bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complement 3 mediates periodontal destruction in patients with type 2 diabetes by regulating macrophage polarization in periodontal tissues
Authors: Li Ye , Wang Xinxin , Wang Saisai , Zhu Chunhui , Guo Jing , Li Ke , Li Ang
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Diabetes aggravates the risk and severity of periodontitis, but the specific mechanism remains confused. Complement 3 (C3) is closely related to complications of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In the present study, we concentrated on whether C3 mediates the development of periodontitis in T2DM.

Materials and Methods

Levels of C3 in blood and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients were measured first. A C3‐knockout diabetic mouse model was established, real‐time PCR, Western blotting and histological investigation were performed to evaluate the progress of periodontitis. Microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) and TRAP staining were performed to detect alveolar bone resorption. Immunofluorescence was performed to detect polarization of macrophages.

Results

Our data showed that C3 levels were elevated in the blood and GCF of T2DM patients compared with non‐diabetic individuals. Increased C3 was closely related to the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)‐1, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), as well as the decline of the bone volume density (BMD) and bone volume over total volume (BV/TV) of the alveolar bones in diabetic mice. The deletion of C3 inhibited inflammatory cytokines and rescued the decreased BMD and BV/TV of the alveolar bones. C3‐mediated polarization of macrophages was responsible for the damage.

Conclusion

T2DM‐related upregulation of C3 contributes to the development of periodontitis by promoting macrophages M1 polarization and inhibiting M2 polarization, triggering a pro‐inflammatory effect on periodontal tissues.
Characteristics of peripheral blood differential counts in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Pakos Irene S. , Lo Kevin Bryan , Salacup Grace , Pelayo Jerald , Bhargav Ruchika , Peterson Eric , Gul Fahad , DeJoy Robert , Albano Jeri , Patarroyo‐Aponte Gabriel , Rangaswami Janani , Azmaiparashvili Zurab
Published: August 2020

Background

A lot remains unknown about the features and laboratory findings that may predict worse outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in complete blood count parameters and differential counts in patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 who survived compared to those who died.

Design

We performed a single‐center retrospective study including 242 patients with confirmed COVID‐19. We described the characteristics of the complete blood count parameters in these patients. Mann‐Whitney U test was used to compare hematologic parameters of patients who died and those who survived; multivariate logistic regression was used to look for associations with mortality.

Results

Patients with COVID‐19 who died had significantly lower median absolute monocyte count (AMC) (0.4 vs 0.5, P = .039) and median platelet count (169 vs 213, P = .009) compared to those who survived. Patients who died had a significantly higher neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (6.4 vs 4.5, P = .001). The NLR was positively associated with death (OR = 1.038; 95% CI, 1.003‐1.074, P = .031), while AMC was inversely associated with death (OR = 0.200; 95% CI, 0.052‐0.761, P = .018).

Conclusion

Among patients with COVID‐19, a lower AMC and higher NLR are associated with higher mortality.
Pathological spontaneous activity as a prognostic marker in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Authors: Grüter T. , Motte J. , Fisse A. L. , Bulut Y. , Köse N. , Athanasopoulos D. , Otto S. , Yoon M. ‐S. , Schneider‐Gold C. , Gold R. , Pitarokoili K.
Published: August 2020

Background and purpose

Monitoring of the disease course of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) remains challenging because nerve conduction studies do not adequately correlate with functional disability. The prognostic value of pathological spontaneous activity (PSA) in needle electromyography (EMG) in different CIDP subgroups in a longitudinal context has, to date, not been analysed. We aimed to determine whether PSA was a prognostic marker or a marker of disease activity in a cohort of patients with CIDP.

Methods

A total of 127 patients with CIDP spectrum disorder were retrospectively analysed over 57 ± 47 months regarding the occurrence of PSA (fibrillations and positive sharp waves). The presence of PSA at diagnosis, newly occurring PSA, and continuously present PSA were longitudinally correlated with clinical disability using the Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment Overall Disability Sum Score (INCAT‐ODSS) and CIDP subtype.

Results

Pathological spontaneous activity occurred in 49.6% of all CIDP patients at first diagnosis. More frequent evidence of PSA was significantly associated with a higher INCAT‐ODSS at the last follow‐up. Continuous and new occurrence of PSA were associated with higher degree of disability at the last follow‐up. The majority of patients with sustained evidence of PSA were characterized by an atypical phenotype, higher degree of disability, and the need for escalation of treatment.

Conclusions

Pathological spontaneous activity was associated with a higher degree of disability and occurred more frequently in atypical CIDP variants according to the longitudinal data of a large cohort of patients with CIDP. Our results showed that EMG examination was an adequate marker for disease progression and should be evaluated during the disease course.
Hemorrhagic patterns and their risk factors in patients with moyamoya disease
Authors: Zhang Q. , Zhao M. , Ge P. , Liu X. , Wang R. , Zhang Y. , Zhang D. , Zhao J.
Published: August 2020

Background and purpose

The aim was to describe the profiles of hemorrhagic patterns of moyamoya disease (MMD) and analyze the risk factors in a large population.

Methods

A total of 335 conservatively managed MMD patients with hemorrhage in our hospital were included in this cross‐sectional study. The correlation between clinical and angiographic characteristics and hemorrhagic patterns (anterior or posterior hemorrhage) was assessed in the hemorrhagic hemisphere by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. In addition, stratified analysis was performed.

Results

The 335 hemorrhagic hemispheres (patients) comprised 179 (53.4%) anterior and 156 (46.6%) posterior hemorrhages. For all cases, age at onset [odds ratio (OR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96–1.00; P = 0.048] and choroidal anastomosis (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.19–2.94; P = 0.007) were found by multivariate regression analysis to be negatively and positively associated with a significantly increased risk of posterior hemorrhage, respectively. After stratified analysis, hypertension (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.14–0.97; P = 0.043) was identified by multivariate regression analysis as a risk factor for anterior hemorrhage in patients without dilation of choroidal anastomosis. On the other hand, choroidal anastomosis (OR 2.62; 95% CI 1.02–6.72; P = 0.045) and involvement of the posterior cerebral artery (OR 3.39; 95% CI 1.20–9.63; P = 0.022) were associated with significantly increased risk of posterior hemorrhage in children and young adults (<30 years of age).

Conclusions

A dynamic change in hemorrhagic patterns in MMD patients with increasing age at onset was observed. Choroidal anastomosis is a predictor of posterior hemorrhage. Hypertension is a risk factor for anterior hemorrhage in patients without extreme dilation of choroidal anastomosis.
Corn stover harvest reduces soil CO2 fluxes but increases overall C losses
Authors: O’Brien Peter L. , Sauer Thomas J. , Archontoulis Sotirios , Karlen Douglas L. , Laird David
Published: August 2020

Harvesting corn (Zea mays L.) stover for use as bioenergy feedstock may provide short‐term economic benefits and perhaps improve grain yield in continuous corn systems, but excessive stover removal may lead to long‐term depletion of soil C stocks. To better quantify the impacts of stover harvest on the soil C balance, we investigated CO2 fluxes under three harvest treatments (none, moderate, and high) in three continuous corn systems: (a) no tillage and no biochar applications, (b) chisel plowing with biochar amendments, and (c) chisel plowing without biochar amendments were quantified. We sampled static chambers 14, 13, and 15 times in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively, and the measurements were used to calibrate the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator model. Although CO2‐C emissions did not differ among the three systems, both moderate (approximately 30%) and high (approximately 60%) stover removal rates reduced simulated CO2‐C emissions by nearly 10% and more than 22%, respectively. Despite these reductions in CO2 flux, the sum of CO2‐C and stover C exceeded CO2‐C losses in those plots without stover removal. This finding suggested soil C depletion was occurring for the soil and crop management practices used, even though depletion was not evident after 3 years. Application of biochar increased soil C levels, suggesting it may be able to offset some C losses. We conclude that for sustainable, highly productive agroecosystems that include stover harvest, all agronomic practices must be optimized to minimize C losses and maintain soil quality.
A cross‐scale assessment of productivity–diversity relationships
Authors: Craven Dylan , van der Sande Masha T. , Meyer Carsten , Gerstner Katharina , Bennett Joanne M. , Giling Darren P. , Hines Jes , Phillips Helen R. P. , May Felix , Bannar‐Martin Katherine H. , Chase Jonathan M. , Keil Petr
Published: August 2020

Aim

Biodiversity and ecosystem productivity vary across the globe, and considerable effort has been made to describe their relationships. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research has traditionally focused on how experimentally controlled species richness affects net primary productivity (S → NPP) at small spatial grains. In contrast, the influence of productivity on richness (NPP → S) has been explored at many grains in naturally assembled communities. Mismatches in spatial scale between approaches have fuelled debate about the strength and direction of biodiversity–productivity relationships. Here, we examine the direction and strength of the influence of productivity on diversity (NPP → S) and the influence of diversity on productivity (S → NPP) and how these vary across spatial grains.

Location

Contiguous USA.

Time period

1999–2015.

Major taxa studied

Woody species (angiosperms and gymnosperms).

Methods

Using data from North American forests at grains from local (672 m2) to coarse spatial units (median area = 35,677 km2), we assess relationships between diversity and productivity using structural equation and random forest models, while accounting for variation in climate, environmental heterogeneity, management and forest age.

Results

We show that relationships betweenSand NPP strengthen with spatial grain. Within each grain,S → NPP and NPP → Shave similar magnitudes, meaning that processes underlyingS → NPP and NPP → Seither operate simultaneously or that one of them is real and the other is an artefact. At all spatial grains,Swas one of the weakest predictors of forest productivity, which was largely driven by biomass, temperature and forest management and age.

Main conclusions

We conclude that spatial grain mediates relationships between biodiversity and productivity in real‐world ecosystems and that results supporting predictions from each approach (NPP → SandS → NPP) serve as an impetus for future studies testing underlying mechanisms. Productivity–diversity relationships emerge at multiple spatial grains, which should widen the focus of national and global policy and research to larger spatial grains.
Mums with cameras: Technological change, entrepreneurship and motherhood
Authors: Mayes Robyn , Williams Penelope , McDonald Paula
Published: August 2020

This article examines the discursive framing of motherhood and entrepreneurship in the context of the Australian photography industry. Drawing on interviews with both male and female professional photographers, we analyse framings of ‘the mumtographer’ and ‘mums with cameras’. Moving beyond the emphasis in the extant literature on mother business owners in general, our analysis delineates an industry‐specific articulation of the mumpreneur and expands debates around the gender politics of the juxtaposition of entrepreneurship and motherhood. In doing so, we offer insights into the hitherto neglected dimensions of technological change and feminization informing constructions of mumpreneurship. We elucidate masculine constructions of mumpreneurship, adopted in part by female interviewees, and highlight women's understandings of their experiences in the industry as occurring in response to this masculine framing. In concluding we argue that this industry framing not only situates mumpreneurship as feminized practice but demonstrates a broader politicization of motherhood and entrepreneurship in which the entrepreneurial work of mothers is negated if not vilified.
Option‐for‐guarantee swaps and flexible investment opportunities
Authors: Gan Liu , Wang Chong
Published: August 2020

This paper develops a dynamic structural model to study the interaction between an entrepreneur's initial financing choice and future investment decisions when the firm is financed by an option‐for‐guarantee swap (OGS) contract. We begin under the assumption that the guarantee cost is determined by the bargaining between the entrepreneur and the guarantor at the initial time, and the entrepreneur can exercise investment at each time to adjust the firm's size. We show that both the market leverage ratio and agency cost of debt overhang exhibit a U‐shaped relation with the entrepreneur's bargaining power. Moreover, our model predicts an inverted U‐shaped relationship between the agency cost of debt overhang and the profitability of investment opportunities. In particular, compared to the traditional fee‐for‐guarantee swaps (FGSs), we also demonstrate that firms with OGS financing have a larger bargaining region between the entrepreneur and the guarantor. This means that OGSs can make it easier for the entrepreneur escape initial financial constraints and thus can provide a novel investment‐based explanation for the use of OGSs.
Intrinsic defects, Mo‐related defects, and complexes in transition‐metal carbide VC: A first‐principles study
Authors: Guo Jing , Feng Yunli , Tang Cong , Ren Xuejun
Published: August 2020

Intrinsic defects and Mo‐related defects in vanadium carbide VC, as well as the defect complexes between vacancies and Mo defects were investigated by means of first‐principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory. In addition, Mo diffusion in VC was also studied using LST/QST method. The formation energies of defects have clearly shown that except C vacancy (VC) all other point defects are not energetic favorable compared to perfect VC. VC can exist in the lattice forming nonstoichiometric carbide VCx (x < 1), and also can stabilize the Mo‐related defects (SMo‐V, SMo‐C, and TMo). Free Mo atoms have the strong tendency to enter the already formed VV and occupy the lattice position of V atoms. Meanwhile, Mo atom in C lattice (SMo‐C) and interstitial Mo (IMo) atom can also enter the VV position stabilizing the lattice structure. SMo‐C + VV will transform into SMo‐V + VC and IMo + VV will transform into SMo‐V during optimization, and large binding energy makes Mo atom tend to exist in the interstitial position. From the perspective of energy, Mo atom tends to diffuse through the interstitial position.
Modelling the effect of environmental temperatures, microhabitat and behavioural thermoregulation on predicted activity patterns in a desert lizard across its thermally diverse distribution
Authors: Parlin Adam F. , Schaeffer Paul J. , Jezkova Tereza
Published: August 2020

Aim

Temperature plays an important role in determining distributions of ectothermic species, yet many ectotherms have wide distributions across diverse environmental conditions. Our goal was to model regional differences in annual and seasonal activity patterns among populations of Phrynosoma platyrhinos across its climatically diverse distribution. We hypothesize that microhabitat availability and behavioural thermoregulation will not mitigate large‐scale climatic differences across the species' distribution, resulting in alteration of activity patterns of populations.

Location

Western deserts of North America.

Taxon

Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos).

Methods

We used biophysical models to (a) model microhabitat conditions at 31 localities across the species' range, (b) model body temperature profiles of a theoretical lizard using microhabitat conditions, physiological and thermal parameters and the ability of lizards to thermoregulate behaviourally and (c) predict year‐round activity patterns of P. platyrhinos across its range, quantified as the percentage of time permissible for basking or foraging.

Results

The models identified that different populations of P. platyrhinos experience differences in predicted activity patterns, both daily and seasonally, with up to 67% more time suitable for foraging in the southern than northern deserts. Southern populations have more potential for year‐round activity, but predicted activity is reduced during hot summer months. The northern populations have less time for activity overall because of low temperatures in the spring and fall. However, summer‐predicted activity is greater than in the southern regions.

Main conclusions

We detected pronounced regional differences in the times available to P. platyrhinos for activity. We conclude that behaviour and microclimate conditions are not able to fully mitigate the effects of large‐scale thermal variation, and that lizards compensate for climatic variation by shifting their daily and seasonal predicted activity patterns. These differences can be tied to inter‐population variation in life history traits.
Hypomethylation of the promoter region drives ectopic expression of TMEM244 in Sézary cells
Authors: Iżykowska Katarzyna , Rassek Karolina , Żurawek Magdalena , Nowicka Karina , Paczkowska Julia , Ziółkowska‐Suchanek Iwona , Podralska Marta , Dzikiewicz‐Krawczyk Agnieszka , Joks Monika , Olek‐Hrab Karolina , Giefing Maciej , Przybylski Grzegorz K.
Published: August 2020

Sézary syndrome (SS) is an aggressive form of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) characterized by the presence of circulating malignant CD4+ T cells (Sézary cells) with many complex changes in the genome, transcriptome and epigenome. Epigenetic dysregulation seems to have an important role in the development and progression of SS as it was shown that SS cells are characterized by widespread changes in DNA methylation. In this study, we show that the transmembrane protein coding gene TMEM244 is ectopically expressed in all SS patients and SS‐derived cell lines and, to a lower extent, in mycosis fungoides and in a fraction of T‐cell lymphomas, but not in B‐cell malignancies and mononuclear cells of healthy individuals. We show that in patient samples and in the T‐cell lines TMEM244 expression is negatively correlated with the methylation level of its promoter. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TMEM244 expression can be activated in vitro by the CRISPR‐dCas9–induced specific demethylation of TMEM244 promoter region. Since both, TMEM244 expression and its promoter demethylation, are not detected in normal lymphoid cells, they can be potentially used as markers in Sézary syndrome and some other T‐cell lymphomas.
Economic Gender Equality and the Decline of Alimony in Switzerland
Authors: Kessler Dorian
Published: August 2020

Research has established a historical decline of alimony for divorced women in Western countries. Because the main function of alimony is to compensate for differences in couples' economic resources and needs, it is plausible that the reduction of alimony is a consequence of greater economic equality between husbands and wives. Scholars of divorce law, however, have argued that declines in alimony have instead resulted from a deliberate reorientation of alimony law that, by limiting alimony, has sought to facilitate divorces and to cause greater economic gender equality. Through a trend decomposition analysis that draws on couple income data linked to case‐level court reports from Switzerland before and after the introduction of no‐fault divorce (1990–2008), this study assesses the extent to which the decline of alimony is a consequence of reduced economic inequality in couples. During the study period, alimony declined from about one divorce in two to about one divorce in three, but the explanatory value of lower economic inequality in couples is limited regarding this trend. In fact, greater shares of couples' incomes earned by women and more egalitarian distributions of child custody after divorce can explain, at best, half the decline in limited‐term alimony. Greater equality in pension incomes explains steep reductions in unlimited alimony but cannot account for why limited‐term alimony awards for women of working age have become less likely. I conclude that increases in Swiss women's economic self‐sufficiency have not kept pace with the decline of alimony. The hypotheses that changing norms in alimony law are reducing alimony and that less alimony stimulates women's employment thus deserve closer examination.
Evaluation of the U.S. governors' decision when to issue stay‐at‐home orders
Authors: Djulbegovic Benjamin , Weiss David J. , Hozo Iztok
Published: August 2020

Rationale, aims and objectives

In the United States, the reluctance of the federal government to impose a national stay‐at‐home policy in wake of COVID‐19 pandemic has left the decision of how to achieve social distancing to individual state governors. We hypothesized that in the absence of formal guidelines, the decision to close a state reflects the classic Weber‐Fechner law of psychophysics – the amount by which a stimulus (such as number of cases or deaths) must increase in order to be noticed as a fraction of the intensity of that stimulus.

Methods

On 12 April 2020, we downloaded data from the New York Times database from all 50 states and the District of Columbia; by that time all but 7 states had issued the stay‐at‐home orders. We fitted the Weber‐Fechner logarithmic function by regressing the log2 of cases and deaths, respectively, against the daily counts. We also conducted Cox regression analysis to determine if the probability of issuing the stay‐at‐home order increases proportionally as the number of cases or deaths increases.

Results

We found that the decision to issue the state‐at‐home order reflects the Weber‐Fechner law. Both the number of infections (P = <.0001; R2 = .79) and deaths (P < .0001; R2 = .63) were significantly associated with the decision to issue the stay‐at‐home orders. The results indicate that for each doubling of infections or deaths, an additional four to six states will issue stay‐at‐home orders. Cox regression showed that when the number of deaths reached 256 and the number of infected people were over 16 000 the probability of issuing “stay‐at‐home” order was close to 100%. We found no difference in decision‐making according to the political affiliation; the results remain unchanged on 16 July 2 020.

Conclusions

when there are not clearly articulated rules to follow, decision‐makers resort to simple heuristics, in this case one consistent with the Weber‐Fechner law.
Semimembranosus muscle displacement is associated with movement of the superficial fascia: An in vivo ultrasound investigation
Authors: Wilke Jan , Tenberg Sarah
Published: August 2020

The deep fascia enveloping the skeletal muscle has been shown to contribute to the mechanics of the locomotor system. However, less is known about the role of the superficial fascia (SF). This study aimed to describe the potential interaction between the Hamstring muscles and the SF. Local movement of the dorsal thigh's soft tissue was imposed making use of myofascial force transmission effects across the knee joint: In eleven healthy individuals (26.8 ± 4.3 years, six males), an isokinetic dynamometer moved the ankle into maximal passive dorsal extension (knee extended). Due to the morphological continuity between the gastrocnemius and the Hamstrings, stretching the calf led to soft tissue displacements in the dorsal thigh. Ultrasound recordings were made to dynamically visualize (a) the semimembranosus muscle and (b) the superficial fascia. Differences in and associations between horizontal movement amplitudes of the two structures, quantified via cross‐correlation analyses, were calculated by means of the Mann–Whitney U test and Kendal's tau test, respectively. Mean horizontal movement was significantly higher in the muscle (5.70 mm) than in the SF (0.72 mm, p < 0.001, r = 0.82). However, a strong correlation between the tissue displacements in both locations was detected (p < 0.001, r = 0.91). A Direct mechanical relationship may exist between the SF and the skeletal muscle. Deep pathologies or altered muscle stiffness could thus have long‐term consequences for rather superficial structures and vice versa.
Three‐dimensional ultrastructure reconstruction of tendinous components at the bifurcation of the bovine superficial digital flexor tendon using array and STEM tomographies
Authors: Takahashi Naoki , Kametani Kiyokazu , Ota Ryo , Tangkawattana Prasarn , Iwasaki Tomohito , Hasegawa Yasuhiro , Ueda Hiromi , Hosotani Marina , Watanabe Takafumi
Published: August 2020

Tendons transmit force from muscle to bone for joint movement. Tenocytes are a specialized type of fibroblast that produces collagen fibrils in tendons. Their cytoplasmic processes form a network surrounding collagen fibrils to define a collagen fibre. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains link collagen fibrils and adhere at the D‐band of the collagen fibril. In this study, we used array and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) tomographies to reconstruct the three‐dimensional ultrastructure of tenocytes, collagen fibres, collagen fibrils and GAG chains at the bifurcation of the bovine hindlimb superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). Collagen fibrils comprising a collagen fibre were not aligned uniformly and had at least two running directions. Spindle‐shaped tenocytes were arranged along the long axis of a plurality of collagen fibres, where two groups of collagen fibrils with oblique directions to each other exhibited an oblique overlap of the two collagen fibril layers. Collagen fibrils with different running directions were observed in separating layers of about 300 nm in thickness and had diameters of 0–200 nm. About 40% of all collagen fibrils had a peak in the range of 20–40 nm. STEM analysis of the same site where the crossing of collagen fibres was observed by transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the outline of collagen fibrils with a clear D‐banding pattern at a regular interval. Collagen fibrils were reconstructed three‐dimensionally using continuous images acquired by STEM tomography, which confirmed that the collagen fibrils at the crossing sites did not orientate in layers, but were woven one by one. Higher magnification observation of GAG chains attached between the crossing collagen fibrils revealed numerous GAG chains arranged either vertically or obliquely on collagen fibrils. Furthermore, GAG chains at the cross of collagen fibrils connected the closest D‐bands. GAG chains are thought to be universally present between collagen fibrils of the tendon. These observations by array and STEM tomographies increase our knowledge of the anatomy in the bifurcation of the bovine hindlimb SDFT and demonstrate the utility of these new imaging technologies.
Gender and the Premature Deaths of People with Intellectual Disabilities: An International Expert Consultation
Authors: Robertson Janet , Heslop Pauline , Lauer Emily , Taggart Laurence , Hatton Chris
Published: August 2020

People with intellectual disabilities die at much younger ages than the general population, with this gap in life expectancy greater for females than males. This study aimed to seek the views of international experts concerning evidence relating to gender and the premature deaths of people with intellectual disabilities, their views on priorities for future research, and recommendations for future research and policy. Twenty international experts on the health and/or mortality of people with intellectual disabilities were invited to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on summary statements from a literature review on gender and premature death among people with intellectual disabilities compared to the general population. Summary statements included general topics such as mortality and specific major causes of death (e.g., cancer). For each summary statement, respondents rated on 5‐point scales: their agreement with the statement; the importance of the topic; and the adequacy of the evidence. Participants then indicated their top three priorities for future research, and gave recommendations for future research and policy. Eighteen (90% response rate) respondents from nine countries participated. There was consensus among respondents regarding the greater inequality in intellectual disability vs. general population mortality rates for women compared to men. Evidence was considered inadequate for most topics. Evidence on cause‐specific death rates was the most frequently mentioned main research priority, followed by age trends in mortality compared to the general population. Recommendations ranged from the need to use consistent methodology and case definition in future research, to the need for governments to be called to account on the issue. Further evidence on gender and mortality is urgently needed; an international consensus on recommendations for future research pertaining to gender and the premature deaths of people with intellectual disabilities would greatly assist the development of evidence‐based policy and practice.
Methodological Synthesis of Cluster Analysis in Second Language Research
Authors: Crowther Dustin , Kim Susie , Lee Jongbong , Lim Jungmin , Loewen Shawn
Published: August 2020

We present a review of second language researchers’ use of cluster analysis, an advanced statistical method still uncommon but increasingly used to identify groups or patterns in a dataset and to examine group differences. After describing key methodological considerations in conducting cluster analysis, we present a methodological synthesis of 65 studies published between 1989 and 2018 that employed cluster analysis. We specifically review the use of cluster analysis for themes of usage and reporting practices. Our findings indicate that hierarchical cluster analysis and K‐means cluster analysis were the most commonly used cluster methods, but the widespread use of these two methods tended not to be accompanied by sound reporting practices, particularly when justifying cluster solutions. In our analysis, we highlight concerns related to reporting and evaluation. For future use and to inform methodological practices in second language research, we briefly report on a sample study of cluster analysis that uses open data.
Key to the determination of taxa of Lemnaceae: an update
Authors: Bog Manuela , Appenroth Klaus J. , Sree K. Sowjanya
Published: August 2020

Species of Lemnaceae have a high potential for fast biomass production, and this is increasingly gaining attention among researchers in basic plant sciences as well as among entrepreneurs for feed, food and energy production. Hence, the correct identification of the species being used for different duckweed research and applications is becoming indispensable. Here, we present an updated identification key based on morphological markers to the currently accepted 36 species of duckweeds, considering all taxonomic revisions since the publication of the previous key by E. Landolt in 1986. We also provide supplementary morphological characterization and the geographical occurrence of each species of Lemnaceae.
Inflammatory response of uric acid produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipains
Authors: Jun Hye‐Kyung , An Sun‐Jin , Kim Hyun Young , Choi Bong‐Kyu
Published: August 2020

Uric acid is a potential metabolite that serves as a danger‐associated molecular pattern (DAMP) and induces inflammatory responses in sterile environments. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone periodontopathogen, and its gingipain proteases play a critical role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. In this study, we demonstrate that P. gingivalis gingipains play a role in THP‐1 macrophage uric acid production by increasing the expression and activity of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR). Uric acid sodium salt induces caspase‐1 activation, cell death, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL‐1α, IL‐6, and IL‐8, in the human keratinocyte HOK‐16B cell line. Our results suggest that gingipain‐induced uric acid can mediate inflammation in periodontal tissue cells.
Peri‐procedural novel oral anticoagulants dosing strategy during atrial fibrillation ablation: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Mao Yin‐Jun , Wang Hang , Huang Pin‐Fang
Published: August 2020

Background

This study aimed at determining whether uninterrupted novel oral anticoagulant (UI‐NOAC) would have similar rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events as minimally interrupted NOAC (MI‐NOAC) at the time of ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) as relevant studies are scarce.

Methods

We searched through the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for prospective observational studies (POSs) or randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing UI‐NOAC versus MI‐NOAC from their establishment to January 2020. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to compare the pooled treatment effect.

Results

Nine studies (three POSs and six RCTs) with 2578 patients were included in the final analysis (55% patients received MI‐NOAC). No significant difference was found regarding the risk of major bleeding (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.43‐2.00, P = .84, I2 = 0%). Both groups were comparable in all subgroups ([Asians: OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.43‐2.36, P = .99, I2 = 0%], [non‐Asians: OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.11‐3.88, P = .63, I2 = 0%], [RCTs: OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.37‐1.97, P = .71, I2 = 0%], and [POSs: OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.19‐12.01, P = .69, I2 = 0%]). The risk of minor bleeding (P = .88) or stroke (P = .69) was comparable between the groups. UI‐NOAC resulted in a significant reduction in silent stroke (SS) (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.23‐0.83, P = .01, I2 = 72%). No significant difference was found in SS between once‐daily and twice‐daily NOACs (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.63‐1.33, P = .64, I2 = 0%) in the MI‐NOAC group.

Conclusions

UI‐NOAC, as a peri‐procedural anticoagulation strategy for catheter ablation in AF, had similar safety compared with MI‐NOAC, but was advantageous in terms of SS.
Objective priors in the empirical Bayes framework
Authors: Klebanov Ilja , Sikorski Alexander , Schütte Christof , Röblitz Susanna
Published: August 2020

When dealing with Bayesian inference the choice of the prior often remains a debatable question. Empirical Bayes methods offer a data‐driven solution to this problem by estimating the prior itself from an ensemble of data. In the nonparametric case, the maximum likelihood estimate is known to overfit the data, an issue that is commonly tackled by regularization. However, the majority of regularizations are ad hoc choices which lack invariance under reparametrization of the model and result in inconsistent estimates for equivalent models. We introduce a nonparametric, transformation‐invariant estimator for the prior distribution. Being defined in terms of the missing information similar to the reference prior, it can be seen as an extension of the latter to the data‐driven setting. This implies a natural interpretation as a trade‐off between choosing the least informative prior and incorporating the information provided by the data, a symbiosis between the objective and empirical Bayes methodologies.
Talaromycosis in a renal transplant recipient returning from South China
Authors: Vergidis Paschalis , Rao Anirudh , Moore Caroline B. , Rautemaa‐Richardson Riina , Sweeney Louise C. , Morton Muir , Johnson Elizabeth M. , Borman Andrew M. , Richardson Malcolm D. , Augustine Titus
Published: August 2020

Talaromycosis is a fungal infection endemic in Southeast Asia. We report a case of a renal transplant recipient who developed infection after a trip to South China. She presented with constitutional symptoms and was found to have an FDG‐avid lung mass. Histopathology demonstrated small yeast cells and culture grew Talaromyces marneffei. The patient was treated with 2 weeks of liposomal amphotericin B followed by itraconazole. The dose of tacrolimus was significantly reduced because of the interaction with itraconazole. Mycophenolate mofetil was discontinued. After 12 months of treatment, the mass had completely resolved. Talaromycosis has mainly been reported in patients with AIDS and is uncommon among solid organ transplant recipients. The immune response against T. marneffei infection is mediated predominantly by T cells and macrophages. The diagnosis may not be suspected outside of endemic areas. We propose a therapeutic approach in transplant patients by extrapolating the evidence from the HIV literature and following practices applied to other endemic mycoses.
The Brassica napus wall‐associated kinase‐like (WAKL) gene Rlm9 provides race‐specific blackleg resistance
Authors: Larkan Nicholas J. , Ma Lisong , Haddadi Parham , Buchwaldt Miles , Parkin Isobel A.P. , Djavaheri Mohammad , Borhan M. Hossein
Published: August 2020

In plants, race‐specific defence against microbial pathogens is facilitated by resistance (R) genes which correspond to specific pathogen avirulence genes. This study reports the cloning of a blackleg R gene from Brassica napus (canola), Rlm9, which encodes a wall‐associated kinase‐like (WAKL) protein, a newly discovered class of race‐specific plant RLK resistance genes. Rlm9 provides race‐specific resistance against isolates of Leptosphaeria maculans carrying the corresponding avirulence gene AvrLm5‐9, representing only the second WAKL‐type R gene described to date. The Rlm9 protein is predicted to be cell membrane‐bound and while not conclusive, our work did not indicate direct interaction with AvrLm5‐9. Rlm9 forms part of a distinct evolutionary family of RLK proteins in B. napus, and while little is yet known about WAKL function, the Brassica–Leptosphaeria pathosystem may prove to be a model system by which the mechanism of fungal avirulence protein recognition by WAKL‐type R genes can be determined.
Hospital discharge hemoglobin values and posthospitalization clinical outcomes in transfused patients undergoing noncardiac surgery
Authors: Kerfeld Mitchell J. , Kor Daryl J. , Frank Ryan D. , Hanson Andrew C. , Passe Melissa A. , Warner Matthew A.
Published: August 2020

Background

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is common in surgical patients, yet optimal transfusion targets are incompletely defined in the perioperative period. Hemoglobin levels at the time of hospital discharge may provide insight into transfusion practices, anemia management, and patient outcomes.

Study Design and Methods

This is an observational cohort study of adults receiving RBC transfusion during noncardiac surgery from 2010 to 2014. Multivariable regression was used to assess the relationships between hospital discharge hemoglobin concentrations, anemia severity (severe: <8 g/dL; moderate: 8‐10 g/dL; mild/none: ≥10 g/dL), and clinical outcomes, including a primary outcome of 30‐day hospital readmission and secondary outcomes of posthospitalization RBC transfusion, composite stroke or myocardial infarction, and mortality.

Results

A total of 3129 patients were included: 165 (5%) with severe discharge anemia, 1962 (63%) moderate, and 1002 (32%) with mild/none. Five hundred ninety‐two (19%) were readmitted, with the highest rates observed with severe anemia (26% vs 19% for mild/none). Readmissions were not significantly different after multivariable adjustment (overall P = .216); however, in those receiving postoperative intensive care, severe anemia was associated with increased readmission rates (hazard ratio [HR], 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09‐2.71; reference mild/none]. Posthospitalization RBC transfusion rates were highest with severe anemia (25% vs 10% for mild/none; adjusted HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5‐3.3; P < .001). There were no significant differences in composite stroke/myocardial infarction, or mortality. RBC transfusion volumes did not modify anemia‐outcome relationships.

Conclusion

Hospital discharge hemoglobin values for transfused surgical patients were not associated with hospital readmission rates except for those receiving postoperative intensive care. Further evaluation is warranted to understand downstream consequences of postsurgical anemia.
Rotordynamic Behavior of Leaf Seals: Measurement of Frequency-Dependent Force Coefficients for Varying Inlet Parameters
Authors: Griebel Clemens
Published: August 2020

While brush seals can be found in various applications for turbomachines today, leaf seals are a further development in compliant seal technology and have a lower level of maturity. Among the purported advantages are greater axial rigidity when subject to higher pressure differences and the potential for noncontacting operation due to lift-up. However, especially their rotordynamic behavior is little investigated in the literature so far. In this paper, measured rotordynamic force coefficients of a leaf seal are presented for varying inlet pressures, preswirl velocities, and excitation frequencies. The leaf pack of the tested leaf seal has zero rotor cold clearance, and its coverplates are designed for facilitating a lift-up effect when pressurizing the seal. Experiments were performed on a dynamic test rig with whirling rotor using active magnetic bearing (AMB) technology and evaluated in the frequency domain based on the impedance method. Test results for the leaf seal reveal positive direct stiffness and an advantageous rotordynamic behavior due to significant levels of direct damping and negative cross-coupled stiffness throughout the operating parameter range. Leaf seal results are compared to brush and labyrinth seal data from previous studies for varying inlet pressures and preswirl velocities. Additional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out to predict the leaf deflection moment, which supports the findings regarding hydrostatic lift-up from the experimental results.
Spectral Microscopy Imaging System for High-Resolution and High-Speed Imaging of Fuel Sprays
Authors: Maassen Ken , Poursadegh Farzad , Genzale Caroline
Published: August 2020

Modern high-efficiency engines utilize direct injection for charge preparation at extremely high pressures. At these conditions, the scales of atomization become challenging to measure, as primary breakup occurs on the micrometer and nanosecond scales. As such, fuel sprays at these conditions have proven difficult to study via direct imaging. While high-speed cameras now exist that can shutter at tens to hundreds of nanoseconds, and long-range microscopes can be coupled to these cameras to provide high-resolution images, the resolving power of these systems is typically limited by pixel size and field of view (FOV). The large pixel sizes make the realization of the diffraction-limited optical resolution quite challenging. On the other hand, limited data throughput under high repetition rate operation limits the FOV due to reduced sensor area. Therefore, a novel measurement technique is critical to study fuel spray formation at engine-relevant conditions. In this work, we demonstrate a new high-resolution imaging technique, spectral microscopy, which aims to realize diffraction-limited imaging at effective framerates sufficient for capturing primary breakup in engine-relevant sprays. A spectral microscopy system utilizing a consumer-grade DSLR allows for significantly wider FOV with improved resolving power compared to high-speed cameras. Temporal shuttering is accomplished via separate and independently triggered back illumination sources, with wavelengths selected to overlap with the detection bands of the camera sensor's RGB filter array. The RGB detection channels act as filters to capture independently timed red, green, and blue light pulses, enabling the capture of a three consecutive images at effective framerates exceeding 20 × 106 fps. To optimize system performance, a backlit illumination system is designed to maximize light throughput, a multilens setup is created, and an image-processing algorithm is demonstrated that formulates a three-frame image from the camera sensor. The system capabilities are then demonstrated by imaging engine relevant diesel sprays. The spectral microscopy system detailed in this paper allows for micron-scale feature recognition at framerates exceeding 20 × 106 fps, thus expanding the capability for experimental research on primary breakup in fuel sprays for modern direct-injection engines.
Soot Formation With Light Extinction and Grayscale Extraction Methods Applied to Ethanol-Gasoline Blends Laminar Flame
Authors: Wei Shengli , Chen Jie , Xu Rui , Ding Tongyuan , Zhao Xiqian
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the two-dimensional parallel light extinction method was carried out to study the soot formation in laminar diffusion flames of four different ethanol-gasoline blends, of which ethanol volume fractions ranging from 0% up to 100% (E0, E20, E80, and E100). The flame images were processed synthetically via matlab to accurately calculate the flame height. In addition, the flame structure was redefined as three zones to observe the soot formation. The results indicate that the flame height changes with the variation of gas volume flowrate and fuel mass flowrate during the experiment. In terms of soot formation, as the volume fraction of ethanol increases, the proportion of soot forming zone decreases, while the area of blue flame zone grows. Simultaneously, the transition zone accounts for about 21% of the total flame area, which has no significant change with the increase of ethanol volume fraction.
Synergetic Effect on CO2-Assisted Co-Gasification of Biomass and Plastics
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Li Jinhu , Burra Kiran G. , Liu Xuan , Li Xueqin , Zhang Mengju , Lei Tingzhou , Gupta Ashwani K.
Published: August 2020

CO2-assisted co-gasification of binary mixtures of pinewood pellets (PWP) and two kinds of plastics polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were examined at 800 °C using a fixed bed reactor. Evolutionary behavior and yields of CO, H2, and CmHn were investigated for both individual feedstock and binary mixtures of biomass and plastic. Synergetic effects in co-gasification of mixtures under CO2 atmosphere were analyzed and compared between experimental and calculated results. The results showed that PET and HDPE although had similar behavior in gasification, they provided many different characteristics on blending with solid biomass in CO2-assisted co-gasification. Both PWP–PET mixture and PWP–HDPE mixture showed positive effects on hydrocarbons yield and negative effects on solid yield. For PWP–PET mixture, H2 yield showed no change compared to the calculated value; however, CO yield and CO2 consumption showed negative effects due to the blocked porosity of solid biomass from the softened PET. For PWP–HDPE mixture, H2 yield showed significant enhancement compared to the calculated value, and CO yield showed slight enhancement but a slight reduction in CO2 consumption. It was also observed that the experimental CmHn yields obtained from biomass-plastics mixtures were of higher values than the calculated values. The morphologies of solid residues for PWP, PET, PWP–PET, and PWP–HDPE were analyzed and taken as a supplement to explain the synergetic effects in the co-gasification process. These results provide an insight into energy recovery and waste treatment potential for both biomass and waste plastic using thermochemical conversion.