bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of a New MPI Process Distribution for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model
Authors: Moreno R. , Arias E. , Cazorla D. , Pardo J. J. , Navarro A. , Rojo T. , Tapiador F. J.
Published: January 2020

The standard method used in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for distributing MPI processes across the processors is not always optimal. This circumstance affects performance, i.e., execution times, but also energy consumption, especially if the application is to be extended to exascale. The authors found that the reason why the standard method for process distribution is not always optimal was an imbalance between the orthogonality of the communication and the proper cache usage, and this affects energy consumption. We present an improved MPI process distribution algorithm that increases the performance. Furthermore, scalability analyses for the new algorithm are presented and the energy use of the system is evaluated. A solution for balancing energy use with performance is also proposed for cases where the former is a concern.
New Potential Weapons for Refractory Scleritis in the Era of Targeted Therapy
Authors: Fabiani Claudia , Sota Jurgen , Sainz-de-la-Maza Maite , Pelegrín Laura , Emmi Giacomo , Lopalco Giuseppe , Iannone Florenzo , Vannozzi Lorenzo , Guerriero Silvana , Gelmi Maria Chiara , Rigante Donato , Tosi Gian Marco , Hernández-Rodríguez José , Cantarini Luca
Published: January 2020

Objective. To assess the efficacy of biologic drugs, beyond tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α inhibitors, in the management of noninfectious refractory scleritis, either idiopathic or associated with systemic immune-mediated disorders. Patients and Methods. This is a retrospective study assessing the efficacy of several biologic agents (rituximab, anakinra, tocilizumab, and abatacept) and the small molecule tofacitinib in the treatment of scleritis through assessment of scleral inflammation and relapses, as well as treatment impact on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and safety profile. Results. Fourteen patients (19 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Scleritis inflammatory grading significantly improved from baseline to 3 months (p=0.002) and from baseline to the last follow-up visit (p=0.002). Scleritis relapses significantly decreased between the 12 months preceding and following biologic therapy (p=0.007). No differences regarding BCVA were observed (p=0.67). Regarding adverse events, only one patient developed pneumonia and septic shock under rituximab treatment. Conclusions. Our results, though limited to a low number of patients, highlight the effectiveness of different biologic therapies in the treatment of noninfectious refractory scleritis, showing to control scleral inflammation and allowing a significant reduction in the number of relapses.
The Threshold of the Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy below Which Intensive Glycemic Control Is Beneficial in Diabetic Patients: Estimation Using Data from Large Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Liu Yuqi , Li Juan , Ma Jinfang , Tong Nanwei
Published: January 2020

Intensive glucose therapy can protect the retina of individuals with diabetes, but it is unknown if it provides the same protection to patients with different severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). We finally included DR-related studies involving intensive glucose control with large sample size and long follow-up time, including five large and high-quality randomized clinical trials (RCTs): DCCT, UKPDS, ACCORD, AdRem, and VADT. With DCCT as a reference, we supposed a DR severity threshold that is verified by other RCTs then. We found that individuals who have DR lesions that are equivalent to or less severe than moderate NPDR achieve benefits for the retina by intensive glycemic control. However, these are realized only if the HbA1c in type 1 or type 2 diabetic patients is reduced at least by 0.8% versus the control group or it is reduced to <7% and >3 years of intensive glucose control is required. If the severity of DR lesions is worse than moderate NPDR, intensive glycemic control may not bring benefits.
Glypican-3–Specific CAR T Cells Coexpressing IL15 and IL21 Have Superior Expansion and Antitumor Activity against Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Batra Sai Arun , Rathi Purva , Guo Linjie , Courtney Amy N. , Fleurence Julien , Balzeau Julien , Shaik Rahamthulla S. , Nguyen Thao P. , Wu Meng-Fen , Bulsara Shaun , Mamonkin Maksim , Metelitsa Leonid S. , Heczey Andras
Published: January 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in the world, and curative systemic therapies are lacking. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)–expressing T cells induce robust antitumor responses in patients with hematologic malignancies but have limited efficacy in patients with solid tumors, including HCC. IL15 and IL21 promote T-cell expansion, survival, and function and can improve the antitumor properties of T cells. We explored whether transgenic expression of IL15 and/or IL21 enhanced glypican-3-CAR (GPC3-CAR) T cells' antitumor properties against HCC. We previously optimized the costimulation in GPC3-CARs and selected a second-generation GPC3-CAR incorporating a 4-1BB costimulatory endodomain (GBBz) for development. Here, we generated constructs encoding IL15, IL21, or both with GBBz (15.GBBz, 21.GBBz, and 21.15.GBBz, respectively) and examined the ability of transduced T cells to kill, produce effector cytokines, and expand in an antigen-dependent manner. We performed gene-expression and phenotypic analyses of GPC3-CAR T cells and CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of the TCF7 gene. Finally, we measured GPC3-CAR T-cell antitumor activity in murine xenograft models of GPC3+ tumors. The increased proliferation of 21.15.GBBz T cells was at least in part dependent on the upregulation and maintenance of TCF-1 (encoded by TCF7) and associated with a higher percentage of stem cell memory and central memory populations after manufacturing. T cells expressing 21.15.GBBz had superior in vitro and in vivo expansion and persistence, and the most robust antitumor activity in vivo. These results provided preclinical evidence to support the clinical evaluation of 21.15.GPC3-CAR T cells in patients with HCC.
Combined CD44- and CD25-Targeted Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Selectively Kills Cancer and Regulatory T Cells in Syngeneic Mouse Cancer Models
Authors: Maruoka Yasuhiro , Furusawa Aki , Okada Ryuhei , Inagaki Fuyuki , Fujimura Daiki , Wakiyama Hiroaki , Kato Takuya , Nagaya Tadanobu , Choyke Peter L. , Kobayashi Hisataka
Published: January 2020

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed and selective cancer treatment that induces necrotic and immunogenic cell death and utilizes a mAb conjugated to a photo-absorber dye, IR700DX, activated by NIR light. Although CD44 is a surface cancer marker associated with drug resistance, anti-CD44-IR700 NIR-PIT results in inhibited cell growth and prolonged survival in multiple tumor types. Meanwhile, CD25-targeted NIR-PIT has been reported to achieve selective and local depletion of FOXP3+CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg), which are primary immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in activation of local antitumor immunity. Combined NIR-PIT with CD44- and CD25-targeted agents has the potential to directly eliminate tumor cells and also amplify the immune response by removing FOXP3+CD25+CD4+ Tregs from the TME. We investigated the difference in therapeutic effects of CD44-targeted NIR-PIT alone, CD25-targeted NIR-PIT alone, and the combination of CD44- and CD25-targeted NIR-PIT in several syngeneic tumor models, including MC38-luc, LL/2, and MOC1. The combined NIR-PIT showed significant tumor growth inhibition and prolonged survival compared with CD44-targeted NIR-PIT alone in all tumor models and showed prolonged survival compared with CD25-targeted NIR-PIT alone in MC38-luc and LL/2 tumors. Combined CD44- and CD25-targeted NIR-PIT also resulted in some complete remissions. Therefore, combined NIR-PIT simultaneously targeting cancer antigens and immunosuppressive cells in the TME may be more effective than either type of NIR-PIT alone and may have potential to induce prolonged immune responses in treated tumors.
AR-V7 Protein Expression in Circulating Tumour Cells Is Not Predictive of Treatment Response in mCRPC
Authors: Erb Holger Hans Herman , Sparwasser Peter , Diehl Tamara , Hemmerlein-Thomas Manuela , Tsaur Igor , Jüngel Eva , Sommer Ulrich , Baretton Gustavo B. , Haferkamp Axel , Neisius Andreas , Thomas Christian
Published: January 2020

Introduction: Androgen receptor variant 7 (AR-V7) plays an important role in the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and has shown potential as a predictive biomarker in circulating tumour cells (CTCs) isolated from the bloodstream in terms of a liquid biopsy. Studies have shown that AR-V7 is a potential surrogate for selecting drug classes for systemic treatment by detecting nuclear AR-V7 by immunofluorescence or measuring AR-V7 messenger RNA by quantitative PCR. Here, we assessed the predictive value of AR-V7 detected by classical immunohistochemistry (IHC) for treatment response. Methods: CTCs were isolated by cell separation by density gradient centrifugation from patients with metastatic CRPC (n = 26) before, while, and after undergoing a new therapy with chemotherapy (cabazitaxel or docetaxel) or antiandrogen (enzalutamide or abiraterone). CTCs were sequentially cytospun on object slides, and AR-V7 status was then detected by IHC based on a staining regime established on a 22Rv1 cell line with antibodies against CK8/18 und AR-V7. Results: AR-V7 status detected by IHC showed no predictive value for progression-free survival (PFS). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that there was no difference in PFS between patients found positive or negative for AR-V7. Discussion/Conclusion: AR-V7 detected by classical IHC has no predictive value for treatment response in the described setting. The future role of AR-V7 in CTCs as a biomarker in clinical routine remains elusive.
MiR-204-5p Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-β1-Induced Proliferation and Extracellular Matrix Production of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells by Regulating Six1 in Asthma
Authors: Yang Zhaochuan , Qu Zhenghai , Yi Mingji , Lv Zhidong , Wang Yanxia , Shan Yanchun , Ran Ni , Liu Xinjie
Published: January 2020

Background: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-in­duced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells plays critical roles in the development of airway remodeling. Six1 (sine oculis homeobox homolog 1) has been demonstrated to be involved in airway inflammation and remodeling in asthmatic mice. Objectives: The aim of this work was to investigate the potential role of miR-204-5p in the proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) production of airway smooth muscle cells in asthma. Methods: Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-204-5p in asthmatic airway smooth muscle cells. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected to evaluate the effect of miR-204-5p on airway smooth muscle cells. Dual-luciferase reporter experiments were applied to identify the target genes of miR-204-5p. Results: MiR-204-5p was downregulated notably in asthmatic airway smooth muscle cells as well as cells stimulated with TGF-β1. Overexpression of miR-204-5p markedly suppressed the TGF-β1-induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells and the deposition of ECM, whereas the inhibition of miR-204-5p significantly enhanced the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells and upregulated the level of fibronectin and collagen III. Furthermore, subsequent analyses demonstrated that Six1 was a direct target of miR-204-5p, and Western blot further indicated that miR-204-5p negatively regulated the expression of Six1. Most importantly, the restoration of Six1 expression reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-204-5p on TGF-β1-induced proliferation and ECM production. Conclusions: MiR-204-5p inhibits TGF-β1-in­duced proliferation and ECM production of airway smooth muscle cells by regulating Six1, identifying a potential therapeutic target for preventing airway remodeling in asthma.
Clinical Perspectives on Psychiatric Neurosurgery
Authors: Cabrera Laura Yenisa , Courchesne Caitlin , Kiss Zelma H.T. , Illes Judy
Published: January 2020

Introduction: Surgical interventions such as stereotactic radiosurgery and magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound, and neuromodulatory interventions such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and vagal nerve stimulation, are under investigation to remediate psychiatric conditions resistant to conventional therapies involving drugs and psychological supports. Objective: Given the complicated history of psychiatric neurosurgery and its renaissance today, we sought to examine current perceptions and predictions about the field among practicing functional neurosurgeons. Methods: We designed a 51-question online survey comprising Likert-type, multiple-choice, and rank-order questions and distributed it to members of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed on the data. Results: We received 38 completed surveys. Half (n = 19) of responders reported devoting at least a portion of their clinical practice to psychiatric neurosurgery, utilizing DBS and treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) most frequently overall. Respondents indicated that psychiatric neurosurgery is more medically effective (OR 0, p = 0.03242, two-sided Fisher’s exact test) and has clearer clinical indications for the treatment of OCD than for the treatment of depression (OR 0.09775, p = 0.005137, two-sided Fisher’s exact test). Seventy-one percent of all respondents (n = 27) supported the clinical utility of ablative surgery in modern neuropsychiatric practice, 87% (n = 33) agreed that ablative procedures constitute a valid treatment alternative to DBS for some patients, and 61% (n = 23) agreed that ablative surgery may be an acceptable treatment option for patients who are unlikely to comply with postoperative care. Conclusions: This up-to-date account of practices, perceptions, and predictions about psychiatric neurosurgery contributes to the knowledge about evolving attitudes over time and informs priorities for education and further surgical innovation on the psychiatric neurosurgery landscape.
Postoperative Outcomes after Tubeless, Totally Tubeless, Standard, and Standard with Ureteral Stent Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Nationwide Retrospective Study in Japan
Authors: Minami Tetsuji , Yamana Hayato , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: January 2020

Objectives: We examined the advantages of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and totally tubeless PCNL over standard PCNL. Materials and Methods: Using a nationwide inpatient database in Japan, we gathered data on patients undergoing PCNL from July 2010 to March 2016 and extracted eligible patients who were candidates for tubeless PCNL. Eligible patients were divided into 4 groups: tubeless, totally tubeless, standard, and standard PCNL with ureteral stent (US). Multivariable analyses compared postoperative hospital stay, duration of analgesic use, urinary tract infection (UTI), and blood transfusion among the 4 groups. Results: Analyses were conducted on patients in the standard (n = 954), tubeless (n = 98), totally tubeless (n = 146), and standard PCNL with US (n = 389) groups. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the tubeless group than in the standard group (1.6 days [–2.9 to 0.4]). With reference to the standard PCNL group, there was no significant difference in the number of days of analgesic use or the proportions of postoperative UTIs or blood transfusion among the groups. Postoperative UTIs developed significantly more often in women than in men regardless of the PCNL method. Conclusions: Our multivariable analyses showed that tubeless PCNL was associated with shorter postoperative hospital stays, but totally tubeless PCNL was not.
Unusual Clinical Presentation of Autosomal Recessive Woolly Hair
Authors: Alsharif Osama , Ahmed Azhar Abbas , Alali Azhar Mohammed , Kaki Adnan Ahmed
Published: January 2020

Autosomal recessive woolly hair/hypotrichosis (ARWH/H) is a rare nonsyndromic hair abnormality characterized by sparse, short, and curly hair. we report a case of a 5-year-old girl from consanguineous parents, who presented with ARWH/H since birth. Dermoscopic findings showed thin sparse hair. Genetic testing showed homozygous mutation in the LPAR6 gene.
Understanding the Interrelationship between Education, Income, and Obesity among Adults in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mosli Hala H. , Kutbi Hebah A. , Alhasan Ahmed H. , Mosli Rana H.
Published: January 2020

Objective: To examine the association of sociodemographic variables with the odds of being obese among adults in Saudi Arabia, and to examine whether or not the association between the educational level and the odds of being obese among adults in Saudi Arabia is modified by the income level. Methods: A total of 3,925 participants were recruited for this cross-­sectional study. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected using standardized procedures. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were examined, with a dichotomous obesity status variable as the outcome. Furthermore, an interaction term for income level with educational level was tested and appeared significant. Thus, additional regression models were run in order to examine the association between educational level and obesity status separately among the low- and higher-income groups. Results: Compared to participants with a college degree or higher, illiterate participants and those with an elementary education had higher odds of obesity (OR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.81–4.22, and OR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.89–3.82, respectively). However, participants with a low income had lower odds than participants who had a higher income (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.70–0.99). Examining the association between educational level and obesity while stratifying by income revealed that a negative association between education and obesity exists among both income groups. However, the magnitude of the ORs was higher among participants with higher income, suggesting a stronger association between education and obesity among wealthier individuals. Conclusion: Individuals in the highest income bracket with lower levels of education may have greater odds of obesity. Targeting them in intervention programs is warranted.
The Bidirectional Association between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shi Xiao , Chen Qi , Wang Fen
Published: January 2020

Background: Previous investigations have suggested a significant association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). Yet, outcomes published remain inconsistent. Objective: To explore the association between IBD and AD by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A comprehensive search of studies published from March 1, 1968, to July 26, 2019, was performed in electronic databases as follows: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Methodological quality was assessed based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data analysis was conducted using R version 3.6.1 (meta package version 4.9-7). Results: A total of 14 studies were eligible for exploring the association between IBD and AD. Statistically significant differences were found on the risk of AD comorbidity among patients with IBD (risk ratio [RR] 1.83, 95% CI 1.39–2.40), Crohn’s disease (CD; RR 2.06, 95% CI 1.61–2.64), and ulcerative colitis (UC; RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.23–2.24). Compared with non-AD subjects, patients with AD were 48% (p = 0.019), 44% (p = 0.002), and 38% (p = 0.000) more likely to exhibit IBD, CD as well as UC, respectively. Discussion: Our evidence supported a significant bidirectional association between IBD and AD. Future prospective studies are warranted to explore underlying mechanisms linking them.
Деякі аспекти діагностики та лікування синдрому діабетичної стопи
Authors: Zaremba V. S. , Fedchyshyn N. R. , Bokhonko R. L. , Herych H. I.
Published: January 2020

Мета роботи: оцінити діагностичну та лікувальну цінність предикторів синдрому діабетичної стопи у хворих на цукровий діабет 2-го типу. Матеріали і методи. Проведено аналіз діагностики та лікування 142 пацієнтів з ускладненнями цукрового діабету, лікованих у хірургічних відділеннях клініки хірургії та ендоскопії ФПДО Львівського національного медичного університету імені Данила Галицького у 2017–2018 рр. Виконано 156 операційних втручань з приводу хірургічного ускладнення діабету – синдрому діабетичної стопи. Середній вік пацієнтів – (56,2 ± 11,5) року (61,2 % чоловіки). У всіх хворих верифіковано тяжкий ступінь цукрового діабету. Тривалість захворювання склала (12,1 ± 4,4) року. Всі пацієнти мали глибокі ураження стопи (III-IV стадії за Вагнером). Ішемічна форма діабетичної стопи становила 25,1 %, змішана – у 33,4 % та нейропатична – у 41,5 %. Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. З метою покращення тактики та результатів операційного лікування гнійно-некротичних уражень стопи ми враховували показники кісточково-плечового індексу та ендотелійзалежної вазодилатації плечової артерії як основні діагностично-прогностичні маркери стенотично-оклюзійних уражень судин нижніх кінцівок.
Хірургічна тактика у пацієнтів з поліпами жовчного міхура
Authors: Vasyliuk S. M. , Fedorchenko V. M. , Osadets V. S. , Labiak I. R. , Vasyliuk A. S.
Published: January 2020

Поширення поліпів жовчного міхура складає від 1 до 9,5 % у загальній популяції, ймовірність діагностики аденом достовірно зростає, якщо діаметр поліпа сягає понад 10 мм. Частота захворюваності на поліпи жовчного міхура різна залежно від географічного регіону (вища в Азії) чи етнічної належності, але однакова серед чоловіків і жінок. Виділяють псевдопухлинні поліпи та пухлинні поліпи. Найбільш доступним методом діагностики поліпів жовчного міхура є моніторинг за допомогою ульт­развуку. На доопераційному етапі складно визначитися з ймовірністю карциноми жовчного міхура, яка виникла з поліпа, тому виділяють фактори ризику: діаметр поліпа понад 10 мм, вік пацієнта понад 50 років, поліп на широкій основі, локальне потовщення стінки жовчного міхура понад 4 мм, склерозувальний холангіт, етнічна належність до Індії, поодинокий поліп, холелітіаз та поліпи в інших зонах шлунково-кишкового тракту. При асимптомних поліпах жовчного міхура розмірами від 10 мм однозначно рекомендується планова холецистектомія. Якщо у пацієнта є фактори ризику малігнізації, цю величину слід знизити до 6 мм. Холецистектомію рекомендують при поліпах жовчного міхура незалежно від їхніх розмірів, якщо наявні специфічні клінічні симптоми, пов’язані з жовчовивідною системою, або поліпи асоційовані з первинним склерозувальним холангітом.  При аналізі клінічної симптоматики та первинного ультразвукового обстеження віддиференціювати псевдопухлинні і пухлинні поліпи вкрай складно. Пухлинні поліпи мають високий ризик малігнізації, що потребує ультразвукового моніторингу впродовж тривалого часу. Показання до операційного втручання при поліпах жовчного міхура є чітко регламентовані, однак при підозрі на карциному жовчного міхура слід дотримуватися активної хірургічної тактики.
Endovascular Versus Surgical Revascularization for Acute Limb Ischemia
Authors: Kolte Dhaval , Kennedy Kevin F. , Shishehbor Mehdi H. , Mamdani Shafiq T. , Stangenberg Lars , Hyder Omar N. , Soukas Peter , Aronow Herbert D.
Published: January 2020

Background:

The optimal revascularization strategy for acute limb ischemia (ALI) remains unclear, and contemporary comparative effectiveness data on endovascular versus surgical revascularization are lacking.

Methods:

We used the 2010 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample databases to identify hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of ALI. Patients were propensity-score matched on the likelihood of undergoing endovascular versus surgical revascularization using a logistic regression model. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, stroke, composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke, any amputation, fasciotomy, acute kidney injury, major bleeding, transfusion, vascular complications, length of stay, and hospital costs.

Results:

Of 10 484 (weighted national estimate=51 914) hospitalizations for ALI, endovascular revascularization was performed in 5008 (47.8%) and surgical revascularization in 5476 (52.2%). In the propensity-score matched cohort (n=7746; 3873 per group), patients who underwent endovascular revascularization had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (2.8% versus 4.0%;
P
=0.002), myocardial infarction (1.9% versus 2.7%;
P
=0.022), composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke (5.2% versus 7.5%;
P
<0.001), acute kidney injury (10.5% versus 11.9%;
P
=0.043), fasciotomy (1.9% versus 8.9%;
P
<0.001), major bleeding (16.7% versus 21.0%;
P
<0.001), and transfusion (10.3% versus 18.5%;
P
<0.001), but higher vascular complications (1.4% versus 0.7%;
P
=0.002), compared with those undergoing surgical revascularization. Rates of any amputation were similar between the 2 groups (4.7% versus 5.1%;
P
=0.43). Median length of stay was shorter and hospital costs higher with endovascular versus surgical revascularization.

Conclusions:

In patients with ALI, endovascular revascularization was associated with better in-hospital clinical outcomes compared with surgical revascularization. Contemporary randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the optimal revascularization strategy for ALI.
Perfusion Computed Tomography Accurately Quantifies Collateral Flow After Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Lin Longting , Chen Chushuang , Tian Huiqiao , Bivard Andrew , Spratt Neil , Levi Christopher R. , Parsons Mark W.
Published: January 2020

Background and Purpose—

This study aimed to derive and validate an optimal collateral measurement on computed tomographic perfusion imaging for patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods—

In step 1 analysis of 22 patients, the parasagittal region of the ischemic hemisphere was divided into 6 pial arterial zones to derive the optimal collateral threshold by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The collateral threshold was then used to define the collateral index in step 2. In step 2 analysis of 156 patients, the computed tomographic perfusion collateral index was compared with collateral scores on dynamic computed tomographic angiography in predicting good clinical outcome by simple regression.

Results—

The optimal collateral threshold was delay time >6 s (sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 92%). The computed tomographic perfusion collateral index, defined by the ratio of delay time >6 s/delay time >2 s volume, showed a significant correlation with dynamic computed tomographic angiography collateral scores (correlation coefficient, 0.62;
P
<0.001), with an optimal cut point of 31.8% in predicting good collateral status (sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 86%). When predicting good clinical outcome, the delay time collateral index showed a similar predictive power to dynamic computed tomographic angiography collaterals (area under the curve, 0.78 [0.67–0.83] and 0.77 [0.69–0.84], respectively;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Computed tomographic perfusion can accurately quantify collateral flow after acute ischemic stroke.
First record of Hormiini Förster, 1863, and Macrocentrinae Förster, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for the fauna of Egypt, with the description of a new species
Authors: EDMARDASH YUSUF A. , EL-GHIET USAMA M. ABU , GADALLAH NEVEEN S.
Published: January 2020

The tribe Hormiini Förster, 1863, and subfamily Macrocentrinae Förster, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are recorded for the first time for the Egyptian fauna. Hormiini is represented by five species in two genera, Avga Nixon, 1940, with a single new species, A. sinaitica Edmardash & Gadallah; and Hormius Nees, 1819  (4 species), H. moniliatus (Nees, 1811), H. propodealis (Belokobylskij, 1989), H. sculpturatus Tobias, 1967, and H. similis Szépligeti, 1896. One species of Macrocentrinae, Macrocentrus collaris (Spinola, 1808) is also reported here. The specimens were collected from different localities of Egypt.
The Financial Dilemma of Students Pursuing an Atmospheric Science Graduate Degree in the United States
Authors: Card Dylan R. , Sussman Heather S. , Raghavendra Ajay
Published: January 2020

Graduate school provides an opportunity for students to enhance their knowledge and skill sets and to develop the qualifications to seek high-skilled employment. However, many graduate students are plagued with personal and financial stressors that can decrease research productivity and professional growth. With ballooning student loan debt and economic inflation, stakeholders should review the financial well-being of our current and future graduate students with greater frequency to ensure the continued fast-paced advancement of science. This study investigated the annual stipend, university fees, housing costs, cost of living, and the state income tax rate of 39 atmospheric science graduate programs in the United States to determine the effective income for first-year graduate students in the 2020–21 academic year. Results showed a large spread in advertised stipend amounts ranging between $19,139 and $41,520 (USD). After taking into account annual university fees, housing costs, and state income tax and normalizing by the cost of living, effective income had a decreased spread ranging between $12,287 and $25,240. Prospective graduate students should not focus on the advertised stipend when deciding between schools since it does not always accurately represent the affordability of the graduate program. The future of scientific research relies on the next generation of scientists. Therefore, graduate programs across the country should focus on providing fair financial compensation in order to attract students with exceptional research skills who otherwise may leave academia to pursue higher-paying jobs after college.
Atmospheric Chemistry of Gaseous Oxidized Mercury at a Coastal Site in Atlantic Canada
Authors: Cheng Irene , Zhang Leiming , Mao Huiting , Ye Zhuyun , Keenan Robert
Published: January 2020

A chemistry box model containing a comprehensive suite of mercury (Hg) oxidation mechanisms involving O3, OH, H2O2, Br, BrO, NO2, HO2, and other oxidants was used to simulate the formation of gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and understand the chemical processes driving the observed trends in GOM at Kejimkujik, Nova Scotia, Canada. Simulations were conducted using chemical schemes with and without oxidation by O3 and OH. The major oxidants of Hg are O3 and OH (79%), H2O2 (10%), Br with second-stage HgBr oxidation by NO2 (7%), and BrO (3%) in simulations where all GEM oxidation reactions were considered simultaneously. In an alternative chemical scheme without gas-phase oxidation by O3 and OH, the dominant GOM species were HgBrNO2 (58%) and HgBrO (23.5%). Using this chemical scheme, the model reproduced the observed GOM at sub-ppqv Br2 mixing ratios. In the scheme with O3 and OH, the variability in GOM between seasons and between continental and marine air masses was mainly due to the variability in gaseous elemental Hg, O3, OH, and aerosol liquid water content (LWC). LWC governs the partitioning of GOM to the aerosol aqueous phase in the model. In the scheme without O3 and OH, the variability in GOM by season and airmass origin strongly depends on Br and BrO, suggesting that rigorous validation of modeled Br and BrO data are essential for improving the model predictions of GOM in coastal environments.
Mechanisms for Spatially Inhomogeneous Changes in East Asian Summer Monsoon Precipitation during the Mid-Holocene
Authors: Wang Na , Jiang Dabang , Lang Xianmei
Published: January 2020

The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensified during the early to mid-Holocene relative to the present primarily due to orbital forcing. However, on the regional scale, changes in the monsoonal precipitation exhibit considerable spatial disparity, and the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. In this study, the dynamic processes responsible for the difference of the EASM precipitation between the mid-Holocene and preindustrial period are systematically examined using the CMIP5 multimodel simulations. The moisture budget diagnostic identifies vertical motion as the key factor determining the cross-like precipitation pattern in East Asia. Relative to the preindustrial period, the mid-Holocene anomalous ascending motion corresponds well with the excessive precipitation over northern and southern China, and vice versa for west-central China, the Korean peninsula, Japan, and its marginal seas. In the framework of the moist static energy budget, the increased insolation and the attendant intensification of land–sea thermal contrast give rise to anomalous ascending motions, while descending motions are fundamentally forced by the decreased latitudinal insolation gradient. In particular, thermodynamic changes, namely, the reduced pole–equator temperature and humidity gradients, account for the downward motions over the northwestern Pacific. Dynamic changes, namely, the weakened westerlies, play a leading role in suppressing updrafts in west-central China. This study highlights that the orbital-scale monsoonal precipitation changes are not solely determined by local radiative forcing as repeatedly emphasized before. The latitudinal uneven distribution of insolation is crucial to explain the spatial inhomogeneity in the EASM precipitation changes during the Holocene.
Protests of Abundance: Distributive Conflict Over Agricultural Rents During the Commodities Boom in Argentina, 2003–2013
Authors: Mangonnet Jorge , Murillo María Victoria
Published: January 2020

Whereas the scholarship on rural contention mostly focuses on austerity and busts, we study protests by agricultural export producers in times of high agricultural prices. Aware of price volatility, farmers seek to take advantage of cycles’ upswings to maximize their income and resist sharing the rents generated by higher prices. When farmers lack the formal political influence to avert redistribution, they are more likely to protest as their tax burden increases although they benefit from higher prices. Their strongest protest tool is lockouts, which halt commercialization activities and have significant economic consequences, but require coordination by farmer associations. Membership homogeneity and lower exposure to state retaliation by these organizations heightens contention. We test this argument using a local-level data set on rural lockouts across Argentine departments between 2003 and 2013, a time of high prices for Argentina’s key export commodity: soybeans. We complement our empirical strategy with in-depth, semi-structured elite interviews.
On the Social Construction of Legal Grievances: Evidence From Colombia and South Africa
Authors: Taylor Whitney K.
Published: January 2020

Leveraging comparisons within and across cases, this article investigates legal mobilization for social rights in Colombia and South Africa. This kind of rights contestation represents a new phenomenon, in which both ordinary citizens and judicial actors have come to view problems related to access to health care, housing, education, and social security through the lens of the law. Research on legal mobilization has tended toward one-sided examinations of this complex phenomenon, focusing primarily on either legal claims-making or judicial decision-making, and neglecting to fully theorize the relationship between the two. Drawing on an analysis of rights claims and 178 interviews, this article aims to correct these imbalances. In doing so, it offers a generalizable model that accounts for the social construction of legal grievances and the development of judicial receptivity to particular kinds of claims, and explains both the emergence and continuation of legal mobilization for social rights.
Determining the Effect of Group Flower Arranging Sessions on Caregiver Self-Efficacy and Stress Levels in an In-Patient Hospice
Authors: Lavin Joanne , Lavin Claire , Bai Xin , Mastropaolo Stephanie , Feldman Debbie
Published: January 2020

This study was designed to promote enhanced self-efficacy and decreased stress levels for family caregivers at a hospice care hospital, thus increasing their quality of life. This is achieved through group flower arranging sessions. The objectives are to (a) enhance self-efficacy scores for family caregivers of Calvary patients, (b) decrease stress levels for family caregivers of Calvary patients, and (c) disseminate results to other hospices. The results show that the flower arranging sessions resulted in significantly increased self-efficacy and decreased stress and associated problems for the caregiver participants. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Did Arkansas’ Medicaid Patient-Centered Medical Home Program Have Spillover Effects on Commercially Insured Enrollees?
Authors: Hinde Jesse M. , West Nathan , Arbes Samuel J. , Kluckman Marianne , West Suzanne L.
Published: January 2020

Patient-centered medical homes are increasingly being implemented by state Medicaid programs to incentivize high-quality, coordinated care and ultimately lower health care spending. This study examined whether the Arkansas Medicaid Patient-Centered Medical Home Program’s practice-wide transformation activities had spillover effects on commercial beneficiaries. We used difference-in-differences to compare utilization and expenditures of commercially insured enrollees as their practices received Medicaid patient-centered medical home certification on a rolling basis between 2014 and 2016. We found a 5.7% increase in outpatient visits and 13% higher expenditures among early adopting practices. Even without associated reductions in costly emergency department visits or inpatient hospital admissions, decisionmakers should not lose sight of the potential value of increased engagement in and coordination of professional services for a population with high unmet health needs. Our results also emphasize that states can leverage Medicaid to spur system-wide transformation, and the investments generate spillover effects beyond those covered directly by Medicaid.
Outcomes of out-of-hospital extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transfers: significance of initiation site and personnel
Authors: Mihama Toru , Liem Spencer , Cavarocchi Nicholas , Hirose Hitoshi
Published: January 2020

Background:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an accepted therapy option for refractory cardiac or respiratory failure. The outcomes of cases initiated at non–extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers and subsequently transported for management to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center require further investigation.

Methods:

Retrospective institutional review board–approved database research and chart reviews were performed on referrals for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initially admitted to an outside non–extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center hospital (OSH) then transferred to our extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center (Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH)). Unstable patients were placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at OSH (Group A) before transport, while others were initiated at our certified extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center (Group B) upon arrival. Group A was further subdivided into patients cannulated by OSH personnel (Group AOSH) or TJUH transport team (Group ATJUH). Outcomes and complications were compared between the different initiation sites and personnel.

Results:

A total of 108 patients were transferred from August 2010 to June 2018. The technical complication rate for all Group A patients was 33/49 (67%), while that of Group B was 24/59 (41%); p = 0.006. Within Group A, Group AOSH had a greater technical complication rate with 29/33 (88%) than Group ATJUH with 4/16 (25%); p < 0.001. extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survival rate was 34/49 (69%) in Group A and 43/59 (73%) in Group B; p = 0.690. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survival rate for Group AOSH and Group ATJUH was 21/33 (64%) and 13/16 (81%), respectively; p = 0.210.

Conclusion:

Promising extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survival rates were observed in transferred patients. The complication rates related to cannulation technique were significantly higher when patients were initiated at non–extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers, especially when placed by personnel from non–extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer is promoted by survivin
Authors: Yang Faying , Ma Jianhua , Wan Jianghou , Ha Wuhua , Fang Cheng , Lu Huaiquan , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2020

Objective

Recent studies demonstrated that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) contribute to the metastasis of prostate cancer. Survivin knockout could inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and suppress several metastatic tumors. In this study, we examined the potential involvement of survivin in EMT in CTCs.

Methods

CTCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of 100 patients with prostate cancer as EpCAM+/CD45− cells via FACS sorting and identified by immunofluorescence staining of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). CTCs and DU145 cells were transfected with survivin siRNA. Then, the levels of survivin, E-cadherin, and vimentin in CTCs and DU145 cells were detected via immunofluorescence staining, and the invasiveness of CTCs and DU145 cells was examined using a Transwell chamber.

Results

The results revealed the abundant expression of PSA in the cytoplasm of CTCs. Transfection of survivin siRNA significantly decreased the levels of survivin and vimentin in CTCs and DU145, whereas that of E-cadherin was significantly increased, suggesting survivin plays an important role in EMT of CTCs. In addition, survivin siRNA significantly inhibited the invasiveness of CTCs and DU145 cells.

Conclusions

Survivin plays an important role in EMT of CTCs in prostate cancer, which might mediate the metastasis and invasion of prostate cancer.
Do lung cancer patients require routine anticoagulation treatment? A meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Mengying , Wu Shuxie , Hu Chengping
Published: January 2020

Objective

We conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the utility of anticoagulant treatment in lung cancer patients.

Method

We retrieved studies focused on thrombosis and lung cancer by searching electronic databases. We evaluated the impact of thrombosis on the prognosis of lung cancer patients, assessed the efficacy and effect of anticoagulation treatment in lung cancer patients, and investigated risk factors for thrombosis in lung cancer patients.

Result

Lung cancer patients with thrombosis have a significantly worse overall survival. Anticoagulant treatment did not improve the prognosis of lung cancer patients. Although anticoagulant treatment was associated with a reduced incidence of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism, there was an increased risk of hemorrhage in this population. The risk factors for thrombosis in lung cancer patients are adenocarcinoma, advanced tumor stage, and high serum levels of d-dimer.

Conclusion

Anticoagulation treatment in lung cancer patients should be more individualized. Routine anticoagulant treatment is not recommended.
Importance of human papillomavirus infection in squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Huang Kunsong , Ni Guoying , Ma Bowei , Chen Shu , Luan Yi , Wang Tianfang , Walton Shelley , Frazer Ian , Liu Xiaosong , Pan Xuan
Published: January 2020

Objective

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common oral tumors. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been proposed as a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, particularly oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma.

Methods

In this study, we retrospectively analyzed HPV infection in 121 Chinese patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma in Guangdong Province. Polymerase chain reaction of HPV DNA and immunohistochemistry staining of p16 protein were used to identify the presence of HPV in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples.

Results

HPV DNA was detected in 15.7% (n = 19) of tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients, with HPV16 being the most common type (n = 8, 42.1%). p16 staining did not correlate with detection of HPV DNA. Male sex was associated with HPV-positive tongue squamous cell carcinoma, whereas there were no significant differences in alcohol consumption, smoking, or age when tumors were stratified by HPV.

Conclusion

Our study showed that HPV infection contributed to tongue squamous cell carcinoma in a small cohort of patients in Guangdong Province, China. Further investigation is needed to confirm whether HPV is a causal factor for tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
Trends of gallbladder cancer incidence, mortality, and diagnostic approach in urban Shanghai between 1973 and 2009
Authors: Zhang Mingdi , Wu Chunxiao , Zuo Bin , Gong Wei , Zhang Yong , Yang Yong , Zhou Di , Weng Mingzhe , Qin Yiyu , Jiang Alex , Zheng Ying , Quan Zhiwei
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To describe and interpret secular time trends in gallbladder cancer (GBC) incidence, mortality, and diagnostic approach using 37 years of cancer registry data in urban Shanghai.

Methods:

Data on registration of GBC in urban Shanghai during 1973 and 2009 were collected by the Shanghai Cancer Registry. To describe time trends and to identify specific time points when significant changes occurred, we used joinpoint regression analysis.

Results:

The age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence increased from 1.1/100,000 (1973–1975) to 2.9/100,000 (2006–2009) in men and from 1.7/100,000 (1973–1975) to 3.9/100,000 (2006–2009) in women. ASRs of incidence increased significantly with estimated annual percent changes (EAPCs) of 2.8% in men and 2.5% in women. The mortality trends increased significantly, with EAPCs of 2.8% in men and 2.5% in women. The increasing incidence and mortality rates were primarily observed in men ⩾60 years of age and in women ⩾70 years of age. Notable downward trends in incidence and mortality were identified among women age 60–69 years over the last decade. The percentage of GBC diagnosed by pathology increased steadily over the years while the percentage of GBC diagnosed by imaging, surgery, and biochemistry sharply increased from 1987 onwards.

Conclusions:

Thirty-seven years of cancer registry data document a tremendous increase in incidence/mortality and a slight decline in incidence/mortality over the last decades for GBC, especially among women, in Shanghai. The development of diagnostic approaches and aging population may play important roles.
Let’s stick together: Labor market effects from immigrant neighborhood clustering
Authors: Lobo José , Mellander Charlotta
Published: January 2020

We investigate if there are positive economic effects for individuals residing in ethnic neighborhoods, in particular if the likelihood of labor market participation among foreign-born is affected by residentially aggregating with other people from one’s same native region. We also examine to what extent the income level among foreign-born who have a job is affected by the extent to which they congregate in ethnic enclaves. We use Swedish micro-level data for the time period 2007 to 2015 and run a Heckman estimation for four distinct immigration groups: those from (a) the Middle East; poor and middle-income countries in (b) Africa and (c) Asia; and (d) and those from the former Yugoslavia. We control for personal and neighborhood characteristics as well as workplace characteristics. The results suggest that, in some cases, there may be positive effects from ethnic concentration, but even more from living with first- and second-generation immigrants in general.