bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local excision after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus total mesorectal excision: a case‐matched study in 110 selected high‐risk patients with rectal cancer
Authors: Calmels M. , Collard M. K. , Cazelles A. , Frontali A. , Maggiori L. , Panis Y.
Published: August 2020

Aim

The aim of this comparative study was to report a 10‐year experience of an organ preservation strategy by local excision (LE) in selected high‐risk patients (aged patients and/or patients with severe comorbidity and/or indication for abdominoperineal excision) versus total mesorectal excision (TME) after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) for patients with locally advanced (T3–T4 and/or N+) low and mid rectal cancer with suspicion of complete tumour response (CTR) or near‐CTR.

Method

Thirty‐nine patients with rectal cancer who underwent LE after RCT for suspicion of CTR were matched to 71 patients who underwent TME according to body mass index, gender, tumour location and ypTNM stage. Operative, oncological and functional results were compared between groups.

Results

In the LE group, ypT0, ypTis or ypT1N0R0 were noted in 28/39 (72%). Overall morbidity was observed in 10/39 (26%) in LE vs 46/71 in the TME group (65%) (P = 0.001). Severe morbidity (Clavien–Dindo ≥ 3) was noted in 1/39 patients from the LE group (3%) vs 3/71 (4%) from the TME group (P = 1.000). After a mean follow‐up of 63 ± 4 months (range 56–70 months), local recurrence was noted in 2/39 (5%) from the LE group vs 2/71 (3%) from the TME group (P = 0.601). Definitive stoma was noted in 2/39 (6%) from the LE group vs 8/71 (12%) from the TME group (P = 0.489). Major low anterior resection syndrome was noted in 5/23 (22%) from LE group vs 11/33 (33%) from the TME group (P = 0.042).

Conclusion

The accuracy of response prediction after RCT was 72% after LE. In high‐risk patients, LE represents a safe alternative to TME with better functional results and the same long‐term oncological outcome.
Meta‐analysis of the demographic and prognostic significance of right‐sided versus left‐sided acute diverticulitis
Authors: Hajibandeh S. , Hajibandeh S. , Smart N. J. , Maw A.
Published: August 2020

Aim

The aim of this work was to compare demographic factors, outcomes and prognosis for right‐sided versus left‐sided acute colonic diverticulitis.

Method

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Scopus and unpublished literature to identify all observational studies comparing demographic factors and outcomes of right‐sided versus left‐sided acute colonic diverticulitis (PROSPERO registration number CRD42020180075). We used the QUIPS tool to assess the risk of bias of included studies. Random effects modelling was applied to calculate pooled outcome data.

Results

Analysis of 2933 patients from nine studies suggests that right‐sided diverticulitis affects younger patients [mean difference (MD)  −14.16 (−17.19, −11.14), P < 0.00001] and more male patients [odds ratio (OR) 1.33 (1.04, 1.71), P = 0.02] compared with left‐sided diverticulitis. Smoking [OR 2.23 (1.50, 3.32), P < 0.0001], alcohol consumption [OR 1.85 (1.26, 2.71), P = 0.002] and comorbidity [OR 0.21 (0.15, 0.30), P < 0.00001] were more common in patients with right‐sided diverticulitis. The risk of complicated diverticulitis was lower in the right‐sided group [OR 0.21 (0.08, 0.55), P = 0.001]. More patients in the right‐sided diverticulitis group had modified Hinchey Stage I disease [OR 10.21 (3.34, 31.22), P < 0.0001] while more patients in the left‐sided group had Stage II [OR 0.19 (0.10, 0.38), P < 0.00001], Stage III [OR 0.08 (0.01, 0.54), P = 0.009] or Stage IV disease [OR 0.02 (0.00, 0.08), P < 0.00001]. Right‐sided diverticulitis was associated with a lower risk of recurrence [OR 0.49 (0.25, 0.98), P = 0.04], failure of conservative management [OR 0.14 (0.04, 0.43), P = 0.0006], the need for emergency surgery [OR 0.13 (0.05, 0.36), P < 0.00001] and a shorter length of hospital stay [MD −1.70 (−3.08, −0.33), P = 0.02].

Conclusion

Right‐sided acute diverticulitis predominantly affects younger male patients compared with left‐sided disease and is associated with favourable outcomes as indicated by the lower risk of complications, failure of conservative management, need for emergency surgery, recurrence and shorter length of hospital stay. More studies are required to compare the postoperative outcomes in patients with right‐sided and left‐sided diverticulitis undergoing emergency surgery.
Public education materials about Vascular Composite Allotransplantation and donation in the United States: Current scope and limitations
Authors: Van Pilsum Rasmussen Sarah E. , Uriarte Jefferson , Anderson Naomi , Doby Brianna , Ferzola Alexander , Sung Hannah , Cooney Carisa , Brandacher Gerald , Gordon Elisa , Segev Dorry L. , Henderson Macey L.
Published: August 2020

As the field of Vascular Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) grows, demand for VCA donations will increase. The public should be made aware of this treatment option to support patients' informed decision‐making and authorization for deceased donation. We assessed the availability and quality of existing VCA public education materials from organ procurement organizations (OPOs), transplant centers, the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense. A content analysis was performed to identify topics covered and important gaps. In total, 1314 public education materials were analyzed, including OPO Facebook posts (61.6%), OPO Twitter posts (29.9%), websites (6.4%), and written documents (eg, fact sheets, research reports) (2.1%). Upper extremity (34.7%) and face (34.5%) transplants were more commonly covered than reproductive (6.4%) or other VCA types (2.8%). Most materials (76.6%) referenced a specific VCA story. However, few materials described which patient population could benefit from VCA (eg, Veterans, amputees, burn victims, 16.4%), the authorization requirements for VCA donation (6.6%), or the appearance of transplanted VCA organs (1.2%). Current VCA public education materials do not adequately educate the public. More comprehensive education materials are needed to prepare the public to authorize VCA donation, become potential donors, or learn about transplant options.
A critical scoping review about the impact of music in the lives of young adults who use drugs
Authors: Cournoyer Lemaire Elise , Loignon Christine , Bertrand Karine
Published: August 2020

Issues

Music is among the most frequently used medium to promote young adults' well‐being. To that aim, the efficiency of music is explained by its capacity to modulate emotions through its effect on the brain's reward pathways. Hence, music could help individuals suffering from dysregulations in these pathways, whose experience of positive emotions is often inhibited. Such dysregulations are particularly present in individuals with problematic psychoactive substance (PAS) use, who are overrepresented in the context of homelessness. While few of them initiate treatment, they successfully rely on their own resources to promote their well‐being, including music, though its impact in this context remains under‐studied.

Approach

This scoping review describes the impact of music on the well‐being, PAS use and addictive trajectory of young housed and homeless individuals with problematic PAS use. Eleven French and English databases were screened for peer‐reviewed articles using concepts and keywords related to music, PAS and well‐being. From the 3697 results, 39 were reviewed. Results were organised according to the observed impact of music and analysed critically.

Key Findings

Literature shows that PAS users value the impact of music in meeting emotional, psychological and social needs, especially when they experience homelessness. Yet, research has been highly limited to the harmful consequences of music, limiting our knowledge of its potential benefits.

Implications and Conclusion

To deepen our understanding about the impact of music, future research should endorse a broader perspective and consider the personal and contextual experiences accompanying the involvement in music, factors that were traditionally overlooked.
Less adolescent alcohol and cannabis use: More deviant user groups?
Authors: Pape Hilde , Rossow Ingeborg
Published: August 2020

Introduction and Aims

Adolescent drinking and cannabis use in Norway declined in the 2000s, and we tested the assumption that psychosocial problems were more strongly related to substance use when the prevalence was quite low (2012/2013) than when it was considerably higher (2002).

Design and Methods

Data stemmed from school surveys of almost 20 000 students aged 14–17 years in 2002 and 2012/2013 in the four largest cities in Norway. We assessed how various deviant behaviours and depressive mood were related to past‐year measures on any alcohol intoxication, frequent intoxication (6+ times) and any cannabis use, and tested whether the associations varied significantly by survey year.

Results

The prevalence of any intoxication episodes dropped markedly from 2002 (50%) to 2012/2013 (28%), as did the prevalence of frequent intoxication (29% vs. 10%) and any cannabis use (15% vs. 7%). Deviant behaviours and depressive mood were either more closely related to the drinking outcomes in 2012/2013 than in 2002, or the associations showed no temporal change. None of the associations with cannabis use varied significantly by survey year.

Discussion and Conclusion

The assumption that psychosocial problems correlated more strongly with alcohol and cannabis use in a low‐prevalence period (2012/2013) as compared to a high‐prevalence period (2002) was partly supported, but only with respect to drinking. The strength of the associations with cannabis use was stable, which may reflect that the proportion reporting any use of the drug was low even in the relatively ‘high‐prevalence’ period.
The challenges of comparative theology: An assessment of Kärkkäinen's Doing the work of comparative theology
Authors: Hofstad Lynn
Published: August 2020

Doing the Work of Comparative Theology by Veli‐Matti Kärkkäinen seeks to do the work of understanding the parallels, similarities, and differences between Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism through comparative theology. Comparative theology differs from comparative religion in that it investigates other religious traditions from the perspective of a particular tradition, rather than approaching all of the traditions from the outside. This approach, however, presents unique challenges, specifically, maintaining the same approach to a topic regardless of the tradition being explored, and presenting each tradition without universalizing the beliefs of the tradition as a whole.
Remembering the Summer of 2020
Authors: Denton‐Borhaug Kelly
Published: August 2020

How will historians and theologians remember the summer of 2020? This article leverages a socio‐ethical analysis and response to twenty years of sacralized and sacrificial U.S. war‐culture, and the meaning of this history, given the shifting cultural tectonic plates in the summer of 2020, and intersecting social ills of climate crisis, racism, inequality, and pandemic.
Creation and humanity: Veli‐Matti Kärkäinen's answer to the ultimate question
Authors: Tóth Viktor J.
Published: August 2020

This article focuses on the third volume of Vel‐Matti Kärkkäinen's systematic theology, titled Creation and Humanity. After a brief overview of the volume the article offers some clarification on the tenth chapter, especially on its interaction with paleontology. After that, two constructive observations follow. The first is related to Kärkkäinen's notion of the embeddedness of human nature, and the second is to further employ systems thinking in his constructive work on creation and human evolution.
Quality of life should be measured in clinical interventions to support economic evaluations
Authors: Shih Sophy T F
Published: August 2020

This commentary is on the original article by Bekkers et al. on pages 1301–1307 of this issue.
Autoantibodies against zinc transporter 8 further stratify the autoantibody‐defined risk for type 1 diabetes in a general population of schoolchildren and have distinctive isoform binding patterns in different forms of autoimmune diabetes: results from the Karlsburg Type 1 Diabetes Risk Study
Authors: Baumann K. , Kesselring K. , Lampasona V. , Walschus U. , Kerner W. , Wassmuth R. , Schlosser M.
Published: August 2020

Aims

To evaluate the diagnostic relevance of autoantibodies against zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) in schoolchildren from the general population as well as in people with autoimmune diabetes.

Methods

A total of 137 schoolchildren positive for at least one of the three major diabetes‐associated autoantibodies, without diabetes heredity or preselection on HLA typing, from the Karlsburg Type 1 Diabetes Risk Study, as well as 102 people at type 1 diabetes onset, 88 people with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults and 119 people with type 2 diabetes, were analysed for different ZnT8 autoantibody variants.

Results

Zinc transporter 8 autoantibody positivity was found in 18% of autoantibody‐positive schoolchildren, with a noticeable association with other autoantibodies associated with type 1 diabetes and disease progression. Furthermore, ZnT8 autoantibody positivity was associated with diabetes progression in schoolchildren positive for autoantibodies against insulinoma‐associated antigen‐2 (IA‐2) and, importantly, in seven IA‐2 autoantibody‐negative schoolchildren. Additionally, ZnT8 autoantibodies were found in 56% of people with type 1 diabetes, predominantly directed against all three ZnT8 variants and comparable to schoolchildren with multiple autoantibodies. In contrast, ZnT8 autoantibodies were detected in 10% of people with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, none of them with reactivity to all three isoforms.

Conclusion

Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies are useful markers for prediction of type 1 diabetes in a general population, further stratifying the risk of progression in autoantibody‐positive children. ZnT8 autoantibodies are also important markers in adult‐onset diabetes, with a completely different reaction pattern in type 1 diabetes in comparison to latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, and may therefore help to differentiate between the two forms.
EXTREME TEMPERATURE AND EXTREME VIOLENCE: EVIDENCE FROM RUSSIA
Authors: Otrachshenko Vladimir , Popova Olga , Tavares José
Published: August 2020

We study the relationship between extreme temperatures and violent mortality, employing novel regional panel data from Russia. We find that extremely hot temperatures increase violent mortality, while extremely cold temperatures have no effect. The impact of hot temperature on violence is unequal across gender and age groups, rises noticeably during weekends, and leads to considerable social costs. Our findings also suggest that better job opportunities and lower vodka consumption may decrease this impact. The results underscore that economic policies need to target vulnerable population groups to mitigate the adverse impact of extreme temperatures. (JEL Q54, I14, K42)
Simultaneous EEG and pupillary evidence for post‐error arousal during a speeded performance task
Authors: Compton Rebecca J. , Gearinger Dylan , Wild Hannah , Rette Danielle , Heaton Elizabeth C. , Histon Stephanie , Thiel Pablo , Jaskir Marc
Published: August 2020

Arousal evoked by detecting a performance error may provide a mechanism by which error detection leads to either adaptive or maladaptive changes in attention and performance. By pairing EEG data acquisition with simultaneous measurements of pupil diameter, which is thought to reflect norepinephrinergic arousal, this study tested whether transient changes in EEG oscillations in the alpha frequency range (8–12 Hz) following performance mistakes may reflect error‐evoked arousal. In the inter‐trial interval following performance mistakes (approximately 8% of trials), pupil diameter increased and EEG alpha power decreased, compared to the inter‐trial interval following correct responses. Moreover when trials were binned based on pupil diameter on a within‐subjects basis, trials with greater pupil diameter were associated with lower EEG alpha power during the inter‐trial interval. This pattern of association suggests that error‐related alpha suppression, like pupil dilation, reflects arousal in response to error commission. Errors were also followed by worse next‐trial performance, implying that error‐evoked arousal may not always be beneficial for adaptive control.
A fingerprint of climate change across pine forests of Sweden
Authors: Oleksyn Jacek , Wyka Tomasz P. , Żytkowiak Roma , Zadworny Marcin , Mucha Joanna , Dering Monika , Ufnalski Krzysztof , Nihlgård Bengt , Reich Peter B.
Published: August 2020

Climate change has likely altered high‐latitude forests globally, but direct evidence remains rare. Here we show that throughout a ≈1000‐km transect in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests in Sweden, mature trees in ≈2015 had longer needles with shorter lifetimes than did trees in ≈1915. These century‐scale shifts in needle traits were detected by sampling needles at 74 sites from 2012 to 2017 along the same transect where needle traits had been assessed at 57 sites in 1914–1915. Climate warming of ≈1 °C all along the transect in the past century has driven this temporal shift in foliage traits known to be physiologically critical to growth and carbon cycling processes. These century‐scale changes in Scandinavian Scots pine forests represent a fingerprint of climate change on a fundamental biological element, the leaf, with repercussions for productivity and sensitivity to future climate, which are likely to be mirrored by similar changes for evergreen conifers across the boreal biome.
Health‐related quality of life 90 days after stroke assessed by the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurement standard set
Authors: Rimmele D. L. , Lebherz L. , Frese M. , Appelbohm H. , Bartz H.‐J. , Kriston L. , Gerloff C. , Härter M. , Thomalla G.
Published: August 2020

Background and purpose

Stroke has detrimental effects in multiple health domains not captured by routine scales. The International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurement has developed a standardized set for self‐reported assessment to overcome this limitation. The aim was to assess this set in acute stroke care.

Methods

Consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack or intracerebral hemorrhage were enrolled. Demographics, living situation and cardiovascular risk factors were collected from medical records and interviews. The Patient‐reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 10‐Question Short Form (PROMIS‐10) and the Patient Health Questionnaire‐4 (PHQ‐4) were conducted 90 days after admission. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of outcome. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03795948.

Results

In all, 1064 patients were enrolled; mean age was 71.6 years, 51% were female, and median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission was 3. Diagnosis was acute ischaemic stroke in 74%, transient ischaemic attack in 20% and intracerebral hemorrhage in 6%. 673 patients were available for outcome evaluation at 90 days; of these 90 (13%) had died. In survivors, t scores of PROMIS‐10 physical and mental health were 40.3 ± 6.17 and 44.3 ± 8.63, compared to 50 ± 10 in healthy populations. 16% reported symptoms indicating depression or anxiety on the PHQ‐4. Higher NIHSS, prior stroke and requiring help pre‐stroke predicted lower values in physical and mental health scores. Higher NIHSS and diabetes were associated with anxiety or depression.

Conclusions

Integrated in the routine of acute stroke care, systematic assessment of patient‐reported outcomes reveals impairments in physical and mental health. Main predictors are severity of stroke symptoms and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes.
Functional or not functional; that’s the question
Authors: Lagrand T. , Tuitert I. , Klamer M. , van der Meulen A. , van der Palen J. , Kramer G. , Tijssen M.
Published: August 2020

Background and purpose

Functional movement disorders (FMDs) pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Over the years several associated features have been shown to be suggestive for FMDs. Which features mentioned in the literature are discriminative between FMDs and non‐FMDs were examined in a large cohort. In addition, a preliminary prediction model distinguishing these disorders was developed based on differentiating features.

Method

Medical records of all consecutive patients who visited our hyperkinetic outpatient clinic from 2012 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed and 12 associated features in FMDs versus non‐FMDs were compared. An independent t test for age of onset and Pearson chi‐squared analyses for all categorical variables were performed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to develop a preliminary predictive model for FMDs.

Results

A total of 874 patients were eligible for inclusion, of whom 320 had an FMD and 554 a non‐FMD. Differentiating features between these groups were age of onset, sex, psychiatric history, family history, more than one motor phenotype, pain, fatigue, abrupt onset, waxing and waning over long term, and fluctuations during the day. Based on these a preliminary predictive model was computed with a discriminative value of 91%.

Discussion

Ten associated features are shown to be not only suggestive but also discriminative between hyperkinetic FMDs and non‐FMDs. Clinicians can use these features to identify patients suspected for FMDs and can subsequently alert them to test for positive symptoms at examination. Although a first preliminary model has good predictive accuracy, further validation should be performed prospectively in a multi‐center study.
Effect of cell‐free spent media prepared from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans on the growth of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans in co‐species biofilms
Authors: Bachtiar Endang W. , Bachtiar Boy M.
Published: August 2020

This study explored the influence of cell‐free spent media prepared from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans LuxS mutant (Aa‐LuxS), its wild type strain (Aa‐WT), and the laboratory strain (Aa‐Y4), on the interaction between Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans while growing in co‐species biofilm for 48 h. By analyzing the results of crystal violet staining, [3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assays, and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we found that the presence of Aa‐LuxS in treated biofilms did not affect biofilm development, while added Aa‐WT or Aa‐Y4 resulted in a significant decrease in both biofilm mass and the number of cells. The inhibitory effect of Aa‐WT or Aa‐Y4 was not dependent on the protein concentration in the spent media tested (1 and 10%). Gene transcription analyses indicated that Aa‐WT/Aa‐Y4 exhibits comparable inhibitory effects on the expression of hyphal‐associated genes (ALS3 and HWP1), but not on the expression of YWP1, which encodes a yeast form of C. albicans. In contrast, except for gtfD, the expression of S. mutans gtfB/C genes encoding glucosyltransferase was not affected in Aa‐WT and Aa‐Y4 treated biofilms compared to the levels found in Aa‐LuxS treated biofilms. Our results indicate that AI‐2‐containing spent media derived from Aa can reduce biofilm biomass without significantly inhibiting the survival rate of S. mutans.
Individual plasticity drives boldness senescence in a territorial butterfly
Authors: Kaiser Aurélien , Eymard Manon , Merckx Thomas , Van Dyck Hans
Published: August 2020

Most behavioural traits show plastic responses to changes in internal or external conditions. Similarly, animal personality is not necessarily fixed during an individual's lifetime, leading to age‐related changes. Both individual plasticity (i.e., within‐individual effect) and non‐random selective (dis)appearance of behavioural types (i.e., between‐individual effect) may contribute to age‐related changes observed at the population level. Here, we investigated how boldness changes with age in a woodland population of the Speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria L.) using a capture–mark–recapture approach. We used wing wear as an index for age and we show that fresh individuals are bolder than worn individuals. Using the subsample of recaptured butterflies, we found that this pattern is most likely driven by individual plasticity. Our design also allowed us to explore some aspects of the species' spatial ecology and how it relates to personality. We found no relationship between boldness and net displacement between successive captures, a finding which we discuss within a movement ecology framework.
Shedding of proangiogenic microvesicles from hypertrophic scar myofibroblasts
Authors: Laberge Alexandra , Merjaneh Mays , Arif Syrine , Larochelle Sébastien , Moulin Véronique J.
Published: August 2020

Hypertrophic scars are a common complication of burn injuries and represent a major challenge in terms of prevention and treatment. These scars are characterized by a supraphysiological vascular density and by the presence of pathological myofibroblasts (Hmyos) displaying a low apoptosis propensity. However, the nature of the association between these two hallmarks of hypertrophic scarring remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that Hmyos produce signalling entities known as microvesicles that significantly increase the three cellular processes underlying blood vessel formation: endothelial cell proliferation, migration and assembly into capillary‐like structures. The release of microvesicles from Hmyos was dose‐dependently induced by the serum protein α‐2‐macroglobulin. Using flow cytometry, we revealed the presence of the α‐2‐macroglobulin receptor—low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 1—on the surface of Hmyos. The inhibition of the binding of α‐2‐macroglobulin to its receptor abolished the shedding of proangiogenic microvesicles from Hmyos. These findings suggest that the production of microvesicles by Hmyos contributes to the excessive vascularization of hypertrophic scars. α‐2‐Macroglobulin modulates the release of these microvesicles through interaction with low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 1.
Error prediction and structure determination for CMAC neural network based on the uniform design method
Authors: Kong Zhiwei , Zhang Yong , Wang Xudong , Sun Shuanzhu , Zhou Chunlei , Li Dou , Jin Baosheng
Published: August 2020

Insufficient study on error bound of cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) severely limits its application. To investigate the error prediction and structure determination of CMAC for multi‐dimensional and data‐generation objects, this paper builds a 10‐input 2‐output model for a desulfurization system to test 44,640 sets of operation data. Four test groups and one prediction group are designed and performed based on uniform design method. Regression analysis and curve fitting methods are applied for error analyses. The focus of regression analysis method is the influence of uniform table's level on its prediction formulas' accuracies, whereas curve fitting's is the impact of theoretical memory space (location number) and actual storage space (address number) of CMAC on output error. Based on the results, the following conclusions are obtained. (a) The prediction accuracy of the linear regression equation is not monotonous with the level of the uniform design table, but there is a distinct region with local high precision. (b) Compared with regression analysis and address number fitting methods, location number analysis method has distinct advantages of prediction range, accuracy and flexibility. (c) In terms of location number analysis, different intervals may correspond to different optimal fitting functions, but only power function maintains high prediction accuracy in the whole range where the method works. Besides, the scope of location number analysis is also studied, of which the lower borders are 109 and 1010 approximately for model's two outputs, respectively.
Ultrasonic fatigue testing of cast steel G42CrMo4 at elevated temperatures
Authors: Schmiedel Alexander , Henkel Sebastian , Kirste Thomas , Morgenstern Roman , Weidner Anja , Biermann Horst
Published: August 2020

The fatigue life of cast steel G42CrMo4 in two different heat treatment conditions was investigated at room temperature (RT), 473 K and 773 K up to the range of very high cycle fatigue (VHCF), that is, 109 cycles. The fatigue life is determined by casting defects, the hardness of the steel matrix and by temperature. Fatigue life data were discussed in correlation with crack‐initiating defects analysed on fracture surfaces. The SN curves obtained at RT and at 473 K show a large scatter. However, the SN curve at 773 K exhibits a larger slope parameter and a significantly reduced scatter. It is shown that the fatigue behaviour of the cast steel G42CrMo4 changes from 473 to 773 K in the range of VHCF. The fatigue lives of the specimens tested at 773 K were described with a crack growth model.
Influence of foreign object impact mode on fatigue performance of 2198‐T8 Al‐Li alloy thin sheets for fuselage
Authors: Chen Yajun , Pan Xuechun , Zhang Changtian , Cui Zifan , Ji Chunming
Published: August 2020

The 2198‐T8 is the advanced aircraft aluminium‐lithium alloy used for airframe construction. Based on the digital image correlation technique, the postimpact fatigue performance of 2198‐T8 aluminium‐lithium alloy sheets was analysed. The foreign object impact mode includes a single impact, continuous twice‐impacts at the same position and impacts at two parallel positions. For each mode, the collapse behaviours with different impact energies and insert dimensions were investigated. The results could show that residual fatigue life is sensitive to the impact mode, and through digital image correlation (DIC) nephogram analysis, on the surface of dented specimens, there exists the redistribution of strain field. For three types of impact modes, the concept of average damage volume is introduced to fit the effect of dent depth and width on residual fatigue life; the goodness of fit for the whole average damage volume is 89.5%. The crack initiation and propagation of the postimpact fatigue specimen will be affected by the stress concentration and microstructure, and the local multiaxial strain status around the dent will accelerate the crack propagation.
Expectations and financial markets: Lessons from Brexit
Authors: Gu Chen , Hibbert Ann Marie
Published: August 2020

We use the setting of Brexit to investigate how financial markets react to news about political events. We provide robust evidence that political risk is priced by equity markets globally. Furthermore, commodity, government bonds, and currency markets are also affected by political uncertainty. However, our intraday results reveal that markets respond very quickly to political news as changes in the probability of Brexit was impounded into equity prices within 5 min. Our findings also show that investor attention significantly influences the link between the market's expectations of political events and asset prices.
Comparison between touchscreen operant chambers and water maze to detect early prefrontal dysfunction in mice
Authors: Van den Broeck Lore , Sierksma Annerieke , Hansquine Pierre , Thonnard David , Callaerts‐Vegh Zsuzsanna , D'Hooge Rudi
Published: August 2020

The relative lack of sensitive and clinically valid tests of rodent behavior might be one of the reasons for the limited success of the clinical translation of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) research findings. There is a general interest in innovative behavioral methodology, and protocols have been proposed for touchscreen operant chambers that might be superior to existing cognitive assessment methods. We assessed and analyzed touchscreen performance in several novel ways to examine the possible occurrence of early signs of prefrontal (PFC) functional decline in the APP/PS1 mouse model of AD. Touchscreen learning performance was compared between APP/PS1‐21 mice and wildtype littermates on a C57BL/6J background at 3, 6 and 12 months of age in parallel to the assessment of spatial learning, memory and cognitive flexibility in the Morris water maze (MWM). We found that older mice generally needed more training sessions to complete the touchscreen protocol than younger ones. Older mice also displayed defects in MWM working memory performance, but touchscreen protocols detected functional changes beginning at 3 months of age. Histological changes in PFC of APP/PS1 mice indeed occurred as early as 3 months. Our results suggest that touchscreen operant protocols are more sensitive to PFC dysfunction, which is of relevance to the use of these tasks and devices in preclinical AD research and experimental pharmacology.
The effect of background strain on the behavioral phenotypes of the MDGA2+/− mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Fertan Emre , Wong Aimée A. , Purdon Michaela K. , Weaver Ian C. G. , Brown Richard E.
Published: August 2020

The membrane‐associated mucin (MAM) domain containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor 2 protein single knock‐out mice (MDGA2+/−) are models of ASD. We examined the behavioral phenotypes of male and female MDGA2+/− and wildtype mice on C57BL6/NJ and C57BL6/N backgrounds at 2 months of age and measured MDGA2, neuroligin 1 and neuroligin 2 levels at 7 months. Mice on the C57BL6/NJ background performed better than those on the C57BL6/N background in visual ability and in learning and memory performance in the Morris water maze and differed in measures of motor behavior and anxiety. Mice with the MDGA2+/− genotype differed from WT mice in motor, social and repetitive behavior and anxiety, but most of these effects involved interactions between MDGA2+/− genotype and background strain. The background strain also influenced MDGA2 levels and NLGN2 association in MDGA2+/− mice. Our findings emphasize the importance of the background strain used in studies of genetically modified mice.
Deforestation leakage undermines conservation value of tropical and subtropical forest protected areas
Authors: Ford Scott Alan , Jepsen Martin Rudbeck , Kingston Naomi , Lewis Edward , Brooks Thomas M. , MacSharry Brian , Mertz Ole
Published: August 2020

Aim

The establishment of protected areas is among the most widespread responses to mitigate species loss. Although protected areas are often assumed to have conservation benefits, negative impacts have also been documented. One potential negative outcome is leakage, whereby protected areas displace land‐use activities harmful to conservation into adjacent areas. This can undermine protection by accelerating loss of species or skewing judgements of effectiveness. This study assessed the prevalence of deforestation leakage in a pan‐tropical and subtropical selection of 120 protected areas.

Location

Tropical and subtropical forest regions of America, Africa and Asia.

Time period

2001–2017.

Major taxa studied

Threatened species of amphibians, birds and terrestrial mammals.

Methods

We used Global Forest Change data to assess the average yearly rate of deforestation in protected areas, protected area buffer zones and statistically matched, unprotected control areas. We calculated and compared irreplaceability of habitat for threatened amphibian, bird and terrestrial mammal species between protected areas and buffer zones.

Results

In 55 cases, deforestation rates were higher in buffer zones than in protected and control areas, suggesting a relatively high prevalence of deforestation leakage stemming from protected areas. In 78.2% of documented leakage cases, reduced deforestation in protected areas was not sufficient to offset the amount of deforestation in 10 km buffer zones to a level that would be expected without protection. In 90.9% of leakage cases, the irreplaceability of species in the 10 km buffer zone was greater than that of the protected area, implying a negative impact of leakage on threatened species.

Main conclusions

The results suggest that protected areas are generally effective at preventing deforestation within their jurisdiction; however, leakage patterns can undermine conservation success because buffer zones often contain habitat for threatened species. We recommend accounting for the possibility of leakage when designing new protected areas and networks.
Geography and linguistics: Histories, entanglements and departures
Authors: Jagessar Philip
Published: August 2020

Linguistic geography has been considered a part, if not a sub‐discipline, of linguistics rather than geography. This was not always the case. In the late 19th century geography was integral to linguistic science through the practice of language surveying and production of linguistic maps and atlases. By the early 20th century language became a geopolitical concern in Europe during and after the First World War. This paper argues that historical geography can make an important intervention in recovering the entwined yet forgotten histories of linguistics and geography and explain the roots of geography's indifference to linguistic study which has, among many issues, contributed to the marginalisation of other languages in favour of English. This paper traces the history of geography's association with language as a consequence of empire, colonialism and nationalism and considers the reasons for their divergence and why geography continues to have a significant role in linguistics but not vice‐versa. This paper concludes by reflecting on what historical geography brings to linguistic geography and how it can write about a significant, yet often forgotten, geographical tradition.
The financialization of everyday life: Caring for debts
Authors: Karaagac Esra Alkim
Published: August 2020

This paper examines current research on financialization in economic geography through the lens of recent feminist interventions in the financialization of social reproduction. Although the financialization literature provides new perspectives by interrogating everyday household economies, debt relations and subjectivities, I argue that there needs to be a critical re‐evaluation of what the financialization of everyday life is in the context of neoliberal austerity regimes and the crisis of care. My paper does this by expanding the boundaries of the financialization literature in economic geography, connecting long‐lasting concerns from feminist political economy. It draws attention to the intimate relationship between indebtedness, care and everyday life and discusses limits to financialization when debts are cared for at the expense of social reproduction. Finally, it emphasizes the need for feminist politics to decolonize the financial narrative over daily life and feminist methodologies to understand the intimate, embodied and lived experiences of indebtedness for alternative knowledge production. This work will contribute to the dialogue between economic geography and feminist political economy in the domain of financialization, highlighting research on everyday finance and debt in economic geographies.
The association of standard Kt/V and surface area‐normalized standard Kt/V with clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Pattharanitima Pattharawin , Chauhan Kinsuk , El Shamy Osama , Chaudhary Kumardeep , Sharma Shuchita , Coca Steven G. , Nadkarni Girish N. , Uribarri Jaime , Chan Lili
Published: August 2020

Introduction

A previous study demonstrated that the surface area‐normalized standard Kt/V (SAstdKt/V) was better associated with mortality than standard Kt/V (stdKt/V). This study investigates the association of SAstdKt/V and stdKt/V with mortality, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia in a larger patient cohort with a longer follow‐up period.

Methods

We included adult patients on thrice‐weekly hemodialysis in the USRDS database and excluded amputated patients. StdKt/V and SAstdKt/V were calculated from the available single‐pool Kt/V. Patients were categorized into five groups according to their stdKt/V and SAstdKt/V: <2.00, 2.00–2.19, 2.20–2.39, 2.40–2.59, and ≥2.60. Hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) were calculated using Cox and logistic regression analysis respectively.

Findings

There were 507,656 patients included in the analysis. The patients had a median age of 65.5 years with a median follow‐up period of 2 years. Thirty‐four percent died during follow‐up. HRs for mortality progressively decreased as SAstdKt/V increased in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Unlike SAstdKt/V, HRs were the lowest in the categories with stdKt/V of 2.40–2.59 and they increased in the higher stdKt/V category. The adjusted HR for SAstdKt/V vs. stdKt/V were 0.68 vs. 0.62 in the category of 2.40–2.59, and 0.63 vs. 0.73 in the category of ≥2.60. The adjusted ORs for anemia progressively decreased as SAstdKt/V increased, whereas ORs decreased to the lowest in stdKt/V category 2.40–2.59 and increased in the ≥2.60 category. The adjusted ORs for hypoalbuminemia progressively decreased as SAstdKt/V and stdKt/V increased which were both 0.45 in 2.40–2.59 category and decreased to 0.29 and 0.42 in the ≥2.60 category.

Discussion

SAstdKt/V is better associated with mortality, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia than stdKt/V. SAstdKt/V is a better parameter in defining hemodialysis dosing which can be calculated by an available online tool. Further studies to determine the optimal SAstdKt/V dose required to achieve improved clinical outcomes with better cost‐effectiveness are needed.
Evaluation of a research awareness training programme to support research involvement of older people with dementia and their care partners
Authors: Miah Jahanara , Dawes Piers , Leroi Iracema , Starling Bella , Lovell Karina , Price Owen , Grundy Andrew , Parsons Suzanne
Published: August 2020

Background

Best‐practice guidelines recommend that appropriate support be provided to public contributors to facilitate their involvement in research. One form of support is research awareness training. Older people with dementia and care partners were involved in four Research User Groups (RUGs) in the UK, France, Cyprus and Greece. We delivered research awareness training (RAT) to the RUGs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability and perceived outcomes of the training from the perspective of RUG members.

Methods

At the end of each research training session, participants completed the Training Acceptability Rating Scale‐section 2, which records the respondent's impressions of the training process and the outcomes of training. Participants were also invited to take part in semi‐structured interviews at the end of the programme.

Results

Thirty‐four RUG members completed the TARS‐section 2 with 23 completing semi‐structured interviews. Over two‐thirds (67%) of participants rated their overall satisfaction with the RAT ‘a great deal’. Qualitative responses indicated that participants found group work to be beneficial for learning, the structure of training activities and topics covered appropriate. The type and format of the training materials were viewed as helpful, and they valued the new knowledge gained.

Conclusions

The training contents were applicable, useful and relevant to the participants’ role within the research. We highlight the importance of facilitating participation by (a) fostering awareness of relevant research issues and (b) tailoring delivery of training according to the needs of the participants.
The prescribing of antibiotics for endodontic infections by dentists in Turkey: a comprehensive survey
Authors: Deniz‐Sungur D. , Aksel H. , Karaismailoglu E. , Sayin T. C.
Published: August 2020

Aim

To investigate the antibiotic prescribing patterns for endodontic infections based on the reports of Turkish dentists.

Methodology

A survey consisting of 20 questions on general information and 13 questions on antibiotic prescribing patterns for endodontic cases was delivered to the e‐mail addresses of general dentists and specialists via the database of the Turkish Dental Association. Collected data were analysed using Mc‐Nemar‐Bowker Test and multivariate ordinal logistic regression tests at the significance level of 0.05.

Results

A total of 1007 responses were obtained from 17 827 dentists. The majority of the participants were general dental practitioners (GDP, 80%) whilst 8% were Endodontists. Gender, clinical experience, affiliations and speciality were significant risk factors for antibiotic prescription (P < 0.05). GDPs prescribed antibiotics twice as much as all specialists and members of public hospitals prescribed antibiotics three times more than specialists and clinical academics (P < 0.05). Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid was the most prescribed antibiotic (90%), followed by Ornidazole (25%). Clindamycin was the drug of choice for the patients with penicillin allergy (59%). Infection and fever control (76%), prophylaxis (44%) and avoiding swelling and trismus during endodontic treatment (26%) were the most common reasons for antibiotic prescriptions. Completing a course of prescribed antibiotics was recommended by most (75%). Infective endocarditis, immunosuppression, artificial heart valve and mitral valve prolapse were the main causes of prophylaxis in descending order. Uncontrolled and extensive use of antibiotics by patients (62%) was mentioned as the most effective reason for antibiotic resistance. Up to 10% of participants prescribed antibiotics for symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, asymptomatic apical periodontitis with or without endodontic treatment (8, 12 and 11%, respectively). Up to 20% of dentists prescribed antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis when the pulp was vital or necrotic (13 and 23%, respectively). Almost one third of the participants prescribed antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis of previously treated teeth with or without radiographic lesions whilst 34% prescribed antibiotics for acute apical abscess with localized swelling without systemic involvement.

Conclusions

The majority of dentists reported they prescribed antibiotics inappropriately. It is necessary to improve the knowledge of dentists about antibiotics and their indications in endodontics.