bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atmospheric particulate matter pollution over residential urban areas during COVID-19 quarantine
Authors: Ilieva R , Angelova B , Iliev M , Stoyanov D , Groudeva V , Cherkezova-Zheleva Z , Nedkov I
Published: February 2021

This study of particulate matter (PM) pollution was conducted in May and June 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown in residential areas of the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Its methodology was based on lidar monitoring of the ground layer of the atmosphere and focused on the sampling procedure. The sampling was performed with portable instruments in situ in the areas with air pollution fixed on the city’s map during the lidar monitoring. The collected PM was examined by a set of physical methods (XRD, SEM, EDAX) and PCR tests for viral contamination). A wide range of data on the nature of PM were obtained. Data on the number of COVID-19 positive individuals in the town for the period was also summarized.
Algorithms for fusion systems with applications to 𝑝-groups of small order
Authors: Parker Chris , Semeraro Jason
Published: February 2021

For a prime

p
p

, we describe a protocol for handling a specific type of fusion system on a

p
p

-group by computer. These fusion systems contain all saturated fusion systems. This framework allows us to computationally determine whether or not two subgroups are conjugate in the fusion system for example. We describe a generation procedure for automizers of every subgroup of the

p
p

-group. This allows a computational check of saturation. These procedures have been implemented using Magma. We describe a computer program which searches for saturated fusion systems

F

\mathcal {F}

on

p
p

-groups with

O
p

(

F

)
=
1

O_p(\mathcal {F})=1

and

O
p

(

F

)
=

F

O^p(\mathcal {F})=\mathcal {F}

. Employing these computational methods we determine all such fusion systems on groups of order

p
n

p^n

where
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="left-parenthesis p comma n right-parenthesis element-of StartSet left-parenthesis 3 comma 4 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 3 comma 5 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 3 comma 6 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 3 comma 7 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 5 comma 4 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 5 comma 5 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 5 comma 6 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 7 comma 4 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 7 comma 5 right-parenthesis EndSet">

(
p
,
n
)
∈
{
(
3
,
4
)
,
(
3
,
5
)
,
(
3
,
6
)
,
(
3
,
7
)
,
(
5
,
4
)
,
(
5
,
5
)
,
(
5
,
6
)
,
(
7
,
4
)
,
(
7
,
5
)
}

(p,n) \in \{(3,4),(3,5),(3,6),(3,7),(5,4),(5,5),(5,6),(7,4),(7,5)\}

. This gives the first complete picture of which groups can support saturated fusion systems with

O
p

(

F

)
=
1

O_p(\mathcal {F})=1

and

O
p

(

F

)
=

F

O^p(\mathcal {F})=\mathcal {F}

on small

p
p

-groups of odd order.
Knowledge-based classification of fine-grained immune cell types in single-cell RNA-Seq data
Authors: Liu Xuan , Gosline Sara J C , Pflieger Lance T , Wallet Pierre , Iyer Archana , Guinney Justin , Bild Andrea H , Chang Jeffrey T
Published: February 2021

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) is an emerging strategy for characterizing immune cell populations. Compared to flow or mass cytometry, scRNA-Seq could potentially identify cell types and activation states that lack precise cell surface markers. However, scRNA-Seq is currently limited due to the need to manually classify each immune cell from its transcriptional profile. While recently developed algorithms accurately annotate coarse cell types (e.g. T cells versus macrophages), making fine distinctions (e.g. CD8+ effector memory T cells) remains a difficult challenge. To address this, we developed a machine learning classifier called ImmClassifier that leverages a hierarchical ontology of cell type. We demonstrate that its predictions are highly concordant with flow-based markers from CITE-seq and outperforms other tools (+15% recall, +14% precision) in distinguishing fine-grained cell types with comparable performance on coarse ones. Thus, ImmClassifier can be used to explore more deeply the heterogeneity of the immune system in scRNA-Seq experiments.
Gendered prisons, relationships and resettlement policies; three reasons for caution for imprisoned mothers
Authors: Booth Natalie
Published: February 2021

Drawing on the lived experiences and perceptions of five imprisoned mothers, this article critically explores female prisons, relationships and resettlement policies in England and Wales. The findings indicate how the infusing of gendered, informal social controls into penal interventions and penal policy has the potential to harm mothers. This is why three reasons for caution are proposed in relation to ‘structural obstacles’, ‘continued exposure to abuse’ and ‘ascribed reputations’. With these challenges, the mother’s aspirations for a crime- and drug-free future may be thwarted. Therefore, by showing the complex and dynamic set of circumstances that mothers in prison must navigate, more clearly, the need for a nuanced approach for working with women can be appreciated.
Low-pressure versus standard pressure laparoscopic colorectal surgery (PAROS trial): a phase III randomized controlled trial
Authors: Celarier S , Monziols S , Célérier B , Assenat V , Carles P , Napolitano G , Laclau-Lacrouts M , Rullier E , Ouattara A , Denost Q
Published: February 2021

Trial design

This is a phase III, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Methods

In this trial, patients with laparoscopic colectomy were assigned to either low pressure (LP: 7 mmHg) or standard pressure (SP: 12 mmHg) at a ratio of 1 : 1. The aim of this trial was to assess the impact of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic colectomy on postoperative recovery. The primary endpoint was the duration of hospital stay. The main secondary endpoints were postoperative pain, consumption of analgesics and postoperative morbidity.

Results

Some 138 patients were enrolled, of whom 11 were excluded and 127 were analysed: 62 with LP and 65 with SP. Duration of hospital stay (3 versus 4 days; P = 0.010), visual analog scale (0.5 versus 2.0; P = 0.008) and analgesic consumption (level II: 73 versus 88 per cent; P = 0.032; level III: 10 versus 23 per cent; P = 0.042) were lower with LP. Morbidity was not significantly different between the two groups (10 versus 17 per cent; P = 0.231).

Conclusion

Using low-pressure pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic colonic resection improves postoperative recovery, shortening the duration of hospitalization and decreasing postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. This suggests that low pressure should become the standard of care for laparoscopic colectomy.

Trial registration

NCT03813797
Co-pathologies in Alzheimer’s disease: just multiple pathologies or partners in crime?
Authors: Tomé Sandra O , Thal Dietmar Rudolf
Published: February 2021

This scientific commentary refers to ‘The development and convergence of co-pathologies in Alzheimer’s disease’, by Robinson et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awaa438).
Traumatic brain injury: a comparison of diffusion and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging measures
Authors: Bourke Niall J , Yanez Lopez Maria , Jenkins Peter O , De Simoni Sara , Cole James H , Lally Pete , Mallas Emma-Jane , Zhang Hui , Sharp David J
Published: February 2021

Cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury remains hard to predict. This is partly because axonal injury, which is of fundamental importance, is difficult to measure clinically. Advances in MRI allow axonal injury to be detected after traumatic brain injury, but the most sensitive approach is unclear. Here, we compare the performance of diffusion tensor imaging, neurite orientation dispersion and density-imaging and volumetric measures of brain atrophy in the identification of white-matter abnormalities after traumatic brain injury. Thirty patients with moderate–severe traumatic brain injury in the chronic phase and 20 age-matched controls had T1-weighted and diffusion MRI. Neuropsychological tests of processing speed, executive functioning and memory were used to detect cognitive impairment. Extensive abnormalities in neurite density index and orientation dispersion index were observed, with distinct spatial patterns. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity also indicated widespread abnormalities of white-matter structure. Neurite density index was significantly correlated with processing speed. Slower processing speed was also related to higher mean diffusivity in the corticospinal tracts. Lower white-matter volumes were seen after brain injury with greater effect sizes compared to diffusion metrics; however, volume was not sensitive to changes in cognitive performance. Volume was the most sensitive at detecting change between groups but was not specific for determining relationships with cognition. Abnormalities in fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were the most sensitive diffusion measures; however, neurite density index and orientation dispersion index may be more spatially specific. Lower neurite density index may be a useful metric for examining slower processing speed.
Depression in the Direct Pathway of the Dorsomedial Striatum Permits the Formation of Habitual Action
Authors: Yu Xiaoxuan , Chen Shijie , Shan Qiang
Published: February 2021

In order to achieve optimal outcomes in an ever-changing environment, humans and animals generally manage their action control via either goal-directed action or habitual action. These two action strategies are thought to be encoded in distinct parallel circuits in the dorsal striatum, specifically, the posterior dorsomedial striatum (DMS) and the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), respectively. The striatum is primarily composed of two subtypes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs): the direct-pathway striatonigral and the indirect-pathway striatopallidal MSNs. MSN-subtype-specific synaptic plasticity in the DMS and the DLS has been revealed to underlie goal-directed action and habitual action, respectively. However, whether any MSN-subtype-specific synaptic plasticity in the DMS is associated with habitual action, and if so, whether the synaptic plasticity affects the formation of habitual action, are not known. This study demonstrates that postsynaptic depression in the excitatory synapses of the direct-pathway striatonigral MSNs in the DMS is formed after habit learning. Moreover, chemogenetically rescuing this depression compromises the acquisition, but not the expression, of habitual action. These findings reveal that an MSN-subtype-specific synaptic plasticity in the DMS affects habitual action and suggest that plasticity in the DMS as well as in the DLS contributes to the formation of habitual action.
Kidney transplantation and COVID-19 renal and patient prognosis
Authors: Toapanta Néstor , Torres Irina B , Sellarés Joana , Chamoun Betty , Serón Daniel , Moreso Francesc
Published: February 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVD-19) emerged as a pandemic in December 2019. Infection has spread quickly and renal transplant recipients receiving chronic immunosuppression have been considered a population at high risk of infection, complications and infection-related death. During this year a large amount of information from nationwide registries, multicentre and single-centre studies have been reported. The number of renal transplant patients diagnosed with COVID-19 was higher than in the general population, but the lower threshold for testing may have contributed to its better identification. Major complications such as acute kidney injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome were very frequent in renal transplant patients, with a high comorbidity burden, but further studies are needed to support that organ transplant recipients receiving chronic immunosuppression are more prone to develop these complications than the general population. Kidney transplant recipients experience a high mortality rate compared with the general population, especially during the very early post-transplant period. Despite the fact that some studies report more favourable outcomes in patients with a kidney transplant than in patients on the kidney waiting list, the higher mortality described in the very early post-transplant period would advise against performing a kidney transplant in areas where the spread of infection is high, especially in recipients >60 years of age. Management of transplant recipients has been challenging for clinicians and strategies such as less use of lymphocyte-depleting agents for new transplants or anti-metabolite withdrawal and calcineurin inhibitor reduction for transplant patients with COVID-19 are not based on high-quality evidence.
Finding optimal assortativity configurations in directed networks
Authors: Uribe-Leon Cesar , Vasquez Juan C , Giraldo Marco A , Ricaurte German
Published: February 2021

The modelling of many complex systems is usually approached by directed networks where nodes and connections represent the elements of the system and their interactions respectively. The degree-assortativity, which is the tendency of nodes to link to nodes of similar degree, has four components in the digraphs case. In comparison with the undirected graph case, the degree-assortativity of digraphs has not been well studied despite the potential effects that it has to constraint or influence the structural and dynamical properties of a network. Thus, we have considered a random directed network and numerically trained the assortativity profiles of the four components (in–out; out–in; in–in; out–out) by applying degree-preserving rewiring, but we interestingly found that the widely used two-swap method is severely limited. In consequence, we used a much powerful and rather forgotten three-swap method capable to achieve all different assortativities configurations of the given initial random graphs. Secondly, we characterized the obtained networks in relation to other common structural properties such as path length and algebraic connectivity. Finally, by simulating and analysing a dynamical process on the network, we have found that certain profiles cause the network to exhibit enhanced sensitivity to small perturbations without losing their stability.
Real-World Long-Term Remission Maintenance for 10 Years With Thiopurines in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Matsumoto Satohiro , Mashima Hirosato
Published: February 2021

Background

To evaluate the therapeutic outcomes and long-term prognosis of patients receiving remission maintenance therapy using thiopurines for ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

Of 193 biologic-naive patients with UC who began thiopurine therapy at our hospital between 2000 and 2019, 161 patients were included after the exclusion of 32 patients who were intolerant to thiopurines and discontinued the drugs within 3 months. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Subsequently, the patients were divided into 2 groups (exacerbation and nonexacerbation groups) and clinical outcomes were analyzed and compared. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for UC exacerbation. Finally, adverse events observed in 193 patients were examined.

Results

Clinical remission rates at 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the start of thiopurine therapy were 50.0%, 58.0%, and 63.9%, respectively. At 1, 2, 5, and 10 years, the cumulative event-free rates were 77.6%, 60.8%, 48.5%, and 42.2%, respectively; the cumulative UC exacerbation rates were 17.0%, 32.5%, 42.2%, and 43.7%, respectively; and the cumulative colectomy rates were 0.6%, 1.3%, 8.5%, and 10.7%, respectively. Prior use of steroids (dose ≥40 mg/d) was a significant risk factor for UC exacerbation during remission maintenance therapy with thiopurines (hazard ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–4.34; P = 0.014). Adverse reactions occurred in 42 patients (21.8%; 46 events). Concurrent diseases were observed in 18 patients (9.3%).

Conclusions

Thiopurines were effective for long-term maintenance of remission in steroid-dependent/refractory UC. Their effect weakened in only a few patients continuously treated with them for 4 years or longer.
Case report regarding the evolution of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features in cardiac amyloidosis
Authors: Vervaat Fabienne E , Bouwmeester Sjoerd , Vlaar Pieter-Jan
Published: February 2021

Background

Cardiac amyloidosis is an important cause for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. It is often under diagnosed due to the fact that clinicians do not always recognize the specific diagnostic findings associated with this disease, also leading to the wrong diagnosis. When left untreated further irreversible organ dysfunction occurs, with high morbidity and mortality rates.

Case summary

A 71-year-old patient presented with progressive exertional dyspnoea and angina pectoris at the outpatient clinic. Medical history noted a percutaneous coronary intervention of the right coronary artery due to stable angina pectoris. The electrocardiogram showed low voltage in the limb leads and pseudo-infarct pattern in the precordial leads. Echocardiographic findings included left and right ventricular hypertrophy, decreased left ventricular systolic function, restrictive diastolic function, and ‘relative’ apical sparing of the left ventricle. This led to the suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis, which was confirmed with a positive bone scintigraphy using 99mTechnecium-DPD and the absence of monoclonal proteins. Treatment with Tafamidis was initiated.

Discussion

Electrocardiographic findings suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis are low voltage in the limb leads and/or a pseudo-infarct pattern in the precordial leads. Important echocardiographic findings are left and right ventricular hypertrophy, restrictive diastolic function, ‘relative’ apical sparing of the left ventricle and impaired left atrial strain. The next step in confirming the diagnosis is 99mTechnecium PYP/DPD/HMDP bone scintigraphy and testing for monoclonal proteins. The diagnosis ATTR amyloidosis is confirmed by the combination of positive bone scintigraphy (Perugini Grade 2 or 3) and the absence of monoclonal proteins, without the necessity of performing an endomyocardial biopsy.
Thirty Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall—Do East and West Germans Still Differ in Their Attitudes to Female Employment and the Division of Housework?
Authors: Zoch Gundula
Published: February 2021

Previous cross-sectional studies highlight persistent East–West differences in gender ideologies after German reunification. This study examines the extent to which gender ideologies in the East and West have converged and whether differences are still relevant for younger cohorts who experienced childhood around the time of reunification, or after 1989. Using data from the German Family Panel pairfam (2008–2019) and differences in regime-specific socialization for three cohorts born before and after reunification, results reveal that different dimensions of gender ideologies have only partly converged 30 years after reunification. Attitudes towards housework and female employment converged particularly, yet, in all cohorts, views on maternal employment remain substantially different between East and West. Observed convergence occurred only partly due to contrasting trends of modernization in West Germany and re-traditionalization in East Germany. Moreover, the results highlight smaller attitude changes with increasing age, particularly for the younger cohorts, contributing to further variations in East–West differences. Overall, the findings confirm the existence of long-lasting ideology differences due to regime-specific socialization, and a persistently altered composition of society in East and West Germany. At the same time, they point towards slow convergence among younger cohorts due to a more similar institutional and socialization context following reunification.
A historical cohort study of glycemic control in patients with concurrent type 2 diabetes and substance use disorder treated in a primary care setting
Authors: DeYoung Oktawia A , Boehmer Kaci , Hung Denise , McAdam-Marx Carrie
Published: February 2021

Background

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a known barrier to patient-self-management, which can hinder efforts to achieve treatment goals in type 2 diabetes (T2D) when the conditions coexist.

Objective

Identify the association between SUD and glycemic control in patients with T2D treated in a primary care setting.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients with T2D treated by providers at family medicine clinics at an academic medical center and its affiliated regional sites from January 2014 to October 2019. Study index date was the first A1c recorded when T2D and SUD diagnoses had both been documented in the medical record. Glycemic control, measured by hemoglobin A1c (A1c), was identified at baseline and over a 12-month follow-up period and was compared between SUD and non-SUD patients.

Results

Of 9568 included patients with T2D, 468 (4.9%) had a SUD diagnosis. In 237 SUD and 4334 non-SUD patients with A1c data, mean (SD) baseline A1c was 8.2% (2.5) and 7.9% (2.1), respectively (P = 0.043). A1c reduction was statistically greater in SUD patients than non-SUD patients (−0.31% versus −0.06%, respectively; P = 0.015), although the clinical significance is modest. In a multivariable linear regression analysis, follow-up A1c was lower in the SUD versus non-SUD patients (coefficient −0.184, 95% CI −0.358, −0.010; P = 0.038).

Conclusions

Patients with T2D and SUD had higher baseline A1c but this difference was minimized over a 12-month follow-up period. Additional research is warranted to determine long-term glycemic control and barriers to attaining and maintaining glycemic control in patients with T2D and SUD.
metaXplor: an interactive viral and microbial metagenomic data manager
Authors: Sempéré Guilhem , Pétel Adrien , Abbé Magsen , Lefeuvre Pierre , Roumagnac Philippe , Mahé Frédéric , Baurens Gaël , Filloux Denis
Published: February 2021

Background

Efficiently managing large, heterogeneous data in a structured yet flexible way is a challenge to research laboratories working with genomic data. Specifically regarding both shotgun- and metabarcoding-based metagenomics, while online reference databases and user-friendly tools exist for running various types of analyses (e.g., Qiime, Mothur, Megan, IMG/VR, Anvi'o, Qiita, MetaVir), scientists lack comprehensive software for easily building scalable, searchable, online data repositories on which they can rely during their ongoing research.

Results

metaXplor is a scalable, distributable, fully web-interfaced application for managing, sharing, and exploring metagenomic data. Being based on a flexible NoSQL data model, it has few constraints regarding dataset contents and thus proves useful for handling outputs from both shotgun and metabarcoding techniques. By supporting incremental data feeding and providing means to combine filters on all imported fields, it allows for exhaustive content browsing, as well as rapid narrowing to find specific records. The application also features various interactive data visualization tools, ways to query contents by BLASTing external sequences, and an integrated pipeline to enrich assignments with phylogenetic placements. The project home page provides the URL of a live instance allowing users to test the system on public data.

Conclusion

metaXplor allows efficient management and exploration of metagenomic data. Its availability as a set of Docker containers, making it easy to deploy on academic servers, on the cloud, or even on personal computers, will facilitate its adoption.
Linking elastic and electrical properties of rocks using cross-property DEM
Authors: Cilli P A , Chapman M
Published: February 2021

Combining electrical and elastic measurements can be instrumental in lowering the uncertainty of subsurface characterization. Many commonly used rock physics relations for joint electrical–elastic properties are at least partly empirical and often rely on the estimation of porosity as an intermediate step. We combine differential effective medium schemes that relate, respectively, elastic and electrical properties to porosity and pore shape. The resulting expressions are independent of porosity, depending only on pore aspect ratio. Analysis of published joint electrical–elastic data shows that a single aspect ratio model performs well for clean sandstones, allowing us to model Vp/Vs ratios as a function of resistivity. Clay-bearing sandstones are more complex, but our modelling can still identify the correct trends. We speculate about the potential to extend our approach to produce additional cross-property relations.
Sensitivity kernels for static and dynamic tomography of scattering and absorbing media with elastic waves: a probabilistic approach
Authors: Zhang Tuo , Sens-Schönfelder Christoph , Margerin Ludovic
Published: February 2021

Scattered seismic coda waves are frequently used to characterize small scale medium heterogeneities, intrinsic attenuation or temporal changes of wave velocity. Spatial variability of these properties raises questions about the spatial sensitivity of seismic coda waves. Especially the continuous monitoring of medium perturbations using ambient seismic noise led to a demand for approaches to image perturbations observed with coda waves. An efficient approach to localize spatial and temporal variations of medium properties is to invert the observations from different source–receiver combinations and different lapse times in the coda for the location of the perturbations. For such an inversion, it is key to calculate the coda-wave sensitivity kernels which describe the connection between observations and the perturbation. Most discussions of sensitivity kernels use the acoustic approximation in a spatially uniform medium and often assume wave propagation in the diffusion regime. We model 2-D multiple non-isotropic scattering in a random elastic medium with spatially variable heterogeneity and attenuation using the radiative transfer equations which we solve with the Monte Carlo method. Recording of the specific energy density of the wavefield that contains the complete information about the energy density at a given position, time and propagation direction allows us to calculate sensitivity kernels according to rigorous theoretical derivations. The practical calculation of the kernels involves the solution of the adjoint radiative transport equations. We investigate sensitivity kernels that describe the relationships between changes of the model in P- and S-wave velocity, P- and S-wave attenuation and the strength of fluctuation on the one hand and seismogram envelope, traveltime changes and waveform decorrelation as observables on the other hand. These sensitivity kernels reflect the effect of the spatial variations of medium properties on the wavefield and constitute the first step in the development of a tomographic inversion approach for the distribution of small-scale heterogeneity based on scattered waves.
Why did Ghana’s national health insurance capitation payment model fall off the policy agenda? A regional level policy analysis
Authors: Abiiro Gilbert Abotisem , Alatinga Kennedy A , Yamey Gavin
Published: February 2021

Provider payment reforms, such as capitation, are very contentious. Such reforms can drop off the policy agenda due to political and contextual resistance. Using the Shiffman and Smith (Generation of political priority for global health initiatives: a framework and case study of maternal mortality. Lancet 2007; 370 1370–9) framework, this study explains why Ghana’s National Health Insurance capitation payment policy that rose onto the policy agenda in 2012, dropped off the agenda in 2017 during its pilot implementation in the Ashanti region. We conducted a retrospective qualitative policy analysis by collecting field data in December 2019 in the Ashanti region through 18 interviews with regional and district level policy actors and four focus group discussions with community-level policy beneficiaries. The thematically analysed field data were triangulated with media reports on the policy. We discovered that technically framing capitation as a cost-containment strategy with less attention on portraying its health benefits resulted in a politically negative reframing of the policy as a strategy to punish fraudulent providers and opposition party electorates. At the level of policy actors, pilot implementation was constrained by a regional level anti-policy community, weak civil society mobilization and low trust in the then political leadership. Anti-policy campaigners drew on highly contentious and poorly implemented characteristics of the policy to demand cancellation of the policy. A change in government in 2017 created the needed political window for the suspension of the policy. While it was technically justified to pilot the policy in the stronghold of the main opposition party, this decision carried political risks. Other low- and middle-income countries considering capitation reforms should note that piloting potentially controversial policies such as capitation within a politically sensitive location can attract unanticipated partisan political interest in the policy. Such partisan interest can potentially lead to a decline in political attention for the policy in the event of a change in government.
Communicating COVID-19 information on TikTok: a content analysis of TikTok videos from official accounts featured in the COVID-19 information hub
Authors: Li Yachao , Guan Mengfei , Hammond Paige , Berrey Lane E
Published: February 2021

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok, an emerging social media platform, has created an information hub to provide users with engaging and authoritative COVID-19 information. This study investigates the video format, type and content of the COVID-19 TikTok videos, and how those video attributes are related to quantitative indicators of user engagement, including numbers of views, likes, comments and shares. A content analysis examined 331 videos from official accounts featured in the COVID-19 information hub. As of 5 May 2020, the videos received 907 930 000 views, 29 640 000 likes, 168 880 comments and 781 862 shares. About one in three videos had subtitles, which were positively related to the number of shares. Almost every video included a hashtag, and a higher number of hashtags was related to more likes. Video types included acting, animated infographic, documentary, news, oral speech, pictorial slideshow and TikTok dance. Dance videos had the most shares. Video themes included anti-stigma/anti-rumor, disease knowledge, encouragement, personal precautions, recognition, societal crisis management and work report. Videos conveying alarm/concern emotions, COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, precaution response efficacy had higher user engagement. Public health agencies should be aware of the opportunity of TikTok in health communication and create audience-centered risk communication to engage and inform community members.
A Burgeoning Community of Justice? The European Union as a Promoter of Transitional Justice
Authors: Verovšek Peter J
Published: February 2021

Emerging as it does from Europe’s age of total war, the European Union (EU) has a long-standing interest in promoting transitional justice. However, since this desire to become a community of justice has remained implicit, it has been overlooked by much of the existing literature. Despite internal tensions between East and West, over the last 20 years the EU has sought to actively promote justice both ‘down’ onto its member states and ‘out’ into world politics. Based on an analysis of legal texts and regulations, as well as demonstrative case studies, I argue that the EU’s record in this area is mixed. Although it has been able to use membership to force changes as part of the accession process, existing member states and states outside of Europe have resisted these efforts. Despite its desire to incorporate transitional justice into its legal regime, I show that the EU’s efforts in promoting transitional justice remain largely political.
Brazilian Aedes aegypti as a Competent Vector for Multiple Complex Arboviral Coinfections
Authors: Rodrigues Nilton Barnabé , Godoy Raquel Soares Maia , Orfano Alessandra Silva , Chaves Barbara Aparecida , Campolina Thais Bonifácio , Costa Breno dos Anjos , Félix Luíza dos Santos , Silva Breno Melo , Norris Douglas Eric , Pimenta Paulo Filemon Paolucci , Secundino Nagila Francinete Costa
Published: February 2021

Background

Aedes aegypti is a highly competent vector in the transmission of arboviruses, such as chikungunya, dengue, Zika, and yellow fever viruses, and causes single and coinfections in the populations of tropical countries.

Methods

The infection rate, viral abundance (VA), vector competence (VC), disseminated infection, and survival rate were recorded after single and multiple infections of the vector with 15 combinations of chikungunya, dengue, Zika, and yellow fever arboviruses.

Results

Infection rates were 100% in all single and multiple infection experiments, except in 1 triple coinfection that presented a rate of 50%. The VC and disseminated infection rate varied from 100% (in single and quadruple infections) to 40% (in dual and triple infections). The dual and triple coinfections altered the VC and/or VA of ≥1 arbovirus. The highest viral VAs were detected for a single infection with chikungunya. The VAs in quadruple infections were similar when compared with each respective single infection. A decrease in survival rates was observed in a few combinations.

Conclusions

A. aegypti was able to host all single and multiple arboviral coinfections. The interference of the chikungunya virus suggests that distinct arbovirus families may have a significant role in complex coinfections.
Nature or Nurture: Can Prey-Based Diets Influence Species-Specific Physiological Performance Traits of Epidermal Lipid Content and Cutaneous Water Loss?
Authors: Weidler J M , Lutterschmidt William I
Published: February 2021

Synopsis

Epidermal lipids serve as the primary barrier to cutaneous water loss (CWL) and play a significant role in water conservation and homeostasis. Previous studies have shown the correlation between increased aridity of habitats and the amount of epidermal lipids among species. Generally, increased amounts of epidermal lipids lower skin permeability. Species-specific differences in CWL and prey preferences between two sympatric snake species, the Northern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) and the Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), motivated us to question if prey-base can result in these observed species-specific differences in CWL. We experimentally controlled the diets for a captive colony of Northern Cottonmouths (A. piscivorus) by feeding either fish (Notemigonus crysoleucas) or mice (Mus musculus) to investigate if diet can affect the quantity and quality of epidermal lipids and the rates of CWL. Snakes fed mice gained consistently more mass, but diet treatments did not affect growth rate. We found no significant differences in quantitative lipid content or rates of CWL between diet treatments. An analysis for qualitative lipid content using infrared spectrophotometry also showed no diet effect, thus suggesting that lipid content and CWL are strong species-specific physiological performance traits not influenced by recent dietary history. While there is some evidence that epidermal permeability may be variable under certain environmental conditions (e.g., humidity), our findings show that diet has no effect and that a shift in prey preference may not influence or enhance physiological performance for decreasing CWL.
Change, Transformation & Leadership
Authors: Hamilton Johanna
Published: February 2021

Trevor Hall, Community Lead for Architecture and Operations at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) talks to Johanna Hamilton AMBCS about a new model for work efficiency, prioritising people development and how awards reflect team excellence.
Remote Proctoring: Fairness and Compliance
Authors: Kleeman John
Published: February 2021

John Kleeman MBCS, founder of assessment company Questionmark and a director of the Association of Test Publishers, explains how to balance security and privacy when tests and exams are taken at home.
What If Jane Austen Had Been a Geek?
Authors: Hogan Jacqui
Published: February 2021

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good computer, must be in want of an app.’ Jacqui Hogan CITP MBCS takes a playful but thought-provoking tour through Jane Austen's life and work and asks how the writer might have woven today's technology into her fiction.
The Awe: From the Extraordinary to the Everyday
Authors: Hamilton Johanna
Published: February 2021

The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) was founded in 1952 to make the UK's warheads for the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent. Talking to Tony Mather, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director for Security at AWE, Johanna Hamilton AMBCS discovers more about their work, recruitment and ethics.
Activity of imipenem/relebactam against a Spanish nationwide collection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales
Authors: Vázquez-Ucha Juan Carlos , Seoane-Estévez Alejandro , Rodiño-Janeiro Bruno Kotska , González-Bardanca Mónica , Conde-Pérez Kelly , Martínez-Guitián Marta , Alvarez-Fraga Laura , Arca-Suárez Jorge , Lasarte-Monterrubio Cristina , Gut Marta , Gut Ivo , Álvarez-Tejado Miguel , Oviaño Marina , Beceiro Alejandro , Bou Germán ,   the GEMARA-SEIMC/REIPI Enterobacterales Study Group, Merino Irene , Cercenado Emilia , Gómez Rosa , Soler Tamara , Gracia-Ahufinger Irene , Martín Lina , Galán Fátima , Tormo Nuria , Carlos Rodríguez Juan , Capilla Silvia , Marco Francesc , Dolores Quesada María , Padilla Emma , Tubau Fe , González Juanjo , Isabel López-Calleja Ana , Luis del Pozo José , Inmaculada García María , Martinez Mariela , Calvo Jorge , Mulet Xavier , Peña Fernanda , Rodríguez Ana Isabel , José Gude María , Fernández Ana , Fernández Javier
Published: February 2021

Background

Imipenem/relebactam is a novel carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitor combination, developed to act against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE).

Objectives

To assess the in vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam against a Spanish nationwide collection of CPE by testing the susceptibility of these isolates to 16 widely used antimicrobials and to determine the underlying β-lactam resistance mechanisms involved and the molecular epidemiology of carbapenemases in Spain.

Materials and methods

Clinical CPE isolates (n = 401) collected for 2 months from 24 hospitals in Spain were tested. MIC50, MIC90 and susceptibility/resistance rates were interpreted in accordance with the EUCAST guidelines. β-Lactam resistance mechanisms and molecular epidemiology were characterized by WGS.

Results

For all isolates, high rates of susceptibility to colistin (86.5%; MIC50/90 = 0.12/8 mg/L), imipenem/relebactam (85.8%; MIC50/90 = 0.5/4 mg/L) and ceftazidime/avibactam (83.8%, MIC50/90 = 1/≥256 mg/L) were observed. The subgroups of isolates producing OXA-48-like (n = 305, 75.1%) and KPC-like enzymes (n = 44, 10.8%) were highly susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam (97.7%, MIC50/90 = 1/2 mg/L) and imipenem/relebactam (100.0%, MIC50/90 = ≤0.25/1 mg/L), respectively.

The most widely disseminated high-risk clones of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae across Spain were found to be ST11, ST147, ST392 and ST15 (mostly associated with OXA-48) and ST258/512 (in all cases producing KPC).

Conclusions

Imipenem/relebactam, colistin and ceftazidime/avibactam were the most active antimicrobials against all CPEs. Imipenem/relebactam is a valuable addition to the antimicrobial arsenal used in the fight against CPE, particularly against KPC-producing isolates, which in all cases were susceptible to this combination.
An interview study with medical scribes on how their work may alleviate clinician burnout through delegated health IT tasks
Authors: Tran Brian D , Rosenbaum Kathryn , Zheng Kai
Published: February 2021

Objectives

To understand how medical scribes’ work may contribute to alleviating clinician burnout attributable directly or indirectly to the use of health IT.

Materials and Methods

Qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews with 32 participants who had scribing experience in a variety of clinical settings.

Results

We identified 7 categories of clinical tasks that clinicians commonly choose to offload to medical scribes, many of which involve delegated use of health IT. These range from notes-taking and computerized data entry to foraging, assembling, and tracking information scattered across multiple clinical information systems. Some common characteristics shared among these tasks include: (1) time-consuming to perform; (2) difficult to remember or keep track of; (3) disruptive to clinical workflow, clinicians’ cognitive processes, or patient–provider interactions; (4) perceived to be low-skill “clerical” work; and (5) deemed as adding no value to direct patient care.

Discussion

The fact that clinicians opt to “outsource” certain clinical tasks to medical scribes is a strong indication that performing these tasks is not perceived to be the best use of their time. Given that a vast majority of healthcare practices in the US do not have the luxury of affording medical scribes, the burden would inevitably fall onto clinicians’ shoulders, which could be a major source for clinician burnout.

Conclusions

Medical scribes help to offload a substantial amount of burden from clinicians—particularly with tasks that involve onerous interactions with health IT. Developing a better understanding of medical scribes’ work provides useful insights into the sources of clinician burnout and potential solutions to it.
The safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of niraparib in Japanese patients with solid tumours: results of a phase I dose-escalation study
Authors: Yonemori Kan , Shimizu Toshio , Kondo Shunsuke , Iwasa Satoru , Koyama Takafumi , Kitano Shigehisa , Sato Jun , Shimomura Akihiko , Shibaki Ryota , Suri Ajit , Kase Yoichi , Sumino Shuuji , Tamura Kenji , Yamamoto Noboru
Published: February 2021

Background

Niraparib is the only poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) inhibitor available as oral monotherapy for maintenance, regardless of BRCA mutational status.

Methods

This phase I, open-label, non-randomized, dose-escalation study was conducted in Japan using a 3 + 3 design. Adults (≥20 years) with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumours were enrolled. Niraparib 200 mg (cohort 1) or 300 mg (cohort 2) was administered once daily in 21-day cycles (no drug holiday between cycles) until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of niraparib in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumours. The number of patients with dose-limiting toxicities in cycle 1 and number with treatment-emergent adverse events were primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints were pharmacokinetics and tumour response.

Results

There were three patients in cohort 1 and six patients in cohort 2. Only one patient, in cohort 2, developed a dose-limiting toxicity (grade 4 platelet count decreased). All patients in both cohorts developed treatment-emergent adverse events. The most common treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events were decreased appetite (n = 2) in cohort 1, and platelet count decreased as well as aspartate aminotransferase increased (both n = 5) in cohort 2. Mean Cmax and AUC0–24 of niraparib increased dose-proportionally after multiple doses (accumulation ratio of between 1.64 and 3.65); median tmax was 3–4 h. Two patients, both in cohort 2, had a partial response to treatment.

Conclusions

Niraparib (200 or 300 mg/day) was tolerable and had a favourable pharmacokinetic profile in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumours.
Prognostic impact of prior local therapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Koura Mikifumi , Shiota Masaki , Ueda Shohei , Matsumoto Takashi , Kobayashi Satoshi , Monji Keisuke , Kashiwagi Eiji , Takeuchi Ario , Inokuchi Junichi , Shiga Ken-ichiro , Yokomizo Akira , Eto Masatoshi
Published: February 2021

Objective

This study aimed to reveal the prognostic values of prior local therapy in first-line therapy using androgen receptor-axis targeting agents (abiraterone or enzalutamide) or docetaxel for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Methods

The study included 303 patients treated with first-line therapy for non-metastatic and metastatic CRPC. The association between prior local therapy and therapeutic outcome including progression-free survival and overall survival was investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses as well as propensity score-matched analysis.

Results

In univariate analysis, local prior therapy was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.56, 95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.79; P = 0.0009). Overall survival, but not progression-free survival, was better among patients with prior local therapy compared with patients without prior local therapy even after multivariate analysis and propensity score-matched analysis.

Conclusions

This study robustly indicated that prior local treatment was prognostic for overall survival among patients with CRPC. This finding is useful to predict patient prognosis in CRPC.
Relation of Quantitative Histologic and Radiologic Breast Tissue Composition Metrics With Invasive Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Abubakar Mustapha , Fan Shaoqi , Bowles Erin Aiello , Widemann Lea , Duggan Máire A , Pfeiffer Ruth M , Falk Roni T , Lawrence Scott , Richert-Boe Kathryn , Glass Andrew G , Kimes Teresa M , Figueroa Jonine D , Rohan Thomas E , Gierach Gretchen L
Published: February 2021

Background

Benign breast disease (BBD) is a strong breast cancer risk factor, but identifying patients that might develop invasive breast cancer remains a challenge.

Methods

By applying machine-learning to digitized hematoxylin and eosin–stained biopsies and computer-assisted thresholding to mammograms obtained circa BBD diagnosis, we generated quantitative tissue composition metrics and determined their association with future invasive breast cancer diagnosis. Archival breast biopsies and mammograms were obtained for women (18-86 years of age) in a case-control study, nested within a cohort of 15 395 BBD patients from Kaiser Permanente Northwest (1970-2012), followed through mid-2015. Patients who developed incident invasive breast cancer (ie, cases; n = 514) and those who did not (ie, controls; n = 514) were matched on BBD diagnosis age and plan membership duration. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

Results

Increasing epithelial area on the BBD biopsy was associated with increasing breast cancer risk (odds ratio [OR]Q4 vs Q1 = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13 to 3.04; Ptrend = .02). Conversely, increasing stroma was associated with decreased risk in nonproliferative, but not proliferative, BBD (Pheterogeneity = .002). Increasing epithelium-to-stroma proportion (ORQ4 vs Q1 = 2.06, 95% CI =1.28 to 3.33; Ptrend = .002) and percent mammographic density (MBD) (ORQ4 vs Q1 = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.20 to 4.03; Ptrend = .01) were independently and strongly predictive of increased breast cancer risk. In combination, women with high epithelium-to-stroma proportion and high MBD had substantially higher risk than those with low epithelium-to-stroma proportion and low MBD (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.27 to 4.06; Ptrend = .005), particularly among women with nonproliferative (Ptrend = .01) vs proliferative (Ptrend = .33) BBD.

Conclusion

Among BBD patients, increasing epithelium-to-stroma proportion on BBD biopsies and percent MBD at BBD diagnosis were independently and jointly associated with increasing breast cancer risk. These findings were particularly striking for women with nonproliferative disease (comprising approximately 70% of all BBD patients), for whom relevant predictive biomarkers are lacking.