bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Priority setting: Consensus for Australia's infant safe sleeping public health promotion programme
Authors: Cole Roni , Young Jeanine , Kearney Lauren , Thompson John MD
Published: September 2020

Aim

To develop focused priorities to inform the revision of Australia's Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) risk reduction public health programme.

Methods

A content expert consensus research activity was designed using two consensus techniques. The two‐phase study employed a Delphi process (phase 1) and a Nominal Group workshop technique (phase 2). The Delphi invited 56 national and international content experts. The Nominal Group comprised 17 Australasian experts and stakeholders to ensure priority setting was relevant to the Australian context.

Results

Phase 1 established a ranked thematic list of 10 key SUDI risk reduction themes. Phase 2 addressed three nominal questions producing prioritised lists for: key‐message wording; contextual information and strategies to support caregiver implementation of key messages; and considerations in redesigning and dissemination of a safe sleep campaign. The top four priority themes were: sleep position, sleep space, smoking and surface‐sharing.

Conclusion

This two‐phase priority setting was successful in establishing clearly defined infant safe sleep priorities. International content expert participation in phase 1 strengthened priority setting outcomes while phase 2 ensured final outcomes provided a strong national focus reflective of identified needs of Australian families. Findings provide a foundation from which important components can be considered when revising and developing future SUDI risk reduction programmes.
A quality improvement project to improve the identification and management of delirium
Authors: Sutton‐Smith Lynsey
Published: September 2020

Background

Efforts to reduce delirium burden through screening, identification, and prevention is considered one of the major public health priorities of the last decade. In 2017, an audit of delirium screening in our unit revealed suboptimum assessment of our patients, with compliance with the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM‐ICU) assessments highly variable and ad hoc, and sometimes not at all. A separate sedation audit also revealed that our sedation practices did not align with current critical care guidelines emphasizing light sedation strategies.

Aim

The aim of this project was to develop resources to educate the unit on delirium, improve the management of sedation with a sedation algorithm, formalize the elements of delirium prevention and care into a delirium pathway, and improve the compliance with delirium screening.

Methods

We developed a delirium clinical pathway and sedation algorithm, a delirium resource book, and an online educational module on the district health board (DHB) intranet. We provided extensive teaching of all these resources over delirium month. We used pre‐ and post‐auditing of sedation practices and delirium screening compliance to inform the success of this project.

Results

Of the 140 members of staff, 85% (n = 120) received delirium education. In 2018/2019, 84% of 145 patient charts reached the unit standard of four to six hourly CAM‐ICU assessments compared with 45% in 2017. The sedation audit revealed a slight improvement in the trend towards lighter sedation, with Richmond Agitation Sedation Scoring (RASS) scores reflecting light sedation, increasing from a mean of 31% in 2017 to 41% in 2019 from 41 patient charts.

Conclusions

This project provides a useful framework to enable future quality improvement work around delirium and sedation management. The clinical pathway and sedation algorithm have been a useful tool to introduce to the unit as a way of formalizing the elements of delirium care and assessment.
What exercise prescription is optimal to improve body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults living with obesity? A network meta‐analysis
Authors: O'Donoghue Grainne , Blake Catherine , Cunningham Caitriona , Lennon Olive , Perrotta Carla
Published: September 2020

Current international guidelines recommend people living with obesity should be prescribed a minimum of 300 min of moderately intense activity per week for weight loss. However, the most efficacious exercise prescription to improve anthropometry, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and metabolic health in this population remains unknown. Thus, this network meta‐analysis was conducted to assess and rank comparative efficacy of different exercise interventions on anthropometry, CRF and other metabolic risk factors. Five electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared different exercise modalities to improve anthropometry, CRF and/or metabolic health in adults living with obesity. RCTs were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A random effects network meta‐analysis was performed within a frequentist framework. Of the 6663 articles retrieved, 45 studies with a total 3566 participants were included. Results reveal that while any type of exercise intervention is more effective than control, weight loss induced is modest. Interventions that combine high‐intensity aerobic and high‐load resistance training exert beneficial effects that are superior to any other exercise modality at decreasing abdominal adiposity, improving lean body mass and increasing CRF. Clinicians should consider this evidence when prescribing exercise for adults living with obesity, to ensure optimal effectiveness.
Teaching spiritual solidarity through “Human Books”
Authors: Fahed Ziad
Published: September 2020

While defining “spiritual solidarity” and its importance for students in a context of growing extremism, this article explores the impact of using a new teaching tactic: “Human Books.” The pedagogical purpose of “Human Books” is to propose an interactive learning experience joining formation and information, where students learn through personal dialogue with people who have overcome challenges while impacting their community. This approach achieves a stronger student engagement not only at the rational level but also at a deeper emotional and spiritual level. It helps students to overcome their misconceptions and perceive spirituality as a platform of “interconnectedness.” This process recognizes the richness and authenticity of each person's spiritual and theological experience. It provides a unique bridge to discover commonalities and spiritual solidarity through dialogue.
Performance evaluation for distributionally robust optimization with binary entries
Authors: Ohmori Shunichi , Yoshimoto Kazuho
Published: September 2020

We consider the data-driven stochastic programming problem with binary entries where the probability of existence of each entry is not known, instead realization of data is provided. We applied the distributionally robust optimization technique to minimize the worst-case expected cost taken over the ambiguity set based on the Kullback-Leibler divergence. We investigate the out-of-sample performance of the resulting optimal decision and analyze its dependence on the sparsity of the problem.
Chemical synthesis and steady state characterization of a nanocrystalline lithium cobalt oxide
Authors: Gómez-Cuaspud Jairo A. , Neira-Guio Ariatna Y , Vera-López Enrique , Canaría-Camargo Luís C.
Published: September 2020

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) is one of the most relevant components in lithium-ion batteries. The array of sought-after features of LiCoO2 depends on its synthesis method. In this work we synthesized and characterized a nanocrystalline LiCoO2 oxide obtained with a wet chemistry synthesis method. The oxide obtained was a homogeneous powder in the nanometric range (5-8 nm) and exhibited a series of improved properties. Characterization by FTIR and UV-Vis techniques led to identifying citrate species as main products in the ﬁrst step of the synthesis process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations led to identifying a pure crystalline phase of the synthesized LiCoO2 oxide. Steady state electrical characterization and solid-state impedance spectroscopy determined the high conductance of the synthesized oxide. All these features are desirable in the design of cathodes for lithium ion batteries.
Identification and life history of aphids associated with chili pepper crops in southwestern Colombia
Authors: Manzano Maria R. , Tálaga-Taquinas William , Melo-Cerón Clara Inés , Lagos-Álvarez Yorley Beatriz , Duque-Gamboa Diana N. , Toro-Perea Nelson
Published: September 2020

Viral diseases, transmitted by aphids, are the most limiting problems in chili pepper crops. Understanding the demographic features of these aphids, may thus assist the design of better disease control strategies in chili peppers. Aphid species found in chili pepper crops in south western Colombia were identiﬁed as Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer). An array of life-history parameters of both aphid species were investigated at (25 ± 0.5) ◦C, (75 ± 1.75) % r.h., L12:D12, and LS 5-Light Storm in chili pepper crops. Both aphid populations consisted only of parthenogenetic females, showing a similar average development time—from the ﬁrst nymphal instar to the post-reproductive adult—, female longevity, and daily average fertility values. The length of the reproductive period was higher for M. persicae. A. gossypii reached its adult state signiﬁcantly faster than M. persicae. The intrinsic rate of population growth (rm) was lower for M.persicae (0.39) compared to A. gossypii (0.43). Results showed a potential for fast population growth in both species, which would enhance their role as virus vectors. The information acquired is essential to develop pest management initiatives for these two aphid species.
Stability, reliability, and sensitivity of acoustic measures of vowel space: A comparison of vowel space area, formant centralization ratio, and vowel articulation index
Authors: Caverlé Marja W. J. , Vogel Adam P.
Published: September 2020

Vowel space (VS) measurements can provide objective information on formant distribution and act as a proxy for vowel production. There are a number of proposed ways to quantify vowel production clinically, including vowel space area, formant centralization ratio, and vowel articulation index (VAI). The stability, reliability, and sensitivity of three VS measurements were investigated in two experiments. Stability was explored across three inter-recording intervals and challenged in two sensitivity conditions. Data suggest that VAI is the most stable measure across 30 s, 2 h, and 4 h inter-recording intervals. VAI appears the most sensitive metric of the three measures in conditions of fatigue and noise. These analyses highlight the need for stability and sensitivity analysis when developing and validating acoustic metrics, and underscore the potential of the VAI for vowel analysis.
Asthmatic versus healthy child classification based on cough and vocalised /ɑ:/ sounds
Authors: B. T. Balamurali , Hee Hwan Ing , Teoh O. H. , Lee K. P. , Kapoor Saumitra , Herremans Dorien , Chen Jer-Ming
Published: September 2020

Cough is a common symptom presenting in asthmatic children. In this investigation, an audio-based classification model is presented that can differentiate between healthy and asthmatic children, based on the combination of cough and vocalised /ɑ:/ sounds. A Gaussian mixture model using mel-frequency cepstral coefficients and constant-Q cepstral coefficients was trained. When comparing the predicted labels with the clinician's diagnosis, this cough sound model reaches an overall accuracy of 95.3%. The vocalised /ɑ:/ model reaches an accuracy of 72.2%, which is still significant because the dataset contains only 333 /ɑ:/ sounds versus 2029 cough sounds.
Universal viscosifying behavior of acrylamide-based polymers used in enhanced oil recovery
Authors: Jouenne S. , Levache B.
Published: September 2020

Conventional polymers used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) are acrylamide-based copolymers of very high molecular weight. Their viscosity in aqueous solution depends on various physicochemical parameters such as monomer composition, concentration, average molecular weight, polydispersity, salinity level and ionic composition, temperature, etc. Moreover, solutions are non-Newtonian; they exhibit low-shear Newtonian plateau viscosity at a low-shear rate followed by a shear thinning region at a higher shear rate. In the absence of a predictive model, for any new polymer grade or lot, any new or slightly varying field condition, it is necessary to perform a whole set of viscosity measurements at varying concentrations, which is tedious, time-consuming, and not valuable. Flow curves (viscosity vs shear rate) were measured on a great number of polymer solutions in various physicochemical conditions (variation of the polymer microstructure, monomer composition, molecular weight, brine salinity, and temperature). The flow curves in dilute nonentangled, semidilute nonentangled, and semidilute entangled regimes were modeled by only two adjustable parameters: the intrinsic viscosity [η] and the relaxation time in the dilute regime λd. The zero-shear viscosity η0 (more specifically, the specific viscosity ηsp) and the power law index n obey master curves that are solely functions of the overlap parameter C[η]. The relaxation time λ depends on C[η] and the relaxation time in the dilute regime λd. All these results are consistent with predictions for a neutral polymer in a good solvent. By using these master curves, intrinsic viscosity of any polymer/brine system can be easily obtained at various temperatures from a single measurement in the semidilute regime in which viscosity is higher than water, and classic rheometers are very sensitive. The whole flow curve η(γ˙) can be predicted at any concentration, temperature, and molecular weight. For any unknown polymer/brine system, the determination of λd enables us to determine the viscosimetric average molecular weight M of the polymer. Finally, by using the additive property of the intrinsic viscosity of binary solutions, a method is proposed to evaluate the molecular weight of field samples. Polymer physics is today considered well described and well known. However, the beauty and the usefulness of this physics have been partly ignored by the EOR community up to now. This study gives a methodology to predict the viscosifying behavior and the molecular weight of any acrylamide-based copolymer/brine system. By attributing the molecular weight rather than a viscosity value, on-site and lab quality control will be greatly improved.
“Opinion and Fact, Perspective and Truth”: Seeking Truthfulness and Integrity in Coaching and Coach Education
Authors: Stoszkowski John , MacNamara Áine , Collins Dave , Hodgkinson Aran
Published: September 2020

Recent developments have seen a growth in coaching, with an associated boom in interest on how it may be optimised. Clearly, the authors applaud this evolution. This growth has been parallelled by an explosion in the availability of information, driven through Internet access and the phenomenon of social media. Unfortunately, however, this juxtaposition of interest and availability has not been matched by the application or exercise of effective quality control. While much of what is available is well intentioned, a tendency for poor quality and possibly less positively targeted “bullshit” has also arisen. In this insights paper, the authors have considered some of the reasons why and argued that an emphasis on the development of critical and analytical thinking, as well as a scepticism towards the sources of information, would be a positive step against coach susceptibility to bullshit. In doing so, and to encourage more critical consumption of the “knowledge” available, the authors presented a checklist to help coaches assess the veracity of claims and sift through the noise of the coaching landscape.
Selective Inhibition of Coxiella burnetii Replication by the Steroid Hormone Progesterone
Authors: Howard Zachary P. , Omsland Anders
Published: September 2020

Coxiella burnetii
is a zoonotic bacterial obligate intracellular parasite and the cause of query (Q) fever. During natural infection of female animals,
C. burnetii
shows tropism for the placenta and is associated with late-term abortion, at which time the pathogen titer in placental tissue can exceed one billion bacteria per gram. During later stages of pregnancy, placental trophoblasts serve as the major source of progesterone, a steroid hormone known to affect the replication of some pathogens.
Gram Staining: a Comparison of Two Automated Systems and Manual Staining
Authors: Froböse Neele J. , Bjedov Sara , Schuler Franziska , Kahl Barbara C. , Kampmeier Stefanie , Schaumburg Frieder
Published: September 2020

Various Gram staining automated systems are available to accelerate and standardize the staining process, but a systematic comparison of different systems is largely lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate two devices in comparison to manual Gram staining. Clinical samples (
n
 = 500; University Hospital Münster, Germany; May to June 2020) were simultaneously Gram stained manually and with two automated Gram stainers (Previ Color Gram, bioMérieux, and ColorAX2, Axonlab).
Diagnostic Approach for Arboviral Infections in the United States
Authors: Piantadosi Anne , Kanjilal Sanjat
Published: September 2020

Domestic arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are single-stranded RNA viruses, the most common of which include the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, La Crosse virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, and eastern equine encephalitis virus, as well as the tick-borne Powassan virus. Previously considered rare infections, they have been detected with increasing frequency over the past 2 decades. Here, we present an overview of the domestic arboviruses listed above and describe the modalities employed to diagnose infection.
Placental Alkaline Phosphatase Promotes Zika Virus Replication by Stabilizing Viral Proteins through BIP
Authors: Chen Jian , Chen Zhilu , Liu Mingbin , Qiu Tianyi , Feng Daobin , Zhao Chen , Zhang Shuye , Zhang Xiaoyan , Xu Jianqing
Published: September 2020

ZIKV is a recently emerged mosquito-borne flavivirus that can cause devastating congenital Zika syndrome in pregnant women and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults, but how ZIKV specifically targets the placenta is not well understood. Here, we identified an alkaline phosphatase (ALPP) that is expressed primarily in placental tissue and promotes ZIKV infection by colocalizing with ZIKV proteins and preventing their proteasome-mediated degradation. The phosphatase activity of ALPP could be required for optimal ZIKV infection, and ALPP is stabilized by BIP via its chaperone activity. This report provides novel insights into host factors required for ZIKV infection, which potentially has implications for ZIKV infection of the placenta.
It’s the Little Things (in Viral RNA)
Authors: Potužník Jiří František , Cahová Hana
Published: September 2020

Chemical modifications of viral RNA are an integral part of the viral life cycle and are present in most classes of viruses. To date, more than 170 RNA modifications have been discovered in all types of cellular RNA. Only a few, however, have been found in viral RNA, and the function of most of these has yet to be elucidated. Those few we have discovered and whose functions we understand have a varied effect on each virus. They facilitate RNA export from the nucleus, aid in viral protein synthesis, recruit host enzymes, and even interact with the host immune machinery.
Gut Microbiota and Metabolome Alterations Associated with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Vascellari Sarah , Palmas Vanessa , Melis Marta , Pisanu Silvia , Cusano Roberto , Uva Paolo , Perra Daniela , Madau Veronica , Sarchioto Marianna , Oppo Valentina , Simola Nicola , Morelli Micaela , Santoru Maria Laura , Atzori Luigi , Melis Maurizio , Cossu Giovanni , Manzin Aldo
Published: September 2020

To our knowledge, this is one of the few studies thus far that correlates the composition of the gut microbiota with the direct analysis of fecal metabolites in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Overall, our data highlight microbiota modifications correlated with numerous fecal metabolites. This suggests that Parkinson’s disease is associated with gut dysregulation that involves a synergistic relationship between gut microbes and several bacterial metabolites favoring altered homeostasis. Interestingly, a reduction of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria influenced the shape of the metabolomics profile, affecting several metabolites with potential protective effects in the Parkinson group. On the other hand, the extensive impact that intestinal dysbiosis has at the level of numerous metabolic pathways could encourage the identification of specific biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease, also in light of the effect that specific drugs have on the composition of the intestinal microbiota.
Investigation of predictors of interest in a brief mindfulness-based intervention and its effects in patients with psoriasis at a rehabilitation clinic (SkinMind): an observational study and randomised controlled trial
Authors: Stadtmüller Laura , Eckardt Markus , Zick Christoph , Kupfer Joerg , Schut Christina
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Psoriasis (PS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease accompanied by reduced quality of life. Mindfulness is the ability to focus on the present moment without evaluation. Findings on the effects of 8-week mindfulness trainings in patients with PS reveal positive effects on the severity of the disease and quality of life. However, it remained unclear what distinguishes patients with PS interested in psychological interventions from those without interest and whether also a shorter, namely 2-week mindfulness-based intervention is beneficial in this patient group. This will be investigated with this study.

Methods and analyses

Data will be collected at a rehabilitation clinic in Germany. The study is divided into two parts: study 1a is an observational study. Its aim is to investigate whether sociodemographic, skin-related and psychological factors are significant predictors of interest in a brief psychological intervention in 127 patients with PS. Study 1b is a randomised controlled trial, in which 60 patients (retrieved from study 1a) will be randomised to an intervention or control group (treatment as usual). The main outcome variables are mindfulness and self-compassion. In addition, mediation analyses will be used in an explorative manner to test whether there is a relationship between mindfulness/self-compassion and the severity of PS and whether it is mediated by itch catastrophising and fear of negative evaluation (first model) or perceived stress (second model).

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the University of Giessen. Study results will be disseminated by publication of the results at (inter) national conferences and in scientific journals.

Trial registration numbers

DRKS00017426 and DRKS00017429.
Scoping review protocol on non-pharmacological interventions for interpersonal and self-directed violence in adults with severe mental illness
Authors: Moreno-Calvete Maria Concepcion , Ruiz-Ibañez Ivan , Uriarte-Uriarte Jose Juan
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Violence committed by people with mental illness has implications for mental health policy and clinical practice. Several strategies to reduce the risk of aggressive and violent behaviour have been proposed, and these include non-pharmacological interventions. There is, however, a need to identify which of these interventions are effective, and as a first step, we will conduct a scoping review to identify non-pharmacological interventions for self-directed or interpersonal violence in adults with severe mental illness across different conditions and settings.

Methods and analysis

This is a scoping review protocol. The review will include any randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster RCTs that assess the efficacy of interventions on self-directed or interpersonal violence with no restrictions on the control treatment in people with severe mental illness in any setting. No restrictions will be applied in terms of language or date of publication. To identify studies, a search will be performed in the following databases: Embase, MEDLINE (via PubMed), PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS, SciELO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Epistemonikos and databases of clinical trials. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement will be followed for reporting the findings, including the use of a PRISMA flow diagram. A standardised form will be used to extract data from studies. The findings will be classified using conceptual categories that will be specified in detail and a descriptive summary of the main results will be created. Moreover, it will be assessed whether the studies identified have been included in systematic reviews or meta-analyses and the results will be used to generate a conceptual map.

Ethics and dissemination

No patients or other participants will be involved in this study. We will prepare a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and the results will be presented at mental health conferences.
End-tidal and arterial carbon dioxide gradient in serious traumatic brain injury after prehospital emergency anaesthesia: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Price James , Sandbach Daniel D , Ercole Ari , Wilson Alastair , Barnard Ed Benjamin Graham
Published: September 2020

Objectives

In the UK, 20% of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) receive prehospital emergency anaesthesia (PHEA). Current guidance recommends an end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) of 4.0–4.5 kPa (30.0–33.8 mm Hg) to achieve a low-normal arterial partial pressure of CO2(PaCO2), and reduce secondary brain injury. This recommendation assumes a 0.5 kPa (3.8 mm Hg) ETCO2–PaCO2gradient. However, the gradient in the acute phase of TBI is unknown. The primary aim was to report the ETCO2–PaCO2gradient of TBI patients at hospital arrival.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of adult patients with serious TBI, who received a PHEA by a prehospital critical care team in the East of England between 1 April 2015 and 31 December 2017. Linear regression was performed to test for correlation and reported as R-squared (R2). A Bland-Altman plot was used to test for paired ETCO2and PaCO2agreement and reported with 95% CI. ETCO2–PaCO2gradient data were compared with a two-tailed, unpaired, t-test.

Results

107 patients were eligible for inclusion. Sixty-seven patients did not receive a PaCO2sample within 30 min of hospital arrival and were therefore excluded. Forty patients had complete data and were included in the final analysis; per protocol. The mean ETCO2–PaCO2gradient was 1.7 (±1.0) kPa (12.8 mm Hg), with moderate correlation (R2=0.23, p=0.002). The Bland-Altman bias was 1.7 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.0) kPa with upper and lower limits of agreement of 3.6 (95% CI 3.0 to 4.1) kPa and −0.2 (95% CI −0.8 to 0.3) kPa, respectively. There was no evidence of a larger gradient in more severe TBI (p=0.29). There was no significant gradient correlation in patients with a coexisting serious thoracic injury (R2=0.13, p=0.10), and this cohort had a larger ETCO2–PaCO2gradient, 2.0 (±1.1) kPa (15.1 mm Hg), p=0.01. Patients who underwent prehospital arterial blood sampling had an arrival PaCO2of 4.7 (±0.2) kPa (35.1 mm Hg).

Conclusion

There is only moderate correlation of ETCO2and PaCO2at hospital arrival in patients with serious TBI. The mean ETCO2–PaCO2gradient was 1.7 (±1.0) kPa (12.8 mm Hg). Lower ETCO2targets than previously recommended may be safe and appropriate, and there may be a role for prehospital PaCO2measurement.
Multicentric evaluation of analytical performances digital morphology with respect to the reference methods by manual optical microscopy
Authors: Da Rin Giorgio , Benegiamo Anna , Di Fabio Anna Maria , Dima Francesco , Francione Sara , Fanelli Alessandra , Germagnoli Luca , Lorubbio Maria , Marzoni Alessandro , Pajola Rachele , Pipitone Silvia , Rolla Roberta , Seghezzi Michela , Baigorria Vaca Maria del Carmen , Bartolini Andrea , Buoro Sabrina
Published: September 2020

Aims

Optical microscopic (OM) evaluation of peripheral blood (PB) cells is still a crucial step of the laboratory haematological workflow. The morphological cell analysis is time-consuming and expensive and it requires skilled operator. To address these challenges, automated image-processing systems, as digital morphology (DM), were developed in the last few years. The aim of this multicentre study, performed according to international guidelines, is to verify the analytical performance of DM compared with manual OM, the reference method.

Methods

Four hundred and ninety PB samples were evaluated. For each sample, two May Grunwald-stained and Giemsa-stained smears were performed and the morphological evaluation of cells was analysed with both DM and OM. In addition, the assessment times of both methods were recorded.

Results

Comparison of DM versus OM methods was assessed with Passing-Bablok and Deming fit regression analysis: slopes ranged between 0.17 for atypical, reactive lymphocytes and plasma cells (LY(AT)) and 1.24 for basophils, and the intercepts ranged between −0.09 for blasts and 0.40 for LY(AT). The Bland-Altman bias ranged between −6.5% for eosinophils and 21.8% for meta-myemielocytes. The diagnostic agreement between the two methods was 0.98. The mean of assessment times were 150 s and 250 s for DM and OM, respectively.

Conclusion

DM shows excellent performance. Approximately only 1.6% of PB smears need the OM revision, giving advantages in terms of efficiency, standardisation and assessment time of morphological analysis of the cells. The findings of this study may provide useful information regarding the use of DM to improve the haematological workflow.
Efficacy of Patent Foramen Ovale Closure for Treating Migraine: A Prospective Follow-up Study
Authors: Qi Yi , Zhang Yushun , Luo Xiaohui , Cheng Gesheng , Du Yajuan , Liu Rui , Xie Hui , Cheng Yawen , Guo Yichen , Luo Guogang
Published: September 2020

This study aims to evaluate the potential of percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure to improve the headache in patients with migraine and PFO, and discuss the difference between the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the single-center studies. Patients of migraine with a large shunt of PFO, who experienced ≥2 headache attacks per month and failed ≥2 categories of standardized medication, underwent PFO closure in First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University. The clinical outcomes, including frequency and duration of headache attacks, Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) score, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up after the PFO closure. The different efficacies of the clinical outcomes between patients with and without aura as well as different grades of PFO were also evaluated, respectively. 134 patients with migraine (39 male and 95 female) with PFO were enrolled, whose average age was 39.21±11.37 years. After PFO closure, there was a significant reduction in frequency and duration of headache attacks, HIT-6 score, and VAS score at 3, 6, and 12 months’ follow-up (p<0.001). Migraine was completely relieved in 54 (40.30%) patients during 12 months’ follow-up. The frequency of migraine was reduced by >50% in 44 (32.84%) patients at 3 months’ follow-up and increased to 48 (35.82%) at 12 months’ follow-up. 31.03% patients remained residual shunt after 6 months of closure with varying improvements of headache. This study confirmed that PFO closure can effectively reduce frequency and duration of migraine and improve quality of life, but the definitive indications and long-term effect still need further research.
Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus ipilimumab in resectable non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Reuss Joshua E , Anagnostou Valsamo , Cottrell Tricia R , Smith Kellie N , Verde Franco , Zahurak Marianna , Lanis Mara , Murray Joseph C , Chan Hok Yee , McCarthy Caroline , Wang Daphne , White James R , Yang Stephen , Battafarano Richard , Broderick Stephen , Bush Errol , Brock Malcolm , Ha Jinny , Jones David , Merghoub Taha , Taube Janis , Velculescu Victor E , Rosner Gary , Illei Peter , Pardoll Drew M , Topalian Suzanne , Naidoo Jarushka , Levy Ben , Hellmann Matthew , Brahmer Julie R , Chaft Jamie E , Forde Patrick M
Published: September 2020

Background

We conducted the first trial of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), finding nivolumab monotherapy to be safe and feasible with an encouraging rate of pathologic response. Building on these results, and promising data for nivolumab plus ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) in advanced NSCLC, we expanded our study to include an arm investigating neoadjuvant nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

Methods

Patients with resectable stage IB (≥4 cm)–IIIA (American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor Node Metastases seventh edition), histologically confirmed, treatment-naïve NSCLC received nivolumab 3 mg/kg intravenously plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg intravenously 6 weeks prior to planned resection. Nivolumab 3 mg/kg was given again approximately 4 and 2 weeks preoperatively. Primary endpoints were safety and feasibility with a planned enrollment of 15 patients. Pathologic response was a key secondary endpoint.

Results

While the treatment regimen was feasible per protocol, due to toxicity, the study arm was terminated early by investigator consensus after 9 of 15 patients were enrolled. All patients received every scheduled dose of therapy and were fit for planned surgery; however, 6 of 9 (67%) experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and 3 (33%) experienced grade ≥3 TRAEs. Three of 9 patients (33%) had biopsy-confirmed tumor progression precluding definitive surgery. Of the 6 patients who underwent resection, 3 are alive and disease-free, 2 experienced recurrence and are actively receiving systemic treatment, and one died postoperatively due to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Two patients who underwent resection had tumor pathologic complete responses (pCRs) and continue to remain disease-free over 24 months since surgery. Pathologic response correlated with pre-treatment tumor PD-L1 expression, but not tumor mutation burden. Tumor KRAS/STK11 co-mutations were identified in 5 of 9 patients (59%), of whom two with disease progression precluding surgery had tumor KRAS/STK11/KEAP1 co-mutations.

Conclusions

Though treatment was feasible, due to toxicity the study arm was terminated early by investigator consensus. In light of this, and while the long-term disease-free status of patients who achieved pCR is encouraging, further investigation of neoadjuvant nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with resectable NSCLC requires the identification of predictive biomarkers that enrich for response.
De novo mutations of SCN1A are responsible for arthrogryposis broadening the SCN1A-related phenotypes
Authors: Jaber Dana , Gitiaux Cyril , Blesson Sophie , Marguet Florent , Buard David , Varela Salgado Maritzaida , Kaminska Anna , Saada Julien , Fallet-Bianco Catherine , Martinovic Jelena , Laquerriere Annie , Melki Judith
Published: September 2020

Background

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is the direct consequence of reduced fetal movements. AMC includes a large spectrum of diseases which result from variants in genes encoding components required for the formation or the function of the neuromuscular system. AMC may also result from central nervous involvement. SCN1A encodes Nav1.1, a critical component of voltage-dependent sodium channels which underlie action potential generation and propagation. Variants of SCN1A are known to be responsible for Dravet syndrome, a severe early-onset epileptic encephalopathy. We report pathogenic heterozygous missense de novo variants in SCN1A in three unrelated individuals with AMC.

Methods

Whole-exome sequencing was performed from DNA of the index case of AMC families. Heterozygous missense variants in SCN1A (p.Leu893Phe, p.Ala989Thr, p.Ile236Thr) were identified in three patients. Sanger sequencing confirmed the variants and showed that they occurred de novo.

Results

AMC was diagnosed from the second trimester of pregnancy in the three patients. One of them developed drug-resistant epileptic seizures from birth. We showed that SCN1A is expressed in both brain and spinal cord but not in skeletal muscle during human development. The lack of motor denervation as established by electromyographic studies or pathological examination of the spinal cord or skeletal muscle in the affected individuals suggests that AMC is caused by brain involvement.

Conclusion

We show for the first time that SCN1A variants are responsible for early-onset motor defect leading to AMC indicating a critical role of SCN1A in prenatal motor development and broadening the phenotypic spectrum of variants in SCN1A.
Primordial universe with the running cosmological constant
Authors: Ruiz Jhonny A. Agudelo , de Paula Netto Tibério , Fabris Júlio C. , Shapiro Ilya L.
Published: September 2020

Theoretically, the running of the cosmological constant in the IR region is not ruled out. On the other hand, from the QFT viewpoint, the energy released due to the variation of the cosmological constant in the late Universe cannot go to the matter sector. For this reason, the phenomenological bounds on such a running are not sufficiently restrictive. The situation can be different in the early Universe when the gravitational field was sufficiently strong to provide an efficient creation of particles from the vacuum. We develop a framework for systematically exploring this possibility. It is supposed that the running occurs in the epoch when the Dark Matter already decoupled and is expanding adiabatically, while the usual matter should be regarded approximately massless and can be abundantly created from vacuum due to the decay of vacuum energy. By using the handy model of Reduced Relativistic Gas for describing the warm Dark Matter, we consider the dynamics of both cosmic background and linear perturbations and evaluate the impact of the vacuum decay on the matter power spectrum and to the first CMB peak. Additionally, using the combined SNIa+BAO data, we find the best-fit values for the free parameters of the model.
CAN WINNERS KEEP WINNING? AN ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE PERSISTENCE OF MUTUAL FUNDS AND HEDGE FUNDS IN CHINA
Authors: ZHAI LIANGBO , WANG WEI
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates the performance persistence of both mutual funds and hedge funds using China’s data covering the period from January 2010 to December 2019. We first use a nonparametric method to examine the performance persistence with net return and Sharpe ratio over monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual intervals. We first find evidence that performance persistence exists in some years for both mutual funds and hedge funds. Then we construct portfolios based on lagged one-year returns and estimate their performance. We find top-performing portfolios of hedge funds that can get significantly positive alpha while no portfolio of mutual funds can get positive alpha.
Research and Application of High-Speed and Adjustable Synchronous Data Transfer System Based on USB 3.0 Peripheral Controller
Authors: Huang Junze , Wang Yueming
Published: September 2020

Since bulk transfer bandwidth of the host is unstable, the universal serial bus (USB) 3.0 hyperspectral data transfer system can only achieve a data transfer rate of about 30 MBps which is less than one-fifteenth of USB 3.0 theoretical transfer rate of 5 Gbps. For aerial hyperspectral imager, data transfer system is required to meet different frame rates of detector for different speed-to-height ratios. In this paper, we propose a high-speed and adjustable synchronous transfer system. The USB 3.0 peripheral controller uses synchronous first in first out (FIFO) and automatic direct memory access (DMA) to achieve the highest data transfer bandwidth. The USB acquisition software collects a data block in every fixed time interval. The size in bytes of every data block must be an integer multiple of the maximum data packet payload size, which is a necessary condition for using automatic DMA and bulk transfers. The data transfer rate of the system could be adjusted by directly changing the data block size and acquisition time interval. The experimental results show that the synchronous transfer mechanism could facilitate the 100-MBps error-free and high data transfer bandwidth application on a hyperspectral data processing system.
Building models of inflation in no-scale supergravity
Authors: Ellis John , García Marcos A. G. , Nagata Natsumi , Nanopoulos Dimitri V. , Olive Keith A. , Verner Sarunas
Published: September 2020

After reviewing the motivations for cosmological inflation formulated in the formalism of supersymmetry, we argue that the appropriate framework is that of no-scale supergravity. We then show how to construct within this framework inflationary models whose predictions for the tilt in the spectrum of scalar perturbations, [Formula: see text], and the ratio, [Formula: see text], of tensor and scalar perturbations coincide with those of the [Formula: see text] model of inflation proposed by Starobinsky. A more detailed study of no-scale supergravity reveals a structure that is closely related to that of [Formula: see text] modifications of the minimal Einstein–Hilbert action for general relativity, opening avenues for constructing no-scale de Sitter and anti-de Sitter models by combining pairs of Minkowski models, as well as generalizations of the original no-scale Starobinsky models of inflation. We then discuss the phenomenology of no-scale models of inflation, including inflaton decay and reheating, and then the construction of explicit scenarios based on SU(5), SO(10) and string-motivated flipped SU(5)×U(1) GUT models. The latter provides a possible model of almost everything below the Planck scale, including neutrino masses and oscillations, the cosmological baryon asymmetry and cold dark matter, as well as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Integrated Cretaceous–Cenozoic plate tectonics and structural geology in southern Mexico
Authors: Graham Rod , Pindell James , Villagómez Diego , Molina-Garza Roberto , Granath James , Sierra-Rojas Maria
Published: September 2020

The structural evolution of southern Mexico is described in the context of its plate tectonic evolution and illustrated by two restored crustal scale cross-sections through Cuicateco and the Veracruz Basin and a third across Chiapas. We interpret the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous opening of an oblique hyper-stretched intra-arc basin between the Cuicateco Belt and Oaxaca Block of southern Mexico where Lower Cretaceous deep-water sediments accumulated. These rocks, together with the hyper-stretched basement beneath them and the Oaxaca Block originally west of them, were thrust onto the Cretaceous platform of the Cuicateco region during a Late Cretaceous–Eocene orogenic event. The mylonitic complex of the Sierra de Juárez represents this hyper-stretched basement, perhaps itself an extensional allochthon. The Chiapas fold-and-thrust belt is mainly Neogene in age. Shallowing of the subduction angle of the Cocos Plate in the wake of the Chortis Block, suggested by seismicity and migrating arc volcanism, is thought to play an important role in the development of the Chiapas fold-and-thrust belt itself, helping to explain the structural dilemma of a vertical transcurrent plate boundary fault (the Tonalá Fault) at the back of an essentially dip-slip fold-and-thrust belt.
Firearm Instrumentality: Do Guns Make Violent Situations More Lethal?
Authors: Braga Anthony A. , Griffiths Elizabeth , Sheppard Keller , Douglas Stephen
Published: September 2020

One of the central debates animating the interpretation of gun research for public policy is the question of whether the presence of firearms independently makes violent situations more lethal, known as an instrumentality effect, or whether determined offenders will simply substitute other weapons to affect fatalities in the absence of guns. The latter position assumes sufficient intentionality among homicide assailants to kill their victims, irrespective of the tools available to do so. Studies on the lethality of guns, the likelihood of injury by weapon type, offender intent, and firearm availability provide considerable evidence that guns contribute to fatalities that would otherwise have been nonfatal assaults. The increasing lethality of guns, based on size and technology, and identifiable gaps in existing gun control policies mean that new and innovative policy interventions are required to reduce firearm fatalities and to alleviate the substantial economic and social costs associated with gun violence.
Symbiont-Mediated Digestion of Plant Biomass in Fungus-Farming Insects
Authors: Li Hongjie , Young Soleil E. , Poulsen Michael , Currie Cameron R.
Published: September 2020

Feeding on living or dead plant material is widespread in insects. Seminal work on termites and aphids has provided profound insights into the critical nutritional role that microbes play in plant-feeding insects. Some ants, beetles, and termites, among others, have evolved the ability to use microbes to gain indirect access to plant substrate through the farming of a fungus on which they feed. Recent genomic studies, including studies of insect hosts and fungal and bacterial symbionts, as well as metagenomics and proteomics, have provided important insights into plant biomass digestion across insect–fungal mutualisms. Not only do advances in understanding of the divergent and complementary functions of complex symbionts reveal the mechanism of how these herbivorous insects catabolize plant biomass, but these symbionts also represent a promising reservoir for novel carbohydrate-active enzyme discovery, which is of considerable biotechnological interest.
Electrochemical Detection of Serotonin Using t-ZrO2 Nanoparticles Modified Carbon Paste Electrode
Authors: Bullapura Matt Santhosh , Shivanna Manjunatha , Manjunath Shivakumar , Siddalinganahalli Manjappa , Siddalingappa Dharmaprakash Mallenahalli
Published: September 2020

Synthesis of zirconium oxide (zirconia) (ZrO2) nanoparticles (ZNPs) through gel combustion technique as well as their structural and morphological characterization using XRD, SEM and TEM forms the central theme of this work. Along with structural and morphological characterization, an electrochemical detection of Serotonin (5-HT) is described using ZNPs Modified Carbon Paste Electrode (ZMCPE). The XRD results confirms that particles are well crystallized in tetragonal phase with average particle size of 35 nm. From SEM it can be observed that, the materials formed is porous in nature and the particles are seems to be uniform in size. HRTEM reveals that, the particles size in the order of 30–40 nm and the crystallinity was supported by SAED pattern of the ZNPs and these results are in close agreement with the results obtained through XRD. The Electrochemical detection of Serotonin (5-HT) was performed through cyclic voltammetric and differential pulse voltammetric method at different circumstances like concentration of the analyte, applied potentials and pH of the medium. The DPV experiments shows that ZMCPE displays high sensitivity for the quantification of serotonin (5-HT) in the range 10–50 μM and the limit of detection is 0.585 μM. The ZMCPE gives good reproducibility, high catalytic activity and sensitivity for the electrochemical quantification of Serotonin.