in SST. At high frequencies the rsPCA successfully unmixes the identified waves, revealing spatially coherent patterns with robust propagation dynamics.
The Role of Defensive Pessimism and Love and Sex Perception on Rape Victim Blame Attribution among Public Servants in a Nigerian City
Authors: Effiong James E. , Nnam Macpherson Uchenna , Iloma David O. , Okechukwu Groupson-Paul , Obi Chinazor Franca
Published: October 2020

Existing literature have decried the propensity to blame victims of rape which ultimately translates worryingly into a tolerance of crimes against persons. Being a lopsided and an understudied phenomenon, the present study sets out to explore the role of defensive pessimism and love, and sex perception on rape victim blaming among civil servants in Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, 167 civil servants were recruited, comprising 84 males and 83 females, with mean age of 36.29 and standard deviation of 8.53. To measure variables of interest, three instruments: Perception of Love and Sex Scale, Attitudes Towards Rape Victims Scale, and the revised Defensive Pessimism Questionnaire were adopted. To analyze the information obtained from the measuring instruments, descriptive and regression statistics were employed, and results indicated that the less defensive pessimism civil servants reported, the more victim blame they exhibited. Findings also revealed that civil servants who perceived love and sex negatively reported more victim blame. From this study, a new link was formed between variables of interest and the need for adequate mass sensitization on the urgent need of condemning strongly acts of rape and sexual assaults, coupled with advocacy for desensitization on victim blame among “survivors” (rape victims).
The Invisible Pandemic of Grief: Finding Meaning in Our Collective Pain
Authors: Reneau Clint-Michael , Eanes Berenecea Johnson
Published: October 2020

Globally, educators approach screens full of faces in a scene becoming more common in daily practice. This harrowing time of pandemic has opened a range of emotions not only for our students, but within ourselves due to physical distancing and the increased use of technology to engage one another. As a result, embracing our vulnerability and recognizing how grief is impacting our lives and our work is necessary at this time. Using an ethnological approach, the authors explore issues of loss, grief, meaning-making, and the benefits of sharing our experience with each other. If we can name it, perhaps we can manage it. Written from the perspective of post-secondary education in the United States, this article is intended for staff, faculty, and administrators who work in post-secondary education.
Classical versus non-classical EGFR mutations: Erlotinib response and impact of renal insufficiency
Authors: Celik Emir , Samanci Nilay Sengul , Karadag Mehmet , Demirci Nebi Serkan , Cikman Duygu Ilke , Derin Sumeyra , Bedir Sahin , Degerli Ezgi , Oruc Kerem , Oztas Nihan Senturk , Demirelli Fuat Hulusi
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Erlotinib is an effective treatment option for EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. It is important to predict patients who will respond better to erlotinib. We designed this study to investigate the effect of renal insufficiency (RI) on erlotinib treatment outcomes.

Methods

All patients receiving erlotinib were stratified into 3 groups. Group 1 consisted of non-RI subjects with classical epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, Group 2 consisted of those with RI (Estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min) and classical EGFR mutations, and Group 3 consisted of those with non-classical EGFR mutations.

Results

82 patients were included in the study. Median progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with classical mutation was approximately 6 months shorter in those with RI, although not statistically significant. Median overall survival (OS) in Group 1, 2 and 3 was 34.1 months, 35.2 months, and 15 months, respectively and although not statistically significant, median OS was 20 months shorter in Group 3. Univariate and multivariate cox-regression analysis revealed shorter PFS and OS in males and those with ECOG ≥2 while PFS and OS were longer in those with recurrent lung tumors and generating rash during erlotinib treatment. There was no difference between RI and non-RI patients in terms of adverse events except for fatigue and appetite loss.

Conclusions

This research showed OS in patients with and without RI was comparable. Although not statistically significant, PFS in patients with classical mutation was approximately 6 months shorter in those with RI patients.
Mental Practice Combined With Physical Practice to Enhance Upper Extremity Functional Ability Poststroke: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alashram Anas R. , Annino Giuseppe , Al-qtaishat Mohammed , Padua Elvira
Published: October 2020

Background:

Upper extremity deficits are one of the most common impairments in individuals with stroke. Mental practice is exercised cognitively in the absence of the physical trials. The effects of the combination of mental and physical practice remain unclear.

Objectives:

This study aimed to examine the effects of combined physical practice and mental practice on the upper extremity functional ability poststroke, to identify which stroke population is most likely to benefit from the intervention, and to determine the effective treatment dosage.

Methods:

We searched in the PubMed, SCOPUS, National Rehabilitation Information REHABDATA, PEDro, and Web of Science until February 2020. Randomized clinical trials examined the effects of combined physical practice and mental practice on the upper extremity functional ability in people with a stroke. The risk of bias was evaluated and the effect sizes were calculated.

Results:

Nine studies met our inclusion criteria. In total, 230 stroke survivors were included in this analysis (mean age: 60.84 years). This review found that combining physical practice and mental practice has beneficial effects in improving the upper extremity functional ability poststroke.

Conclusion:

Combining physical practice and mental practice improves the upper extremity functional ability poststroke, this improvement can extend for 3 months after the treatment intervention. We propose that using 30 to 60 min of physical practice followed by 30 min of mental practice, 2 to 3 times weekly for 6 to 10 weeks, may give meaningful effects in individuals with stroke.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in airways and quadriceps muscle of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Haji Gulam , Wiegman Coen H. , Michaeloudes Charalambos , Patel Mehul S. , Curtis Katrina , Bhavsar Pankaj , Polkey Michael I. , Adcock Ian M. , Chung Kian Fan ,   on behalf of the COPDMAP consortium
Published: October 2020

Background

Mitochondrial damage and dysfunction have been reported in airway and quadriceps muscle cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We determined the concomitance of mitochondrial dysfunction in these cells in COPD.

Methods

Bronchial biopsies were obtained from never- and ex-smoker volunteers and COPD patients (GOLD Grade 2) and quadriceps muscle biopsies from the same volunteers in addition to COPD patients at GOLD Grade 3/4 for measurement of mitochondrial function.

Results

Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and decreased superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) levels were observed in mitochondria isolated from bronchial biopsies from Grade 2 patients compared to healthy never- and ex-smokers. There was a significant correlation between ΔΨm and FEV1 (% predicted), transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TLCOC % predicted), 6-min walk test and maximum oxygen consumption. In addition, ΔΨm was also associated with decreased expression levels of electron transport chain (ETC) complex proteins I and II. In quadriceps muscle of Grade 2 COPD patients, a significant increase in total ROS and mtROS was observed without changes in ΔΨm, SOD2 or ETC complex protein expression. However, quadriceps muscle of GOLD Grade 3/4 COPD patients showed an increased mtROS and decreased SOD2 and ETC complex proteins I, II, III and V expression.

Conclusions

Mitochondrial dysfunction in the airways, but not in quadriceps muscle, is associated with airflow obstruction and exercise capacity in Grade 2 COPD. Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the quadriceps may result from similar disease processes occurring in the lungs.
Bone turnover biomarkers in COPD patients randomized to either a regular or shortened course of corticosteroids: a substudy of the randomized controlled CORTICO-COP trial
Authors: Sivapalan Pradeesh , Jørgensen Niklas R. , Mathioudakis Alexander G. , Eklöf Josefin , Lapperre Therese , Ulrik Charlotte Suppli , Andreassen Helle F. , Armbruster Karin , Sivapalan Praleene , Janner Julie , Godtfredsen Nina , Weinreich Ulla M. , Nielsen Thyge L. , Seersholm Niels , Wilcke Torgny , Schuetz Philipp , Klausen Tobias W. , Marså Kristoffer , Vestbo Jørgen , Jensen Jens-Ulrik
Published: October 2020

Background

Long-term treatment with corticosteroids causes loss of bone density, but the effects of using short-term high-dose systemic-corticosteroid therapy to treat acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are unclear. Our aim was to determine whether high-dose corticosteroid therapy affected bone turnover markers (BTMs) to a greater extent compared to low-dose corticosteroid therapy.

Methods

The CORTICO-COP trial (NCT02857842) showed that an eosinophil-guided corticosteroid intervention led to approximately 60% lower accumulated corticosteroid dose for hospitalized patients with AECOPD (low-dose group) compared with 5-day standard corticosteroid treatment (high-dose group). We compared the levels of BTMs C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) in 318 participants during AECOPD and at 1- and 3-month follow-up visits.

Results

CTX decreased and P1NP increased significantly over time in both treatment groups. There were no significant differences between the groups at 1- or 3-months follow-up for P1NP. A significant drop in CTX was seen at 3 months (down Δ24% from the baseline, p = 0.017) for the high dose group.

Conclusion

Short-term, high-dose systemic corticosteroid treatment caused a rapid suppression of biomarkers of bone resorption. Corticosteroids did not suppress biomarkers of bone formation, regardless of patients receiving low or high doses of corticosteroids. This therapy was, therefore, harmless in terms of bone safety, in our prospective series of COPD patients.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02857842. Submitted August 2nd, 2016.
Clusterization in acute myeloid leukemia based on prognostic alternative splicing signature to reveal the clinical characteristics in the bone marrow microenvironment
Authors: Zhang Nan , Zhang Ping , Chen Ying , Lou Shifeng , Zeng Hanqing , Deng Jianchuan
Published: October 2020

Background

Alternative splicing (AS), a crucial post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism in expanding the coding capacities of genomes and increasing the diversity of proteins, still faces various challenges in the splicing regulation mechanism of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and microenvironmental changes.

Results

A total of 27,833 AS events were detected in 8337 genes in 178 AML patients, with exon skip being the predominant type. Approximately 11% of the AS events were significantly related to prognosis, and the prediction models based on various events demonstrated high classification efficiencies. Splicing factors correlation networks further altered the diversity of AS events through epigenetic regulation and clarified the potential mechanism of the splicing pathway. Unsupervised cluster analysis revealed significant correlations between AS and immune features, molecular mutations, immune checkpoints and clinical outcome. The results suggested that AS clusters could be used to identify patient subgroups with different survival outcomes in AML, among which C1 was both associated with good outcome in overall survival. Interestingly, C1 was associated with lower immune scores compared with C2 and C3, and favorable-risk cytogenetics was rarely distributed in C2, but much more common in C1.

Conclusions

This study revealed a comprehensive landscape of AS events, and provides new insight into molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy strategy for AML.
Modeling fire ignition probability and frequency using Hurdle models: a cross-regional study in Southern Europe
Authors: D’Este Marina , Ganga Antonio , Elia Mario , Lovreglio Raffaella , Giannico Vincenzo , Spano Giuseppina , Colangelo Giuseppe , Lafortezza Raffaele , Sanesi Giovanni
Published: October 2020

Background

Wildfires play a key role in shaping Mediterranean landscapes and ecosystems and in impacting species dynamics. Numerous studies have investigated the wildfire occurrences and the influence of their drivers in many countries of the Mediterranean Basin. However, in this regard, no studies have attempted to compare different Mediterranean regions, which may appear similar under many aspects. In response to this gap, climatic, topographic, anthropic, and landscape drivers were analyzed and compared to assess the patterns of fire ignition points in terms of fire occurrence and frequency in Catalonia (Spain), Sardinia, and Apulia (Italy). Therefore, the objectives of the study were to (1) assess fire ignition occurrence in terms of probability and frequency, (2) compare the main drivers affecting fire occurrence, and (3) produce fire probability and frequency maps for each region.

Results

In pursuit of the above, the probability of fire ignition occurrence and frequency was mapped using Negative Binomial Hurdle models, while the models’ performances were evaluated using several metrics (AUC, prediction accuracy, RMSE, and the Pearson correlation coefficient). The results showed an inverse correlation between distance from infrastructures (i.e., urban roads and areas) and the occurrence of fires in all three study regions. This relationship became more significant when the frequency of fire ignition points was assessed. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between fire occurrence and landscape drivers according to region. The land cover classes more significantly affected were forest, agriculture, and grassland for Catalonia, Sardinia, and Apulia, respectively.

Conclusions

Compared to the climatic, topographic, and landscape drivers, anthropic activity significantly influences fire ignition and frequency in all three regions. When the distance from urban roads and areas decreases, the probability of fire ignition occurrence and frequency increases. Consequently, it is essential to implement long- to medium-term intervention plans to reduce the proximity between potential ignition points and fuels. In this perspective, the present study provides an applicable decision-making tool to improve wildfire prevention strategies at the European level in an area like the Mediterranean Basin where a profuse number of wildfires take place.
Exploring the validity evidence of a high-stake, second language reading test: an eye-tracking study
Authors: Lim Hyojung
Published: October 2020

The current study aims to explore the cognitive validity of the iBT TOEFL reading test by investigating test takers’ eye movements on individual items. It is assumed that successful test takers would adopt the intended reading processes, the same types and levels of cognitive processes that they would use for real-world reading tasks. Forty-seven Chinese ESL students participated in the study, in which they took the TOEFL reading practice testlet on a computer, completed comprehension subskill tasks, and had stimulated recall interviews. Results showed that test takers tend to rely heavily on careful reading skills, while expeditious reading skills were rarely activated. The scope of reading was often restricted to the local level; learners hardly read more than a paragraph to answer questions. In some factual question items, successful readers were more efficient in reading and locating key information, whereas such group differences were not found in other items. Lastly, the gaze plots suggest that learners’ eye movements manifest various interactions between comprehension subskills, primarily subject to bottom-up linguistic processing. The limitations and implications of learners’ eye-tracking data for test validation will be further discussed.
The Impact of Korean Ambassadors’ Encounters with Qing Entertainments, Focusing on Lantern Festivals, Fireworks, Plays, and Theater Facilities
Authors: Kim Youme
Published: October 2020

This study examines how Chosŏn Korean ambassadors’ encounters with Qing entertainment impacted their views of the Qing dynasty in China based on their travel accounts written during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. During diplomatic trips as ambassadors, select Chosŏn literati were able to experience new and exotic forms of foreign culture. This article focuses on Qing entertainments, including fireworks, lantern festivals, and plays, and related aspects such as theater facilities, that captured the attention of the traveling ambassadors. Through direct experience with Qing entertainments, traveling Chosŏn dignitaries gained first hand experience of Qing commercial and technological development. Some of these witnesses came to the realization that the Qing had become a successful ruling dynasty, which dismantled previously held assumptions by most Chosŏn literati that the Manchus were barbaric and uncultivated.
Making Sense of Fiction: Social and Political Functions of Serialized Fiction in the Daily News (Maeil sinbo) in 1910s Korea
Authors: Rhee Jooyeon
Published: October 2020

Modern Korean newspapers played a decisive role in transforming the Korean fiction genre in the early twentieth century―a transformation that was carried out in two distinctively different cultural and political environments. In the 1900s, reform-minded Korean intellectuals translated and authored fictional works in newspapers primarily as a way to instigate Koreans to participate in the nation-building process during the Patriotic Enlightenment movement (Aeguk kyemong undong) period. When Japan annexed Korea in 1910, the Daily News (Maeil sinbo) continually used fiction as a vehicle to deliver the colonial government’s assimilation policy, that is, to raise Korea’s socioeconomic and cultural status, with the aim of civilizing the society. The rhetoric of civilization is a common feature in fictional works produced during the period. However, what characterized the works serialized in Maeil sinbo was their increasing focus on individual desire and domestic affairs, which manifested itself in the form of courtship and familial conflicts. The confrontation between private desire and family relationships in these fictional works represented the prospect of higher education and economic equity while invoking emotional responses to the contradictory social reality of colonial assimilation in the portrayal of domestic issues in fiction. Looking at Maeil sinbo and its serialization of fiction not as a fixed totality of the Japanese imperial force but as a discursive space where contradicting views on civilization were formed, this paper scrutinizes emotional renderings of individuality and domesticity reflected in Maeil sinbo’s serialized fiction in the early 1910s.
Wandering Ghosts of the Cold War: Military Sex Workers in the Film Tour of Duty (Kŏmi ŭi ttang)
Authors: Kim Jeehey
Published: October 2020

This paper explores the memories of military prostitutes in US camptowns in South Korea through the film titled Tour of Duty (Kŏmi ŭi ttang, 2012). The film experiments with a genre of documentary, showcasing stories of three ex-prostitutes who struggle with their past experiences with US GIs. One of them carries on numerous dialogues with evil spirits, which give her physical and psychological pains that haunt her endlessly. Another woman keeps wandering in search of traces of her mother and friend, both of whom were prostitutes for US soldiers. She traces her memory of them around the ruins of what was called the monkey house, where US military prostitutes with venereal diseases were relocated. The film shows three women haunted by ghosts of the Cold War while remaining invisible and often forced to be silent within Korean society. The paper deals with gendered memory of the Cold War through the stories of wandering ghosts in the dilapidated streets of US camptown sites in South Korea. Pak Kyŏngt’ae and Kim Tongnyŏng, the directors of the film, challenge the boundaries of documentary film, experimenting with various filmic strategies such as interviews, monologues, fantasies, and personal memories.
Identification of selected primary bloodstream infection pathogens in patients attending Kisii level five and Homa Bay county hospitals
Authors: Kirera Ronald , Kipkirui Erick , Koech Margaret , Ombogo Abigael , Ndonye Janet , Kirui Mary , Philip Cliff Odhiambo , Kipkemoi Nancy , Odundo Elizabeth , Flynn Alexander F. , Hulseberg Christine , Walson Judd , Nganga Joseph , Kariuki Daniel
Published: October 2020

Background: Bloodstream infection (BSI) contributes to a substantial proportion of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and is marked by the presence of bacterial and/or fungal microorganisms in the blood. Because BSI can be life threatening, it requires a timely, reliable and accurate diagnosis. This study retrospectively analyzed data of identified BSI pathogens and compared the performance of the different diagnostic technologies used in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, turnaround time (TAT) and cost.

Methods: Currently, culture followed by analytical profile index biochemical strips (API), (BioMerieux) are used as the conventional standard diagnostics in Kenyan public hospitals and labs. We compared the results of this standard to that of the BioFire FilmArray (FA) (BioFire Diagnostics) and MicroScan WalkAway-40 plus System (MS) (Beckman Coulter) used in diagnosis of BSI. The FA technology was able to identify 150/152 bacterial and yeast isolates with an overall accuracy of 99.04% (95% CI: 96.59-99.88%), sensitivity of 98.68% (95% CI: 95.33-99.84%), mean TAT of 8 hours 40 minutes per eight samples and running cost per sample of USD 140.11. The MS identified 150/152 isolates with an overall accuracy of 98.56% (95% CI: 95.86-99.70%), sensitivity of 98.68% (95% CI: 95.30-99.84%), mean TAT per sample was 42 hours and running cost per sample of USD 28.05. API detected 150/152 isolates, with an overall accuracy of 99.04% (95% CI: 96.59-99.88%), sensitivity of 98.68% (95% CI: 95.33-99.84%) and the mean TAT per sample was 53 and 103 hours for bacterial and yeast samples, respectively, with a running cost per sample of USD 28.05.Conclusions: The findings in this paper suggest that the FA and MS platforms should be able to perform adequately in Kenya referral hospitals and medical clinics as a rapid diagnostic tool.
Metal-enhanced bright-field microscopy
Authors: Sasikumar Harish , Varma Manoj
Published: October 2020

Transparent samples pose serious challenges in bright-field microscopic
imaging due to their low optical contrast, which also affects the
imaging speed. While the role of the substrate in enhancing optical
contrast has been investigated for imaging modalities such as
fluorescence, a similar analysis for bright-field imaging has not been
conducted. Here, we explore the effect of the substrate on the optical
contrast and imaging speed in bright-field microscopic imaging. We
develop a simulation model to explain the significant improvement in
these imaging parameters by the introduction of reflective back
substrates. We explain the effects using energy density distribution
plots, power coupling, and scattering. Further, we explore the notion
of optical contrast in the case of microfeatures and a procedure for
selecting an appropriate metric to quantify the same. This work
concludes with experimental results showing a twofold improvement in
contrast and a fivefold improvement in imaging rate by an appropriate
choice of back substrate.
Aplanatism in stigmatic optical systems
Authors: Silva-Lora Alberto , Torres Rafael
Published: October 2020

The minimization of spherical and coma aberrations in optical imaging systems is currently accomplished through the use of corrective aspheric optical surfaces. In this work, we develop a new, to the best of our knowledge, theory for the design of rigorously aplanatic optical systems, considering as a starting point the rigorous stigmatism theory of optical systems composed of Cartesian surfaces. The main characteristic of these surfaces is their, a priori, zero spherical aberration. In a general parametric formulation for systems made up of a set of these surfaces, the Abbe sine condition is adapted to simultaneously obtain the stigmatism and aplanatism conditions. Thus, we achieved the design of optical systems that in theory are immune to both coma and spherical aberrations.
FRG analysis of a multi-matrix model for 3d Lorentzian quantum gravity
Authors: Pithis Andreas G. A. , Duarte Pereira Antonio , Eichhorn Astrid
Published: October 2020

At criticality, discrete quantum gravity models are expected to give rise to continuum spacetime. Recent progress has established the functional Renormalization Group method in the context of such models as a practical tool to study their critical properties and to chart their phase diagrams. Here, we apply these techniques to the multi-matrix model with ABAB-interaction potentially relevant for Lorentzian quantum gravity in 3 dimensions. We characterize the fixed-point structure and phase diagram of this model, paving the way for functional RG studies of more general multi-matrix or tensor models encoding causality.
Presentation of Neutralizing Antibodies in Single- or Pooled-Convalescent Immune Plasma from Donors to Prevent the Current SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Ozcelik Fatih , Ercan Muhterem , Guven Bulent Barıs , Ciraci Mehmet Zahit
Published: October 2020

As there is no specific treatment yet, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is being carried out with great difficulty today. The use of immune plasma is seen as a promising option since there is expectation that it will reduce mortality, as in influenza pandemics experienced in 1918 and 2009. However, the safety and effectiveness of this treatment option against SARS-CoV-2 viruses are not known for certain. In addition, the optimal obtaining methods and protection time of neutralizing antibodies to be used to provide passive immunization are not fully known. Therefore, it would be very useful to investigate the most effective neutralizing antibody collection methods without disrupting the overall structure and effectiveness of the antibodies subject to the use of the convalescent immune plasma. For this purpose, we found it appropriate to prepare a broad review on the structure and properties of antibodies, as well as the principles and storage conditions of antibodies to be used in passive immunization.
Study on mechanism of down-regulating ikca1 molecule affecting the increment of oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Liu Jianmin , Guo Ying
Published: October 2020

This research aimed to explore the mechanism of mediating the down-regulation of the calcium-activated potassium channel (IKCa1) gene expression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma Tca-8113 cells, thereby affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. The expression level of IKCa1 in Tca-8113 cell line (oral squamous cell carcinoma) and HOEC cell line (human normal oral epithelial cell) was detected by RT-PCR. Then, after IKCa1 was knocked down in Tca-8113 cell line and HOEC cell line by RNA interference, and then cell proliferation levels were detected by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was detected by membrane linked protein V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining apoptosis detection kit. The protein expression level of IKCa1 was detected by Western Blot method. According to RT-PRC results, IKCa1 was significantly more expressed in Tca-8113 cell line than in HOEC cell line (P< 0.01).  In addition, the mRNA expression levels in the normal oral epithelium and oral squamous cell carcinoma showed the same trend. After knocking down IKCa1 in Tca-8113 cell line, the IKCa1siRNA group significantly inhibited cell proliferation compared with the siNC control group. The results of flow cytometry showed that the proportion of apoptotic Tca-8113 cells transfected with IKCa1siRNA was significantly increased. The ratio of early apoptosis and late apoptosis of Tca-8113 cells increased (P< 0.05). To investigate the effect of IKCa1 on apoptosis, we tested the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins. The results showed that the mRNA level of IKCa1siRNA group was significantly decreased by 44.41% compared with the control group (p< 0.01). Meanwhile, the mRNA level of Bax was significantly increased by 36.0% (p< 0.05). Our results showed that knocking down IKCa1 in Tca-8113 cells could induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis to produce an anti-proliferation effect, thus inhibiting the expression of IKCa1 has an anti-cancer effect in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Potential regulatory factors in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Liu Hongxi , Zhou Jun , Bi Junwei , Yang Wenbo
Published: October 2020

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease that mainly affects the spinal joints (vertebrae). Spondylitis means inflammation of the spine, and ankylosing spondylitis means that bones tend to fuse. The AS causes the vertebrae to swell in the spine. Therefore, based on protein interaction network analysis, we conducted in-depth research on the molecular mechanism of key regulatory factors in the AS disease process. We carried out a differential analysis of the expression of miRNAs in disease samples and miRNAs in normal samples. Protein network interaction analysis is performed according to a group of target genes regulated by significant differentially expressed miRNAs and clustered into an interaction module. In addition, enrichment analysis of functions and pathways was performed on these modular genes. Based on the predictive analysis of multidimensional regulators, we identified a range of regulatory factors that have potential regulatory effects on AS, such as endogenous genes and transcription factors. We obtained 20 differentially expressed miRNAs and 7082 target genes and clustered into 11 modules. Enrichment results showed that these modular genes are mainly involved in the functions and pathways of protein polyubiquitination, neutrophil activation involved in immune response, and Wnt signaling pathway. We revealed ten transcription factors (MYC, NFKB1, and TP53). After network connectivity analysis, we obtained 12 internal drive genes (UBE2D1, CCNF, and NEDD4). These core genes are thought to be potential regulators of AS. MYC is also considered to be a core factor that inhibits SART3 phosphorylation and plays a vital role in the immunological pathogenesis of AS. The combination of the above analysis results can provide a new idea for biologists and medical scientists to study the immune pathogenesis of AS and can provide a valuable reference for subsequent treatment options.