bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of critical incident tasks on students’ awareness of intercultural communication (Efectos de un programa de actividades basadas en incidentes críticos en la competencia de los estudiantes sobre comunicación intercultural)
Authors: Tran Tran-Thien-Quynh , Admiraal Wilfried , Saab Nadira
Published: November 2020

Due to the internationalization and globalization of businesses in Vietnam, the new-generation students need to develop skills in intercultural communication. The current study aims to develop English non-majors’ awareness of intercultural communication by using critical incident open-ended tasks. Critical incidents in intercultural communication training are descriptions of situations in which a misunderstanding, problem or conflict arises as a result of the cultural differences of the interacting parties. One group of 234 students received 10 weeks of instruction with one critical incident task per week and another group of 88 students received regular English classes. Data were collected from the students’ answers on pre- and post-test and on papers from 10 critical incident tasks. The results showed a significant and strong effect of the intervention with critical incident tasks on students’ awareness of intercultural communication, with the strongest effect for the student groups with low and moderate initial awareness. Within the intervention group, students’ scores on awareness of intercultural communication over 10 critical incident tasks fluctuated as these covered different themes and situations. Implications for educational practice refer to further teaching with critical incident open-ended tasks.
Ecosystem service bundle index construction, spatiotemporal dynamic display, and driving force analysis
Authors: Hong Yiyuan , Ding Qian , Zhou Ting , Kong Lingqiao , Wang Meiye , Zhang Jianying , Yang Wu
Published: November 2020

Introduction
: Existing studies on ecosystem service relationships are mainly qualitative or semi-quantitative assessments, but lack of quantitative exploration of aggregated ecosystem services and their influencing factors. We mapped the distributions of 12 ecosystem services of Zhejiang Province in 2000 and 2015 at the district and county level, analyzed their relationships using Spearman’s correlation analysis, constructed ecosystem service bundle index (ESBI) for each district and county by structural equation model, and then through multiple linear regression, we explored factors associated with ESBI variations.

Outcomes
: Our results showed that (1) most ecosystem services were spatially clustered. There were synergies between individual ecosystem services in categories of provisioning and regulating services, respectively; (2) our proposed ESBI index system consists of overall index and sub-indices of provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. The higher the ESBI value, the more important the corresponding place for multiple aggregated ecosystem service provision. Compared to 2000, ESBI in 2015 distributed more unevenly, and the average dropped by 3.10%; and (3) the increase of ESBI was associated with its initial value, and four socioeconomic and natural factors; the decrease of ESBI was influenced by the initial value and six key socioeconomic factors.

Discussion and Conclusion
: Our proposed ESBI system has several advantages (e.g., scale free, flexible weighting, quantitative and continuous indices for further analyses, and alternative non-monetary solution) in understanding and managing relationships among multiple ecosystem services.
The eccentricity enhancement effect of intermediate-mass-ratio-inspirals: dark matter and black hole mass *
Authors: Tang Meirong , Xu Zhaoyi , Wang Jiancheng
Published: November 2020

It was found that dark matter (DM) in an intermediate-mass-ratio-inspiral (IMRI) system has a significant enhancement effect on the orbital eccentricity of a stellar massive compact object, such as a black hole (BH), which may be tested by space-based gravitational wave (GW) detectors, including LISA, Taiji, and Tianqin in future observations. In this paper, we study the enhancement effect of the eccentricity for an IMRI under different DM density profiles and center BH masses. Our results are as follows: (1) in terms of the general DM spike distribution, the enhancement of the eccentricity is basically consistent with the power-law profile, which indicates that it is reasonable to adopt the power-law profile; (2) in the presence of a DM spike, the different masses of the center BH will affect the eccentricity, which provides a new way for us to detect the BH's mass; and (3) considering the change in the eccentricity in the presence and absence of a DM spike, we find that it is possible to distinguish DM models by measuring the eccentricity at a scale of approximately

.
Improved empirical formula for α particle preformation factor *
Authors: He Yan , Yu Xuan , Zhang Hong-Fei
Published: November 2020

In this contribution, the

preformation factors of 606 nuclei are extracted within the framework of the generalized liquid drop model (GLDM). Through the systematic analysis of the

preformation factors of even-even Po-U isotopes, we found that there is a significant weakening of influence of

shell closure in uranium, which is consistent with the results of a recent experiment [J. Khuyagbaatar et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 242502 (2015)], implying that

may not be the magic number for U isotopes. Furthermore, we propose an improved formula with only 7 parameters to calculate

preformation factors suitable for all types of

-decay; it has fewer parameters than the original formula proposed by Zhang et al. [H. F. Zhang et al., Phys. Rev. C 80, 057301 (2009)] with higher precision. The standard deviation of the

preformation factors calculated by our formula with extracted values for all 606 nuclei is 0.365 with a factor of 2.3, indicating that our improved formula can accurately reproduce the

preformation factors. Encouraged by this, the

-decay half-lives of actinide elements are predicted, which could be useful in future experiments. Notably, the predicted

-decay half-lives of two new isotopes

Np [Z. Y. Zhang, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 192503 (2019)] and

Np [H. B. Yang et al., Phys. Lett. B 777, 212 (2018)] are in good agreement with the experimental

-decay half-lives.
Large scale analysis of generalization error in learning using margin based classification methods
Authors: Huang Hanwen , Yang Qinglong
Published: November 2020

Large-margin classifiers are popular methods for classification. We derive the asymptotic expression for the generalization error of a family of large-margin classifiers in the limit of both sample size n and dimension p going to ∞ with fixed ratio α = n/p. This family covers a broad range of commonly used classifiers including support vector machine, distance weighted discrimination, and penalized logistic regression. Our result can be used to establish the phase transition boundary for the separability of two classes. We assume that the data are generated from a single multivariate Gaussian distribution with arbitrary covariance structure. We explore two special choices for the covariance matrix: spiked population model and two layer neural networks with random first layer weights. The method we used for deriving the closed-form expression is from statistical physics known as the replica method. Our asymptotic results match simulations already when n, p are of the order of a few hundreds. For two layer neural networks, we reproduce the recently observed ‘double descent’ phenomenology for several classification models. We also discuss some statistical insights that can be drawn from these analysis.
Protection effect of overwintering water bird habitat and defining the conservation priority area in Poyang Lake wetland, China
Authors: Sun Chuanzhun , König Hannes J , Uthes Sandra , Chen Cheng , Li Peng , Hemminger Karoline
Published: November 2020

Biodiversity conservation is one of the most important objectives of protected areas. Most biodiversity assessment-related studies use the change in species abundance data to measure the level of biodiversity conservation. Yet for many areas, long-term species data are not available and thus it is necessary to use biodiversity indices to monitor the effect of land use (LU) changes or the impact of protected area establishment. Poyang Lake wetland is one of the most important wintering sites for migratory water birds on the East Asian–Australasian flyway. To protect this habitat, 14 nature reserves were created in the region between 1997 and 2003. This paper aims to assess the effect of nature reserve creation on the status of habitat for overwintering water birds in Poyang Lake wetland by analysing LU and land cover data from 1995, 2005 and 2015. We developed a composite biodiversity index to search for current biodiversity hotspots (conservation priority) in the study area. An integrated approach consisting of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs model, GIS, fragment analysis and hotspot analysis was used to realize our objective. Our results showed that the creation of the nature reserve had positive effects on overwintering water bird habitat. However, tremendous changes (such as change of habitat area, quality and fragmentation) within and outside the nature reserve showed that the role of protected area still needs to be further discussed. Moreover, regional synthesis LU management plans such as ecological restoration should be carried out. The results of the habitat assessment also indicate that a comprehensive biodiversity index framework based on net primary productivity, habitat connectivity and habitat quality could be more efficient in assessing biodiversity and defining a reasonable protected area, from data obtain in large scale perspective.
Internal friction evidence of phase transformations of Fe-Al elemental powders during sintering process
Authors: Hao Gangling , Li Yuchuan , Wang Xingfu , Wang Weiguo , Wang Xinfu , Wang Dan
Published: November 2020

Internal friction combined with SEM, DSC and XRD measurements was first applied so far to investigate phase transformation behaviors of Fe-Al elemental powders. Special attentions are concentrated on the influence of mechanical ball-milling on microstructure transition during sintering process. A tailored solid solution degree of the Fe-Al powder mixture can be obtained by mechanical ball-milling for different time. Four typical internal friction peaks are observed as termed P1, P2, P3 and P4 peak respectively for Fe-Al ball-milled powder compact. While for no ball-milled one, only P2 and P4 peaks appear. It was rationalized that the four internal friction peaks are probably associated with the formation of FeAl3, Fe2Al5, FeAl2 and FeAl respectively because of solid diffusion reaction during sintering process. In addition, increasing ball-milling time results in enhancement of solid solution degree owing to refined powder particle and substructure as well as increased solid defect density and interfacial area, and thus phase transformation and corresponding internal friction peaks shift to a lower temperature. The absence of two internal friction peaks in no ball-milled one is ascribed to lower solid solution degree.
Effect of Mn3+ doping on the loss of Li0.37Zn0.26Ti0.12Fe2.37O4 ferrite
Authors: Li Aya
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a series of the gyromagnetic ferrite Li0.43Zn0.26Ti0.12MnxFe2.19−xO4 (x = 0–0.14) samples were prepared with the solid-phase reaction sintering method. The influences of Mn3+ doping on the microscopic morphology, ferromagnetic resonance linewidth, and microwave dielectric loss of LiZnTi ferrite were investigated. Doping in an appropriate amount of Mn3+ will reduce the saturation magnetization of the sample and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the ferrite. It also inhibited the generation of Fe2+ and reduced the porosity, to the benefit of keeping the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth (ΔH) of the material and microwave dielectric loss at a low level. The results suggested that when the doping amount of Mn3+ is 0.08, the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth of the material is 27.8 × 103 A m−1, the microwave dielectric loss tangent tanδ
ε equals to 0.001, and the B-H hysteresis loop remanence ratio of the sample reaches 0.87, which is a beneficial application in lock-type microwave ferrite devices.
Trio of probes launch to Mars
Authors: Banks Michael , Xin Ling , Kruesi Liz
Published: November 2020

China, the UAE and the US have sent craft to Mars to study the planet in greater detail, with NASA set to conduct the first controlled flight on another planet, as Ling Xin, Michael Banks and Liz Kruesi report
European Research Council pulls out of open-access plan
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: November 2020

The European Research Council (ERC) has withdrawn its support for a radical open-access initiative in Europe, known as Plan S, saying that it will follow its own path towards open access.
Report calls for US-wide quantum internet
Authors: Gwynne Peter
Published: November 2020

US government, academic and industrial scientists have laid out a blueprint for building a nation-wide quantum internet.
Calls for UK and EU to compromise over Horizon Europe
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: November 2020

Rapid progress is needed in negotiations regarding the UK’s participation in the EU’s major scientific framework programme if collaborations are to continue smoothly into 2021. That is according to a statement signed by more than 100 organizations and individuals representing the European scientific community.
Pandemic ups and downs
Authors: Durrani Matin
Published: November 2020

COVID-19 has disrupted physics but there have been some unexpected bright spots too
It’s a material world
Authors: Crease Robert P
Published: November 2020

From wine and skis to clocks and bone implants, Linn Hobbs has a passion for everyday materials, as he tells Robert P Crease
Informed optimism
Authors: Giblin Stephen
Published: November 2020

In response to Kate Ravilious’ feature “Life in a carbon-neutral world” (April 2020), in which she looks at the changes society will need to make on a day-to-day basis, to move towards a net-carbon-zero world.
100 seconds to midnight
Authors: Brazil Rachel
Published: November 2020

For almost 75 years, the Doomsday Clock has monitored how close humankind is to global catastrophe. With the clock now closer to midnight than ever before, Rachel Brazil talks to physicists who say we must step up our efforts to prevent disaster
Lattice layabout in the park
Authors: Johnston Hamish
Published: November 2020

In these tough times of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the safest ways of mixing with friends is to meet up in a local park. But what 2D configuration, lattice or otherwise, offers the best way to maintain the appropriate social distance?
Validation and Norms for a Recognition Task for the Spanish Version of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test
Authors: Bonete-López Beatriz , Oltra-Cucarella Javier , Marín Marta , Antón Carolina , Balao Nerea , López Elena , Macià Esther Sitges
Published: November 2020

Objective

The aim of the present work was to develop and validate a recognition task to be used with the Spanish version of the 16 items Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT).

Method

A total of 96 (67.7% women) cognitively healthy, functionally independent community-dwelling participants aged 55 years or older underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. A recognition task for the FCSRT was developed that included the original 16 items, 16 semantically related items, and eight unrelated foils. Indices of discriminability (d’) and response bias (C), as well as 95% confidence intervals for chance-level responding were calculated.

Results

On average, our sample was 65.71 years old (SD = 6.68, range: 55–87), had 11.39 years of formal education (SD = 3.37, range: 3–19), and a Mini-Mental State Examination score = 28.42 (SD = 1.49, range: 25–30). Recognition scores did not differ statistically between sexes, nor did they correlate with demographics. Participants scored at ceiling levels (mean number of Hits = 15.52, SD = 0.906, mean number of False Alarms = 0.27, SD = 0.589). All the participants scored above chance levels.

Conclusions

Normative data from a novel recognition task for the Spanish version of the FCSRT are provided for use in clinical and research settings. Including a recognition task in the assessment of memory functioning might help uncover the pattern of memory impairments in older adults, and can help improve the memory profile of people with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. Future research is warranted to validate and expand the recognition task.
ProteoCombiner: integrating bottom-up with top-down proteomics data for improved proteoform assessment
Authors: Lima Diogo B , Dupré Mathieu , Duchateau Magalie , Gianetto Quentin Giai , Rey Martial , Matondo Mariette , Chamot-Rooke Julia
Published: November 2020

Motivation

We present a high-performance software integrating shotgun with top-down proteomic data. The tool can deal with multiple experiments and search engines. Enable rapid and easy visualization, manual validation and comparison of the identified proteoform sequences including the post-translational modification characterization.

Results

We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on a large-scale Escherichia coli dataset; ProteoCombiner unambiguously shortlisted proteoforms among those identified by the multiple search engines.

Availability and implementation

ProteoCombiner, a demonstration video and user tutorial are freely available at https://proteocombiner.pasteur.fr, for academic use; all data are thus available from the ProteomeXchange consortium (identifier PXD017618).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
MONACO: accurate biological network alignment through optimal neighborhood matching between focal nodes
Authors: Woo Hyun-Myung , Yoon Byung-Jun
Published: November 2020

Motivation

Alignment of protein–protein interaction networks can be used for the unsupervised prediction of functional modules, such as protein complexes and signaling pathways, that are conserved across different species. To date, various algorithms have been proposed for biological network alignment, many of which attempt to incorporate topological similarity between the networks into the alignment process with the goal of constructing accurate and biologically meaningful alignments. Especially, random walk models have been shown to be effective for quantifying the global topological relatedness between nodes that belong to different networks by diffusing node-level similarity along the interaction edges. However, these schemes are not ideal for capturing the local topological similarity between nodes.

Results

In this article, we propose MONACO, a novel and versatile network alignment algorithm that finds highly accurate pairwise and multiple network alignments through the iterative optimal matching of ‘local’ neighborhoods around focal nodes. Extensive performance assessment based on real networks as well as synthetic networks, for which the ground truth is known, demonstrates that MONACO clearly and consistently outperforms all other state-of-the-art network alignment algorithms that we have tested, in terms of accuracy, coherence and topological quality of the aligned network regions. Furthermore, despite the sharply enhanced alignment accuracy, MONACO remains computationally efficient and it scales well with increasing size and number of networks.

Availability and implementation

Matlab implementation is freely available at https://github.com/bjyoontamu/MONACO.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Using Spectrum-Effect Relationships Coupled with LC–TOF–MS to Screen Anti-arrhythmic Components of the Total Flavonoids in Hypericum attenuatum Extracts
Authors: Feng Yufei , Teng Lin , Wang Yanli , Gao Yanyu , Ma Yuxuan , Zhou Haichun , Cai Guofeng , Li Ji
Published: November 2020

This research explored the HPLC fingerprints of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy, which has anti-arrhythmic activity. HPLC was adopted to perform a determination of chemical fingerprints of H. attenuatum specimens acquired through seven distinct sources. The anti-arrhythmic activity of each H. attenuatum sample was obtained through pharmacodynamics experiments in animals. A regression analysis and correlation analysis were utilized to calculate the relationship of the peak and pharmacological effectiveness with the identified peak. Peaks numbered 5, 7, 13 and 14 in the fingerprint were regarded as the likely anti-arrhythmic agents. The fingerprint was compared with reference standards for identification of the correlative peaks. Liquid chromatography–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry was applied to identify its structure. As a consequence, a universal model was established for the utilization of HPLC to investigate anti-arrhythmic activity and the spectrum-effect relationship among H. attenuatum. This model is available for the discovery of the major bioactive constituents of Hypericum.
Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles as an Adsorbent for Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography of Proteins
Authors: Kannan Kayambu , Mukherjee Joyeeta , Mishra Prashant , Gupta Munishwar N
Published: November 2020

A simple method of preparing amorphous nickel ferrite nanoparticles of about 5 nm diameter is described. These particles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The nanoparticles were evaluated for their use as a magnetic material for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The ferrite nanoparticles bound to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the binding fitted Langmuir isotherm model. A high capacity of 916 mg BSA/g dried nanoparticle was observed. Six proteins (Soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), papain, catalase, β-galactosidase and casein) were used and all were found to bind at >90% level (except papain which showed 84% binding). All the proteins except LDH and β-galactosidase could be eluted with 1 M imidazole and with % activity recovery of >80%. Papain could be purified from its dried crude latex by 5-fold and purified papain showed a single band on SDS-PAGE. These nanoparticles constitute a high capacity and are magnetic material useful for IMAC and do not require any pre-functionalization.
Causal effects of education on chronic kidney disease: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Park Sehoon , Lee Soojin , Kim Yaerim , Lee Yeonhee , Kang Min Woo , Kim Kwangsoo , Kim Yong Chul , Han Seung Seok , Lee Hajeong , Lee Jung Pyo , Joo Kwon Wook , Lim Chun Soo , Kim Yon Su , Kim Dong Ki
Published: November 2020

Background

Poor socio-economic status, including low education attainment, has been reported in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We aimed to investigate the causal effects of education attainment on the risk of CKD.

Methods

The study was an observational cohort study including Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. First, the clinical association between education attainment years as the exposure and prevalent CKD Stages 3–5 as the outcome was investigated by multivariable logistic regression in 308 741 individuals 40–69 years of age from the UK Biobank. MR analysis was performed with a previously reported genetic instrument from a genome-wide association meta-analysis of education attainment. Two-sample MR was performed with summary statistics for CKD in 567 460 individuals with European ancestry in the CKDGen genome-wide association meta-analysis. The findings were replicated by allele score–based MR in 321 260 individuals of white British ancestry in the UK Biobank with quality-controlled genetic data.

Results

Higher education attainment was significantly associated with lower adjusted odds for CKD in the clinical analysis {>17 years versus <16 years, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.910 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.849–0.975]}. The causal estimates obtained by the inverse variance method in the two-sample MR indicated that higher genetically predicted education attainment causally reduced the risk of CKD [OR 0.934 (95% CI 0.873–0.999)]. Allele score–based MR also supported that higher education attainment was causally linked to a decreased risk of CKD [adjusted OR 0.944 (95% CI 0.922–0.966)].

Conclusion

The study suggests that higher education attainment causally reduces the risk of CKD development in the general population.
Genome sequence of Hydrangea macrophylla and its application in analysis of the double flower phenotype
Authors: Nashima Kenji , Shirasawa Kenta , Ghelfi Andrea , Hirakawa Hideki , Isobe Sachiko , Suyama Takuro , Wada Takuya , Kurokura Takeshi , Uemachi Tatuya , Azuma Mirai , Akutsu Midori , Kodama Masaharu , Nakazawa Yoshiko , Namai Kiyoshi
Published: November 2020

Owing to its high ornamental value, the double flower phenotype of hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is one of its most important traits. In this study, genome sequence information was obtained to explore effective DNA markers and the causative genes for double flower production in hydrangea. Single-molecule real-time sequencing data followed by a Hi-C analysis were employed. Two haplotype-phased sequences were obtained from the heterozygous genome of hydrangea. One assembly consisted of 3,779 scaffolds (2.256 Gb in length and N50 of 1.5 Mb), the other also contained 3,779 scaffolds (2.227 Gb in length, and N50 of 1.4 Mb). A total of 36,930 genes were predicted in the sequences, of which 32,205 and 32,222 were found in each haplotype. A pair of 18 pseudomolecules was constructed along with a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic linkage map. Using the genome sequence data, and two F2 populations, the SNPs linked to double flower loci (djo and dsu) were discovered. DNA markers linked to djo and dsu were developed, and these could distinguish the recessive double flower allele for each locus, respectively. The LEAFY gene is a very likely candidate as the causative gene for dsu, since frameshift was specifically observed in the double flower accession with dsu.
Reinterpreting patterns of variation in human thyroid function
Authors: Keestra Sarai , Högqvist Tabor Vedrana , Alvergne Alexandra
Published: November 2020

Lay Summary

Thyroid hormone reference intervals—used to determine normal thyroid function —currently don’t take into account many significant factors that can cause variation in thyroid hormone levels. These factors include age, sex, ethnicity, season, time of day, iodine content in the diet, socioeconomic status, stress levels, body composition, immune status, menstrual cycle phase, and overall health status. This paper shows how early life experiences as well as short term stressors may affect variation in thyroid function. These are energetic challenges to which the thyroid physiology can respond to. Our investigation shows that much variation in thyroid function is natural. It may result from a complex interplay of evolutionary, genetic, developmental, and physiological factors in response to energetic challenges in the environment, beyond what is currently considered in biomedicine. A new research agenda for thyroid health should explore the way that diversity in thyroid function has evolved as a response to different contexts people live in—like focusing on how people’s metabolisms adapt to the energetic requirements of their environments.
Chronic Pain and Risk of Injurious Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Cai Yurun , Leveille Suzanne G , Shi Ling , Chen Ping , You Tongjian
Published: November 2020

Background

Fall injuries are a leading cause of death in older adults. The potential impact of chronic pain characteristics on risk for injurious falls is not well understood. This prospective cohort study examined the relationship between chronic pain and risk for injurious falls in older adults.

Method

The MOBILIZE Boston Study enrolled 765 community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and older living in and around Boston, Massachusetts. Chronic pain characteristics, including pain severity, pain interference, and pain distribution, were measured at baseline using the Brief Pain Inventory subscales and a joint pain questionnaire. Occurrence of falls and fall-related injuries were recorded using monthly fall calendar postcards and fall follow-up interviews during the 4-year follow-up period.

Results

Negative binomial regression models showed that pain interference and pain distribution, but not pain severity, independently predicted injurious falls adjusting for potential confounders. Participants in the highest third of pain interference scores had a 61% greater risk of injurious falls compared to those reporting little or no pain interference. Compared to no pain, multisite pain was associated with a 57% greater risk of injurious falls. Stratified by gender, the association was only significant in women. In the short term, moderate-to-severe pain in a given month was associated with increased risk of injurious falls in the subsequent month.

Conclusions

Global pain measures are associated with increased risk of injurious falls in older adults. Pain assessment should be incorporated into fall risk assessments. Interventions are needed to prevent fall injuries among elders with chronic pain.
Medical Staffing Organization and Quality of Care Outcomes in Post-acute Care Settings
Authors: Wagner Laura M , Katz Paul , Karuza Jurgis , Kwong Connie , Sharp Lori , Spetz Joanne
Published: November 2020

Background and Objectives

Medical providers are significant drivers of care in post-acute long-term care (PALTC) settings, yet little research has examined the medical provider workforce and its role in ensuring quality of care.

Research Design and Methods

This study examined the impact of nursing home medical staffing organization (NHMSO) dimensions on the quality of care in U.S. nursing homes. The principal data source was a survey specifically designed to study medical staff organization for post-acute care. Respondents were medical directors and attending physicians providing PALTC. We linked a number of medical provider and nursing home characteristics to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Nursing Home Compare quality measures hypothesized to be sensitive to input by medical providers.

Results

From the sample of nursing home medical providers surveyed (n = 1,511), 560 responses were received, yielding a 37% response rate; 425 medical provider responses contained sufficient data for analysis. The results of the impact of NHMSO dimensions were mixed, with many domains not having any significance or having negative relationships between provider characteristics and quality measures. Respondents who reported having a formal process for granting privileges and nursing homes with direct employment of physicians reported significantly fewer emergency visits.

Discussion and Implications

Further research is needed regarding what quality measures are sensitive to both medical provider characteristics and NHMSO characteristics.
CopyDetective: Detection threshold–aware copy number variant calling in whole-exome sequencing data
Authors: Sandmann Sarah , Wöste Marius , de Graaf Aniek O , Burkhardt Birgit , Jansen Joop H , Dugas Martin
Published: November 2020

Background

Copy number variants (CNVs) are known to play an important role in the development and progression of several diseases. However, detection of CNVs with whole-exome sequencing (WES) experiments is challenging. Usually, additional experiments have to be performed.

Findings

We developed a novel algorithm for somatic CNV calling in matched WES data called “CopyDetective". Different from other approaches, CNV calling with CopyDetective consists of a 2-step procedure: first, quality analysis is performed, determining individual detection thresholds for every sample. Second, actual CNV calling on the basis of the previously determined thresholds is performed. Our algorithm evaluates the change in variant allele frequency of polymorphisms and reports the fraction of affected cells for every CNV. Analyzing 4 WES data sets (n = 100) we observed superior performance of CopyDetective compared with ExomeCNV, VarScan2, ControlFREEC, ExomeDepth, and CNV-seq.

Conclusions

Individual detection thresholds reveal that not every WES data set is equally apt for CNV calling. Initial quality analyses, determining individual detection thresholds—as realized by CopyDetective—can and should be performed prior to actual variant calling.
Health literacy on oral health practice and condition in an adult and elderly population
Authors: Silva-Junior Manoelito Ferreira , Rosário de Sousa Maria da Luz , Batista Marília Jesus
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of health literacy (HL) on health practices and oral health outcomes in an adult and elderly population in Brazil. A cross-sectional study nested in a cohort study was followed up over a period of four years (2011 and 2015) and assessed individuals between 23 and 69 years old from Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected by means of oral examinations (coronal caries, periodontal disease and visible biofilm) and interviews (socioeconomic, demographic, oral health-related quality of life, health practices and HL). The 14-item Health Literacy Scale (HLS) was used for HL data, which was the main explanatory variable. The result of the sum of the HLS-14 questionnaire for each participant was dichotomized into the median (46 points): ‘high’ and ‘low’ HL. Binary/multinomial logistic regressions were performed on health practice and oral health outcomes, controlled by age and sex (Model 1) and age, sex and socioeconomic status (Model 2; p < 0.05). The final sample consisted of 137 subjects and 43.8% (n = 60) presented low HL (LHL). LHL was associated with health practices, such as use of public dental services in Model 1 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14–0.87) and use of dental services for emergency in Model 1 (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.29–5.51) and Model 2 (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.17–7.30). Based on age and sex, LHL was associated with use of public dental service and use of emergency dental visits. Based on age, sex and socioeconomic status, LHL was associated with use of emergency dental visits.
Affine Random Walks on the Torus
Authors: He Weikun , Lakrec Tsviqa , Lindenstrauss Elon
Published: November 2020

We study quantitative equidistribution of random walks on the torus by affine transformations. Under the assumption that the Zariski closure of the group generated by the linear part acts strongly irreducibly on ${{\mathbb{R}}}^d$ and is either Zariski connected or contains a proximal element, we give quantitative estimates (depending only on the linear part of the random walk) for how fast the random walk equidistributes unless the initial point and the translation part of the affine transformations can be perturbed so that the random walk is trapped in a finite orbit of small cardinality. In particular, we prove that the random walk equidistributes in law to the Haar measure if and only if the random walk is not trapped in a finite orbit.
Analytical and Clinical Analysis of Two Automated Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoassays in Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Patient Populations
Authors: Yang Jianbo , Pederson Edward C , Hamilton Christopher , Neibauer Terri , Robyak Kimberly , McGhee Pamela , Speicher Teresa , Zhu Yusheng
Published: November 2020

Background

In the absence of a safe, effective vaccine, the worldwide spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection will continue. Laboratory tests with ideal precision, sensitivity, and specificity should be used in public health and clinical settings to gauge the extent of virus exposure. Toward this end, we evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG and the Roche Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays.

Methods

Quality control, pooled COVID-19, and non-COVID-19 patient specimens were used for the imprecision study. Two hundred and forty-six specimens from 70 patients with COVID-19 diagnosis were tested to study the sensitivity. Seventy-three non-COVID-19 control specimens were measured to study the specificity. All specimens were analyzed by both assays.

Results

Total analytic variability (CV) of the negative and positive controls were 5.5% and 3.6% for the Abbott assay and 4.5% and 1.9% for the Roche assay. Both assays demonstrated 100% qualitative reproducibility of negative and positive controls. The clinical specificities of the Abbott and the Roche assays were 100% (95% CI: 94%—100%) and 97% (95% CI: 90%—100%), respectively. The clinical sensitivities of the Abbott assay were 49% (95% CI: 41%—56%), 86% (95% CI: 74%—93%), and 100% (95% CI: 76%—100%) for samples collected at 0–6 days, 7–13 days, and ≥14 days after the first RT-PCR, while the sensitivities of the Roche assay were 55% (95% CI: 47%—62%), 86% (95% CI: 74%—93%), and 100% (95% CI: 76%—100%).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates similar analytical and clinical performance of the Abbott and the Roche SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, but the Roche assay may be slightly more sensitive for patients tested within 0–6 days after first positive RT-PCR of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 is a respiratory infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Laboratory tests with ideal precision, sensitivity, and specificity should be used in public health and clinical settings. We analyzed analytical and clinical performance of the Roche and Abbott SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays in pre-pandemic and pandemic patient populations. Additionally, we analyzed the sensitivity of both assays in patients at different stages of the disease. The 2 assays showed similar analytical and clinical performance, but the Roche assay may be slightly more sensitive for patients tested within 0–6 days after first positive RT-PCR of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings help other clinical labs select appropriate assays for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing.
Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Technique and Common Artifacts
Authors: Lai Yi-Chen , Ray Kimberly M , Mainprize James G , Kelil Tatiana , Joe Bonnie N
Published: November 2020

Image optimization at digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) involves a series of trade-offs between multiple variables. Wider sweep angles provide better separation of overlapping tissues, but they result in decreased in-plane resolution as well as increased scan times that may be prone to patient motion. Techniques to reduce scan time, such as continuous tube motion and pixel binning during detector readout, reduce the chances of patient motion but may degrade the in-plane resolution. Image artifacts are inherent to DBT because of the limited angular range of the acquisition. Iterative reconstruction algorithms have been shown to reduce various DBT artifacts.
Broflanilide, a Meta-Diamide Insecticide Seed Treatment for Protection of Wheat and Mortality of Wireworms (Agriotes obscurus) in the Field
Authors: van Herk Willem G , Vernon Robert S , Goudis Lindsey , Mitchell Terisha
Published: November 2020

Following the deregistration of lindane, several neonicotinoid insecticides have been registered as seed treatments for controlling wireworms in cereal crops. Unlike lindane, which did both, neonicotinoids provide crop protection but do not reduce wireworm populations. Hence populations of various economic species are growing in key wheat production areas of the United States and Canada, and there is a need for novel seed treatments that match the efficacy of lindane. Herein we evaluated broflanilide, a novel GABA-gated Cl- channel allosteric modulator that differs from the cyclodienes (e.g., lindane) in that it binds to a unique site in the GABA receptor. As such, broflanilide confers a new mode of insecticidal action (Group 30 MOA), and is the first meta-diamide insecticide developed. When evaluated in field trials over 7 yr at various rates, broflanilide at 5.0 g [AI]/100 kg wheat seed was as effective at protecting wheat stand from wireworm (Agriotes obscurus) injury as the current industry standard thiamethoxam at 20–30 g [AI]/100 kg seed. In addition, broflanilide at 5.0 g reduced neonate wireworms (produced from eggs laid in established wheat during the growing season) and resident wireworms (in the field at time of planting) by 73.1 and 81.1%, respectively, which is comparable to that reported for the previous industry standard lindane (75.3 and 57.6%, respectively). These studies show that broflanilide at 5.0 g [AI] will provide consistent wheat stand protection (equal to thiamethoxam at 20–30 g [AI]), and A. obscurus wireworm population reduction (equal to lindane at 59 g [AI]), and will do so at far lower dosages per hectare.
Pre-operative comparisons for a return to running protocol in recreational athletes following hip arthroscopy
Authors: Reynolds Alan W , McGovern Ryan P , Nickel Beth , Christoforetti John J
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the current study was to present pre-operative comparisons for recreational athletes attempting a return to running following hip arthroscopy, and the return to running progression protocol used to guide them. A prospective, non-randomized cohort study was conducted to evaluate recreational athletes that returned to running following hip arthroscopy. Return to running was the primary outcome measure and defined as the ability to run at least one mile three times weekly while maintaining patient-reported relief of pre-operative symptoms. Patients included were correlated with the following pre-operative patient-reported outcome measures: hip outcome score (HOS), 12-item international outcome tool (iHOT-12), visual analog scale for pain (VAS) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Of the 99 included patients, 94 (95%) returned to running successfully with an average return of 4.8 months. There was no statistical difference in pre-operative comparisons between patients that returned to running and did not return to running (P ≥ 0.154). Evaluation of pre-operative clinical outcomes demonstrated no statistical difference between individuals that returned and did not return to running (P ≥ 0.177), but a large difference between the two groups was identified for HOS-ADL (64.8 versus 53.7, returned versus did not return), iHOT-12 (33.8 versus 25.4) and VAS (58.6 versus 69.3). Patients who returned to running demonstrated similar intraoperative procedures as those that did not return to running (P ≥ 0.214). The current study successfully establishes a management plan and progression protocol for patients identifying a return to recreational running following hip arthroscopy. Level of evidence: 3.
TEM and STEM-EDS evaluation of metal nanoparticle encapsulation in GroEL/GroES complexes according to the reaction mechanism of chaperonin
Authors: Yoda Hiromi , Koike-Takeshita Ayumi
Published: November 2020

Escherichia coli chaperonin GroEL, which is a large cylindrical protein complex comprising two heptameric rings with cavities of 4.5 nm each in the center, assists in intracellular protein folding with the aid of GroES and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Here, we investigated the possibility that GroEL can also encapsulate metal nanoparticles (NPs) up to ∼5 nm in diameter into the cavities with the aid of GroES and ATP. The slow ATP-hydrolyzing GroELD52A/D398A mutant, which forms extremely stable complexes with GroES (half-time of ∼6 days), made it possible to analyze GroEL/GroES complexes containing metal NPs. Scanning transmission electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis proved distinctly that FePt NPs and Au NPs were encapsulated in the GroEL/GroES complexes. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed that the NPs in the GroEL/GroES complex were able to maintain their dispersibility in solution. We previously described that the incubation of GroEL and GroES in the presence of ATP·BeFx and adenosine diphosphate·BeFx resulted in the formation of symmetric football-shaped and asymmetric bullet-shaped complexes, respectively. Based on this knowledge, we successfully constructed the football-shaped complex in which two compartments were occupied by Pt or Au NPs (first compartment) and FePt NPs (second compartment). This study showed that metal NPs were sequentially encapsulated according to the GroEL reaction in a step-by-step manner. In light of these results, chaperonin can be used as a tool for handling nanomaterials.
The Long Jihad: The Boom–Bust Cycle behind Jihadist Durability
Authors: Ahmad Aisha
Published: November 2020

One of the most frustrating features of modern jihadist insurgencies is their ability to endure and resurge, even after seeming defeats. What explains this jihadist resilience? In this paper, I present a new “boom–bust” economic theory for why jihadist groups can withstand serious losses, survive periods of decline, and then reclaim power. Using new evidence from Somalia, I demonstrate that jihadists learn how to adapt to fluctuations in their degree of territorial control, so that they can survive—and even thrive—during periods of decline. During a “boom” period, when jihadists enjoy a monopoly on force, they tax and govern as a proto-state. However, during a “bust,” when they are pushed out of power, jihadists shift their efforts to illicit business activities and insurgent warfare. When pressure abates, they again shift back to taxing and governing as a proto-state. This cyclical and long-term approach to order-making allows jihadists to adapt to changing battlefield conditions and survive serious setbacks. Jihadists establish their proto-states to varying degrees, governing in pockets and coves wherever and whenever the opportunities present themselves. They are as orderly as they can afford to be.
Social Skills and Medical Responsibility Across Development in Youth With Spina Bifida
Authors: Stiles-Shields Colleen , Shirkey Kezia C , Winning Adrien M , Smith Zoe R , Wartman Elicia , Holmbeck Grayson N
Published: November 2020

Objective 

To examine the predictive role of social skills in youth with spina bifida (SB) on growth in medical responsibility across development.

Methods 

As part of a larger, longitudinal study, 140 youth with SB were assessed across four time points (ages 8–22 across time points). Mixed-effects models were investigated for change with: (a) no predictors (i.e., change in medical responsibility across age; time was examined using the participant’s age, centered at 11.5 years); (b) social variables (i.e., observed social behaviors, parent- and teacher-reported social skills) as predictors; and (c) social variables as predictors with intelligence quotient, lesion level, and sex as covariates.

Results 

Significant growth with age was identified for medical responsibility (p < .0001). Observed, parent-reported, and teacher-reported social skills did not significantly predict this growth; however, all three predicted the intercept for medical responsibility at 11.5 years of age (ps ≤ .047). Parent-reported social skills remained a significant predictor of the intercept at 11.5 years of age when including the covariates (p = .008).

Conclusions 

Children with SB who exhibited more positive social skills were more likely to a have higher level of medical responsibility in late childhood, but higher levels of social skills were not associated with a more rapid increase in responsibility over time. Identifying existing social strengths and promoting the practice of prosocial skills may have additional benefits to children with SB, including their acquisition of medical responsibility.
Laparoscopic repair of incarcerated transverse colon internal hernia in a patient with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Hakmi Hazim , Hashmi Hassan , Hunt Jackson , Levine Jun
Published: November 2020

Internal hernia is a rare cause of bowel obstruction in patients with no prior surgical history. Laparoscopic repair of a transverse bowel herniation through the foramen of Winslow is the rarest type of internal hernia, with only two case reports published in the literature. In a patient with a history with Crohn’s disease and no prior surgical history, presenting with signs of bowel obstruction, and no inflammatory symptoms, internal hernia should be suspected as one of the causes. Minimally invasive laparoscopic repair is a feasible safe option in those patients, allowing patients to go home the next day postoperatively.