bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, a critical predictor for assessment of disease severity in patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Liu Lei , Zheng Yaqiong , Cai Liping , Wu Wanlei , Tang Shi , Ding Yinjuan , Liu Wanbing , Kou Guomei , Xiong Zhou , Wang Shengdian , Zheng Shangen 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionMonitoring of laboratory indicators is important for predicting changes in disease severity and clinical outcomes. We aimed to identify the critical predictors that can effectively assess the disease conditions of patients with COVID‐19 by analyzing the clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.MethodsAll consecutive patients (n = 294) with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection admitted to the General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the PLA from February 6 to February 21, 2020, were enrolled. These patients were divided into the severe group and the nonsevere group according to disease severity during hospitalization.ResultsThe median neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value of the severe patients was dramatically higher than that of the nonsevere patients (10.4 vs 2.6; P < .001). The NLR value equal to 5 was a boundary value worthy of reference, because more than 80% severe patients had an NLR value greater than 5 and over 80% nonsevere patients had an NLR value less than 5. The NLR value of these COVID‐19 patients was positively and respectively correlated with the values of C‐reactive protein (R = .5921, P < .001), lactate dehydrogenase (R = .4509, P < .001), procalcitonin (R = .5504, P < .001), fibrinogen (R = .4710, P < .001), and D‐dimers (R = .4425, P < .001). However, the NLR value was merely and positively correlated with the interleukin‐6 value (R = .3594, P < .05), but had no correlations with the values of interleukin‐10, interleukin‐4, interleukin‐17, interferon‐γ, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (P > .05).DiscussionNeutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio is a critical predictor for assessment of disease severity in patients with COVID‐19, and it has a close relation with the laboratory indicators related to disease conditions.
High‐P metamorphism of garnet–epidote–amphibole schists from the Yuli Belt, Eastern Taiwan: Evidence related to warm subduction
Authors: Huang Po‐Hung , Wei Chunjing , Zhang Jinrui 
Published: October 2020

AbstractHigh‐P (HP) rocks exhumed from ancient subduction zones have been controversially argued to record much warmer geotherms than numerical modelling results. The Yuli belt in Eastern Taiwan was regarded as a mélange consisting of HP rock‐bearing tectonic blocks within metasediments (or in situ schists), witnessing the subduction of the South China Sea Plate beneath the Philippine Sea Plate and the subsequent collision during the period of 15–5 Ma. Two garnet–epidote–amphibole schist samples selected from the Tamayen block in the Yuli belt are investigated for their metamorphic evolution. The rocks comprise garnet and paragonite porphyroblasts in a foliated matrix consisting of amphibole, epidote, chlorite, quartz, albite and rutile. Large paragonite flakes crosscut clearly the main foliation, and in places develop narrow coronae of muscovite, albite or chlorite. Fine‐grained pargasite (Amp1) is the dominant variety of amphibole that defines the foliation, whereas a few coarser grains (Amp2) penetrate the foliation and both are further rimmed by a narrow light‐coloured amphibole (Amp3). Petrographic observation and phase equilibria modelling using thermocalc suggest three stages of metamorphic evolution for these rocks. The pre‐peak prograde to the peak‐stage evolution can be revealed from garnet zoning to occur in the mineral assemblages containing lawsonite and glaucophane which cannot be observed petrographically due to the post‐peak decompressional evolution. The peak conditions are constrained to be ~22 kbar/545℃ using the isopleths of the maximum pyrope and the corresponding grossular contents in P–T pseudosections. The post‐peak decompression includes three substages with different fluid behaviours: the first substage is dominated by lawsonite dehydration with the growth of paragonite; the second substage is marked by the decompressional path proceeding in fluid‐absent fields; and the third substage occurs when mineral assemblages become again saturated with water at 10–9 kbar or 12–10 kbar where glaucophane is metastably transformed into Amp1, followed by the growth of Amp2. The late‐retrograde stage is defined to be cooling with decompression on the basis of the growth of Amp3, the coronae around paragonite and the matrix albite. The peak P–T estimates for garnet–epidote–amphibole schists suggest a geotherm of ~7℃/km, much cooler than those in the previous researches in the Yuli belt, and well consistent with the results from numerical thermal modelling. We argue that HP rocks from ancient orogenic belts can robustly constrain the thermal structure of subduction zones if their peak P–T conditions as well as the post‐peak decompressional evolution are well recovered.
Racial/ethnic differences in holding a retirement saving motive: A decomposition analysis
Authors: Kim Kyoung Tae , Cho Soo Hyun , DeVaney Sharon A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEstablishing a retirement goal facilitates one's long‐term financial planning behavior. Yet, the portion of U.S. households who achieve this goal is relatively small. Further, the percentage is much lower among racial and ethnic minorities. This study investigates racial/ethnic disparities in motives for holding a retirement savings and contributing factors to explain the gaps. Results from the 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) indicate that White respondents were more likely to hold a retirement saving motive than were other racial/ethnic groups, even after controlling for various socio‐economic characteristics. Decomposition analysis shows that homeownership, objective financial knowledge, planning horizon, and age were the most important determinants that explain the racial/ethnic gap in withholding a retirement saving motive. This study provides evidence in support of the importance of tailored educational interventions among racial/ethnic groups.
Minimising Immunisation Pain of childhood vaccines: The MIP pilot study
Authors: Jenkins Narelle , Orsini Francesca , Elia Sonja , Perrett Kirsten 
Published: October 2020

AimPain associated with immunisations can result in distress and/or anxiety for children and parents. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of two novel devices; Coolsense (cold) and Buzzy (vibration ± cooling pads) versus standard care to minimise pain during immunisations. We also evaluated compliance to the devices and parent's perception of the effectiveness of the devices/standard care for minimising pain during immunisation.DesignOpen label, pilot, randomised controlled trial (RCT).MethodsForty children aged 3.5 to 6 years attending an Immunisation Centre at The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, were randomised (1:1:1:1) into four groups: (i) Coolsense plus standard care; (ii) Buzzy with cold plus standard care; (iii) Buzzy without cold plus standard care; and (iv) Standard care alone (distraction with bubbles).Results and analysisRecruitment was completed in 12 days. Seventy percent were compliant with Buzzy (±cold), 82% with Coolsense, and 60% with standard care. Buzzy (with cold) was identified as effective by 70% of parents, Coolsense by 64%, Buzzy without cold by 50% and standard care by 60%.ConclusionsThis pilot study demonstrated feasibility. A larger RCT is needed to provide definitive evidence to inform best practice for minimising immunisation pain in young children.
Relationship between patient understanding and timeliness of penicillin prophylaxis in rheumatic heart disease prevention programmes in American Samoa
Authors: Huang Jennifer H , Elkhal Callia , Eliapo‐Unutoa Ipuniuesea , Armsby Laurie R , Madriago Erin J 
Published: October 2020

AimWhile mostly eradicated in developed nations, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is still the leading cause of preventable cardiovascular disease in children. RHD and its antecedent acute rheumatic fever remain endemic in many low to middle income countries, as well as in vulnerable communities in wealthy ones. Evidence‐based interventions are particularly important in resource‐poor settings. We sought to determine if efforts directed at patient and family education impact degree of participation in community‐based prevention measures, and with short‐term disease progression.MethodsWe performed an observational, cross‐sectional study of children with RHD aged 5–19 years, along with their parents, in American Samoa. A survey was administered in November 2016 to assess patient and parent knowledge of RHD. Scores were compared to percent timeliness of penicillin prophylaxis via chart review.ResultsWe collected a total of 70 surveys of child–parent dyads with a patient mean age of 14.28 years ±2.71. An increased knowledge score was predictive of increased penicillin compliance for both children (12.70% increase in compliance per 1‐unit increase in score (P = 0.0004)) and parents (10.10% increase in compliance per 1‐unit increase in score (P = 0.0012)).ConclusionsA clear relationship exists between patient and parent knowledge of RHD and timeliness of penicillin prophylaxis doses. This study was the first to link patient understanding of RHD to engagement with preventative measures.
Sectoral allocation of foreign capital inflows and skilled‐unskilled wage inequality in a developing economy: A theoretical model
Authors: Ahuja Rashmi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe consider a small open developing economy using a 2 × 3 general equilibrium model with voluntary unemployment of skilled labor and involuntary unemployment of unskilled labor. It is assumed that there exists surplus unskilled labor in the developing economy and supply of skilled labor is a function of skilled wages. One sector is receiving foreign capital at the expense of another sector. We examined the impact of increasing total foreign capital inflows and sectoral allocation of foreign capital inflows on skilled‐unskilled wage inequality. Our findings suggest that wage inequality as well as employment of unskilled labor increases with increase in total foreign capital inflows, whereas wage inequality decreases with increase in foreign capital inflow into the low‐skilled sector with no change in total foreign capital inflows. Besides, it also indicates that the impact of increasing total foreign capital inflows along with changes in sectoral allocation of foreign capital inflows depends on a cutoff value which is a function of initial sectoral allocation of foreign capital into the two sectors. These results could be important for policymaking in the developing countries like India. Numerical examples have also been constructed to capture the extent of changes in wage inequality.
Implementing longitudinal integrated curricula: Systematic review of barriers and facilitators
Authors: Hense Helene , Harst Lorenz , Küster Denise , Walther Felix , Schmitt Jochen 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPurposeThe increase of longitudinal integrated curricula in medical schools worldwide represents the shift towards an outcome‐oriented education. This novel model allows comprehensive student‐patient interactions over time and integrates the educational content across disciplines. According to quantitative research, students, patients, doctors and communities benefit from this educational model in terms of participant satisfaction, learning outcomes and clinician recruitment. However, quantitative research does not provide detailed information on programme implementation processes. Therefore, this review aims to summarise facilitators and barriers of programme implementation reported in qualitative and mixed methods studies.MethodThe authors reviewed the literature about facilitators and barriers for the implementation of longitudinal integrated curricula in undergraduate medical education programmes. The systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO on 2 December 2019. The authors used the CASP checklist for qualitative research for the critical appraisal and summarised the results across studies using thematic content analysis.ResultsThe authors screened 1682 reports. Twenty studies examining 17 different curricula met the inclusion criteria. Most curricula were implemented in the United States (n = 6/17), Australia (n = 5/17) or Canada (n = 4/17). Programme implementation is facilitated and hampered by its educational components (eg continuity of supervision, safe learning environments), organisational structures (eg community involvement) and participating students' and staff’ motivation and personality. The critical appraisal revealed that several studies lacked transparent documentation and adequate reflection on the researcher‐participant relationship (n = 20/20), data collection instruments (n = 12/20) and recruitment strategy (n = 4/20).ConclusionsThe authors derived practical recommendations for the implementation of undergraduate, patient‐centred, integrated medical curricula. Programme managers need to define and communicate common objectives with all participants. They should clarify the implementation of the objectives in all processes in a transparent and structured manner. Considering reporting guidelines, future studies in this field should document more transparently the methods used to gain qualitative insights and the researchers' personal involvement.
Encouraging sustainable action in a food company: Impacting environmentally sustainable dietary and lifestyle behaviours using an in‐house Sustainability Toolkit and Challenge
Authors: Taibjee H. , Woodley L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe need for more environmentally sustainable diets is clear and urgent; it is predicted that we will need two planets to feed the Earth’s population by 2050. Adopting more environmentally sustainable behaviours has become increasingly popular in the last decade, both at an individual and institutional level. However, whilst sustainability is now a mainstream issue, the perceived impracticalities that are attributed to more environmentally sustainable actions can act as a barrier to the widespread adoption of sustainable lifestyles and dietary behaviours in the general population. This study sought to observe the degree to which an in‐house Sustainability Toolkit and Sustainability Challenge can encourage the adoption of environmentally sustainable dietary and lifestyle behaviours by employees of a European food company. Eight employees participated in a successful pilot Sustainability Challenge, yielding greater feelings of empowerment and motivation in acting more sustainably. A full company rollout is now planned, and it is hoped that the Sustainability Toolkit and Sustainability Challenge will encourage current and future employees to adopt more environmentally sustainable lifestyles and dietary behaviours.
Restricting promotions of ‘less healthy’ foods and beverages by price and location: A big data application of UK Nutrient Profiling Models to a retail product dataset
Authors: Jenneson V. , Greenwood D. C. , Clarke G. P. , Hancock N. , Cade J. E. , Morris M. A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe UK government plans to limit price‐based and location‐based promotions for products high in saturated fat, salt and sugars. The 2004/2005 UK Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) is the proposed legislative basis, but may be superseded by the draft 2018 NPM. This study develops an algorithm to apply both NPMs to a large food composition database (FCDB), and assesses implementation challenges. UK NPMs were applied algorithmically to the myfood24 FCDB, representing ~45 000 retail products. Pass rates – indicating free or restricted promotions – and micronutrient compositions were compared. Challenges were assessed, and recommendations addressed the legislation’s public consultation questions. For products in scope (75% of total), 6% fewer passed the 2018 NPM (36%, P < 0.001) compared with the 2004/2005 NPM (42%). Beverages showed the greatest reduction in pass rate (75%). Under both models, micronutrient contents (per 100 g of product) were generally lower for products that passed; except folate, vitamin C and vitamin D were no different for passed and failed products. Compared with products passing the 2004/2005 NPM, products passing the 2018 NPM on average had marginally higher amounts of iron (0.05 mg, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.08, P < 0.001) and magnesium (1.00 mg, 95% CI: 0.00, 1.17, P = 0.029), but marginally lower levels of calcium (−0.42 mg, 95% CI: −2.00, −0.40, P = 0.025). Missing ingredient information and heterogeneous product categories were challenges for both NPMs. Free sugars calculation further complicated 2018 NPM application. To balance feasibility and public health benefit, the proposed legislative basis may not be appropriate.
High prevalence of Afro‐Caribbean ethnicity and hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes and end stage renal disease hospitalized with COVID‐19
Authors: Corcillo Antonella , Cohen Siew , Game David , Karalliedde Janaka 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEnd stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with a high mortality rate among patients hospitalized with COVID‐19. To the best of our knowledge, there is limited data on the clinical features, ethnicity, inpatient glycaemic control and outcomes in patients with diabetes related ESRD in the literature. We report the clinical features and outcomes of 39 consecutive ESRD patients (28 on haemodialysis [HD] and 11 with renal transplant) secondary to diabetic kidney disease admitted to a university hospital with COVID‐19. We observed a high prevalence of patients of Afro‐Caribbean ethnicity hospitalized with COVID‐19 with a 73% and 54% prevalence in renal transplant and HD groups respectively. The mortality rate of our cohort was 36%. Nearly a one‐third of HD patients and one‐fifth of transplant patients had hypoglycaemic events during COVID‐19 hospitalization. Adjustment of diabetes treatment was frequently required. Our data highlight the importance of integrated multidisciplinary care of patients with diabetes related ESRD hospitalized with COVID‐19.
Use of a Constrained Acetabular Liner to Prevent and Treat Recurrent Dislocation after Total Hip Replacement Arthroplasty
Authors: Song Joo Hyoun , Kwon Won Hwan , Oh Seung‐Bae , Moon Kyoung Ho 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the dislocation rate and the risk factors leading to instability after primary and revision total hip replacement arthroplasty (THRA) with constrained acetabular liners (CAL), as well as treatment strategies for prevention of dislocation. From 1999 to 2017, drawing on two institutions' THRA registries, we retrospectively identified 46 THRA cases using a CAL that had been followed up for a minimum of 4 years. The patients comprised 39 women and 7 men, with an average age of 69.1 years (age range, 41–98). Of the 46 patients, CAL were used in 12 patients for prevention of dislocation in primary THRA and in 34 patients for treatment of recurrent dislocation after primary THRA. Clinical and radiological evaluation were performed. We evaluated the failure rate of CAL as well as the risk factors. The 12 patients who used CAL for prevention of dislocation in primary THRA had no dislocation. However, 12 (35%) of the 34 hips had a dislocation after use of CAL in revision THRA. Patients with an abductor muscle weakness grade of ≤3 had a higher rate of dislocation than those with a grade of ≥4 (grade 1; likelihood ratio = ∞, grade 2; likelihood ratio = 1.83, grade 3; likelihood ratio = 1.05, grade 4; likelihood ratio = 0.46, and grade 5; likelihood ratio = 0). The group of primary THRA with CAL had no dislocations, and this is a proper way for prevention of dislocation in high‐risk patients. The group of revision THRA with CAL had a high dislocation rate (35%). Abductor muscle weakness below grade 3 was a risk factor for failure of CAL for hip dislocation. We recommend treating patients with recurrent dislocations with the presence of abductor muscle weakness below grade 3 with not only THRA using CAL but also applying additional abductor muscle reconstruction to reduce the risk of dislocation.
Plant‐made dengue virus‐like particles produced by co‐expression of structural and non‐structural proteins induce a humoral immune response in mice
Authors: Ponndorf Daniel , Meshcheriakova Yulia , Thuenemann Eva C. , Dobon Alonso Albor , Overman Ross , Holton Nicholas , Dowall Stuart , Kennedy Emma , Stocks Martin , Lomonossoff George P. , Peyret Hadrien 
Published: October 2020

SummaryDengue virus (DENV) is an emerging threat causing an estimated 390 million infections per year. Dengvaxia, the only licensed vaccine, may not be adequately safe in young and seronegative patients; hence, development of a safer, more effective vaccine is of great public health interest. Virus‐like particles (VLPs) are a safe and very efficient vaccine strategy, and DENV VLPs have been produced in various expression systems. Here, we describe the production of DENV VLPs in Nicotiana benthamiana using transient expression. The co‐expression of DENV structural proteins (SP) and a truncated version of the non‐structural proteins (NSPs), lacking NS5 that contains the RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, led to the assembly of DENV VLPs in plants. These VLPs were comparable in appearance and size to VLPs produced in mammalian cells. Contrary to data from other expression systems, expression of the protein complex prM‐E was not successful, and strategies used in other expression systems to improve the VLP yield did not result in increased yields in plants but, rather, increased purification difficulties. Immunogenicity assays in BALB/c mice revealed that plant‐made DENV1‐SP + NSP VLPs led to a higher antibody response in mice compared with DENV‐E domain III displayed inside bluetongue virus core‐like particles and a DENV‐E domain III subunit. These results are consistent with the idea that VLPs could be the optimal approach to creating candidate vaccines against enveloped viruses.
Overexpression of the homoterpene synthase gene, OsCYP92C21, increases emissions of volatiles mediating tritrophic interactions in rice
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Lingnan , Zhou Fei , Li Changyan , Ma Weihua , Chen Hao , Wang Guirong , Pickett John A. , Zhou Jing‐Jiang , Lin Yongjun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPlant defence homoterpenes can be used to attract pest natural enemies. However, the biosynthetic pathway of homoterpenes is still unknown in rice, and the practical application of such indirect defence systems suffers from inherent limitations due to their low emissions from plants. Here, we demonstrated that the protein OsCYP92C21 is responsible for homoterpene biosynthesis in rice. We also revealed that the ability of rice to produce homoterpenes is dependent on the subcellular precursor pools. By increasing the precursor pools through specifically subcellular targeting expression, genetic transformation and genetic introgression, we significantly enhanced homoterpene biosynthesis in rice. The final introgressed GM rice plants exhibited higher homoterpene emissions than the wild type rice and the highest homoterpene emission reported so far for such GM plants even without the induction of herbivore attack. As a result, these GM rice plants demonstrated strong attractiveness to the parasitic wasp Cotesia chilonis. This study discovered the homoterpene biosynthesis pathway in rice, and lays the foundation for the utilisation of plant indirect defence mechanism in the “push‐pull” strategy of integrated pest management through increasing precursor pools in the subcellular compartments and overexpressing homoterpene synthase by genetic transformation.