bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unit Regular Clean Rings
Authors: Younis Israa Th. , Shuker Nazar H.
Published: August 2020

A ring R is called unit regular clean, if every element is the sum of an idempotent and a unit regular elements. In this paper we introduce the notion of unit regular clean ring. we investigate some of it’s basic properties and it’s relation with clean ring.
Using Modified Conjugate Gradient Method to Improve SCA
Authors: Khalaf Ayad Hamad , Mitras Ban Ahmed
Published: August 2020

This research is to improve Sine - Cosine Algorithm (SCA) that is like any other intelligent techniques that encounter some problem such as slow convergence and the dropping in local solution. To overcome these problems. SCA has been developed and improved through three directions, First: Hybrid of SCA with Modified conjugate gradient method (MCG) that has improved through that derivation of parameter of new conjugate factor (βnew) and attest its characteristic such as descent and global to construct improve algorithm called SCA-MCG. The second direction was a hybrid of SCA with classic optimization methods such as conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm to construct SCA-CG, and parallel Tangent (PT) algorithm to construct SCA-PT. Third combining both previous methods, using the Hybrid value with SCA to construct SCA-CG-PT Algorithm of high quality accounts in all directions mentioned above. To improve the initial population which randomly generated by using excellent characteristics of MCG-CG-PT as well as using this improvement as initial population for SCA. Numerical results have proved the efficiency of improved Algorithm and the results was excellent if we compared with SCA. In addition, we got optimum global values for most functions by achieving functions minimum.
Qualitative Analysis and Traveling wave Solutions for the Nonlinear Convection Equations with Absorption
Authors: Abed Bashayir N. , Majeed Salam J. , Aal-Rkhais Habeeb A.
Published: August 2020

We discuss qualitative behavior of the solutions for the nonlinear parabolic equation which modeling nonlinear convection equation with absorption. This model represents the movement of growing population that is ruled by convection process. In this paper, we concentrate on proving the existence of traveling wave solutions for the nonlinear convection-reaction equations. In addition, we consider the model when the speed of advective wave may breakdown and the problem has a shock wave solution. The mathematical interesting of the waves comes from the behaviors of singular differential equation and discussing the stability of the solution.
“Impress of rotation and an inclined MHD on waveform motion of the non-Newtonian fluid through porous canal”
Authors: Sh Alshareef T
Published: August 2020

Waveform flow of non-Newtonian fluid through a porous medium of the non-symmetric sloping canal under the effect of rotation and magnetic force, which has applied by the inclined way, have studied analytically and computed numerically. Slip boundary conditions on velocity distribution and stream function are used. We have taken the influence of heat and mass transfer in the consideration in our study. We carried out the mathematical model by using the presumption of low Reynolds number and small wave number. The resulting equations of motion, which are representing by the velocity profile and stream function distribution, solved by using the method of a domain decomposition analysis and we obtained the exact solutions of velocity, temperature, and concentration. The expressions of velocity, temperature, and concentration of the particles of the fluid have obtained and examined graphically by utilizing the soft wave of the Mathematica program. The efforts of various variables on mathematical modeling of motion and energy are discussed in detail. We found that.
Some Results on (N, k)-Hyponormal Operators
Authors: Atheab Nidaa Muraeh , Mohsen Salim Dawood
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we introduce a new generalization for hyponormal operators which is (N, k)-hyponormal operators, also we study some properties of these operators. In addition, we given the solvability of the λ- commuting operator equation ST = λTS, where λ ∈ ℂ, and S, T are bounded (N, k)- hyponormal operators.
Uniqueness Solution Of Abstract Fractional Order Nonlinear Dynamical Control Problems
Authors: Hasan Sameer Qasim
Published: August 2020

The aim of this paper is to investigate the Uniqueness solution of Abstract Cauchy Problem represented for fractional order nonlinear dynamical control system involving certain control input and their approach of investigated depended on commutative composite semigroup and some certain conditions in certain space.
Topological Dynamics and the Space of Continuous Mappings
Authors: Murad Kaki Mohammed Nokhas , Ali Reyadh. D.
Published: August 2020

The aim of this paper is define and investigate some new forms of transitive maps, minimal systems and chaotic maps on the space of all continuous maps from a space M to a space N, denoted by Co(M,N). Also, we introduce some new definitions namely point-wise convergence transitive, compact-open transitive, uniform convergence topological transitive, chaotic maps defined on spaces up to product of uniform convergence spaces. In addition, we study the relationship between these new definitions.
δ-Fuzzy measure on fuzzy δ-Algebra
Authors: Jasim Alaa M , Al-Mayahi Noori F
Published: August 2020

The objective of this paper are, first, a new study of fuzzy δ-algebra and we discuss the properties of this family, second, introduce concepts related to the fuzzy δ-algbra such as fuzzy measure on fuzzy δ-algebra, and we obtained some important results deal with these concepts.
Soft Simply Connected Spaces And Soft Simply Paracompact Spaces
Authors: Noori S. , Yousif Y. Y.
Published: August 2020

We introduce in this paper some new concepts in soft topological spaces such as soft simply separated, soft simply disjoint, soft simply division, soft simply limit point and we define soft simply connected spaces, and we presented soft simply Paracompact spaces and studying some of its properties in soft topological spaces. In addition to introduce a new types of functions known as soft simply pu-continuous which are defined between two soft topological spaces.
MHD Peristaltic Flow of a Couple - Stress with varying Temperature for Jeffrey Fluid through Porous Medium
Authors: AL-khulaifawi Samah F. Jaber , Al-Khafajy Dheia Gaze Salih
Published: August 2020

This paper is intended for investigating the effects of magnetohydrodynamic on the couple stress unsteady flow of incompressible Jeffrey fluid with varying temperature through a cylindrical porous channel. The analytical expression of the axial velocity, stream function and gradient pressure, was created taking into account the effect of thermal diffusion on the flow of the fluid. The analytical formulas of the velocity, temperature have been illustrated graphically for significant various parameters such as magnetic parameter, couple stress parameter, permeability parameter.
A Multilevel Approach for Stability Conditions in Fractional Time Diffusion Problems
Authors: Youssef I. K. , Ali Adel Rashed A.
Published: August 2020

The Caputo definition of fractional derivatives introduces solution to the difficulties appears in the numerical treatment of differential equations due its consistency in differentiating constant functions. In the same time the memory and hereditary behaviors of the time fractional order derivatives (TFODE) still common in all definitions of fractional derivatives. The use of properties of companion matrices appears in reformulating multilevel schemes as generalized two level schemes is employed with the Gerschgorin disc theorems to prove stability condition. Caputo fractional derivatives with finite difference representations is considered. Moreover the effect of using the inverse operator which transmit the memory and hereditary effects to other terms is examined. The theoretical results is applied to a numerical example. The calculated solution has a good agreement with the exact solution.
A Modified Generalization of Fractional Calculus Operators in A Complex Domain
Authors: Abdulnaby Zainab E.
Published: August 2020

This investigation deals with a new generalization for fractional calculus operators in a complex domain based on the well-known hypergeometric function. Conditions are forced for these generalized operators such as the upper bounds. Other properties for the above operators are also presented. Besides, the employment of these operators is proposed in the geometric function theory.
Structural, Optical and Sensing Properties of ZnO:Cu Films Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition
Authors: Hussain Saleem A , Radi Awatif J , Najim Firas A , Shaheed Mohamed A
Published: August 2020

This research aims to study the effect of deformation on the structural, optical and allergic properties of ZnO films prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique were deposited on glass substrate. ZnO were deformed with a copper element in different ratios (3%, 7%, 9%) due to changing the environment temperature at 275°C and annealed to 400°C. The X-ray diffraction shows that all films have polycrystalline structure with hexagonal shape due to annealing process, and they have a high permeability of 80% with energy gap 3.35eV. The best sensitivity was clear at (7%) ratio.
Distribution of Radon Concentration in Farmland Soil Samples in Al-Shamiyah City, Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq
Authors: Kadhim Amer Y. , Al-Ataya Khalid H. , Aswood Murtadha Sh.
Published: August 2020

Radon concentration has determined in 46 samples collected from farmland soil of Al- Shamiyah city, Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq with alpha-emitters records their out of radon in nuclear track detector (CR-39). The results showed the maximum concentration of radon is 13.02 Bq/m3 and the minimum concentration of radon is 0.12 Bq/m3, with a mean value of 6.48 ± 0.77 Bq/m3. Results reveal that the exhalation radon mass varied from 4.271 to 6.004 mBq/kg.h. The results explained the radon concentrations in farmland soil were less than 200 Bq/m3 that it is recommended by UNSCEAR. On the other hand, the results observed that the samples do not create any impact on humans.
Iteration Variational Method for Solving Two-Dimensional Partial Integro-Differential Equations
Authors: Hussain Amina Kassim , Fadhel Fadhel Subhi , Rusli Nursalasawati , Yahya Zainor Ridzuan
Published: August 2020

The two-dimensional integro-differential partial equations is one of the so difficult problems to be solved analytically and/or approximately, and therefore, a method that is efficient for solving such type of problems seems to be necessary. Therefore, in this paper, the iteration methods, which is so called the variational iteration method have been used to provide a solution to such type of problems approximately, in which the obtained results are very accurate in comparison with the exact solution for certain well selected examples which are constructed so that the exact solution exist. Main results of this work is to derive first the variational iteration formula and then analyzing analytically the error term and prove its convergence to zero as the number of iteration increases.
Von Neumann Regular Semiring
Authors: Ali Alaa Hussein , Ali Alhossaini Asaad Mohammed
Published: August 2020

The aim of this action is a study and investigate “Von Neumann regular” semirings, some related concepts, e.g. reduced semirings; duo semiring, quasi-duo, and weakly duo semirings; regular, weakly regular and strongly regular semirings, also investigated. Some known results related to those concepts in rings were converted to semirings. Another aim of this paper is characterization Von Neumann Regular condition by the principal right ideal generated by an idempotent element.
Separation axioms via αg
Ị-open set
Authors: Saeed Sufyan G , Esmaeel R B
Published: August 2020

The main objective of this paper is to use the concept αg
Ị-openness to offered new classes of separation axioms in ideal spaces. Those new classes are; αg
Ị-T0-space, αg
Ị-T1-space, αg
Ị-T2-space. Also new type of concepts of convergence in ideal spaces via the αg
Ị-open set were offered.
Classification of (k;4)-arcs up to projective inequivalence, for k < 10
Authors: Hamed Z.S. , Hirschfeld J.W.P.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the classification of (k;4)-arcs up to projective inequivalence fork <10 in PG(2,13) is introduced in details according to their inequivalent number, stabilisers, the action of each stabiliser on the associated arc, and the inequivalent classesNcof secant distributions of arcs. Here, the strategy is to start from the projective line PG(1,13) where there are three projectively inequivalent tetrads.
Negative impacts of plant diversity loss on carbon sequestration exacerbate over time in grasslands
Authors: Wang Chao , Tang Yujia , Li Xiaona , Zhang Weiwei , Zhao Chunqiao , Li Cui
Published: August 2020

Positive relationships between plant species diversity and carbon attributes have been observed in grasslands, but synthesis studies of how plant diversity affects the carbon balance of grasslands and how the response ratio changes over time both remain limited. By conducting a global meta-analysis with 811 paired observations of plant mixtures and monocultures from 83 studies in natural and manipulated grasslands, we investigated the impacts of plant diversity on six carbon attributes, its interaction with experimental duration, and the changes in carbon balance under different plant diversity loss scenarios in the future. We found that the aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), total biomass (TB), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil respiration (Rs), and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) significantly increased in the plant mixtures, and the response ratio for all carbon attributes increased logarithmically with species richness. We also found that the response ratio for all carbon attributes except Rs increased linearly with experimental duration. The increase in response ratio of AGB, BGB, TB, and SOC with species richness was more pronounced with the long-term experimental duration. Importantly, our results showed that the declines in carbon sequestration will be exacerbated by different plant diversity loss scenarios in the future. Our meta-analysis revealed that plant diversity loss has ubiquitous negative impacts on multiple carbon attributes in grasslands, underlined the interactive effects of plant diversity loss and experimental duration on carbon attributes, and suggested that the reduction of carbon storage in grasslands following biodiversity loss will be greater in the future.
Stochastic fluctuations as a driving force to dissipative non-equilibrium states
Authors: Chanu Athokpam Langlen , Bhadana Jyoti , Brojen Singh R K
Published: August 2020

Most natural complex systems exhibit fluctuations-driven processes, which work at far from equilibrium states, and are generally dissipative processes, for instance living cells. We studied this phenomenon within the stochastic framework by taking a set of nonequilibrium, bimolecular, autocatalytic reactions, originally proposed by Nicolis (1972). We also extended this model to incorporate the concept of time delay. Firstly, for both non-delay and delay cases, we calculated the exact non-stationary probability distribution solutions of the corresponding Master equations, which are found to deviate from the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. The analytically calculated probability distribution P of an autocatalyst X in the chemically reacting model system is found to follow some universal class of probability distributions at different situations. At the thermodynamic limit with a large population, P obeys Normal distribution. Again, we showed that one of the causes of this peculiar behaviour is the fluctuations in the reacting system. The analytical result of the Fano factor F in the non-delay case predicted a noise-enhanced process for our dynamical stochastic system which could probably drive the system far from equilibrium. For the delay case, the analytically calculated F was found to depend on the time delay function, which predicts that time delay could play an important role in regulating the system dynamics. These analytical predictions were then verified using numerical experiments with the stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) and delay stochastic simulation algorithm (DSSA). Indeed, numerical results from SSA and DSSA confirmed noise-enhanced processes which are far from equilibrium and dissipative in nature.
Multiclass classification of patients during different stages of Alzheimer’s disease using fMRI time-series
Authors: Ahmadi Hessam , Fatemizadeh Emad , Motie-Nasrabadi Ali
Published: August 2020

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) begins several years before the symptoms develop. It starts with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) which can be separated into Early MCI and Late MCI (EMCI and LMCI). Functional connectivity analysis and classification are done among the different stages of illness with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). In this study, in addition to the four stages including healthy, EMCI, LMCI, and AD, the patients have been tracked for a year. Indeed, the classification has been done among 7 groups to analyze the functional connectivity changes in one year in different stages. After generating the functional connectivity graphs for eliminating the weak links, three different sparsification methods were used. In addition to simple thresholding, spectral sparsification based on effective resistance and sparse autoencoder were performed in order to analyze the effect of sparsification routine on classification results. Also, instead of extracting common features, the correlation matrices were reshaped to a correlation vector and used as a feature vector to enter the classifier. Since the correlation matrix is symmetric, in another analysis half of the feature vector was used, moreover, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) also utilized for feature vector dimension reduction. The non-linear SVM classifier with a polynomial kernel applied. The results showed that the autoencoder sparsification method had the greatest discrimination power with the accuracy of 98.35% for classification when the feature vector was the full correlation matrix.
Time limit for using the semi-infinite heat transfer solutions: a novel approach
Authors: Yadav Mahesh Kumar , Yadav Vinod
Published: August 2020

In the present study, authors are conceptually showing that the classically considered time limit to use the semi-infinite approximate solutions is highly conservative, particularly at the internal location(s) inside the finite heat conduction medium. Accordingly, a new length scale, which accounts the heat propagation from the far-field boundary condition as well, is proposed to ascertain the prolonged time limit. The proposed time limit is obtained by comparing the temperature distribution in a finite heat conduction problem with its equivalent semi-infinite model. Overall, three standard one-dimensional heat conduction problems are analysed and the proposed time limit is found to be valid in all three problems. The new time limit will certainly boost the utility of the semi-infinite solutions and rejuvenate the interest of the scientific community in such solutions.
The Kids Aren’t All Right: Historians and the Problem of Childhood
Authors: Maza Sarah
Published: August 2020

In a complement to the 2020 AHR Roundtable “Chronological Age: A Useful Category of Historical Analysis” (125, no. 2), this AHR Exchange focuses on the history of children and childhood. Sarah Maza presents a critical review essay, highlighting the limiting factors in the expanding field of childhood studies. Children, she observes, produce few sources of their own voices, have limited agency, and as individuals and as a group soon outgrow their subaltern status—they grow up. Robin P. Chapdelaine, Nara Milanich, Steven Mintz, Ishita Pande, and Bengt Sandin—historians representing diverse geographical, theoretical, and methodological perspectives on the history of children and childhood—react to Maza’s observations by bringing up important methodological questions about subjecthood, agency, and modernity. Maza’s rejoinder reflects on these questions and on the possibility of age-based historical agency.
INSM1 Expression in Angiosarcoma
Authors: Warmke Laura M , Tinkham Emma Grace , Ingram Davis R , Lazar Alexander J , Panse Gauri , Wang Wei-Lien
Published: August 2020

Objectives: Aberrant expression of neuroendocrine markers has been reported in angiosarcomas and can occasionally result in diagnostic confusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1), a marker for neuroendocrine differentiation, in angiosarcomas as well as other sarcomas.

Methods: Tissue microarrays, including angiosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), clear cell sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, epithelioid sarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, were evaluated for expression of INSM1. The extent of immunoreactivity was graded according to the percentage of positive tumor cell nuclei (0, no staining; 1+, <5%; 2+, 5%-25%; 3+, 26%-50%; 4+, 51%-75%; and 5+, 76%-100%), and the intensity of staining was graded as weak, moderate, or strong.

Results: INSM1 expression was found in a subset of angiosarcomas (n = 24/94, 26%; majority 5+, weak to moderate), as well as DSRCTs (n = 7/62, 11%; 2+, weak to strong) and rarely synovial sarcomas (n = 3/76, 4%; 2+, moderate to strong). No INSM1 expression was detected in the other sarcomas.

Conclusions: Aberrant expression of INSM1 can be seen in a subset of angiosarcomas often with diffuse labeling. Other sarcomas that can rarely demonstrate small cell morphology and focal INSM1 expression include DSRCT and synovial sarcoma.
Improving efficiency through workflow optimization in a pharmacist-run diabetes clinic
Authors: Jaberizadeh Leva , Peterson Jasmine , Thrall Stephanie
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of hiring nonclinical support staff on pharmacist productivity and diabetes control outcomes in internal medicine clinics of an integrated healthcare system.

Methods

A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study was conducted. Patients were included if they were contacted by telephone for a diabetes consultation with a clinical pharmacist from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017. Nonclinical support staff were hired in July 2016 to schedule patient appointments with the clinical pharmacists. The primary outcome was the average rate of completed telephone encounters per month before and after hiring of nonclinical support staff. The secondary outcome was the mean change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level in patients who had a laboratory assay completed within 90 days of clinical pharmacist outreach. The tertiary outcome was the call completion rate for scheduled appointments vs unscheduled calls.

Results

In total, 6,709 patients were included; their average age was 55 years. After the intervention, the mean (SD) rate of completed telephone encounters increased from 61% (3.8%) to 77% (3.5%) (P < 0.001). Small improvements were noted in glycemic control, as measured by the mean (SD) percentage of patients with an HbA1c concentration of <8%, which increased from 31% (5.2%) to 42% (3.0%) (P < 0.001), and the mean (SD) change in average HbA1c concentration, which increased from 8.9% (0.2%) to 8.5% (0.1%) (P < 0.001). Throughout the study, scheduled calls were more likely to be completed than unscheduled calls (mean [SD] completion rate, 66% [9.0%] vs 74% [6.0%]; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Hiring nonclinical support staff led to greater efficiency among the clinical pharmacist team, yielding a higher volume of telephone interactions, a modest overall decrease in HbA1c values, and an increased likelihood of reaching patients by phone.
Origin-independent analysis links SARS-CoV-2 local genomes with COVID-19 incidence and mortality
Authors: Yang Wenzhong , Jin Guangxu
Published: August 2020

There is an urgent public health need to better understand Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2/COVID-19, particularly how sequences of the viruses could lead to diverse incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in different countries. However, because of its unknown ancestors and hosts, elucidating the genetic variations of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been difficult. Without needing to know ancestors, we identified an uneven distribution of local genome similarities among the viruses categorized by geographic regions, and it was strongly correlated with incidence and mortality. To ensure unbiased and origin-independent analyses, we used a pairwise comparison of local genome sequences of virus genomes by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). We found a strong statistical correlation between dominance of the SARS-CoV-2 in distributions of uneven similarities and the incidence and mortality of illness. Genomic annotation of the BLAST hits also showed that viruses from geographic regions with severe infections tended to have more dynamic genomic regions in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and receptor-binding motif (RBM) of the spike protein (S protein). Dynamic domains in the S protein were also confirmed by a canyon region of mismatches coincident with RBM and RBD, without hits of alignments of 100% matching. Thus, our origin-independent analysis suggests that the dynamic and unstable SARS-CoV-2-RBD could be the main reason for diverse incidence and mortality of COVID-19 infection.
Depiction of tumor stemlike features and underlying relationships with hazard immune infiltrations based on large prostate cancer cohorts
Authors: Zhang Chuanjie , Chen Tianhe , Li Zongtai , Liu Ao , Xu Yang , Gao Yi , Xu Danfeng
Published: August 2020

Prostate cancer stemness (PCS) cells have been reported to drive tumor progression, recurrence and drug resistance. However, there is lacking systematical assessment of stemlike indices and associations with immunological properties in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). We thus collected 7 PRAD cohorts with 1465 men and calculated the stemlike indices for each sample using one-class logistic regression machine learning algorithm. We selected the mRNAsi to quantify the stemlike indices that correlated significantly with prognosis and accordingly identified 21 PCS-related CpG loci and 13 pivotal signature. The 13-gene based PCS model possessed high predictive significance for progression-free survival (PFS) that was trained and validated in 7 independent cohorts. Meanwhile, we conducted consensus clustering and classified the total cohorts into 5 PCS clusters with distinct outcomes. Samples in PCScluster5 possessed the highest stemness fractions and suffered from the worst prognosis. Additionally, we implemented the CIBERSORT algorithm to infer the differential abundance across 5 PCS clusters. The activated immune cells (CD8+ T cell and dendritic cells) infiltrated significantly less in PCScluster5 than other clusters, supporting the negative regulations between stemlike indices and anticancer immunity. High mRNAsi was also found to be associated with up-regulation of immunosuppressive checkpoints, like PDL1. Lastly, we used the Connectivity Map (CMap) resource to screen potential compounds for targeting PRAD stemness, including the top hits of cell cycle inhibitor and FOXM1 inhibitor. Taken together, our study comprehensively evaluated the PRAD stemlike indices based on large cohorts and established a 13-gene based classifier for predicting prognosis or potential strategies for stemness treatment.
AlzRiskMR database: an online database for the impact of exposure factors on Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wang Zhe , Meng Lei , Liu Hong , Shen Liang , Ji Hong-Fang
Published: August 2020

In view of great difficulties in the pathogenesis analysis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) presently, profiling the modifiable risk factors is crucial for early detection and intervention of AD. However, the causal associations among them have yet to be identified, and the effective integration and application of these data also remain considerable challenges due to the lack of efficient collection and analysis procedures. To address this issue, we performed comprehensive analyses by two-sample Mendelian randomization (2SMR) and established the AlzRiskMR database (https://github.com/SDBMC/RiskFactors2AD). Four 2SMR analysis methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode, were used for the complementary calculation to test the reliability of the results. The database currently comprises 1870 sets of data of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) from the MR-Base and NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog database. AlzRiskMR database not only estimates causal associations between modifiable risk factors and AD but also offers a useful and timely resource for early intervention of AD development incidence.
Bayesian sparse heritability analysis with high-dimensional neuroimaging phenotypes
Authors: Zhao Yize , Li Tengfei , Zhu Hongtu
Published: August 2020

Heritability analysis plays a central role in quantitative genetics to describe genetic contribution to human complex traits and prioritize downstream analyses under large-scale phenotypes. Existing works largely focus on modeling single phenotype and currently available multivariate phenotypic methods often suffer from scaling and interpretation. In this article, motivated by understanding how genetic underpinning impacts human brain variation, we develop an integrative Bayesian heritability analysis to jointly estimate heritabilities for high-dimensional neuroimaging traits. To induce sparsity and incorporate brain anatomical configuration, we impose hierarchical selection among both regional and local measurements based on brain structural network and voxel dependence. We also use a nonparametric Dirichlet process mixture model to realize grouping among single nucleotide polymorphism-associated phenotypic variations, providing biological plausibility. Through extensive simulations, we show the proposed method outperforms existing ones in heritability estimation and heritable traits selection under various scenarios. We finally apply the method to two large-scale imaging genetics datasets: the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and United Kingdom Biobank and show biologically meaningful results.
Electricity Use as a Real-Time Indicator of the Economic Burden of the COVID-19-Related Lockdown: Evidence from Switzerland
Authors: Janzen Benedikt , Radulescu Doina
Published: August 2020

We employ hourly electricity load data for Switzerland as a real-time indicator of the economic effects of the lockdown following the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings reveal that following the drastic lockdown, overall electricity use decreased by 4.6%, with a reduction of even 14.3% in the Canton of Ticino where the number of confirmed cases per capita was one of the highest in Switzerland and also stricter measures such as closures of construction sites and industrial companies were implemented on top of federal regulations. Looking at working days only, we estimate a Swiss-wide decrease in electricity consumption of 7.4%. Assuming industry, services, transport, and agriculture account for 67% of electricity demand, the 4.6% decrease in electricity use implies an almost 7% output reduction in these sectors. In addition, the reduced electricity imports and the change in the generation mix of neighbouring countries, also translates into reduced CO2 emissions related to these imports. (JEL codes: C53, Q4, C3)
Treatment of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: An Official ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline
Authors: Daley Charles L , Iaccarino Jonathan M , Lange Christoph , Cambau Emmanuelle , Wallace Richard J , Andrejak Claire , Böttger Erik C , Brozek Jan , Griffith David E , Guglielmetti Lorenzo , Huitt Gwen A , Knight Shandra L , Leitman Philip , Marras Theodore K , Olivier Kenneth N , Santin Miguel , Stout Jason E , Tortoli Enrico , van Ingen Jakko , Wagner Dirk , Winthrop Kevin L
Published: August 2020

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) represent over 190 species and subspecies, some of which can produce disease in humans of all ages and can affect both pulmonary and extrapulmonary sites. This guideline focuses on pulmonary disease in adults (without cystic fibrosis or human immunodeficiency virus infection) caused by the most common NTM pathogens such as Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium xenopi among the slowly growing NTM and Mycobacterium abscessus among the rapidly growing NTM. A panel of experts was carefully selected by leading international respiratory medicine and infectious diseases societies (ATS, ERS, ESCMID, IDSA) and included specialists in pulmonary medicine, infectious diseases and clinical microbiology, laboratory medicine, and patient advocacy. Systematic reviews were conducted around each of 22 PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) questions and the recommendations were formulated, written, and graded using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. Thirty-one evidence-based recommendations about treatment of NTM pulmonary disease are provided. This guideline is intended for use by healthcare professionals who care for patients with NTM pulmonary disease, including specialists in infectious diseases and pulmonary diseases.
Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccination in Infancy Does Not Protect Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Evidence From a Natural Experiment in Sweden
Authors: de Chaisemartin Clément , de Chaisemartin Luc
Published: August 2020

Background

The bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) tuberculosis vaccine has immunity benefits against respiratory infections. Accordingly, it has been hypothesized to have a protective effect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recent research found that countries with universal BCG childhood vaccination policies tend to be less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, such ecological studies are biased by numerous confounders. Instead, this paper reports on a rare nationwide natural experiment that occurred in Sweden in 1975, where discontinuation of newborns’ BCG vaccination led to a dramatic decrease in BCG coverage rate, thus allowing us to estimate BCG’s effect without the biases associated with cross-country comparisons.

Methods

Numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were recorded for birth cohorts born just before and just after 1975, representing 1 026 304 and 1 018 544 individuals, respectively. We used regression discontinuity to assess the effect of BCG vaccination on COVID-19–related outcomes. On such a large population, this method allows for a precision that would be hard to achieve using a randomized controlled trial.

Results

The odds ratios (95% CI) for COVID-19 cases and COVID-19–related hospitalizations were 1.0005 (.8130–1.1881) and 1.2046 (.7532–1.6560), allowing us to reject fairly modest effects of universal BCG vaccination. We can reject with 95% confidence that universal BCG vaccination reduces the number of cases by 19% and the number of hospitalizations by 25%.

Conclusions

While the effect of a recent vaccination must be evaluated, we provide strong evidence that receiving the BCG vaccine at birth does not have a protective effect against COVID-19 among middle-aged individuals.
Do individual cities matter? Negotiating the particular
Authors: Beauregard Robert A
Published: August 2020

In this article, I reflect on how urban scholars negotiate between the general and the particular not by turning to sampling strategies or statistical techniques but by situating the city in a favourable rhetorical space. In effect, they attempt to close the gap theoretically. My substantive and specific focus is urban scholarship that addresses individual cities and that frames that city either as a laboratory in which to do urban research, a lens through which to see other cities, or as the archetype for a school of urban studies. I concentrate mainly on the work of US urban scholars.
Fidelity and Timing of Spotted Lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) Attack Patterns on Ornamental Trees in the Suburban Landscape
Authors: Mason Charles J , Walsh Brian , Keller Joseph , Couture John J , Calvin Dennis , Urban Julie M
Published: August 2020

Invasive herbivores can have dramatic impacts in new environments by altering landscape composition, displacing natives, and causing plant decline and mortality. One of the most recent invasive insects in the United States, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), has the potential to cause substantial economic and environmental impacts in agriculture and forestry. Spotted lanternfly exhibits a broad host range, yet reports of late-season movement from the surrounding landscapes onto select tree species in suburban environments have been reported. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the fidelity of spotted lanternfly attack on specific, individual trees within the same species during this movement period. In 2018 and 2019, we observed that individual red (Acer rubrum L. [Sapindales: Sapindaceae]) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum L. [Sapindales: Sapindaceae]) trees were preferentially attacked over other nearby trees of the same species. Foliar elemental composition was a good predictor of spotted lanternfly attack numbers, indicating that individual variation in nutrients may influence spotted lanternfly attraction to and/or retention on maple trees. Our data also confirm reports of late-season movement from surrounding landscapes throughout autumn. Collectively, our results show that spotted lanternfly exhibits some fidelity to particular trees in the landscape during this movement period. While other potential mechanisms also contribute to host plant selection by spotted lanternfly, our data show that host nutritional profiles influence spotted lanternfly infestation of suburban trees at the landscape scale. Our data establish that late-season infestations of suburban trees by spotted lanternfly occurred and that variation in host quality should be further considered in the management of this invasive insect pest.
Risk factors for non-cancer death after surgery in patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Kanzaki Ryu , Nagoya Akihiro , Kanou Takashi , Ose Naoko , Funaki Soichiro , Minami Masato , Okamoto Yuna , Tabuchi Hiroto , Hoshino Tomoko , Tajima Tetsuya , Fujii Makoto , Ohno Yuko , Shintani Yasushi
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVES

With improvements in the outcome of treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), other diseases may account for a high death rate after surgery in patients with stage I NSCLC. In the present study, we analysed the associations between the clinical factors and non-cancer death after surgery in these patients.

METHODS

The records of 514 patients with stage I NSCLC who underwent surgery were retrospectively reviewed; a proportional hazards model for the subdistribution of a competing risk was conducted to define the risk factors for non-cancer death.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 67 years. A total of 367 patients (71%) underwent bilobectomy or lobectomy while 147 (29%) underwent sublobar resection. The pathological stage was IA in 386 (75%) and IB in 128 (25%) patients. Three patients (0.6%) died within 90 days after surgery, and 108 (21%) experienced postoperative complications. Until the time of writing this report, 83 patients had died during the follow-up. The cause of death was primary lung cancer in 38 (46%) patients and other diseases in 45 (54%) patients, including non-cancer causes in 29 patients, such as pneumonia, cardiac death and cerebral stroke. According to a multivariable competing risk analysis for non-cancer death age (≥70 years), sex (male), body mass index (BMI <18.5), postoperative complications and % forced expiratory volume in 1 s (<80) were identified as risk factors for postoperative non-cancer death.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced age (≥70 years), male sex, low BMI (<18.5), postoperative complications and low preoperative % forced expiratory volume in 1 s (<80) were found to be the risk factors for postoperative non-cancer death after surgery in patients with stage I NSCLC.
Impact of Child-Pugh class A liver cirrhosis on perioperative outcomes of patients with oesophageal cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Cheng Chuan , Wen Yu-Wen , Tsai Chun-Yi , Chao Yin-Kai
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVES

Advanced-stage (Child-Pugh classes B and C) liver cirrhosis (LC) is a contraindication for oesophagectomy. However, the question as to whether Child-Pugh class A LC may have an impact on perioperative outcomes remains unanswered. This retrospective single-centre study was designed to address this issue.

METHODS

This was a single-centre, retrospective, propensity-matched study. The perioperative outcomes of patients with Child-Pugh class A LC were compared with those of patients without LC after propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Out of a cohort consisting of 811 patients, we identified 51 cases with Child-Pugh class A LC. After the application of propensity score matching, the LC and no-LC groups consisted of 50 and 100 patients, respectively. The presence of LC did not compromise the quality of surgical resection as attested to by similar lymph node yields and R0 rates. However, patients with LC patients were more prone to developing postoperative pneumonia (22% vs 9%, P = 0.027), pleural effusion (38% vs 20%, P = 0.018) and chylothorax (10% vs 1%, P = 0.016) and had longer intensive care unit stay (mean: 6.10 vs 2.58 days, P = 0.002) compared with the no-LC group. Multivariable analysis identified thoracic duct ligation [odds ratio (OR) 12.292, P = 0.042] and a higher number of dissected nodes (OR 4.375, P = 0.037) as independent risk factors for chylothorax and pleural effusion, respectively. The detrimental effect of these variables was limited to the LC group.

CONCLUSIONS

Oesophagectomy portends a higher morbidity in patients with Child-Pugh class A LC. A meticulous management of lymphatic ducts during mediastinal dissection may improve surgical outcomes in this high-risk group.
Associations between gut microbiota, faecal short-chain fatty acids, and blood pressure across ethnic groups: the HELIUS study
Authors: Verhaar Barbara J H , Collard Didier , Prodan Andrei , Levels Johannes H M , Zwinderman Aeilko H , Bäckhed Fredrik , Vogt Liffert , Peters Mike J L , Muller Majon , Nieuwdorp Max , van den Born Bert-Jan H
Published: August 2020

Aims 

Preliminary evidence from animal and human studies shows that gut microbiota composition and levels of microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are associated with blood pressure (BP). We hypothesized that faecal microbiota composition and derived metabolites may be differently associated with BP across ethnic groups.

Methods and results 

We included 4672 subjects (mean age 49.8 ± 11.7 years, 52% women) from six different ethnic groups participating in the HEalthy Life In an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study. The gut microbiota was profiled using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Associations between microbiota composition and office BP were assessed using machine learning prediction models. In the subgroups with the largest associations, faecal SCFA levels were compared in 200 subjects with lower or higher systolic BP. Faecal microbiota composition explained 4.4% of the total systolic BP variance. Best predictors for systolic BP included Roseburia spp., Clostridium spp., Romboutsia spp., and Ruminococcaceae spp. Explained variance of the microbiota composition was highest in Dutch subjects (4.8%), but very low in South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Moroccan and Turkish descent groups (explained variance <0.8%). Faecal SCFA levels, including acetate (P < 0.05) and propionate (P < 0.01), were lower in young Dutch participants with low systolic BP.

Conclusions 

Faecal microbiota composition is associated with BP, but with strongly divergent associations between ethnic groups. Intriguingly, while Dutch participants with lower BP had higher abundances of several SCFA-producing microbes, they had lower faecal SCFA levels. Intervention studies with SCFAs could provide more insight in the effects of these metabolites on BP.
Wearable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with a transient risk of sudden cardiac death: the WEARIT-France cohort study
Authors: Garcia Rodrigue , Combes Nicolas , Defaye Pascal , Narayanan Kumar , Guedon-Moreau Laurence , Boveda Serge , Blangy Hugues , Bouet Jérôme , Briand Florent , Chevalier Philippe , Cottin Yves , Da Costa Antoine , Degand Bruno , Deharo Jean-Claude , Eschalier Romain , Extramiana Fabrice , Goralski Marc , Guy-Moyat Benoit , Guyomar Yves , Hermida Jean-Sylvain , Jourda François , Lellouche Nicolas , Mahfoud Mohanad , Manenti Vladimir , Mansourati Jacques , Martin Angéline , Pasquié Jean-Luc , Ritter Philippe , Rollin Anne , Tibi Thierry , Yalioua Arab , Gras Daniel , Sadoul Nicolas , Piot Olivier , Leclercq Christophe , Marijon Eloi
Published: August 2020

Aims 

We aimed to provide contemporary real-world data on wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) use, not only in terms of effectiveness and safety but also compliance and acceptability.

Methods and results 

Across 88 French centres, the WEARIT-France study enrolled retrospectively patients who used the WCD between May 2014 and December 2016, and prospectively all patients equipped for WCD therapy between January 2017 and March 2018. All patients received systematic education session through a standardized programme across France at the time of initiation of WCD therapy and were systematically enrolled in the LifeVest Network remote services. Overall, 1157 patients were included (mean age 60 ± 12 years, 16% women; 46% prospectively): 82.1% with ischaemic cardiomyopathy, 10.3% after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator explant, and 7.6% before heart transplantation. Median WCD usage period was 62 (37–97) days. Median daily wear time of WCD was 23.4 (22.2–23.8) h. In multivariate analysis, younger age was associated with lower compliance [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95–0.99, P < 0.01]. A total of 18 participants (1.6%) received at least one appropriate shock, giving an incidence of appropriate therapy of 7.2 per 100 patient-years. Patient-response button allowed the shock to be aborted in 35.7% of well-tolerated sustained ventricular arrhythmias and in 95.4% of inappropriate ventricular arrhythmia detection, finally resulting in an inappropriate therapy in eight patients (0.7%).

Conclusion

Our real-life findings reinforce previous studies on the efficacy and safety of the WCD in the setting of transient high-risk group in selected patients. Moreover, they emphasize the fact that when prescribed appropriately, in concert with adequate patient education and dedicated follow-up using specific remote monitoring system, compliance with WCD is high and the device well-tolerated by the patient.