bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychiatric comorbidity in individuals at‐risk for psychosis: Relationships with symptoms, cognition and psychosocial functioning
Authors: Chang Wing C. , Ng Chung Mun , Chan Kwun Nam , Lee Hoi Ching , Chan Suet In , Chiu Shirley Sanyin , Lee Ho Ming , Chan Kit Wa , Wong Ming Cheuk , Chan Kwok Ling , Yeung Wai Song , Chan Charles Wai Hong , Choy Lam Wai , Chong Shiu Yin , Siu Man Wa , Lo Tak Lam , Yan Wai Ching , Ng Man Kin , Poon Lap Tak , Pang Pui Fai , Lam Wai Chung , Wong Yip Chau , Chung Wai Sau , Mo Yi Man , Lui Sai Yu , Hui Lai Ming , Chen Eric Yu Hai
Published: May 2020

Aim

Psychiatric comorbidity frequently occurs with at‐risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis. Its relationships with psychopathology, cognition and functioning, however, remain to be further clarified. We aimed to examine prevalence and correlates of psychiatric comorbidity, and its associations with psychosocial functioning and subjective quality‐of‐life (QoL) in a representative sample of Chinese ARMS individuals.

Methods

One hundred ten help‐seeking participants aged 15 to 40 years with ARMS were recruited from a specialized early psychosis service in Hong Kong. ARMS status was verified by comprehensive assessment of at‐risk mental state (CAARMS). Comorbid Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition non‐psychotic psychiatric disorders at baseline were ascertained using diagnostic interview and medical record review. Assessments encompassing symptom profiles, psychosocial functioning, subjective QoL and a brief cognitive battery were conducted.

Results

Forty‐nine (44.5%) ARMS participants were diagnosed as having comorbid non‐psychotic psychiatric disorders at baseline, primarily depressive and anxiety disorders. Binary multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender, more severe depressive symptoms, higher suicidality and poorer global cognitive functioning were independently associated with comorbid diagnosis status. ARMS participants with psychiatric comorbidity displayed significantly more limited extended social networks and poorer subjective QoL than those without psychiatric comorbidity.

Conclusion

Comorbid disorders were frequently observed in Chinese ARMS individuals, and were linked to poorer cognition and higher suicide risk. Our findings underscore a potential critical role of psychiatric comorbidity in determining social functioning and subjective QoL in at‐risk individuals. Further longitudinal research is required to clarify trajectories of comorbid disorder status and its prospective impact on clinical and functional outcomes in ARMS populations.
Sex‐specific association of urate and levodopa‐induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Jung J. H. , Chung S. J. , Yoo H. S. , Lee Y. H. , Baik K. , Ye B. S. , Sohn Y. H. , Lee P. H.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

As a major antioxidant, uric acid (UA) is known to be associated with the clinical progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study investigated whether baseline UA levels are associated with the risk for levodopa‐induced dyskinesia (LID) in PD in a sex‐dependent manner.

Methods

In all, 152 patients with de novo PD (78 males and 74 females) who were followed up for >2 years were enrolled. The effect of baseline serum UA levels on LID‐free survival was assessed by Cox regression, separately for sex, whilst being adjusted for potential confounding factors. The optimal UA level cut‐off value to determine the high‐risk group for LID was set using Contal and O’Quigley’s method.

Results

Levodopa‐induced dyskinesia developed in 23 (29.5%) male patients and 30 (40.5%) female patients. Cox regression showed a significant interaction between UA level and sex. Higher UA levels were associated with a higher risk for LID in male PD patients (hazard ratio 1.380; 95% confidence interval 1.038–1.835; P = 0.027), although this relationship was not observed in female PD patients. The optimal UA level cut‐off for LID in male PD was 7.2 mg/dl, and the high UA group had a 5.7‐fold higher risk of developing LID than the low UA group.

Conclusions

Contrary to a presumptive beneficial role of UA, the present study demonstrated that higher UA levels are associated with increased risk of LID occurrence in male patients with PD, suggesting a sex‐dependent role of UA in LID.
Interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist, interleukin‐2 receptor alpha subunit and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Yuan S. , Roos P. M. , Larsson S. C.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

To clarify the causal associations of interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra) and interleukin‐2 receptor alpha subunit (IL‐2rα) with the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods

A two‐sample Mendelian randomization study design was employed. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms associated with IL‐1ra (n = 2) and IL‐2rα (n = 1) at the genome‐wide significance level were used as unbiased instrumental variables. Summary‐level data for ALS were obtained from Project MinE, an international collaboration consortium with 12 577 ALS cases and 23 475 controls of European descent.

Results

Genetic predisposition to higher levels of IL‐1ra was significantly associated with lower odds of ALS. For a 1‐SD increase of circulating IL‐1ra levels, the odds ratio of ALS was 0.64 (95% confidence intervals, 0.46–0.88; P = 0.005). There was a borderline inverse association between IL‐2rα levels and ALS (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence intervals, 0.83–1.00; P = 0.058).

Conclusions

Interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist levels were inversely associated with ALS, suggesting that interleukin‐1 inhibitors may lower the risk of this always fatal disease. The role of IL‐2rα levels in ALS needs further verification in causal inference studies with larger sample sizes.
Sensory neuronopathy is a specific and disabling neurological manifestation of autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Martinez A. R. M. , de Lima F. D. , Martins M. P. , Pereira I. E. , Miotto N. , Mazo D. F. C. , Vigani A. G. , da Costa L. B. E. , Stucchi R. S. B. , Almeida J. R. S. , Nucci A. , França M. C.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

Neurological manifestations have been identified in the context of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Previous case reports highlighted the association between AIH and sensory neuronopathy (SN). Despite that, little is known about the frequency of AIH‐related SN and its clinical/neurophysiological profile. Moreover, it is not clear whether SN is an AIH‐specific manifestation or related to chronic liver damage.

Methods

Seventy consecutive AIH patients were enrolled and their characteristics were compared with 52 consecutive patients with chronic active hepatitis B. All subjects underwent clinical and neurophysiological evaluation. Further comparisons were performed between AIH SN and AIH non‐SN patients.

Results

Mean ages and male:female proportions in the AIH and chronic active hepatitis B groups were 42.2 ± 16.3/51.7 ± 13.6 years and 14:56/29:23, respectively. The frequencies of carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy and polyneuropathy were similar between groups. In contrast, SN was identified only in AIH patients (5/70 vs. 0/52, P = 0.04); the overall prevalence of AIH‐related SN was 7% with an average profile of a woman in her 40s with asymmetric onset of sensory deficits that chronically evolved to disabling proprioceptive ataxia associated with marked dysautonomia. Neurological disability and hepatocellular damage did not follow in parallel. Anti‐fibroblast growth factor receptor type 3 antibodies were found in 3/5 (60%) of the patients with AIH‐related SN. Clinical or demographic predictors of SN in the context of AIH could not be identified.

Conclusion

Sensory neuronopathy, but not other peripheral nervous system diseases, is a specific AIH neurological manifestation. It is often disabling and, in contrast to hepatocellular injury, does not respond to immunosuppression.
Exploratory study on immune phenotypes in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia
Authors: D’Angelo C. , Goldeck D. , Pawelec G. , Gaspari L. , Di Iorio A. , Paganelli R.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

The differentiation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia from vascular dementia (VaD) and mixed‐type dementia (mixed dementia) requires stepwise analysis and usually occurs late in the disease process. Early diagnosis and therapy monitoring would benefit greatly from the identification of biomarkers of neurodegeneration, especially blood biomarkers. To this end, the aim of the present pilot study was to investigate differences in the distribution of peripheral T‐cell populations in patients with AD compared to VaD and mixed dementia.

Methods

Flow cytometry was performed on blood samples from 11 patients with AD, six with VaD and six with mixed dementia, as well as 17 healthy control subjects (HCs). CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were typed for expression of CD45, CD27, CD28, CD25, FoxP3, CCR4 and CCR6; the other leukocytes were also assessed. Functionally, immune cell uptake of the β‐amyloid (Aβ) toxic fragment (Aβ1–42) was also evaluated.

Results

A higher proportion of CD4+CD28− memory T cells and a reciprocal reduction of CD4+CD28+CD27+ naïve T lymphocytes was detected in all patient groups relative to controls. Significantly fewer CD4+CD25+FoxP3 regulatory T cells were present in patients with VaD, and significantly more CCR6+ and CCR4+ CD4+ T cells in those with AD. Higher CCR6+ T‐cell frequencies were also present in patients with mixed dementia, potentially due to the inflammation and immune cell chemoattraction triggered by Aβ.

Conclusions

The present study was a comprehensive investigation comparing different kinds of dementia, revealing differentially expressed peripheral markers that are potentially useful for early AD, VaD and mixed dementia diagnoses, and that would assist in proper treatments for these disparate diseases. Validation is now required.
Towards a coupled paradigm of NH3‐CO2 biosphere–atmosphere exchange modelling
Authors: Schrader Frederik , Erisman Jan Willem , Brümmer Christian
Published: May 2020

Stomatal conductance, one of the major plant physiological controls within NH3 biosphere–atmosphere exchange models, is commonly estimated from semi‐empirical multiplicative schemes or simple light‐ and temperature‐response functions. However, due to their inherent parameterization on meteorological proxy variables, instead of a direct measure of stomatal opening, they are unfit for the use in climate change scenarios and of limited value for interpreting field‐scale measurements. Alternatives based on H2O flux measurements suffer from uncertainties in the partitioning of evapotranspiration at humid sites, as well as a potential decoupling of transpiration from stomatal opening in the presence of hygroscopic particles on leaf surfaces. We argue that these problems may be avoided by directly deriving stomatal conductance from CO2 fluxes instead. We reanalysed a data set of NH3 flux measurements based on CO2‐derived stomatal conductance, confirming the hypothesis that the increasing relevance of stomatal exchange with the onset of vegetation activity caused a rapid decrease of observed NH3 deposition velocities. Finally, we argue that developing more mechanistic representations of NH3 biosphere–atmosphere exchange can be of great benefit in many applications. These range from model‐based flux partitioning, over deposition monitoring using low‐cost samplers and inferential modelling, to a direct response of NH3 exchange to climate change.
Clinical and histopathological features of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma with dense spindle stromal cells and lymph node metastasis
Authors: Gao Qiqi , Zhou Jie , Zheng Yulong , Cui Jinlong , Teng Xiaodong
Published: May 2020

Aims

To determine the clinicopathological features of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) with spindle cells and in cases with positive detection of PSP cells in the lymph nodes.

Methods and results

This article report the clinical, histological and immunohistochemical features of PSP with dense spindle stromal cells in five patients (including one case with lymph node metastasis) and PSP accompanied by positive nodes in two patients out of 239 cases diagnosed at our institution between 2007 and 2019. The literature on PSP was also reviewed in detail. Six patients were female, and one (with a positive node) was male; their average age was 53 years. Thoracic imaging revealed solid tumours with clear borders and a uniform texture in six patients, but one patient had a lobulated tumour with uneven densities. All tumours were unifocal, and they had an average size of 31 mm. Tumours from five cases were mainly composed of solid regions of diffuse spindle cells rather than polygonal cells. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that thyroid transcription factor‐1, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen (weak) and oestrogen receptor (partial) were expressed in spindle cells. The average follow‐up time was 31 months. Two of the 234 PSP cases for which adequate data were available had positive nodes (metastasis rate: 0.8%), and one of the five patients with PSP with spindle cells showed lymph node metastasis (metastasis rate: 20%). In addition, stromal cells were found to be predominant at metastatic sites.

Conclusions

Spindle cells are present among the stromal cells of PSP, and not all of them are round cells. PSP patients with spindle cells or male patients may be more prone to metastasis than others.
Pulmonary and systemic involvement in COVID‐19 patients assessed with ultrasound‐guided minimally invasive autopsy
Authors: Duarte‐Neto Amaro N , Monteiro Renata A A , da Silva Luiz F F , Malheiros Denise M A C , de Oliveira Ellen P , Theodoro‐Filho Jair , Pinho João R R , Gomes‐Gouvêa Michele S , Salles Ana P M , de Oliveira Ilka R S , Mauad Thais , Saldiva Paulo H N , Dolhnikoff Marisa
Published: May 2020

Aims

Brazil ranks high in the number of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) cases and the COVID‐19 mortality rate. In this context, autopsies are important to confirm the disease, determine associated conditions, and study the pathophysiology of this novel disease. The aim of this study was to assess the systemic involvement of COVID‐19. In order to follow biosafety recommendations, we used ultrasound‐guided minimally invasive autopsy (MIA‐US), and we present the results of 10 initial autopsies.

Methods and results

We used MIA‐US for tissue sampling of the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, spleen, brain, skin, skeletal muscle and testis for histology, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA. All patients showed exudative/proliferative diffuse alveolar damage. There were intense pleomorphic cytopathic effects on the respiratory epithelium, including airway and alveolar cells. Fibrinous thrombi in alveolar arterioles were present in eight patients, and all patients showed a high density of alveolar megakaryocytes. Small thrombi were less frequently observed in the glomeruli, spleen, heart, dermis, testis, and liver sinusoids. The main systemic findings were associated with comorbidities, age, and sepsis, in addition to possible tissue damage due to the viral infection, such as myositis, dermatitis, myocarditis, and orchitis.

Conclusions

MIA‐US is safe and effective for the study of severe COVID‐19. Our findings show that COVID‐19 is a systemic disease causing major events in the lungs and with involvement of various organs and tissues. Pulmonary changes result from severe epithelial injury and microthrombotic vascular phenomena. These findings indicate that both epithelial and vascular injury should be addressed in therapeutic approaches.
Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of autologous tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) to treat malignant melanoma: the dawn of a chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR‐T) cell therapy from autologous donor
Authors: Roncati Luca , Palmieri Beniamino
Published: May 2020

Background

Tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are B, T‐helper, and T‐cytotoxic lymphocytes migrated from the blood or lymph stream toward a tumor with the aim to infiltrate and destroy it. They can be histologically graded as brisk, nonbrisk, or absent. Malignant melanoma has been the first malignancy found to be correlated with TILs status, being brisk TILs associated with better clinical outcomes. By the terminology of “adoptive cell transfer” (ACT), the medical oncology refers to the transfer of cells in a tumor‐bearing patient from the same recipient or a healthy donor.

Methods

A PubMed literature search on the topic has been performed. Additional documents known to the authors and identified from the reference list of cited publications have been included.

Results

In the past, autologous TILs ACT was successfully tested for the treatment of malignant melanoma and, today, it is a standardized procedure in several centers around the world. It represents the first research step toward the bioengineered chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR‐T) cell therapy from autologous donor.

Conclusions

Both autologous TILs ACT and CAR‐T cell therapy from autologous donor exploit the anticancer power of targeted self‐lymphocytes, but CAR‐T cell technology also virtually allows treatment of those melanomas devoid of TILs or with so few cytotoxic TILs that are difficult to identify.
Improved photoluminescence quantum yield of CsPbBr3 quantum dots glass ceramics
Authors: Zhang Xizhen , Guo Lizhu , Zhang Yuhang , Cheng Chuanhui , Cheng Yi , Li Xiangping , Zhang Jinsu , Xu Sai , Cao Yongze , Sun Jiashi , Cheng Lihong , Chen Baojiu
Published: May 2020

We have fabricated CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots (QDs) in a multi‐component borate glass by melt‐quenching technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals a cubic phase CsPbBr3 crystal for QDs. As the treatment temperature or the treatment time duration increases, the photoluminescence (PL) peak shifts to long wavelength in the range of 510 to 525 nm, and the full width at half‐maximum varies in the range of 24 to 18 nm. The absorption edge shifts to low energy side in the range of 2.54 to 2.41 eV. The different photoluminescence excitation spectra (PLE) reflect the change of microstructure for different samples. The PL peak wavelength and line‐shape are independent of excitation wavelength. These results of spectra show typical exciton emission characteristics. As treatment conditions strengthens, photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) first increases and then decreases, having the best PLQY 86.9%. Bi‐exponential fitting curves show that short lifetime τ1 continuously decreases. Long lifetime τ2, weight for long lifetime component, and average lifetime τavg first increase and then decrease. The PLQY values are affected by both τ1 and τ2, which are relative to the crystal quality in the interior and the surface of QDs, respectively. The high PLQY value corresponds to medium treatment condition, which is attributed to a balanced effect of crystal quality in interior and the surface of QDs.
A far‐red‐emitting (Gd,Y)3(Ga,Al)5O12:Mn2+ ceramic phosphor with enhanced thermal stability for plant cultivation
Authors: Qiu Xuting , Luo Zhaohua , Jiang Haochuan , Ding Hui , Liu Zehua , Chen Xiaopu , Xu Jingtao , Jiang Jun
Published: May 2020

As for plants, far‐red (FR) light with wavelength from 700 nm to 740 nm is critical for processes of photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis. Light‐controlled development depends on light to control cell differentiation, structural and functional changes, and finally converge into the formation of tissues and organs. Phosphor converted FR emission under LED excitation is a cost‐effective and high‐efficient way to provide artificial FR light source. With the aim to develop an efficient FR phosphor that can promote the plant growth, a series of gadolinium yttrium gallium garnet (GYGAG) transparent ceramic phosphors co‐doped with Mn2+ and Si4+ have been fabricated via chemical co‐precipitation method, followed sintered in O2 and hot isostatic pressing in this work. Under UV excitation, the phosphor exhibited two bright and broadband red emission spectra due to Mn2+: 4T1 → 6A1 spin‐forbidden transition, and one of which located in the right FR region. And then, Ce3+ ions were co‐doped as the activator to enhance the absorption at blue light region and the emission of Mn2+. It turns out that the emission band of GYGAG transparent ceramic phosphors matches well with the absorption band of phytochrome PFR, which means they are promising to be applied in plant cultivation light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) for modulating plant growth. Besides, the thermal stability of this material was investigated systematically, and an energy transferring model involves defects was also proposed to explain the phenomenon of abnormal temperature quenching.
Falling out of the host nest: an overlooked factor decreasing survival of brood parasite chicks
Authors: Honza Marcel , Capek Miroslav , Jelínek Václav , Šulc Michal
Published: May 2020

Animals rely on an array of environmental triggers or cues to make their behavioural and life‐history decisions. Brood–parasitic females should prefer the best host to maximize their reproductive success. Despite the fact that Eurasian reed warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusis one of the most frequent host of the common cuckooCuculus canorus, parasitic chicks often prematurely fall out of the nests and drown. To establish whether these events are influenced by the size of the nest, we experimentally replaced original Eurasian reed warbler nests for much bigger great reed warblerAcrocephalus arundinaceusones and transferred cuckoo chicks into them to record their fate. The chicks in bigger nests showed significantly lower falling‐out rate (4 of 29) compared with those remained in smaller nests (12 of 32). These findings suggest that host nest size plays an important role in the suitability of host species and that smaller host nests may pose a high mortality risk to the relatively big cuckoo chicks. Moreover, cuckoo chicks that fell out of the nests were significantly less fed by foster parents before falling‐out event than those stayed in the nests. This indicates that insufficient parental care may also facilitate falling‐out of cuckoo chicks, probably because hungry chicks are more restless in host nests. The relatively frequent falling‐out events represent a substantial and underestimated cost of brood parasites. Without video surveillance it can incorrectly be confused with predation. We therefore strongly recommend using video‐recording for determining predation costs in birds.
Improving Scientific Judgments in Law and Government: A Field Experiment of Patent Peer Review
Authors: Ho Daniel E. , Ouellette Lisa Larrimore
Published: May 2020

Many have advocated for the expansion of peer review to improve scientific judgments in law and public policy. One such test case is the patent examination process, with numerous commentators arguing that scientific peer review can solve informational deficits in patent determinations. We present results from a novel randomized field experiment, carried out over the course of three years, in which 336 prominent scientific experts agreed to provide input on U.S. patent applications. Their input was edited for compliance with submission requirements and submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by our research team. We show that the intervention caused examiners to (1) increase search efforts and citations to the non‐patent (scientific) literature and (2) grant the application at lower rates in the first instance. However, results were substantially weaker and resource costs substantially higher than anticipated in the literature, highlighting significant challenges and questions of institutional design in bringing scientific expertise into law and government.
Fish as predators and prey: DNA‐based assessment of their role in food webs
Authors: Traugott Michael , Thalinger Bettina , Wallinger Corinna , Sint Daniela
Published: May 2020

Fish are both consumers and prey, and as such part of a dynamic trophic network. Measuring how they are trophically linked, both directly and indirectly, to other species is vital to comprehend the mechanisms driving alterations in fish communities in space and time. Moreover, this knowledge also helps to understand how fish communities respond to environmental change and delivers important information for implementing management of fish stocks. DNA‐based methods have significantly widened our ability to assess trophic interactions in both marine and freshwater systems and they possess a range of advantages over other approaches in diet analysis. In this review we provide an overview of different DNA‐based methods that have been used to assess trophic interactions of fish as consumers and prey. We consider the practicalities and limitations, and emphasize critical aspects when analysing molecular derived trophic data. We exemplify how molecular techniques have been employed to unravel food web interactions involving fish as consumers and prey. In addition to the exciting opportunities DNA‐based approaches offer, we identify current challenges and future prospects for assessing fish food webs where DNA‐based approaches will play an important role.
Looking where it's hard to see: a case study documenting rare Eucyclogobius newberryi presence in a California lagoon
Authors: Dressler Terra L. , Lafferty Kevin D. , Jerde Christopher L. , Dudley Tom
Published: May 2020

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is increasingly used for biomonitoring and research of fish populations and communities by environmental resource managers and academic researchers. Although managers are much interested in expanding the use of eDNA as a survey technique, they are sceptical about both its utility (given that information is often limited to presence/absence of a species) and feasibility (given the need for proper laboratory facilities for sample processing). Nonetheless, under the right circumstances, eDNA analysis is cost‐effective compared to many traditional aquatic survey methods and does not disturb habitat or harm the animals being surveyed. This article presents a case study in which eDNA analysis was successfully used to document the presence of a rare fish species in a waterway earmarked for restoration. The authors discuss the conditions that allowed this study to occur quickly and smoothly and speculate on how the goals of researchers and managers can be integrated for efficient and informative use of this tool.
U.S. POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND LOAN PRICING
Authors: Hossain Ashrafee Tanvir , Kryzanowski Lawrence , Ma Xiao Bing
Published: May 2020

Using U.S. Department of Justice data on state‐level political corruption, we find that banks charge higher loan spreads (all‐in‐drawn spreads) to firms in states with higher corruption and that these effects are more pronounced for firms facing financial constraints but less pronounced for firms experiencing greater external monitoring. These results are robust to additional controls, alternative corruption measures, a measure of the lack of oversight of lobbyist activities, and the use of instrumental variables. Overall, our findings are consistent with the harmful corruption environment hypothesis, which states that banks charge higher loan spreads to firms in states with greater political corruption environments as these firms are susceptible to making suboptimal financial decisions to fend off rent‐seeking behavior.
STOCK MARKET CONSEQUENCES OF POLITICAL VIBRANCY
Authors: Pantzalis Christos , Park Jung Chul
Published: May 2020

We define areas with strong geographic ties to powerful politicians as politically vibrant and show that they are characterized by greater value‐relevant information generation and symptomatic of equity market segmentation. Political vibrancy entails greater levels of local bias and local comovement and has two important return predictability implications. First, it enhances local institutions’ informational advantages; their trades’ ability to forecast local stock returns exceeds that of nonlocal institutions. Second, in support of the view that information diffuses slowly into prices, stock returns of firms from politically vibrant areas predict returns of similar firms in other areas.
The Relationship between Polypharmacy and Physical Activity in Those with or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Thanoo Nivaas , Gilbert Abigail L. , Trainor Sean , Semanik Pamela A. , Song Jing , Lee Jungwha , Dunlop Dorothy D. , Chang Rowland W.
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVES

Physical activity is associated with improved pain, functional status, and less disability in persons with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Because polypharmacy is related to several adverse health outcomes in older persons, we hypothesized that it might also be associated with decreased physical activity in those with KOA. This study evaluates the relationship between the number of prescription medications and weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

DESIGN

We used hierarchical median quantile regression analysis to examine the cross‐sectional association between the number of prescription medications taken in the past 30 days and the median objectively measured MVPA minutes controlling for demographic and clinical variables.

SETTING

Four Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) recruitment centers in Providence, Rhode Island; Columbus, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PARTICIPANTS

Accelerometer monitoring occurred in 2,127 OAI participants. Of these, 1,889 participants had 4 or more days of valid physical activity monitoring data and complete medication/covariate data. Data were collected at the 48‐month OAI follow‐up visit (2008‐2010).

MEASUREMENTS

The outcome was weekly minutes of MVPA measured with an accelerometer. Number/type of prescribed medications and covariate data (age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, presence of comorbidities, pain, depressive symptoms, and radiographic KOA severity) were taken from the public OAI database. Polypharmacy was defined as taking five or more prescribed medications.

RESULTS

The prevalence of polypharmacy in the study population was 28.2%. Each additional prescription medication was related to a decrease of 3.6 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] = −4.8 to −2.1) in median weekly MVPA minutes. Participants meeting the polypharmacy criterion exhibited a decrease of 12.6 minutes (95% CI = −21.2 to −4.7) in median weekly MVPA minutes compared with those not meeting the criterion.

CONCLUSION

An increased number of prescription medications and polypharmacy are associated cross‐sectionally with decreased MVPA in adults with KOA. Further study is necessary to establish the causal nature of this association.
Riveting hammer vibration damages mechanosensory nerve endings
Authors: Zimmerman Jordan J. , Bain James L. W. , Wu Chaowen , Lindell Hans , Grétarsson Snævar L. , Riley Danny A.
Published: May 2020

Hand‐arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is an irreversible neurodegenerative, vasospastic, and musculoskeletal occupational disease of workers who use powered hand tools. The etiology is poorly understood. Neurological symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain. This study examines impact hammer vibration‐induced injury and recoverability of hair mechanosensory innervation. Rat tails were vibrated 12 min/d for 5 weeks followed by 5 week recovery with synchronous non‐vibrated controls. Nerve fibers were PGP9.5 immunostained. Lanceolate complex innervation was compared quantitatively in vibrated vs sham. Vibration peak acceleration magnitudes were characterized by frequency power spectral analysis. Average magnitude (2515 m/s2, root mean squared) in kHz frequencies was 109 times that (23 m/s2) in low Hz. Percentage of hairs innervated by lanceolate complexes was 69.1% in 5‐week sham and 53.4% in 5‐week vibration generating a denervation difference of 15.7% higher in vibration. Hair innervation was 76.9% in 5‐weeks recovery sham and 62.0% in 5‐week recovery vibration producing a denervation difference 14.9% higher in recovery vibration. Lanceolate number per complex (18.4 ± 0.2) after vibration remained near sham (19.3 ± 0.3), but 44.9% of lanceolate complexes were abnormal in 5 weeks vibrated compared to 18.8% in sham. The largest vibration energies are peak kHz accelerations (approximately 100 000 m/s2) from shock waves. The existing ISO 5349‐1 standard excludes kHz vibrations, seriously underestimating vibration injury risk. The present study validates the rat tail, impact hammer vibration as a model for investigating irreversible nerve damage. Persistence of higher denervation difference after 5‐week recovery suggests repeated vibration injury destroys the capability of lanceolate nerve endings to regenerate.
Gaming the system: Responses to dissatisfaction with public services beyond exit and voice
Authors: Peeters Rik , Gofen Anat , Meza Oliver
Published: May 2020

Citizens' responses to dissatisfaction with public services are often portrayed as following one of four distinct patterns, each consistent with current provision structures: exit, voice, loyalty or neglect (EVLN). Citizens may also initiate efforts to access public services through more subversive supply mechanisms. This study focuses on ‘gaming’ as an additional, understudied response pattern, within which individuals aim at improving the personal outcome of public service delivery by exploiting, manipulating or working around current rules and arrangements. Survey analysis of citizens' responses to dissatisfaction in Mexico indicates that gaming is indeed a distinct response, which is positively related to the unavailability of exit and, to some extent, to low trust in government. As a response pattern that encompasses behaviours inconsistent with current policy arrangements, gaming emphasizes the need to distinguish service improvement as a public good as opposed to a private good and further unfolds ‘grey areas’ in citizen–government relationships.
Elevated serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and the metalloproteinase‐ADAMTS7 levels are associated with vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Authors: Zhao Wei , Wang Yue , Kong Wei , Zhao Hai‐Dan
Published: May 2020

Background

Vascular calcification is common in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. Recent studies showed that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) could protect blood vessels from calcification, but the role of ADAMTS7 was opposite. We aimed to investigate the relationship between serum COMP, ADAMTS7 levels and vascular calcification scores in HD patients.

Methods

Serum COMP and ADAMTS7 levels were tested by ELISA and we compared calcification scores between high and low COMP groups, also between high and low ADAMTS7 groups. We also investigated the differences of serum COMP and ADAMTS7 levels between mild and severe vascular calcification groups. The relationship between serum COMP and ADAMTS7 levels was analyzed in the end.

Results

Serum COMP and ADAMTS7 levels were both higher in HD patients than in control (29.63 vs 14.23 ng/mL, P = .002, 11.12 vs 2.40 ng/mL, P = .005). Serum COMP levels in severe vascular calcification (VC) group were higher than in mild VC (43.13 ± 28.77 vs 26.75 ± 18.22 ng/mL, P = .010). Serum ADAMTS7 levels were positively correlated with radial and digital arteries (small arteries) calcification scores (r = .249, P = .033). And serum COMP and ADAMTS7 levels were positively correlated (r = .348, P = .026).

Conclusions

Serum COMP and ADAMTS7 levels were probably associated with vascular calcification scores in HD respectively.
A note on the gender reservation wage gap in developing countries
Authors: Khan Bilal Muhammad , Majid Muhammad Farhan
Published: May 2020

This is the first paper to document the existence of a gender reservation wage gap in developing countries. We find a 22.6% gender reservation wage gap, a gap that is much larger than current estimates for developed countries. Assets play the largest role in closing this gap, whereas adult height widens the gap among the poor.
Projection pursuit algorithms to detect outliers
Authors: Stimolo Maria Inés , Ortiz Pablo Arnaldo
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we compare the methods proposed by Peña and Prieto (2001), and Filzmoser, Maronna, and Werner (2008) to detect outliers in a set of Argentine companies that quote their shares in the Stock Exchange. A significant heterogeneity between observations can be a consequence of the presence of outliers. The detection of outliers is an important task for the statistical analysis since they distort descriptive measures and parameters estimators. There are different multivariate methods to detect outliers, such as distance-based methods and projection pursuit methods.
Two-level clustering methodology for smart metering data
Authors: Arco García Leticia , Casas Cardoso Gladys María , Nowé Ann
Published: May 2020

Energy efficiency and sustainability are important factors to address in the context of smart cities. In this sense, a necessary functionality is to reveal various preferences, behaviors, and characteristics of individual consumers, considering the energy consumption information from smart meters. In this paper, we introduce a general methodology and a specific two-level clustering approach that can be used to group, considering global and local features, energy consumptions and productions of households. Thus, characteristic load and production profiles can be determined for each consumer and prosumer, respectively. The obtained results will be generally applicable and will be useful in a general business analytics context.
Analytical Comparison of Two Multiscale Coupling Methods for Nonlinear Solid Mechanics
Authors: Koliesnikova Daria , Ramière Isabelle , Lebon Frédéric
Published: May 2020

The aim of this work is to compare two existing multilevel computational approaches coming from two different families of multiscale methods in a nonlinear solid mechanics framework. A locally adaptive multigrid method and a numerical homogenization technique are considered. Both classes of methods aim to enrich a global model representing the structure’s behavior with more sophisticated local models depicting fine localized phenomena. It is clearly shown that even being developed with different vocations, such approaches reveal several common features. The main conceptual difference relying on the scale separation condition has finally a limited influence on the algorithmic aspects. Hence, this comparison enables to highlight a unified framework for multiscale coupling methods.
Study of Heat Transfer and Freezing Time-Temperature Behavior of Individual Pea Grains by Numerical and Experimental Methods
Authors: Sharma Manoj Kumar , Pratihar Anil Kumar
Published: May 2020

The present research demonstrates an accurate and simple numerical model for heat transfer analysis within spherical peas when exposed to the cold air stream in a rectangular duct. The transient heat conduction equation (THCE) is solved for spherical shaped pea grains. A detailed numerical and experimental study of freezing time-temperature history for peas has been carried out. Thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity are measured experimentally. Temperature-dependent thermophysical properties are used in the transient temperature prediction of peas throughout the phase change process. Crank–Nicolson method has been used for the formulation of the numerical model. The effect of important parameters, viz., the initial temperature of peas, cooling air temperature, and cooling air velocity over pea samples has been studied both numerically as well as experimentally and it has been found that there is good agreement between numerical and experimental results. The correlation coefficient of linear regression, R2, between numerically predicted and experimental results, is found to be 0.987.
Grafted polymer brush coatings for growth of cow granulosa cells and oocyte-cumulus cell complexes
Authors: Stetsyshyn Yurij , Raczkowska Joanna , Harhay Khrystyna , Awsiuk Kamil , Shymborska Yana , Nastyshyn Svyatoslav , Ohar Halyna , Vasilyev Viktor , Ostapiv Dmytro , Sharan Mykola , Sharan Olha , Voronov Stanislav , Budkowski Andrzej
Published: May 2020

In the present work, three types of grafted brush coatings [P4VP, POEGMA246, and P(4VP-co-POEGMA246)] were successfully fabricated using graft polymerization of monomers “from the surface.” The composition, thickness, and morphology of the grafted brush coatings were analyzed by TOF-SIMS, ellipsometry, and AFM, respectively. The chemical nature of the polymer surface plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the cow granulosa cells and, therefore, also oocyte-cumulus complexes. In comparison with other coatings, the P(4VP-co-POEGMA246) copolymer coating enables the formation of dispersed and small but numerous cell conglomerates and high cumulus expansion in oocyte-cumulus complexes with highly homogeneous cumulus layers surrounding the oocytes. Moreover, the cellular oxygen uptake for this coating in the presence of NaF (inhibitor glycolysis) was stimulated. This new (4VP-co-POEGMA246) copolymer nanostructured coating is a promising material for granulosa cell and oocyte-cumulus complex cultivation and possibly will have great potential for applications in veterinary and reproductive medicine.
Open-Label Crossover Oral Bioequivalence Pharmacokinetics Comparison for a 3-Day Loading Dose Regimen and 15-Day Steady-State Administration of SUBA-Itraconazole and Conventional Itraconazole Capsules in Healthy Adults
Authors: Thompson George R. , Lewis Phoebe , Mudge Stuart , Patterson Thomas F. , Burnett Bruce P.
Published: May 2020

Super bioavailability (SUBA) itraconazole (S-ITZ), which releases drug in the duodenum, and conventional itraconazole (C-ITZ), which releases drug in the stomach, were compared in two pharmacokinetic (PK) studies: a 3-day loading dose study and a 15-day steady-state administration study. These were crossover oral bioequivalence studies performed under fed conditions in healthy adult volunteers. In the loading dose study, C-ITZ (two doses of 100 mg each) and S-ITZ (two doses of 65 mg each) were administered three times daily for 3 days and once on day 4 (
n
 = 15).
Oregano Oil and Its Principal Component, Carvacrol, Inhibit HIV-1 Fusion into Target Cells
Authors: Mediouni S. , Jablonski J. A. , Tsuda S. , Barsamian A. , Kessing C. , Richard A. , Biswas A. , Toledo F. , Andrade V. M. , Even Y. , Stevenson M. , Tellinghuisen T. , Choe H. , Cameron M. , Bannister T. D. , Valente S. T.
Published: May 2020

Oregano essential oil has multiple benefits in traditional medicine, cosmetics, and food industries. Carvacrol and its analog, thymol, are well-described components of oregano oil. Here, we show that these compounds inhibit HIV-target cell fusion independently of viral tropism. Our results suggest that carvacrol and thymol alter the cholesterol content of the viral membrane, blocking HIV-1 entry into the target cell. Resistance to carvacrol has selected for viruses with mutations in the viral envelope glycoprotein, gp41. This protein is known for its interaction with cholesterol present in membrane lipid rafts. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of therapies targeting the viral envelope membrane, and oregano oil is a safe supplement to antiretrovirals, potentially delaying disease progression and resistance development.
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Strains 17
syn
+
and KOS(M) Differ Greatly in Their Ability To Reactivate from Human Neurons
In Vitro
Authors: Grams Tristan R. , Edwards Terri G. , Bloom David C.
Published: May 2020

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes a lifelong infection in neuronal cells. The virus periodically reactivates and causes recurrent disease. Strains of HSV-1 vary greatly in their virulence and potential to reactivate in animal models. Although these differences are phenotypically well defined, factors contributing to the strains’ abilities to reactivate are largely unknown. We utilized a human neuronal cell line model of HSV latency and reactivation (LUHMES) to characterize the latent infection of two HSV-1 wild-type strains. We find that strain-specific differences in reactivation are recapitulated in LUHMES. Additionally, these differences correlate with the degree of heterochromatinization of the latent genomes. Our data suggest that the epigenetic state of the viral genome is an important determinant of reactivation that varies in a strain-specific manner. This work also shows the first evidence of strain-specific differences in reactivation outside the context of the whole animal at a human neuronal cell level.
Children and young people’s concerns and needs relating to their use of health technology to self-manage long-term conditions: a scoping review
Authors: Blower Sarah , Swallow Veronica , Maturana Camila , Stones Simon , Phillips Robert , Dimitri Paul , Marshman Zoe , Knapp Peter , Dean Alexandra , Higgins Steven , Kellar Ian , Curtis Penny , Mills Nathaniel , Martin-Kerry Jacqueline
Published: May 2020

Background

The use of patient-facing health technologies to manage long-term conditions is increasing; however, children and young people may have particular concerns or needs before deciding to use different health technologies.

Aims

To identify children and young people’s reported concerns or needs in relation to using health technologies to self-manage long-term conditions.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted. We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL in February 2019. Searches were limited to papers published between January 2008 and February 2019. We included any health technology used to manage long-term conditions. A thematic synthesis of the data from the included studies was undertaken. We engaged children with long-term conditions (and parents) to support review design, interpretation of findings and development of recommendations.

Results

Thirty-eight journal articles were included, describing concerns or needs expressed by n=970 children and/or young people aged 5–18 years. Most included studies were undertaken in high-income countries with children aged 11 years and older. Studies examined concerns with mobile applications (n=14), internet (n=9), social media (n=3), interactive online treatment programmes (n=3), telehealth (n=1), devices (n=3) or a combination (n=5). Children and young people’s main concerns were labelling and identity; accessibility; privacy and reliability; and trustworthiness of information.

Discussion

This review highlights important concerns that children and young people may have before using technology to self-manage their long-term condition. In future, research should involve children and young people throughout the development of technology, from identifying their unmet needs through to design and evaluation of interventions.
Night-time confusion in an elderly woman post-stroke
Authors: van der Linden M Christien , van den Wijngaard Ido R , van der Linden Shanna , van der Linden Naomi
Published: May 2020

For patients with acute ischaemic stroke, faster recanalisation improves the chances of a disability-free life and a quick discharge from the hospital. Hospital discharge, certainly after suffering a major life-changing event such as a stroke, is a complex and vulnerable phase in the patient’s journey. Elderly are particularly vulnerable to the stressors caused by hospitalisation. Recently hospitalised patients are not only recovering from their acute illness; they also experience a period of generalised risk for a range of adverse events. At the same time, elderly generally prefer living in their own homes and should be discharged from the hospital and return home as quickly as possible. Both premature and delayed discharge are potential threats to patient well-being. We present a 90-year-old patient who underwent successful thrombectomy but suffered from night-time confusion at the hospital and discuss the transition process from hospital to home.