bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Haploidentical α/β T-cell and B-cell depleted stem cell transplantation in severe mevalonate kinase deficiency
Authors: Faraci Maura , Giardino Stefano , Podestà Marina , Pierri Filomena , Dell’Orso Gianluca , Beccaria Andrea , Neves João Farela , Volpi Stefano , Gattorno Marco 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objective
Mevalonic aciduria represents the most severe form of mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD). Patients with mevalonic aciduria have an incomplete response even to high doses of anti-cytokine drugs such as anakinra or canakinumab and stem cell transplantation (SCT) represents a possible therapy for this severe disease.

Methods
We report the first two children affected by severe MKD who received haploidentical α/β T-cell and B-cell depleted SCT. Both patients received a treosulfan-based conditioning regimen and one received a second haploidentical-SCT for secondary rejection of the first.

Results
Both patients obtained a stable full donor engraftment with a complete regression of clinical and biochemical inflammatory signs, without acute organ toxicity or acute and chronic GvHD. In both, the urinary excretion of mevalonic acid remained high post-transplant in the absence of any inflammatory signs.

Conclusion
Haploidentical α/β T-cell and B-cell depleted SCT represents a potential curative strategy in patients affected by MKD. The persistence of urinary excretion of mevalonic acid after SCT, probably related to the ubiquitous expression of MVK enzyme, suggests that these patients should be carefully monitored after SCT to exclude MKD clinical recurrence. Prophylaxis with anakinra in the acute phase after transplant could represent a safe and effective approach. Further biological studies are required to clarify the pathophysiology of inflammatory attacks in MKD in order to better define the therapeutic role of SCT.
Low rate of subsequent surgery and serious complications following intra-articular steroid injection for base of thumb osteoarthritis: national cohort analysis
Authors: Lane Jennifer C E , Craig Richard S , Rees Jonathan L , Gardiner Matthew D , Shaw Abigail V , Spiteri Michelle , Kuo Rachel , Dean Benjamin F , Green Jane , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Furniss Dominic 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objectives
Intra-articular steroid injection is commonly used to treat base of thumb osteoarthritis (BTOA), despite a lack of large-scale data on safety and effectiveness. We estimate the incidence of serious complications and further procedures following BTOA injection, including the risk of post-operative serious surgical site infection for subsequent operative intervention.

Methods
Hospital Episode Statistics data linked to mortality records from 1 April 1998 to 31 March 2017 were used to identify all BTOA injections undertaken in adults in the National Health Service secondary care in England. Patients were followed up longitudinally until death or 31 March 2017. A multivariable regression with a Fine and Gray model adjusting for the competing risk of mortality in addition to age, sex and socioeconomic deprivation was used to identify factors associated with progression to further procedure. Secondary outcomes included serious complications after injection and subsequent surgical site infection.

Results
A total of 19 120 primary injections were performed during the 19-year period in 18 356 patients. Of these 76.5% were female; mean age 62 years (s.d. 10.6); 50.48% underwent further procedure; 22.40% underwent surgery. Median time to further intervention was 412 days (IQR 110–1945). Female sex was associated with increased risk of proceeding to surgery. Serious complication rate following injection was 0.04% (0.01–0.08) within 90 days. Of those proceeding to surgery 0.16% (0.06–0.34) presented with a wound infection within 30 days and 90 days, compared with an overall post-operative wound infection rate of 0.03% (0.02–0.05).

Conclusions
Very low rates of serious complications were identified following BTOA injections performed in secondary care; only one in five patients proceeded to subsequent surgery.

Clinical trial registration
clinicaltrials.gov, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03573765
Correlates and Trajectories of Preterm Infant Sucking Patterns and Sucking Organization at Term Age
Authors: McGrath Jacqueline M. , Bromiker Ruben , Hanlon Alex , McGlothen-Bell Kelly , Medoff-Cooper Barbara 
Published: December 2020

Background:
Premature infants may experience increased difficulty with nutrition and growth. Successful oral feeding is an important factor associated with discharge readiness. Despite the importance of feeding as a growth-fostering process, little empiric evidence exists to guide recommendations for early interventions.

Purpose:
Evaluate whether specific elements of sucking, during preterm initiation of oral feeding, predict sucking organization at corrected term age.

Methods:
Sucking performance of 88 preterm infants born between 24 and 34 weeks of post–menstrual age was measured at baseline and term (33-35 and 40 ± 1.5 weeks). Participants were divided into 4 groups (quartiles) based on initial measures of performance including number of sucks, number of bursts, sucks per burst, and maximum pressure. Stability in sucking organization was assessed by comparing changes in infant's quartile location from baseline to term.

Results:
A correlation between quartile location was observed for mean maximum pressure (PMAX): infants with PMAX in the lowest quartile (poorest performance) were significantly more likely to remain in the lowest quartile at term (P < .000); infants in the highest quartile (best performance) at baseline were significantly more likely to be in the highest quartile at term (P < .000).

Implication for Practice:
Infants with the weakest sucking pressures at 34 weeks of post–menstrual age continue to be at risk for less than optimal feeding skills at 40 weeks of post–menstrual age. Early identification of at-risk infants may allow for effective interventions to potentially decrease long-term feeding problems.

Implications for Research:
Future research should focus on the development of personalized interventions to address attributes of problematic feeding such as sucking efficiency.
Vaccination and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Desage Anne-Laure , Bouleftour Wafa , Rivoirard Romain , Magne Nicolas , Collard Olivier , Fournel Pierre , Tissot Claire 
Published: December 2020

Introduction:
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become part of cancer treatments. Their main side effects are immune-related adverse events (irAEs). So far, there has been no recommendation regarding routine vaccinations during ICIs treatment. Clinicians are aware of the risk of irAEs increases in this specific situation. The aim of this review of literature is to summarize the main studies about vaccination and ICIs interactions.

Methods:
A systematic assessment of literature articles was performed by searching in PubMed (MEDLINE), and major oncology meeting following PRISMA guidelines.

Results:
This review highlights the lack of literature. Indeed, most of the studies published were about influenza vaccination. Vaccination for patients under ICIs causes a humoral response and seems to be associated with an increase rate of seroconversion. Interestingly vaccination may provoke irAEs in ICIs-treated patients. So far, inactivated vaccines have not been contraindicated during ICI treatment.

Conclusion:
Larger prospective studies are needed in order to define a consensus on the use of vaccines under immunotherapy.
Temporal Characterization of Tritium Smear Activities
Authors: Stavola Adam J. , Hartberger Adam G. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Tritium collection efficiency varies as a function of smear media. The use of porous smear materials leads to an increase in the measured tritium activity as a function of time when the measurement is performed with liquid scintillation counters. Operational inclusion of the efficiency differences and the time dependence of the tritium smear activity is necessary to preclude inadvertently releasing materials or areas. Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory Radiological Control Department identified a contaminated stainless steel containment vessel that previously housed a target containing more than 37 TBq of tritium. The item was systematically sectioned and surveyed to compare three smear types: water-wetted cotton swabs, water-wetted paper smears, and ethanol-wetted Styrofoam wipes (NUC-Wipes™). The total activity of each section was determined using repeated decontamination. The time dependence of the measured activity was also studied. The measured activity of both paper smears and cotton swabs showed significant time dependence. The cotton swabs also showed significantly reduced collection efficiency. Given the widespread use of both of these media in routine contamination surveys, site operational limits were derived using fitted curves for time dependence and average efficiency results. The use of these more restrictive limits allows for rapid measurement of tritium smears while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Reenvisioning space, mobilities and public engagement with young adult literature
Authors: Hamilton-McKenna Caroline , Rogers Theresa 
Published: December 2020

PurposeIn an era when engagement in public spaces and places is increasingly regulated and constrained, we argue for the use of literary analytic tools to enable younger generations to critically examine and reenvision everyday spatialities (Rogers, 2016; Rogerset al., 2015). The purpose of this paper is to consider how spatial analyses of contemporary young adult literature enrich interrogations of the spaces and places youth must navigate, and the consequences of participation for different bodies across those spheres.Design/methodology/approachIn a graduate seminar of teachers and writers, we examined literary texts through a combined framework of feminist cultural geography, mobilities and critical mobilities studies. In this paper, we interweave our own spatial analyses of two selected works of young adult fiction with the reflections of our graduate student participants to explore our spatial framework and its potential to enhance critical approaches to literature instruction.FindingsWe argue that spatial literary analysis may equip teachers and students with tools to critically examine the spaces and places of everyday life and creatively reenvision what it means to be an engaged citizen in uncertain and troubling times.Originality/valueWhile we have engaged in this work for several years, we found that in light of the global pandemic, coupled with the recent antiracist demonstrations, a spatial approach to literary study emerges as a potentially even more relevant and powerful component of literature instruction.
Forecasting smog in Beijing using a novel time-lag GM(1,N) model based on interval grey number sequences
Authors: Shi Jia , Xiong Pingping , Yang Yingjie , Quan Beichen 
Published: December 2020

PurposeSmog seriously affects the ecological environment and poses a threat to public health. Therefore, smog control has become a key task in China, which requires reliable prediction.Design/methodology/approachThis paper establishes a novel time-lag GM(1,N) model based on interval grey number sequences. Firstly, calculating kernel and degree of greyness of the interval grey number sequence respectively. Then, establishing the time-lag GM(1,N) model of kernel and degree of greyness sequences respectively to obtain their values after determining the time-lag parameters of two models. Finally, the upper and lower bounds of interval grey number sequences are obtained by restoring the values of kernel and degree of greyness.FindingsIn order to verify the validity and practicability of the model, the monthly concentrations of PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 in Beijing during August 2017 to September 2018 are selected to establish the time-lag GM(1,3) model for kernel and degree of greyness sequences respectively. Compared with three existing models, the proposed model in this paper has better simulation accuracy. Therefore, the novel model is applied to forecast monthly PM2.5 concentration for October to December 2018 in Beijing and provides a reference basis for the government to formulate smog control policies.Practical implicationsThe proposed model can simulate and forecast system characteristic data with the time-lag effect more accurately, which shows that the time-lag GM(1,N) model proposed in this paper is practical and effective.Originality/valueBased on interval grey number sequences, the traditional GM(1,N) model neglects the time-lag effect of driving terms, hence this paper introduces the time-lag parameters into driving terms of the traditional GM(1,N) model and proposes a novel time-lag GM(1,N) model.
Multiple dimensions of e-healthcare ethics and its relationship to the ethical concerns of the consumer
Authors: Verma Prachi , Kumar Satinder , Sharma Sanjeev K. 
Published: December 2020

Purpose
This study aims to explore the different dimensions of e-healthcare ethics and their relationships, influencing the ethical concerns of the consumer in making ethical e-healthcare choices.

Design/methodology/approach
A study was conducted at two identified major hospitals of Punjab (a private hospital) and Chandigarh (a public hospital), India providing e-healthcare services with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. The respondents were identified from the waiting areas of the selected hospitals, and only those respondents were selected for the study, who agreed to be aware of e-health services and were using them for some time. The statistical analysis was done using the structural equation modeling technique and included both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using SPSS 20 and AMOS 21.

Findings
Exploratory factor analysis extracted five dimensions of ethical concerns of the consumer, which include service promotion, content quality, candor, professionalism and confidentiality. The results signify that content quality plays a significant role in ethics, followed by candor, service promotion and confidentiality. However, the relationship with professionalism did not prove to be significant for the ethical concerns of the e-health consumer.

Practical implications
This research delivers a practical significance in identifying the critical dimensions of the ethical concerns of the consumer while selecting e-health services. It gives an insight into the various dimensions, which should be considered by the e-health providers while crafting e-health services to make it more ethically acceptable by the consumers.

Originality/value
By using e-health services, consumers play an active role in their health-care decisions. The consumers need to consider ethics while choosing health-care services as an ethical judgment will also be the correct judgment. This study helps in the identification of the significant dimensions for the ethical concerns of the consumers.
Optimal number of privatised products in a differentiated mixed oligopoly with free market entry
Authors: Kawasaki Akio 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study investigates how a privatisation policy affects long‐run market equilibrium when a public firm produces multiple products. It contributes to the literature by (a) examining the long‐run effect of a privatisation policy on a multi‐product public firm and (b) investigating whether the market is characterised by excess or insufficient entry when in long‐run equilibrium. This study assumes that there is a multi‐product public firm and potential private firm entrants that produce one product in the economy. The public firm can privatise some production sectors, the privatised firm produces only one product, and the potential entrant private firm can enter the market by incurring entry costs. The public firm decides how many sectors to privatise. The private firms enter the market if they earn non‐negative profits. The study's findings show that full nationalisation is socially preferable in the long run. In equilibrium, when the number of production sectors of the public firm is small, excess entry occurs easily; the converse is also true. The results may assist the government in determining its privatisation policy and the private sector in determining whether to enter markets that were previously monopolised by the government.
Radiology in the era of value‐based healthcare: A multi‐society expert statement from the ACR, CAR, ESR, IS3R, RANZCR and RSNA
Authors: Brady Adrian P , Bello Jaqueline A , Derchi Lorenzo E , Fuchsjäger Michael , Goergen Stacy , Krestin Gabriel P , Lee Emil JY , Levin David C , Pressacco Josephine , Rao Vijay M , Slavotinek John , Visser Jacob J , Walker Richard EA , Brink James A 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe value‐based healthcare (VBH) concept is designed to improve individual healthcare outcomes without increasing expenditure and is increasingly being used to determine resourcing of and reimbursement for medical services. Radiology is a major contributor to patient and societal healthcare at many levels. Despite this, some VBH models do not acknowledge radiology’s central role; this may have future negative consequences for resource allocation.Methods, findings and interpretationThis multi‐society paper, representing the views of Radiology Societies in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, describes the place of radiology in VBH models and the healthcare value contributions of radiology. Potential steps to objectify and quantify the value contributed by radiology to healthcare are outlined.
Cannabis use and co‐use in tobacco smokers and non‐smokers: prevalence and associations with mental health in a cross‐sectional, nationally representative sample of adults in Great Britain, 2020
Authors: Hindocha Chandni , Brose Leonie S. , Walsh Hannah , Cheeseman Hazel 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackground and aimsIn Great Britain, cannabis and tobacco are commonly used substances, both independently and together. Use of either substance is associated with mental health problems, but prevalence of co‐use within these populations is unknown. We aimed to (1) estimate prevalence of cannabis use, frequency of use and routes of administration (ROA) among tobacco smokers and non‐smokers and (2) investigate mental health problems among non‐users, tobacco‐only, cannabis‐only and co‐users of both substances.DesignCross‐sectional national on‐line survey (Action on Smoking and Health) fielded in February–March 2020.SettingGreat Britain.ParticipantsAdults in Great Britain aged ≥ 18 years (n = 12 809)MeasurementsTobacco use status [smoker (daily or non‐daily) or non‐smoker (never or ex‐smoker)], cannabis use frequency (never to daily), detailed ROAs of cannabis, self‐reported treatment for mental health disorders (depression, anxiety and any). Statistically weighted prevalence estimates were computed to ensure representativeness. Correlates were assessed using χ2 tests and logistic regression.FindingsIn Great Britain in 2020, 7.1% of the sample had used cannabis in the past year. Tobacco smokers had greater odds of using cannabis in the past year (21.9%) and using cannabis daily (8.7%) than non‐smokers [past‐year: 4.7%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 10.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.4–12.0; daily: 0.7%; aOR = 24.6, 95% CI = 18.0–33.6)]. Co‐administration with tobacco was common (46.2% of non‐smokers, 80.8% of tobacco smokers). Co‐users reported the highest prevalence of any treatment for mental health problems (54.2%) in comparison to cannabis‐only (45.8%), tobacco‐only (33.2%) and non‐users (22.7%; all P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionApproximately one in 13 adults in Great Britain reports having used cannabis in the past year, approximately four times as many among cigarette smokers as non‐smokers. Co‐administration of cannabis and tobacco, via smoking, appears to be common, including among self‐identified non‐smokers. Mental health problems appear to be particularly common among dual users.
Beyond electrification for development: Solar home systems and social reproduction in rural Solomon Islands
Authors: Hobbis Stephanie Ketterer 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBased on an in‐depth examination of the acquisition, use, maintenance and deterioration of solar home systems in a village in Malaita, Solomon Islands, this article challenges the analytical focus of current debates on electrification in Pacific Island countries – why Pacific Island countries have not yet sufficiently electrified to achieve their development goals. Alternatively it examines what is, how, in this case, rural Solomon Islanders have integrated already available electricity into their daily lives. This perspectival shift highlights how rural Solomon Islanders have developed an energy identity that corresponds to their needs, interests and values, rather than those of national and international actors. It re‐emphasises the struggles of national and international electrification initiatives in rural environments, linking them to a broader distrust in the motivations of external actors. At the same time, it reveals how, throughout their life cycle, rural solar home systems have become integrated into processes of social reproduction rather than development aspirations. Contrary to dominant debates, rural solar home systems matter most in the opportunities that they provide for reciprocal exchange than for what the electricity enables them to do.
Capturing gendered aspects of active aging in China: Insights drawn from the Active Aging Index in comparison with EU countries
Authors: Um Jinpil , Zaidi Asghar , Parry Jane , Xiong Qian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis paper extends the Active Aging Index (AAI) to China to measure active aging among men and women over the age of 55. The strength of the AAI approach lies in its selection of a dashboard of multidimensional indicators of active aging, which are then aggregated into composite measures. The analysis used here considers the differences between men and women on 22 AAI indicators and their aggregations. China scores high on the first domain of the AAI (employment), is comparable with the EU countries on the second (participation in society), and scores lower on the third and fourth domains (independent and health living, and capacity and enabling environment). China has one of the largest gender gaps in active aging, especially in employment, but also in the domain of “Independent Living.” The comparison with EU countries points to a number of policy priorities and learnings, including the removal of disincentives to women working longer, namely differential mandatory and occupational retirement ages, and the introduction of measures to make workplaces more age and gender friendly.
Reproduction in the bushmaster (Lachesis muta): Uterine muscular coiling and female sperm storage
Authors: de Souza Eletra , Almeida‐Santos Selma Maria 
Published: December 2020

AbstractProlonged sperm storage in the female reproductive tract is a widespread strategy among vertebrates. In reptiles, especially lizards and snakes, females have specialized structures to store sperm in their oviduct, which occur in the posterior infundibulum and the nonglandular uterus. Many viperids exhibit uterine muscular coiling (UMC) in the nonglandular uterus, and this modification has been proposed as an ancestral trait in this taxon to store sperm. However, UMC and oviductal sperm storage have not been reported in Lachesis. Here, we studied the reproductive tract of L. muta females using histological techniques and describe, for the first time, the occurrence of oviductal sperm storage and UMC in nonglandular uterus of this species. We also describe an increase in secretory activity in the oviduct throughout the reproductive cycle. Our results support the hypothesis that UMC is an ancestral character in Viperidae and suggest that female L. muta must store sperm in the oviduct to fertilize the oocytes. We also propose new hypotheses for reproductive strategies of L. muta in nature.