bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increase in Pediatric Perforated Appendicitis in the New York City Metropolitan Region at the Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Fisher Jason C. , Tomita Sandra S. , Ginsburg Howard B. , Gordon Alex , Walker David , Kuenzler Keith A. 
Published: September 2020

Objective:
The aim of the study was to determine whether perforated appendicitis rates in children were influenced by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge.

Background:
Disruption of care pathways during a public health crisis may prevent children from obtaining prompt assessment for surgical conditions. Progression of appendicitis to perforation is influenced by timeliness of presentation. In the context of state-mandated controls and public wariness of hospitals, we investigated the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on perforated appendicitis in children.

Study Design:
We conducted an analysis of all children presenting to 3 hospital sites with acute appendicitis between March 1 and May 7, 2020, corresponding with the peak COVID-19 outbreak in the New York City region. Control variables were collected from the same institutions for the preceding 5 years. The primary outcome measure was appendiceal perforation.

Results:
Fifty-five children presented with acute appendicitis over 10 weeks. Compared to a 5-year control cohort of 1291 patients, we observed a higher perforation rate (45% vs 27%, odds ratio 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.29–3.85, P = 0.005) and longer mean duration of symptoms in children with perforations (71 ± 39 vs 47 ± 27 h, P = 0.001) during the COVID-19 period. There were no differences in perforation rates (55% vs 59%, P = 0.99) or median length of stay (1.0 vs 3.0 days, P = 0.58) among children screening positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions:
Children in the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak demonstrated higher rates of perforated appendicitis compared to historical controls. Preoperative detection of SARS-CoV-2 was not associated with inferior outcomes. Although children likely avoid much of the morbidity directly linked to COVID-19, disruption to local healthcare delivery systems may negatively impact other aspects of pediatric surgical disease.
Risk factors for severe disease in patients admitted with COVID-19 to a hospital in London, England: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Goodall J. W. , Reed T. A. N. , Ardissino M. , Bassett P. , Whittington A. M. , Cohen D. L. , Vaid N. 
Published: September 2020

SummaryCOVID-19 has caused a major global pandemic and necessitated unprecedented public health restrictions in almost every country. Understanding risk factors for severe disease in hospitalized patients is critical as the pandemic progresses.This observational cohort study aimed to characterize the independent associations between the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients and their demographics, comorbidities, blood tests and bedside observations. All patients admitted to Northwick Park Hospital, London, United Kingdom between 12 March and 15 April 2020 with COVID-19 were retrospectively identified. The primary outcome was death. Associations were explored using Cox proportional hazards modelling.The study included 981 patients. The mortality rate was 36.0%. Age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.53), respiratory disease (aHR 1.37), immunosuppression (aHR 2.23), respiratory rate (aHR 1.28), hypoxia (aHR 1.36), Glasgow Coma Score <15 (aHR 1.92), urea (aHR 2.67), alkaline phosphatase (aHR 2.53), C-reactive protein (aHR 1.15), lactate (aHR 2.67), platelet count (aHR 0.77) and infiltrates on chest radiograph (aHR 1.89) were all associated with mortality.These important data will aid clinical risk stratification and provide direction for further research.
Interpretable network-guided epistasis detection
Authors: Duroux Diane , Climente-González Héctor , Azencott Chloé-Agathe , Steen Kristel Van 
Published: September 2020

AbstractDetecting epistatic interactions at the gene level is essential to understanding the biological mechanisms of complex diseases. Unfortunately, genome-wide interaction association studies (GWAIS) involve many statistical challenges that make such detection hard. We propose a multi-step protocol for epistasis detection along the edges of a gene-gene co-function network. Such an approach reduces the number of tests performed and provides interpretable interactions, while keeping type I error controlled. Yet, mapping gene-interactions into testable SNP-interaction hypotheses, as well as computing gene pair association scores from SNP pair ones, is not trivial. Here we compare three SNP-gene mappings (positional overlap, eQTL and proximity in 3D structure) and use the adaptive truncated product method to compute gene pair scores. This method is non-parametric, does not require a known null distribution, and is fast to compute. We apply multiple variants of this protocol to a GWAS inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) dataset. Different configurations produced different results, highlighting that various mechanisms are implicated in IBD, while at the same time, results overlapped with known disease biology. Importantly, the proposed pipeline also differs from a conventional approach were no network is used, showing the potential for additional discoveries when prior biological knowledge is incorporated into epistasis detection.
MSH2knock-down shows CTG repeat stability and concomitant upstream demethylation at theDMPKlocus in myotonic dystrophy type 1 human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Franck Silvie , Barbé Lise , Ardui Simon , De Vlaeminck Yannick , Allemeersch Joke , Dziedzicka Dominika , Spits Claudia , Vanroye Fien , Hilven Pierre , Duqué Geoffrey , Vermeesch Joris R. , Gheldof Alexander , Sermon Karen 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMyotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by expansion of a CTG repeat in theDMPKgene, where expansion size and somatic mosaicism correlates with disease severity and age of onset. While it is known that the mismatch repair protein MSH2 contributes to the unstable nature of the repeat, its role on other disease-related features, such as CpG methylation upstream of the repeat, is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of anMSH2knock-down (MSH2KD) on both CTG repeat dynamics and CpG methylation pattern in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) carrying the DM1 mutation. Repeat size in MSH2 wild type (MSH2WT) andMSH2KDDM1 hESC was determined by PacBio sequencing and CpG methylation by bisulfite massive parallel sequencing. We found stabilization of the CTG repeat concurrent with a gradual loss of methylation upstream of the repeat in MSH2KD cells, while the repeat continued to expand and upstream methylation remained unchanged in MSH2WT control lines. Repeat instability was re-established and biased towards expansions uponMSH2transgenic re-expression in MSH2KD lines while upstream methylation was not consistently re-established. We hypothesize that the hypermethylation at the mutant DM1 locus is promoted by the MMR machinery and sustained by a constant DNA repair response, establishing a potential mechanistic link between CTG repeat instability and upstream CpG methylation. Our work represents a first step towards understanding how epigenetic alterations and repair pathways connect and contribute to the DM1 pathology.
Shelf-based scarcity as a cue of luxuriousness: an application of psychophysiology
Authors: Sung Billy , Hatton-Jones Siobhan , Teah Min , Cheah Isaac , Phau Ian 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the perception of luxuriousness as a novel underlying mechanism of the shelf-based scarcity effect by using both psychophysiological measures (Study 1) and self-reported measures (Study 2).

Design/methodology/approach
Two within-subject experimental designs were conducted to examine the effects of low, medium and high stock depletion levels (i.e. shelf-based scarcity) on consumer responses. In Study 1, facial expression analysis was used to examine consumers’ liking, and left frontal asymmetry brainwaves were used to examine consumers’ approach motivation as a proxy for purchase intention. Study 2 extended the findings with self-reported measures.

Findings
In Study 1, perceived product luxuriousness was found to underlie the shelf-based scarcity effect on facial expressions and left frontal asymmetry brainwaves after controlling for other previously proposed mediators (i.e. product popularity and quality). The shelf-based scarcity effect is only observed between low vs high stock levels, whereas moderate stock level depletion does not evoke the shelf-based scarcity effect. Study 2 used self-reported measures to replicate the effect of shelf-based scarcity on product luxuriousness. However, the findings demonstrated the limitation of self-reported measures to identify a significant spill-over effect of perceived luxuriousness to attitude.

Research limitations/implications
Extending previous literature that relied heavily on self-reported measures, the current research used psychophysiological methods to uncover perceived luxuriousness as a novel underlying mechanism for the shelf-based scarcity effect. Thus, the findings are not only the first to provide psychophysiological evidence of the shelf-based scarcity effect but also to validate perceived luxuriousness as an underlying mechanism of the shelf-based scarcity effect.

Practical implications
The current findings suggest that the shelf-based scarcity effect is only evoked by high (instead of moderate) levels of stock depletion. The study also shows that shelf-based scarcity does not necessarily signal product popularity, but instead it may serve as a cue of product luxuriousness. Adding to other manipulations of retail spaces that elicit luxury perception (e.g. artwork, sensory delight and themed store atmospherics), this implies that businesses are able to use shelf-based scarcity as a cue to enhance or complement the luxury image or the perception of the brand or product.

Originality/value
The current research is the first study to use psychophysiological techniques to examine perceived luxuriousness as an underlying mechanism of shelf-based scarcity. It also demonstrates that self-report measures are not sensitive to such an effect in comparison to psychophysiological techniques, explaining why perceived luxuriousness has not been previously found to be an underlying mechanism of shelf-based scarcity.
Premature frailty, geriatric conditions and multimorbidity among people experiencing homelessness: a cross-sectional observational study in a London hostel
Authors: Rogans-Watson Raphael , Shulman Caroline , Lewer Dan , Armstrong Megan , Hudson Briony 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess frailty, geriatric conditions and multimorbidity in people experiencing homelessness (PEH) using holistic evaluations based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and draw comparisons with general population survey data.

Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional observational study conducted in a London-based hostel for single PEH over 30 years old in March–April 2019. The participants and key workers completed health-related questionnaires, and geriatric conditions were identified using standardised assessments. Frailty was defined according to five criteria in Fried’s phenotype model and multimorbidity as the presence of two or more long-term conditions (LTCs). Comparisons with the general population were made using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and the Health Survey for England.

Findings
A total of 33 people participated with a mean age of 55.7 years (range 38–74). Frailty was identified in 55% and pre-frailty in 39%. Participants met an average of 2.6/5 frailty criteria, comparable to 89-year-olds in the general population. The most common geriatric conditions were: falls (in 61%), visual impairment (61%), low grip strength (61%), mobility impairment (52%) and cognitive impairment (45%). All participants had multimorbidity. The average of 7.2 LTCs (range 2–14) per study participant far exceeds the average for even the oldest people in the general population.

Originality/value
To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first UK-based study measuring frailty and geriatric conditions in PEH and the first anywhere to do so within a CGA-type evaluation. It also demonstrates the feasibility of conducting holistic evaluations in this setting, which may be used clinically to improve the health outcomes for PEH.
Technical innovation: trigger or threat for organizational learning? A curvilinear relationship revisited
Authors: Ortega Egea M. Teresa , Roldán Bravo María Isabel , Ruiz Moreno Antonia , Haro Domínguez Carmen , Cabeza Pullés Dainelis 
Published: September 2020

PurposeAlthough most research considers organizational learning as an antecedent of innovation, the relationship is complex and could be reciprocal. Therefore, more research is needed on the profit gained from the learning and organization acquires from its innovation activities. Using the concept of fit, this paper aims to investigate whether organizational learning increases when an organization’s technical innovation level exceeds that of its competitors (positive misfit), theorizing the curvilinear effect of positive technical innovation misfit on organizational learning.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses regression analysis with survey data gathered from 202 European firms.FindingsThe findings support the argument that positive technical innovation misfit has an inverted-U shaped effect on organizational learning.Practical implicationsThe findings obtained should orient firm managers to developing a work environment that enables optimal levels of technical innovation and learning – levels at which the technical innovation developed drives learning among the organization’s members but avoids becoming trapped in the organizational complexity involved in very high levels of positive technical innovation misfit.Originality/valueThis study resolves conflicting views of the relationship between organizational learning and technical innovation and adds to the existing literature that indicates that proactive innovative firms can fail when becoming learners.
A comprehensive model for assessing the quality in higher education institutions
Authors: Dwaikat Nidal Yousef 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThis study aims to propose a comprehensive model for assessing the quality of academic programs in higher education institutions (HEIs) by adopting the TQM philosophy.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 377 responses from higher education academics, experts and professionals in Sweden, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to empirically test the proposed hypotheses and validate the model.FindingsThe model reveals that the input-based factors have a stronger impact on the process-based factors; while process-based factors have less impact on the output-based factors. The input-based factors: adoption of international pedagogy standards (IPS), education infrastructure (EDI), and work/study environment (WSE) through the process-based factors quality of students (QOS) and quality of faculty staff (QFS) is found to have a significant impact on output-based factor quality of academic programs (QAP).Research limitations/implicationsThis study has been conducted in Sweden. Inclusion of other countries provides opportunities for further analysis by conducting cross-comparison between different cultures in higher education, and including additional stakeholders such as policymakers, parents and students.Practical implicationsThis research also contributes to practice by providing an in-depth understanding of the relationships among variables that affect the quality of academic programs in HEIs, and provides insights to internally assess the quality levels of their academic programsOriginality/valueThis study contributes to the knowledge by providing a holistic view in which it integrates input, process and output perspectives in a conceptual model to assess the quality of academic programs at the higher education level.
Dark septate endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Paris‐morphotype) affect the stable isotope composition of ‘classically’ non‐mycorrhizal plants
Authors: Giesemann Philipp , Eichenberg David , Stöckel Marcus , Seifert Lukas F. , Gomes Sofia I. F. , Merckx Vincent S. F. T. , Gebauer Gerhard 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

The vast majority of terrestrial plants exchange nutrients with fungal partners forming different mycorrhizal types. The minority of plants considered as non‐mycorrhizal, however, are not necessarily free of any fungi, but are frequently colonized by elusive fungal endophytes, such as dark septate endophytes (DSE) or fine root endophytes (FRE). While a functional role of FRE in the improvement of nutrient gain was recently elucidated, the function of DSE is still in discussion and was here addressed for 36 plant species belonging to the families Equisetaceae, Cypereaceae and Caryophyllaceae.

Molecular and microscopic staining approaches were conducted to verify the presence of DSE in the investigated species. Stable isotope natural abundances of the elements carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen and total nitrogen concentrations were analysed for the respective species of the target plant families and accompanying mycorrhizal and non‐mycorrhizal (Brassicaceae) plant species.

Staining approaches confirmed the presence of DSE in all investigated species within the families Equisetaceae, Cyperaceae and Caryophyllaceae. A co‐colonization with Paris‐type arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) was occasionally found by staining and molecular approaches in species of the Equisetaceae. Species of the Equisetaceae, Cyperaceae and Caryophyllaceae were significantly 15N‐enriched in comparison to accompanying plants. In addition, a significant 13C and 2H enrichment and increased total nitrogen concentrations were found for representatives of the Equisetaceae.

The 15N enrichment found here for representatives of Equisetaceae, Cyperaceae and Caryophyllaceae provides evidence for a functional role of the ubiquitous DSE fungi. DSE fungi obviously provide access to 15N‐enriched soil organic compounds probably in exchange for organic carbon compounds from plant photosynthesis. As indicated by additional 13C and 2H enrichments, representatives of the Equisetaceae apparently gain simultaneously organic carbon compounds from their AM fungi of the Paris‐morphotype. Thus, species of the Equisetaceae have to be considered as partially, or in case of the achlorophyllous fertile Equisetum arvense, as fully mycoheterotrophic at least in some stages of their life cycle.

So far, mostly underappreciated fungi classified as DSE are suggested to occupy an ecologically relevant role similar to mycorrhizae and the occurrence of simultaneous functions of DSE and AM fungi in Equisetaceae is proposed.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Functional and taxonomic diversity of grasshoppers differentially shape above‐ and below‐ground communities and their function
Authors: Lucas Jane M. , Jonas Jayne , Laws Angela N. , Branson David H. , Pennings Steven C. , Prather Chelse M. , Strickland Michael S. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Herbivores are important drivers in both above‐ and below‐ground ecosystems. Despite their importance, studies of herbivores often focus on the effects of individual species, potentially missing the effects of herbivore diversity.

Here we examine how orthopteran herbivore species and functional (i.e. diet) diversity interact with nutrient availability to shape above‐ and below‐ground ecosystems. We stocked six species of grasshoppers (Orthoptera) with two different feeding modes (i.e. grass‐only or grass‐ and forb‐feeders) at varying taxonomic compositions (0, 1 or 6 species) in field enclosures and measured their effects on above‐ground plant biomass, chemistry and richness, as well as below‐ground microbial community composition and function. We treated half the cages with nitrogen fertilizer to examine how herbivore effects may be mitigated by soil nutrient availability.

Above‐ground, we predicted that grasshoppers would decrease plant biomass and richness, and increase the %N of the plant community. We also predicted that high diversity cages would have the largest decreases in plant biomass and richness, but these effects would be offset by fertilizer additions.

Below‐ground, we predicted that herbivore taxonomic composition and diet would differentially shift soil microbial community composition and function. We also predicted that fertilization would decrease the soil pH and increase nutrient availability creating an interaction with herbivores that leads to shifts below‐ground community composition.

We found that grasshoppers decreased plant biomass and richness, and this effect was not dependent on nutrient additions. Contrary to our predictions, we did not see the largest above‐ground changes in high diversity cages.

Below‐ground, herbivore diet and fertilization, but not their interaction, shifted bacterial communities. Grasshopper taxonomic composition did not influence bacterial communities. Grasshopper taxonomic composition and diet interacted with fertilizer to increase below‐ground levels of bioavailable C and microbial biomass. Fungal communities did not respond to any treatments.

The differing effects of herbivore diet versus taxonomic composition highlight the need for studies that examine multiple diversity metrics when exploring herbivore‐meditated effects on above‐ and below‐ground ecosystems. Combined, our results suggest that bottom‐up and top‐down controls are important factors to consider when studying the composition and function of grassland ecosystems.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.