bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of prostate cancer diagnosed in young men aged up to 45 years
Authors: Baniak Nicholas , Sholl Lynette M , Mata Douglas A , D’Amico Anthony V , Hirsch Michelle S , Acosta Andres M 
Published: December 2020

AimsTo characterise and compare the poorly understood clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa) in very young patients.Methods and resultsWe compared the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of PCa diagnosed in 90 patients aged ≤45 years with those of PCa diagnosed in 200 patients of typical screening age (i.e. 60–65 years). Patients diagnosed at a younger age had a higher frequency of a family history of PCa and lower prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels than those diagnosed at regular screening age. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical stage or pathological characteristics of the core biopsy specimens between the groups. Young patients had a higher frequency of Grade Group 1 disease at radical prostatectomy. A subset of 13 aggressive PCa cases from young patients underwent successful DNA‐based next‐generation sequencing. In all, 46.2% (6/13) had TMPRSS2 rearrangements and 23.1% (3/13) had relevant pathogenic variants in DNA damage repair genes, including a mismatch repair‐deficient case with biallelic inactivation of MLH1. No statistically significant differences were observed in PCa‐specific recurrence/progression between the younger and older patients, including after adjustment for clinical stage, PSA level, and Grade Group.ConclusionsIn this study, the clinicopathological and molecular features of PCa diagnosed in young patients were comparable to those of PCa diagnosed in patients of screening age. Early‐onset PCa cases were not enriched in any of the known molecular PCa subtypes in this small series.
Deceased donor care provided by the nurse transplant coordinator: A qualitative research study among Spanish nurses
Authors: Fernández‐Alonso Víctor , Palacios‐Ceña Domingo , Silva‐Martín Celia , García‐Pozo Ana 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimThe purpose of this study is to describe the experience of nursing care provided to the deceased organ donor by the nurse transplant coordinator.MethodsA qualitative exploratory study was conducted within the National Transplant Organization and the Regional Office for Transplant Coordination. A purposive sampling method was used. Data collection methods included semistructured interviews. Sampling and data collection were pursued until the researchers achieved information redundancy. A systematic text condensation analysis was performed. The Guba and Lincoln criteria for guaranteeing trustworthiness were followed.ResultsA total of 16 participants were recruited, and three themes were identified regarding care of organ donors by the nurse transplant coordinator during the organ donation process: (a) fulfilling the desire and will of the donor patient; (b) the family as an extension of the donor; (c) coordinating the organ donation process.ConclusionsThe donation process is both complex and delicate, and nursing care is an essential component. The care provided by the nurse transplant coordinator has the donor at the centre of the process, driven by respect for their decision. The family is seen as an extension of the donor. Nursing care should focus on continuous, honest communication, coordinating care with the intensive care unit, ensuring privacy and intimacy.
Trends in practice: attitudes and challenges in the diagnosis, treatment and management of HIV infection in Australia
Authors: Smith Don E. , Woolley Ian J. , Russell Darren B. , Bisshop Fiona , Furner Virginia 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAs life expectancy for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWHIV) increases, management models for HIV infection are changing. To understand approaches to practice within this shifting climate and across different medical settings, in 2017 we conducted a baseline survey among the main medical practitioner groups responsible for HIV‐infection care in Australia: hospital‐based physicians (HBP), sexual health physicians (SHP) and ‘accredited general practitioners’ (referred to in 2017 study as ‘s100 GPs’), who are GPs authorised to prescribe HIV therapies after completing accredited national training. The follow‐up survey presented here explores any changes in approaches, attitudes and challenges associated with HIV‐infection management among the same practitioner groups: 17 HBP, 15 SHP and 69 accredited GP (referred to throughout as GP; includes those with sexual health diploma). Analysis of survey results showed practices remained largely similar between surveys, with a few notable exceptions. Greater consistency in attitudes, knowledge and approaches was observed between the practitioner specialty groups, with only small differences between modes of practice. A trend towards earlier initiation of HIV treatment was also identified, with a higher proportion of practitioners than baseline reporting they were comfortable beginning therapy on the day of HIV diagnosis. The impact of the introduction of two‐drug therapy in Australia was also explored. Although the majority of survey respondents (and SHP in particular) expressed greater preference for three‐drug compared with two‐drug regimens, interest in two‐drug regimens appears to be growing and may influence future prescribing practices. Addressing mental health issues for PLWHIV was again highlighted as a major priority, with practitioners overwhelmingly reporting mental health management as among their most difficult clinical challenges. Reduction in stigma/discrimination and better access to substance dependency programmes were also identified as unmet needs for this patient cohort. Consistent with our baseline survey, it appears targeted interventions and supports appropriate to this population are still required to improve overall wellbeing for PLWHIV.Video Abstract
A retrospective view of 2020: A unique year for Immunology
Authors: Perryman Matthew , Milling Simon 
Published: December 2020

Summary2020 was a year unlike any other for Immunology. Through the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, with fantastic support from the global immunology community, we worked together to reach new heights. Here, we look back at some of the highlights for Immunology in a challenging and memorable year.
Umbilical Artery Blood Flow in Intra‐Uterine Growth Retarded Fetuses and Fetal Outcome: A Study of 102 Cases
Authors: Anandakumar C. , Lee C.S.S. , Wong Y. C. , Chia D. , Arulkumaran S. , Ratnam S. S. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe 102 fetuses diagnosed by ultrasound to be asymmetrically growth‐retarded had blood flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical artery studied. Sixty‐two cases had normal blood flow, 28 had abnormal blood flow but with present end‐dialstolic flow, 8 had absent end‐dialstolic flow, and 4 had reversal of end‐dialstolic flow. Comparison was made between the blood flow status and other biophysical methods of antenatal surveillance and perinatal outcome. There is a strong correlation between abnormal blood flow and abnormalities detected by other biophysical methods of antenatal surveillance. Our study shows that fetuses with severe blood flow impairment tend to be more severely growth‐retarded and to be delivered earlier. Our results also show abnormal blood flow to be associated with a poor perinatal outcome. Those fetuses with severe impairment of blood flow suffered a high incidence of operative delivery for fetal distress, acidosis at birth, perinatal mortality and morbidity. The association between abnormal blood flow and the 5‐minute Apgar score is significant only in those with the severest impairment of blood flow. Our results are in close agreement with similar studies recorded in the literature.
Vulvar Dystrophy: A Clinical Follow‐Up
Authors: Mahmud Naseem , Murakami Toshio , Gyotoku Yutaka , Nakazima Hisayoshi , Ishimaru Tadayuki , Yamabe Tooru 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe vulvar dystrophy is an enigma and one of the most controversial topic as for the pathogenesis, clinical outcome and particularly the malignant potentiality. There has been very few systematic studies regarding vulvar dystrophy in Japan. Vulvar dystrophy with dysplasia is said to be a pre‐malignant condition of the vulva. So in our institute a prospective follow‐up of 5 months to 4 years was obtained in vulvar dystrophic patients after a conservative protocol of treatment. The initial histological diagnosis revealed 17 patients with squamous hyperplasia (9 patients with dysplasia and 8, without dysplasia), lichen sclerosus in 5 and other dermatoses in 1 patient. “Itching” was the most frequent complaint, encountered in 20 (69%) of the study patient. Amongst these patients 4/5 of lichen sclerosus and 16/18 of squamous hyperplasia and other dermatoses had complete symptomatic relief with testosterone and corticosteroid respectively. Morphologically 22/23 (96%) had more than 50% decrease of the total lesion. In squamous hyperplasia with dysplasia after treatment, the re‐biopsy revealed improvement of the dysplasia in all the cases with total disappearance in the mild dysplasia group. So far, vulvar carcinoma did not develop in any of the patient followed in our study who received treatment for vulvar dystrophy. So, for vulvar dystrophy, a benign squamous epithelial disorder of the vulva, steroid hormone therapy is indeed a logical and a consistent one.
Nurse staffing practices and adverse events in acute care hospitals: The research protocol of a multisite patient‐level longitudinal study
Authors: Rochefort Christian M. , Abrahamowicz Michal , Biron Alain , Bourgault Patricia , Gaboury Isabelle , Haggerty Jeannie , McCusker Jane 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimsWe describe an innovative research protocol to: (a) examine patient‐level longitudinal associations between nurse staffing practices and the risk of adverse events in acute care hospitals and; (b) determine possible thresholds for safe nurse staffing.DesignA dynamic cohort of adult medical, surgical and intensive care unit patients admitted to 16 hospitals in Quebec (Canada) between January 2015–December 2019.MethodsPatients in the cohort will be followed from admission until 30‐day postdischarge to assess exposure to selected nurse staffing practices in relation to the subsequent occurrence of adverse events. Five staffing practices will be measured for each shift of an hospitalization episode, using electronic payroll data, with the following time‐varying indicators: (a) nursing worked hours per patient; (b) skill mix; (c) overtime use; (d) education mix and; and (e) experience. Four high‐impact adverse events, presumably associated with nurse staffing practices, will be measured from electronic health record data retrieved at the participating sites: (a) failure‐to‐rescue; (b) in‐hospital falls; (c) hospital‐acquired pneumonia and; and (d) venous thromboembolism. To examine the associations between the selected nurse staffing exposures and the risk of each adverse event, separate multivariable Cox proportional hazards frailty regression models will be fitted, while adjusting for patient, nursing unit and hospital characteristics, and for clustering. To assess for possible staffing thresholds, flexible non‐linear spline functions will be fitted. Funding for the study began in October 2019 and research ethics/institutional approval was granted in February 2020.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this study is the first multisite patient‐level longitudinal investigation of the associations between common nurse staffing practices and the risk of adverse events. It is hoped that our results will assist hospital managers in making the most effective use of the scarce nursing resources and in identifying staffing practices that minimize the occurrence of adverse events.
The Price of Hope—Insights into rhino horn consumption in health‐related contexts in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hieu P. , Nguyen Hanh T. M. , Pham Huyen T. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study investigates the interplay between social, cultural, and psychological factors that underlie rhino horn consumption for health‐related purposes in Vietnam, one of the world's major markets for rhino horn. Regarded as a panacea, rhino horn is used by Vietnamese consumers to treat a vast array of illnesses, including life‐threatening ones such as cancer, without any scientific evidence of its medicinal properties and effectiveness. Insatiable demand by Vietnamese consumers has driven rhino horn price to exceed that of gold. Using a qualitative approach, we show the process through which Vietnamese consumers form their beliefs and attitudes, normalize and justify their usage of rhino horn. We also demonstrate the roles that cultural and social norms play in the consumption of rhino horn among Vietnamese consumers. Drawing from these insights, we recommend a multi‐pronged approach for the development of programs that aim to combat and curb rhino horn purchase and consumption.
Time‐calibrated genomic evolution of a monomorphic bacterium during its establishment as an endemic crop pathogen
Authors: Richard Damien , Pruvost Olivier , Balloux François , Boyer Claudine , Rieux Adrien , Lefeuvre Pierre 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHorizontal gene transfer is of major evolutionary importance as it allows for the redistribution of phenotypically important genes among lineages. Such genes with essential functions include those involved in resistance to antimicrobial compounds and virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria. Understanding gene turnover at microevolutionary scales is critical to assess the pace of this evolutionary process. Here, we characterized and quantified gene turnover for the epidemic lineage of a bacterial plant pathogen of major agricultural importance worldwide. Relying on a dense geographic sampling spanning 39 years of evolution, we estimated both the dynamics of single nucleotide polymorphism accumulation and gene content turnover. We identified extensive gene content variation among lineages even at the smallest phylogenetic and geographic scales. Gene turnover rate exceeded nucleotide substitution rate by three orders of magnitude. Accessory genes were found preferentially located on plasmids, but we identified a highly plastic chromosomal region hosting ecologically important genes such as transcription activator‐like effectors. Whereas most changes in the gene content are probably transient, the rapid spread of a mobile element conferring resistance to copper compounds widely used for the management of plant bacterial pathogens illustrates how some accessory genes can become ubiquitous within a population over short timeframes.
Vitamin D deficiency worsens maternal diabetes induced neurodevelopmental disorder by potentiating hyperglycemia‐mediated epigenetic changes
Authors: Liang Yujie , Yu Hong , Ke Xiaoyin , Eyles Darryl , Sun Ruoyu , Wang Zichen , Huang Saijun , Lin Ling , McGrath John J. , Lu Jianping , Guo Xiaoling , Yao Paul 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMany studies have shown that vitamin D (VD) deficiency may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia, although causative mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential role and effect of VD on maternal diabetes induced autism‐related phenotypes. The in vitro study found that enhancing genomic VD signaling by overexpressing the VD receptor (VDR) in human neural progenitor cells ACS‐5003 protects against hyperglycemia‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation by activating Nrf2 and its target genes, including SOD2 and HMOX1, and accordingly, VDR gene knockdown worsens the problem. In the two in vivo models we explored, maternal diabetes was used to establish an animal model of relevance to ASD, and mice lacking 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 1‐alpha‐hydroxylase (the rate‐limiting enzyme in the synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3) were used to develop a model of VD deficiency (VDD). We show that although prenatal VDD itself does not produce ASD‐relevant phenotypes, it significantly potentiates maternal diabetes induced epigenetic modifications and autism‐related phenotypes. Postnatal manipulation of VD has no effect on maternal diabetes induced autism‐related phenotypes. We conclude that VDD potentiates maternal diabetes induced autism‐related phenotypes in offspring by epigenetic mechanisms. This study adds to other preclinical studies linking prenatal VDD with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Green or gas in OPEC member countries: a linear and asymmetric investigation of energy–growth nexus
Authors: Kalu Ebere Ume , Nwafor Florence U. , Arize Augustine C. , Dana Leo‐Paul , Malindretos John , Onwumere Josaphat U. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study employed a combination of linear and nonlinear models to investigate the energy–growth nexus of OPEC member countries from 1960 to 2018 in a country‐specific form. It questioned the environmental friendliness of the energy initiatives of OPEC member countries as major producers and exporters of crude oil. Primary evidence of the study shows energy dependence among OPEC member countries supporting the growth hypothesis. We also found complementarity in fossil fuel and renewables as inducers of growth in 70% of the studied countries and found greater growth influence of fossil fuel in the case of 16% of the studied countries. In a country like Congo, we found greater influence from renewable energy, while Gabon's status was indeterminate. The dynamic profile of the energy–growth nexus evidenced by the error correction representations in their linear and asymmetric forms shows that growth adjusts nonlinearly to energy use in about 39% of the investigated OPEC member countries, and linearly in 61% of the countries. It can be said from our findings that global initiatives on green energy are gaining grounds in a preponderance of OPEC member countries.
Student contributions in residential aged care
Authors: Dallas Anthea , Lau Jenny Tung Yu , Ong Jake Sheng Loong , Green Damaris , Presser Jennifer 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundHealth care professional students can develop knowledge and skills to care for elderly patients during placements in residential aged care facilities (RACF). Enabling student contribution during clinical placements can enhance student learning and quality of care. Our medical student RACF placement includes a learning task where students recommend improvements to resident care. This study aimed to identify these recommendations and measure how many were adopted.MethodsStudents completed a medical assessment of a resident during their RACF placement, summarising their recommendations in a letter to the resident’s general practitioner (GP). Recommendations were categorised for quantification and audit. Three months after the time of recommendation residents’ files were audited. Definitions and descriptive statistics of the types of recommendations, and whether they had been implemented, are reported.ResultsForty residents and 43 students participated in the study. In total, 391 recommendations were made. Medication recommendations were most common (47%), followed by allied health referrals (12%), lifestyle changes (10%) and GP review (10%). Smaller numbers of recommendations for nursing care, investigations, specialist review and patient education were made. Seventy‐seven recommendations were adopted.DiscussionStudent learning is enhanced when contributing to resident care, and educators can structure clinical placements to support this. Using an existing student learning task to feed into genuine quality improvements for care is one example of how this might be implemented. This study gives insight into types of recommendations students make, suggesting further research to explore barriers and enablers to maximise the benefits of student contributions.
Parameter effect analysis of particle swarm optimization algorithm in PID controller design
Authors: Ayas Mustafa Şinasi , Sahin Erdinc 
Published: December 2020

PID controller has still been widely-used in industrial control applications because of its advantages such as functionality, simplicity, applicability, and easy of use. To obtain desired system response in these industrial control applications, parameters of the PID controller should be well tuned by using conventional tuning methods such as Ziegler-Nichols, Cohen-Coon, and Astrom-Hagglund or by means of meta-heuristic optimization algorithms which consider a fitness function including various parameters such as overshoot, settling time, or steady-state error during the optimization process. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is often used to tune parameters of PID controller, and studies explaining the parameter tuning process of the PID controller are available in the literature. In this study, effects of PSO algorithm parameters, i.e. inertia weight, acceleration factors, and population size, on parameter tuning process of a PID controller for a second-order process plus delay-time (SOPDT) model are analyzed. To demonstrate these effects, control of a SOPDT model is performed by the tuned controller and system response, transient response characteristics, steady-state error, and error-based performance metrics obtained from system response are provided.
Using Bayesian Analysis to Quantify Uncertainty in Radiometer Measurements
Authors: Spinti Jennifer P. , Smith Sean T. , Smith Philip J. , Harding N. Stanley , Scheib Kaitlyn , Draper Teri S. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
We apply Bayesian inference to instrument calibration and experimental-data uncertainty analysis for the specific application of measuring radiative intensity with a narrow-angle radiometer. We develop a physics-based instrument model that describes temporally varying radiative intensity, the indirectly measured quantity of interest, as a function of scenario and model parameters. We identify a set of five uncertain parameters, find their probability distributions (the posterior or inverse problem) given the calibration data by applying Bayes' Theorem, and employ a local linearization to marginalize the nuisance parameters resulting from errors-in-variables. We then apply the instrument model to a new scenario that is the intended use of the instrument, a 1.5 MW coal-fired furnace. Unlike standard error propagation, this Bayesian method infers values for the five uncertain parameters by sampling from the posterior distribution and then computing the intensity with quantifiable uncertainty at the point of a new, in situ furnace measurement (the posterior predictive or forward problem). Given the instrument-model context of this analysis, the propagated uncertainty provides a significant proportion of the measurement error for each in situ furnace measurement. With this approach, we produce uncertainties at each temporal measurement of the radiative intensity in the furnace, successfully identifying temporal variations that were otherwise indistinguishable from measurement uncertainty.