bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Use of Antibiotics and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease in the Nurses’ Health Study
Authors: Palacios Natalia , O’Reilly Éilis J , Schwarzschild Michael A. , Ascherio Alberto
Published: January 2020

Objective. Antibiotic use is one of the strongest environmental predictors of an altered and less diverse gut microbiome, which has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. To our knowledge, no prior study has examined the association between long-term antibiotic use and Parkinson’s disease. Design. We conducted a prospective study of 59,637 women in the Nurses’ Health Study who reported total duration of antibiotic use at ages 20–39, 40–59, 60 +, or during the past 4 years. We used Cox Proportional Hazard regression to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between categories of antibiotic use and risk of PD. Results. One hundred and eighty cases of PD were confirmed during the follow-up. Self-reported antibiotic use at ages 20–39, 40–59, and 60 +, as assessed in 2004, was not significantly associated with PD risk in our cohort. The hazard ratio comparing participants who used antibiotics for 2 or more months vs. 1–14 days at age 20–39 was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.54, 1.78), at age 40–59 was 1.44 (95% CI: 0.88, 2.33), and at age 60 +was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.53, 1.47). Antibiotic use during the past four years, as assessed in 2008, was also not associated with future risk of PD (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.62, 2.10). Conclusion. In this cohort study, we did not observe a significant association between antibiotic use and incidence PD. A major limitation of our study is assessment of exposure, which required many participants to recall their antibiotic use decades in the past. Thus, although the results of this study do not support an effect of antibiotic use on PD risk, larger investigations relying on records of antibiotic prescriptions would provide more definitive evidence.
Isolated Distal Fibular Stress Fracture after Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Patient with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Authors: Nishino Tomofumi , Ochiai Fumi , Yoshizawa Tomohiro , Mishima Hajime , Yamazaki Masashi
Published: January 2020

Stress fractures following total hip arthroplasty in the lower limbs away from the surgical area are very rare. We report a case of stress fracture in the isolated distal fibula that presented five months after total hip arthroplasty in a patient with developmental dysplasia of the hip. A 67-year-old woman diagnosed with coxarthrosis of the right hip joint, classified as Crowe’s group 3, underwent total hip arthroplasty with acetabular reconstruction using a bulk bone graft. The surgery successfully treated the preoperative leg length discrepancy and flexion and external rotation contractures. The alignment of the right lower limbs changed from slight varus to valgus knee following surgery. The postoperative process went well; however, she experienced lateral ankle pain on the affected side five months after surgery. No obvious fracture was observed via radiograph; however, she received a subsequent diagnosis of isolated distal fibula stress fracture. Additionally, she was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. Valgus alignment change of the knee joint and vitamin D deficiency were considered the main causes of the stress fracture. Stress fractures should be suspected in patients complaining of unexpected pain following total hip arthroplasty, even in distant areas of the affected limb, especially in osteoporotic patients.
Patient with Crouzon Syndrome Treated with Modified Le Fort III Osteotomy without Previous Orthodontic Treatment: Case Report and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Mohammadi Farnoosh , Javanmard Afrooz , Mojtahedi Hamid
Published: January 2020

Crouzon syndrome is the most common type of craniofacial dysostosis anomaly which presents a great challenge for clinicians since birth. Multiple synostoses in the sutures of the cranial base in this syndrome result in the hypoplasia of the midface, shallow orbits, a short nasal dorsum, maxillary hypoplasia, and, in severe cases, obstruction of the upper airways. Apart from esthetic and functional problems, these patients suffer from various psychological problems which mandate correction of midface deformities at younger ages. The aim of this report is to describe the case of a 26-year-old female patient with Crouzon syndrome displaying severe midface hypoplasia and proptosis with no history of orthodontic treatment, who was treated with modified Le Fort III osteotomy with a coronal and intraoral approach without periocular incisions.
Disturbance Observer-Based Integral Backstepping Control for a Two-Tank Liquid Level System Subject to External Disturbances
Authors: Meng Xiangxiang , Yu Haisheng , Wu Herong , Xu Tao
Published: January 2020

A novel method of disturbance observer-based integral backstepping control is proposed for the two-tank liquid level system with external disturbances. The problem of external disturbances can be settled in this paper. Firstly, the mathematical model of the two-tank liquid level system is established based on fluid mechanics and principle of mass conservation. Secondly, an integral backstepping control strategy is designed in order to ensure liquid level tracking performance by making the tracking errors converge to zero in finite time. Thirdly, a disturbance observer is designed for the two-tank liquid level system with external disturbances. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is verified by simulation and experiment. By doing so, the simulation and experimental results prove that the scheme of disturbance observer-based integral backstepping control strategy can suppress external disturbances more effective than the disturbance observer-based sliding mode control method and has better dynamic and steady performance of the two-tank liquid level system.
Compatibility Study of 1,1-Diamino-2,2-Dinitroethene (FOX-7) with Some Energetic Materials
Authors: Zhang Yuan-ping , Hou Cong-hua , Jia Xin-lei , Tan Ying-xin , Wang Jing-yu
Published: January 2020

1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) is a novel explosive with low sensitivity and high performance. The compatibility of FOX-7 with nine common energetic materials including hexanitrohexazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), 3,4-dinitrofurazanfuroxan (DNTF), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), hexanitrostilbene (HNS-II), 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105), 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TATB), and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) were tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the vacuum stability test (VST) as the thermal technique and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) as a nonthermal technique. DSC measurements showed that the binary systems of FOX-7/CL-20, FOX-7/HMX, FOX-7/NTO, and FOX-7/TNT were compatible in grade of A, the systems of FOX-7 with heat-resistant explosives including HNS-II, LLM-105, and TATB were compatible as well in grade of A-B, and the binary systems of FOX-7/DNTF and FOX-7/RDX had poor compatibility. VST results indicated that FOX-7 was compatible with nine energetic materials. Besides, the compatibility results of the thermal analysis were confirmed by the XRD technique.
Study of Microstructure and Properties of 316L with Selective Laser Melting Based on Multivariate Interaction Influence
Authors: Sun Jianfeng , Shen Lu , Wang Weiqiang , Liu Zhu , Chen Huaming , Duan Jieli
Published: January 2020

The selective laser melting technique is widely used in aerospace and biomedical industries, and the performance of formed 316L parts is significantly subject to the forming angle. As the selective laser melting 316L parts are constrained by multiple performance indexes, the study involves multivariate interaction influenced on the forming parameters such as the angle with the xz plane, the angle with the xy plane, laser power, scan speed, powder thickness, and hatching space on the indexes like tensile strength, density, and surface roughness with linear regression equations based on multiobjective optimization to obtain the best process parameters. The study results of microstructure performance of the formed 316L parts show that the angle with the xz plane has significant effect on the experiment indexes, while the layer thickness has the greatest effect on the indexes. After stretching, the molten pools are obviously elongated and the microstructure of the formed 316L parts is composed of equiaxed crystals and columnar crystals with a grain width of 0.28–0.4 nm. The secondary growth of the dendrites is not obvious, and the crystallinity of the selective laser melting 316L parts is not as good as the standard parts, with the microstructure showing directional solidification due to grain refinement and microscopic distortion of crystals. As the fracture has dimples, it is a ductile fracture and typical plastic fracture. The hardness near the fracture is higher than that of the substrate, whilst the indexes regarding the selective laser melting parts are higher than the ASTM‐A182 and ASTM‐F3184‐16 standards. Since the theoretical model built in this study has less error, the findings have practical engineering application value.
Effect of Spray-Drying and Freeze-Drying on the Properties of Soybean Hydrolysates
Authors: Wang Huan , Tong Xiaohong , Yuan Yue , Peng Xinhui , Zhang Qiaozhi , Zhang Shuang , Xie Changyuan , Zhang Xiaoying , Yan Shizhang , Xu Jingwen , Jiang Lianzhou , Qi Baokun , Li Yang
Published: January 2020

The use of enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction to extract soybean oil will produce soy protein hydrolysates (SPH) that have good antioxidant properties but are bitter and hygroscopic. To microencapsulate these hydrolysates, soy protein isolate/maltodextrin mixtures were used as the carrier. The effects of spray-drying and freeze-drying on the bitterness, hygroscopicity, and antioxidant properties were compared. The properties of different dried samples were compared using solubility, hygroscopicity, moisture content, water activity, flowability, and glass transition temperature (Tg). The results showed that the spray-drying was more effective than freeze-drying. Hygroscopicity was reduced to 18.2 g/100 g, and the Tg value was raised to 80.8°C. The morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, and the antioxidant properties of the samples were measured using the ABTS˙+ radical scavenging activity. The results showed that spray-dried SPH had more carrier masking, which weakened bitterness, reduced moisture absorption, and had no significant negative impact on its oxidation resistance, solubility, and flowability, and spray-drying after carrier encapsulation of SPH improved the recovery rate.
Ozenoxacin, a New Effective and Safe Topical Treatment for Impetigo in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Torrelo Antonio , Grimalt Ramon , Masramon Xavier , Albareda López Núria , Zsolt Ilonka
Published: January 2020

Background: Ozenoxacin is a topical antibiotic approved in Europe to treat non-bullous impetigo in adults and children aged ≥6 months. This analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of ozenoxacin in paediatric patients by age group. Methods: Pooled data for patients aged 6 months to <18 years who had participated in a phase I or in two phase III clinical trials of ozenoxacin 1% cream were analysed by age group: 0.5–<2, 2–<6, 6–<12, and 12–<18 years. Results: The combined population comprised 529 patients with non-bullous impetigo treated with ozenoxacin (n = 239), vehicle (n = 201), or retapamulin as internal validation control (n = 89). Studies were well matched for extent and severity of impetigo and therapeutic schedule (twice daily application for 5 days). The clinical success rate after 5 days’ treatment (day 6–7, end of therapy), and microbiological success rates after 3–4 days’ treatment and at the end of therapy, were significantly higher with ozenoxacin than vehicle (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Clinical and bacterial eradication rates were higher with ozenoxacin than vehicle in each age group. No safety concerns were identified with ozenoxacin. One (0.3%) of 327 plasma samples exceeded the lower limit of quantification for ozenoxacin, but the low concentration indicated negligible systemic absorption. Conclusion: This combined analysis supports the efficacy and safety of ozenoxacin administered twice daily for 5 days. Ozenoxacin 1% cream is a new option to consider for treatment of non-bullous impetigo in children aged 6 months to <18 years.
Efficacy of Omalizumab in Mastocytosis: Allusive Indication Obtained from a Prospective, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study (XOLMA Study)
Authors: Distler Meike , Maul Julia-Tatjana , Steiner Urs C. , Jandus Peter , Kolios Antonios G.A. , Murer Carla , Graf Nicole , Seebach Jörg D. , Pichler Werner J. , Navarini Alexander A. , French Lars E. , Helbling Arthur , Schmid-Grendelmeier Peter
Published: January 2020

Background: Patients with mastocytosis often suffer from a variety of symptoms caused by mast cell mediators where treatments remain difficult, showing various success rates. Omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, has been postulated to have a positive impact on mastocytosis-associated symptoms such as flush, vertigo, gastrointestinal problems, or anaphylaxis. Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in systemic mastocytosis. Methods: Patients with histologically proven mastocytosis were investigated in a multicenter prospective double-blind placebo-controlled trial to receive either omalizumab or placebo, dosed according to IgE and body weight. The primary endpoint was change in the AFIRMM activity score after 6 months of treatment. Different laboratory parameters were analyzed. Results: Sixteen patients were analyzed: 7 to omalizumab and 9 to placebo (mean age 47.7 ± 13.8 vs. 45.4 ± 8.8 years; 66.6 vs. 85.7% were female; mean disease duration 10.0 ± 5.1 vs. 4.5 ± 2.9 years, respectively). After 6 months the median AFIRMM score decreased 50% from 52.0 to 26.0 in the omalizumab group versus 104.0–102.0 in the placebo group (p = 0.286); however, the difference was not significant (p = 0.941). Secondary endpoints, including the number of allergic reactions, changes in major complaints, wheal-and-flare reaction due to mechanical irritation (Darier’s sign), and frequency of the use of mastocytosis-specific drugs improved in the omalizumab group, but not significantly. Adverse events like urticaria, bronchospasm, and anaphylactic shock showed no significant difference between the groups. No severe adverse events occurred. FcεRI (Fc-epsilon receptor) expression on basophils decreased after receiving omalizumab versus placebo. Conclusion: Omalizumab was safe and showed a tendency to improve mastocytosis-related symptoms, in particular diarrhea, dizziness, flush, and anaphylactic reactions, including the AFIRMM score and secondary endpoints; however, the difference was not significant. Due to the small study size and difference at baseline between the study groups, further studies are required to confirm our findings.
Upregulation of miR-552 Predicts Unfavorable Prognosis of Gastric Cancer and Promotes the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Feng Xiaobo , Zhu Mei , Liao Bingling , Tian Tianning , Li Minhong , Wang Zhibo , Chen Guoyan
Published: January 2020

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that micro­RNAs play a key role in tumor progression and prognosis. However, the overall biological role and clinical significance of microRNA-552 (miR-552) in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear. Methods: miR-552 expression was measured in 122 pairs of cancerous and noncancerous tissues and cell lines by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between miR-552 and the clinical parameters of patients was analyzed by the χ2 test; Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to predict the overall survival time and prognosis of patients with different expression of miR-552. Finally, CCK-8 and Transwell were used to detect the changes in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion ability. Results: miR-552 was expressed at markedly high levels in GC tissues compared to normal tissues and in some GC cell lines (p < 0.001). The upregulation of miR-552 was significantly associated with tumors with advanced TNM stage (p = 0.026), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.018), intestinal metaplasia (p = 0.044), and genomically stable subtype (p = 0.035). Moreover, GC patients with high miR-552 expression showed shorter overall survival (log-rank test, p = 0.011) than those with low expression. Meanwhile, miR-552 was an independent prognostic factor for GC patients (HR 5.657, 95% CI 1.619–19.761, p = 0.007). Finally, miR-552 overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate that miR-552, as an oncogene of GC, can promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and miR-552 may be a novel prognostic biomarker for GC.
“Obscure” Appendiceal Orifice Polyps Can Be Challenging to Identify by Colonoscopy
Authors: Amini Afshin , Koury Elliot , Vaezi Zahra , Talebian Amirsina , Chahla Elie
Published: January 2020

The primary purpose of screening colonoscopy is the detection and subsequent removal of precancerous polyps. However, effective recognition of appendiceal lesions with a standard endoscope is often challenging and is limited to the base of the cecum and appendiceal orifice. The majority of appendiceal polyps are found incidentally following an appendectomy, though rarely they may be discovered during a colonoscopy. Despite being visualized by colonoscopy, most of these polyps are generally referred for surgical resection. The risk of developing carcinoma in patients with appendiceal polyps is likely similar to that of other colonic polyps, so it is essential for the endoscopist to examine and visualize the appendiceal orifice thoroughly. Various techniques are available to the endoscopist that can increase the accuracy of colonoscopic evaluation. These include luminal inflation and deflation, looking behind and pressing haustral folds, and repetitive passage of the scope over poorly visualized areas. To our knowledge, only 3 cases have been reported in the literature describing the discovery of obscure appendiceal polyps using colonoscopic techniques. Here we describe three cases of appendiceal orifice polyps missed on initial visualization but subsequently protruded into the cecum following prolonged examination and gentle deflation in the cecum. The endoscopist should consider the possibility of an appendiceal neoplasm, especially if other colonic polyps have been found. Endoscopists should spend adequate time examining the cecum during a screening colonoscopy to expose and thoroughly examine the appendiceal region.
Is There a Gender Difference in Clinical Presentation of Renal Hyperparathyroidism and Outcome after Parathyroidectomy?
Authors: Bures Claudia , Skachko Tatjana , Dobrindt Eva M. , Pratschke Johann , Uluk Deniz , Mogl Martina T.
Published: January 2020

Introduction: Gender has been proven to influence the pathophysiology and treatment of numerous diseases, including kidney diseases and hormonal dysfunction like hyperparathyroidism. Thus, higher parathormone levels have been demonstrated in women with end-stage kidney disease, when compared to men. Objectives: We questioned whether female gender is associated with an increased risk for parathyroid nodular hyperplasia and necessary parathyroidectomy in dialysis patients and assessed demographics as well as outcome data for women and men undergoing parathyroidectomy for renal hyperparathyroidism. Patients and Methods: One hundred and thirty patients (men = 75, female = 55) with end-stage renal disease on chronic dialysis and advanced secondary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroidectomy between 2008 and 2014 at our center were analyzed retrospectively. Perioperative characteristics and short-term outcome were evaluated with respect to biological gender. Results: No differences could be demonstrated for patient demography, comorbidities and the perioperative course between males and females. Only preoperative calcium levels were lower in female than in male patients (2.3 ± 0.19 vs. 2.3 ± 0.26, p = 0.04). There were more women, however, with cerebrovascular complications during follow-up (p = 0.04). There was no postoperative mortality, and all complications and comorbidities with exception of cerebrovascular diseases were equally distributed between female and male patients. Conclusion: Overall, we could not demonstrate many significant differences between male and female patients with end-stage renal diseases, chronic dialysis and operated secondary hyperparathyroidism. Only preoperative electrolyte levels were higher in male than in female patients, and cerebrovascular complications developed more often in females than in males during long-term follow-up.
Endoscopic Treatment of Solitary Colonic Ganglioneuroma
Authors: Arai Toshio , Yamada Hiroki , Edagawa Takeya , Yoshida Satoshi , Maekura Shunji , Nakachi Kenichiro
Published: January 2020

Ganglioneuromas (GNs) in adults are uncommon clinical entities, especially in the colon. Patients with GNs without multiple endocrine neoplasia or neurofibromatosis-I are normally asymptomatic; however, GNs can present with abdominal pain, weight loss, bleeding, and anemia, depending on the size and location. Here, we present a case of solitary colonic GN treated with endoscopic mucosal resection. A 40-year-old Japanese outpatient with a positive fecal occult blood test visited our hospital. We performed diagnostic colonoscopy, which revealed a polyp of 15-mm diameter in the ascending colon. Electromagnetic resonance imaging was performed, and the histological examination revealed benign polypoid spindle-cell proliferation, ganglion cells, and thick nerve bundles, which was positive for S-100 protein immunoreactivity consistent with GN.
β
1
-Adrenoreceptor Autoantibodies in Heart Failure
Authors: Düngen Hans-Dirk , Dordevic Aleksandar , Felix Stephan B. , Pieske Burkert , Voors Adriaan A. , McMurray John J.V. , Butler Javed
Published: January 2020

Antibodies that activate the β
1
-AR (β
1
-adrenoreceptor) can induce heart failure in animal models. These antibodies are often found in patients with heart failure secondary to varying etiologies. Their binding to the β
1
receptor leads to prolonged receptor activation with subsequent induction of cellular dysfunction, apoptosis, and arrhythmias. β-blocker therapy while highly effective for heart failure, may not be sufficient treatment for patients who have β
1
receptor autoantibodies. Removal of these autoantibodies by immunoadsorption has been shown to improve heart failure in small studies. However, immunoadsorption is costly, time consuming, and carries potential risks. An alternative to immunoadsorption is neutralization of autoantibodies through the intravenous application of small soluble molecules, such as peptides or aptamers, which specifically target and neutralize β
1
-AR autoantibodies. Peptides may induce immunogenicity. Animal as well as early phase human studies with aptamers have not shown safety concerns to date and have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing autoantibody levels. Novel aptamers have the potential advantage of having a wide spectrum of action, neutralizing a variety of known circulating G-protein coupled receptor autoantibodies. These aptamers, therefore, have the potential to be novel therapeutic option for patients with heart failure who have positive for β
1
-AR autoantibodies. However, clinical outcomes trials are needed to assess the clinical utility of this novel approach to treat heart failure.
Empagliflozin Blunts Worsening Cardiac Dysfunction Associated With Reduced NLRP3 (Nucleotide-Binding Domain-Like Receptor Protein 3) Inflammasome Activation in Heart Failure
Authors: Byrne Nikole J. , Matsumura Nobutoshi , Maayah Zaid H. , Ferdaoussi Mourad , Takahara Shingo , Darwesh Ahmed M. , Levasseur Jody L. , Jahng James Won Suk , Vos Dyonne , Parajuli Nirmal , El-Kadi Ayman O.S. , Braam Branko , Young Martin E. , Verma Subodh , Light Peter E. , Sweeney Gary , Seubert John M. , Dyck Jason R.B.
Published: January 2020

Background:

Although empagliflozin was shown to profoundly reduce cardiovascular events in diabetic patients and blunt the decline in cardiac function in nondiabetic mice with established heart failure (HF), the mechanism of action remains unknown.

Methods and Results:

We treated 2 rodent models of HF with 10 mg/kg per day empagliflozin and measured activation of the NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3) inflammasome in the heart. We show for the first time that beneficial effects of empagliflozin in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HF with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]; n=30–34) occur in the absence of changes in circulating ketone bodies, cardiac ketone oxidation, or increased cardiac ATP production. Of note, empagliflozin attenuated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and expression of associated markers of sterile inflammation in hearts from mice with HFrEF, implicating reduced cardiac inflammation as a mechanism of empagliflozin that contributes to sustained function in HFrEF in the absence of diabetes mellitus. In addition, we validate that the beneficial cardiac effects of empagliflozin in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF; n=9–10) are similarly associated with reduced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Lastly, the ability of empagliflozin to reduce inflammation was completely blunted by a calcium (Ca
2+
) ionophore, suggesting that empagliflozin exerts its benefit upon restoring optimal cytoplasmic Ca
2+
levels in the heart.

Conclusions:

These data provide evidence that the beneficial cardiac effects of empagliflozin are associated with reduced cardiac inflammation via blunting activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in a Ca
2+
-dependent manner and hence may be beneficial in treating HF even in the absence of diabetes mellitus.
Utilization of Advanced Cardiovascular Therapies in the United States and Canada
Authors: Cram Peter , Girotra Saket , Matelski John , Koh Maria , Landon Bruce E. , Han Lu , Lee Douglas S. , Ko Dennis T.
Published: January 2020

Background:

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are expensive cardiovascular technologies with potential to benefit large numbers of patients. There are few population-based studies comparing utilization between countries. Our objective was to compare patient characteristics and utilization patterns of EVAR, LVAD, and TAVR in Ontario, Canada, and New York State, United States.

Methods and Results:

We performed a retrospective cohort study using administrative data to identify all adults who received EVAR, LVAD, or TAVR in Ontario and New York between 2012 and 2015. We compared socio-demographics of EVAR, LVAD, and TAVR recipients in Ontario and New York. We compared standardized utilization rates between jurisdictions for each procedure. We identified 3295 EVAR recipients from Ontario and 6236 from New York (mean age 74.6 versus 74.5 years;
P
=0.61): 136 LVAD recipients from Ontario and 686 from New York (age, 57.4 versus 57.7 years;
P
=0.80): 1708 TAVR recipients from Ontario and 4838 from New York (age, 83.1 versus 83.1;
P
=1.0). A significantly smaller percentage of EVAR and TAVR recipients in Ontario were female compared to New York (EVAR, 15.8% versus 22.1% female;
P
<0.001; TAVR, 45.9% versus 51.8%;
P
<0.001), but for LVAD the percentage female was similar (21.3% versus 20.8%;
P
=0.99). Utilization was significantly higher in New York for all procedures: EVAR (12.8 procedures per-100 000 adults per-year in Ontario, 20.2 in New York;
P
<0.001); LVAD (0.3 in Ontario versus 1.3 in New York;
P
<0.001); and TAVR (6.6 in Ontario, 14.3 in New York;
P
<0.001). Higher utilization of EVAR and TAVR in New York relative to Ontario increased substantially with increasing age.

Conclusions:

We observed significantly higher utilization of EVAR, LVAD, and TAVR in New York compared to Ontario. Our results highlight important differences in how 2 different countries are using advanced cardiovascular therapies.
Phedimus yangshanicus (Crassulaceae), a new species from limestone hills in Guangdong, China

Authors: CHAO ZHI
Published: January 2020

The author describes a new species of Crassulaceae, Phedimus yangshanicus, growing on limestone rocks or hills in Guangdong, China. Morphologically unique in the genus, this plant is distinguished from the other species by its dimorphic leaves. The plant shows obviously pseudopetiolated big basal leaves, which appear nearly opposite due to shortening of the nodes and are persistent at anthesis, and has alternate small leaves on the flowering stem.
Hopea sasidharanii (Dipterocarpaceae)—a new species from southern Western Ghats, India

Authors: ROBI ALOOR JOSE , SUJANAPAL PUTHIYAPURAYIL , SREEKUMAR VADAKKETHIL BALAKRISHNAN , SANIL MADAMBI SANKARANKUTTY , DANTAS KUTTIKKATTU JOSE
Published: January 2020

A new species of the important timber trees family Dipterocarpaceae, Hopea sasidharanii Robi & Sujanapal, from Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala, India is described and illustrated.
Asarum koreanum (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from Korea

Authors: OH AMI , LEEM HYOSUN , OH BYOUNG-UN
Published: January 2020

A new species, Asarum koreanum (Aristolochiaceae), is described from Mount Gaseopsan, in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. It is differentiated from the morphologically similar A. sieboldii, by the purple or light green leaves without white variegation, large flowers, and deep purple calyx lobes with dense multicellular glandular trichomes. In addition, this species only occurs in the Baekdudaegan mountain range of the central part of Korea (Chungcheongbuk-do), whereas A. sieboldii is extensively distributed throughout Korea, Japan, and China.
Genetic diversity and species limits in Veltheimia (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae): insights from noncoding cpDNA sequence data

Authors: BARKER NIGEL P. , FELLOWS TAMIKA , PHALISO NTOMBIFIKILE , ROURKE JOHN
Published: January 2020

Veltheimia is a genus of two species of bulbous flowering angiosperms restricted to southern Africa. Both parsimony and Bayesian analysis of 1829 nucleotides of DNA sequence data, from three non-coding chloroplast regions from multiple samples of both species, indicates that specimens of V. bracteata form a monophyletic clade together with three specimens named as V. capensis. This clade receives low support and is embedded within a paraphyletic grade of specimens of V. capensis. A Median Joining Network analysis of a subset of samples revealed nine haplotypes, the relationships of which mirrored the relationships resolved by the Bayesian analysis. With the exception of the V. capensis members of the V. bracteata clade, the remaining specimens are from the summer rainfall thicket and coastal forests. The samples of the basal V. capensis grade are found in the winter rainfall regions of southern Africa. These results indicate that there is limited genetic diversity within the genus, and there is no clear distinction between these two species based on plastid non-coding DNA data. This may be due to their recent divergence and incomplete lineage sorting, or recent or ongoing hybridisation and / or introgression.
Revision of the spider genus Hoplopholcus Kulczyński (Araneae, Pholcidae)
Authors: HUBER BERNHARD A.
Published: January 2020

Hoplopholcus Kulczyński, 1908 is a genus of relatively large pholcid spiders, ranging from eastern Central Europe to Crete, the Levant, and Georgia. Species in this genus are often difficult to distinguish from each other, and the reexamination of previously published material revealed many misidentifications. The present study provides redescriptions of the ten previously described species and descriptions of six new species, all based on males and females: Hoplopholcus suluin sp. n., H. konya sp. n., H. atik sp. n., and H. bursa sp. n. from Turkey, H. gazipasa sp. n. from Turkey and Greece, and H. dim sp. n. from Turkey and Cyprus. The main conclusion is that several species need further investigation, based on focused sampling and ideally including molecular data. Some species seem to include morphologically distinct epigean and hypogean populations; others may eventually need to be split into two or more species. Further undescribed species are most likely to occur in Turkey.
Seasonality and Formation of Barrier Layers and Associated Temperature Inversions in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific
Authors: Katsura Shota , Sprintall Janet
Published: January 2020

Seasonality and formation of barrier layers (BLs) and associated temperature inversions (TIs) in the eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean were investigated using raw and gridded Argo profiling float data, satellite data, and various sea surface flux data. BLs were observed frequently in boreal summer and autumn along the sea surface salinity (SSS) front south of the eastern Pacific fresh pool. TIs were found within the gap between the western and eastern Pacific warm pools in autumn when BLs were thickest. A mixed layer salinity budget was constructed to determine the formation mechanism responsible for BLs with TIs. This budget revealed that Ekman advection works to both freshen and cool the eastern tropical North Pacific in autumn and contributes to the formation of the thickest BLs with the warmest TIs through the tilting of the SSS front. Precipitation is a secondary contributor to BL formation in autumn. The BLs are also prevalent during summer but are thinner, are without associated TIs, and are primarily formed through precipitation. The largest rainfall associated with the intertropical convergence zone mostly occurred north of the band of thickest BLs in both summer and autumn. The geostrophic advection of salinity did not coherently contribute to the formation of BLs or TIs. The idea that Ekman advection contributes most to the formation of the thickest BLs with warm TIs was further corroborated because the horizontal salinity gradient was the dominant contributor to the density gradient and so is favorable for BL and TI formation.
Antidepressant treatment for primary care patients with depressive symptoms: Data from thediamondlongitudinal cohort study
Authors: Davidson Sandra K , Romaniuk Helena , Chondros Patty , Dowrick Christopher , Pirkis Jane , Herrman Helen , Fletcher Susan , Gunn Jane
Published: January 2020

Background:

In light of emerging evidence questioning the safety of antidepressants, it is timely to investigate the appropriateness of antidepressant prescribing. This study estimated the prevalence of possible over- and under-treatment with antidepressants among primary care attendees and investigated the factors associated with potentially inappropriate antidepressant use.

Methods:

In all, 789 adult primary care patients with depressive symptoms were recruited from 30 general practices in Victoria, Australia, in 2005 and followed up every 3 months in 2006 and annually from 2007 to 2011. For this study, we first assessed appropriateness of antidepressant use in 2007 at the 2-year follow-up to enable history of depression to be taken into account, providing 574 (73%) patients with five yearly assessments, resulting in a total of 2870 assessments. We estimated the prevalence of use of antidepressants according to the adapted National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and used regression analysis to identify factors associated with possible over- and under-treatment.

Results:

In 41% (243/586) of assessments where antidepressants were indicated according to adapted National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, patients reported not taking them. Conversely in a third (557/1711) of assessments where guideline criteria were unlikely to be met, participants reported antidepressant use. Being female and chronic physical illness were associated with antidepressant use where guideline criteria were not met, but no factors were associated with not taking antidepressants where guideline criteria were met.

Conclusions:

Much antidepressant treatment in general practice is for people with minimal or mild symptoms, while people with moderate or severe depressive symptoms may miss out. There is considerable scope for improving depression care through better allocation of antidepressant treatment.
Why people enter and stay in public service careers: the role of parental socialization and an interest in politics
Authors: Fischer Caroline , Schott Carina
Published: January 2020

This article examines the effect of parental socialization and interest in politics on entering and staying in public service careers. We incorporate two related explanations, yet commonly used in different fields of literature, to explain public sector choice. First, following social learning theory, we hypothesize that parents serve as role models and thereby affect their children’s sector choice. Additionally, we test the hypothesis that parental socialization leads to a longer stay in public sector jobs while assuming that it serves as a buffer against turnover. Second, following public service motivation process theory, we expect that ‘interest in politics’ is influenced by parental socialization and that this concept, in turn, leads to a public sector career. A representative set of longitudinal data from the Swiss household panel (1999–2014) was used to analyse these hypotheses ( n = 2,933, N = 37,328). The results indicate that parental socialization serves as a stronger predictor of public sector choice than an interest in politics. Furthermore, people with parents working in the public sector tend to stay longer in their public sector jobs.

Points for practitioners

For practitioners, the results of this study are relevant as they highlight the limited usefulness of addressing job applicants’ interest in politics in the recruitment process. Human resources managers who want to ensure a public-service-motivated workforce are therefore advised to focus on human resources activities that stimulate public service motivation after job entry. We also advise close interaction between universities and public organizations so that students develop a realistic picture of the government as a future employer and do not experience a ‘reality shock’ after job entry.
The Role of the Auditory and Visual Modalities in the Perceptual Identification of Brazilian Portuguese Statements and Echo Questions
Authors: Miranda Luma , Swerts Marc , Moraes João , Rilliard Albert
Published: January 2020

This paper presents the results of three perceptual experiments investigating the role of auditory and visual channels for the identification of statements and echo questions in Brazilian Portuguese. Ten Brazilian speakers (five male) were video-recorded (frontal view of the face) while they produced a sentence (“ Como você sabe”), either as a statement (meaning “ As you know.”) or as an echo question (meaning “ As you know?”). Experiments were set up including the two different intonation contours. Stimuli were presented in conditions with clear and degraded audio as well as congruent and incongruent information from both channels. Results show that Brazilian listeners were able to distinguish statements and questions prosodically and visually, with auditory cues being dominant over visual ones. In noisy conditions, the visual channel improved the interpretation of prosodic cues robustly, while it degraded them in conditions where the visual information was incongruent with the auditory information. This study shows that auditory and visual information are integrated during speech perception, also when applied to prosodic patterns.
Exploring Japanese EFL Learners’ Attitudes Toward English Pronunciation and its Relationship to Perceived Accentedness
Authors: Tsunemoto Aki , McDonough Kim
Published: January 2020

This study investigates what individual differences may play a role in second language (L2) learners’ pronunciation, exploring whether English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ attitudes toward English is linked to their perceived accentedness. Japanese EFL secondary school students ( N = 62) carried out a 69-word read-aloud task and their speech samples were evaluated by 16 raters for accentedness. A ten-item questionnaire examined the attitudes toward L2 pronunciation of Japanese EFL learners. From the questionnaire, an exploratory factor analysis revealed three dimensions: pronunciation significance, interest in English sounds, and confidence in pronunciation. However, only confidence in pronunciation was significantly correlated with accentedness scores. Results are discussed in terms of the relationship between affective factors and L2 pronunciation attainment.
An Examination of Motivation and Routine Activity Theory to Account for Cyberattacks Against Dutch Web Sites
Authors: Holt Thomas J. , Leukfeldt Rutger , van de Weijer Steve
Published: January 2020

This study provides a partial test of the relationship between actor motivations and target suitability using a routine activity framework to understand a form of cybercrime called web defacements. Specifically, the relationships between the visibility, inertia, value, and accessibility of the target in online spaces relative to the unique nonmonetary motivations of the attacker were examined. This study utilized a sample of 138,361 web defacements performed against websites hosted within the Netherlands IP space from January 2011 to April 2017. Seven multinomial logistic regression models were conducted for each self-identified motive for the attack, clustered by attacker to minimize the size of standard errors. The findings demonstrated partial support for aspects of routine activity theory to account for differences in offender motivation, suggesting web defacements are similar to other forms of cybercrime. At the same time, motivations differentially shape target selection.
Reliability and Predictive Validity of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II in an Australian Context
Authors: Molnar Timea , Allard Troy , McKillop Nadine , Rynne John
Published: January 2020

This study investigated the reliability and predictive validity of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (J-SOAP-II), in an Australian context, and for Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Participants were 123 ( n = 91 non-Indigenous; n = 32 Indigenous) youth assessed using the J-SOAP-II and followed up over an average period of 4 years. The reliability of the J-SOAP-II was assessed using measures of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alphas and inter-item correlations). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted to assess the J-SOAP-II’s validity in predicting sexual and non-sexual (violent and non-violent) recidivism. Overall, the J-SOAP-II demonstrated moderate to high levels of reliability and weak to moderate levels of validity for predicting sexual and non-sexual (violent and non-violent) recidivism for the whole sample. While the J-SOAP-II total score was significantly associated with non-sexual (violent and non-violent) recidivism for non-Indigenous youth, it was not significantly associated with any of the outcome variables for Indigenous youth. Across all analyses, the dynamic scales of the J-SOAP-II predicted recidivism with greater accuracy than the static scales. However, the static scales had greater accuracy in predicting the risk of sexual recidivism for Indigenous youth. While a reliable measure, these preliminary findings raise questions about the validity of the J-SOAP-II for predicting sexual recidivism for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in an Australian context, and warrant further investigation.
Implementing Facility-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports in Secure Juvenile Correction Settings: Results of an Evaluation Study
Authors: Sprague Jeffrey , Jolivette Kristine , Boden Lauren J. , Wang Eugene
Published: January 2020

In this study, we assessed the feasibility and social validity of an adapted approach to positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) implementation in secure juvenile facilities. The authors developed a comprehensive model of facility-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (FW-PBIS) for use in secure juvenile correctional facilities, both detention and long term, as well as state and privately run. FW-PBIS leadership team members that included all major facility roles (education, corrections, mental health, medical, recreation) participated in staff development activities and implemented the advocated approaches over the course of the study. We assessed the fidelity, feasibility, and social validity of FW-PBIS in a repeated-measures evaluation study across 50 secure juvenile facilities. We collected intervention fidelity data using a version of the School-Wide Evaluation Tool modified to reflect the unique features of secure juvenile facilities. We also gathered behavioral incident data from the facilities, but it was not possible to combine these data across sites due to the vast differences in data collection, definitions/classifications, and storage systems from state to state. Results indicated that all participating facilities were able to achieve acceptable FW-PBIS implementation fidelity. Staff rated the intervention as acceptable, feasible, and were willing to implement FW-PBIS practices. Staff members also reported gains in sense of efficacy in their roles. Results are discussed in terms of limitations of the current study, future research, and practice needs.
The Inevitable Rise in Dual-Income Households and the Intertemporal Effects on Labor Markets
Authors: Leonce Tesa E.
Published: January 2020

The number of dual-income households has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. This study supports the hypothesis that given a household’s desire to remain above a minimum threshold standard of living, the rise in the number of dual-earner households is inevitable mostly due to inflationary pressures in product markets including rising housing prices and child care costs coupled with relatively flat wage trends. Mitigating uncertainty and risk associated with shifts in retirement plan offerings—moving away from defined benefit plans such as pensions toward defined contribution options such as 401(k) plans—was also cited as a factor contributing to the rising number of dual earners. This study highlights the costs and benefits of dual-earning decisions and the intertemporal implications for households, labor markets and overall societal welfare.
FMT and Microbial Medical Products: Generating High-Quality Evidence through Good Governance
Authors: Ossorio Pilar N. , Zhou Yao
Published: January 2020

This article argues that current data for the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplants as a treatment for any indication, including recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, is low-quality. It develops a governance proposal that encourages production of high-quality evidence by incentivizing well-designed RCTs of stool and stoolderived microbial products. The proposal would require that FDA change its current enforcement approach, but it would not require any change in statutes or regulations.