bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intravascular haemolysis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with self-expandable prosthesis: incidence, severity, and impact on long-term mortality
Authors: Širáková Andrea , Toušek Petr , Bednář František , Línková Hana , Laboš Marek , Sulženko Jakub , Havlíková Martina , Neuberg Marek , Kočka Viktor 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe aimed to determine the incidence, severity, and long-term impact of intravascular haemolysis after self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We believe this should be evaluated before extending the indications of TAVI to younger low-risk patients. Prospective, academic, single centre study of 94 consecutive patients treated with supra-annular self-expandable TAVI prosthesis between April 2009 and January 2014. Haemolysis at 1-year post-TAVI was defined per the published criteria based on levels of haemoglobin, reticulocyte and schistocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and haptoglobin. All patients had long-term clinical follow-up (6 years). The incidence of haemolysis at 1-year follow-up varied between 9% and 28%, based on different haemolysis definitions. Haemolysis was mild in all cases, no patient had markedly increased LDH levels. The presence of moderate/severe paravalvular aortic regurgitation was associated with haemolysis (7.7% vs. 23.1%, P = 0.044) and aortic valve area post-TAVI did not differ between groups with or without haemolysis (1.01 vs. 0.92 cm2/m2, P = 0.23) (definition including schistocyte count). The presence of haemolysis did not have any impact on patient prognosis after 6 years with log-rank test P = 0.80. Intravascular haemolysis after TAVI with self-expandable prosthesis is present in 9–28% of patients depending on the definition of haemolysis. The presence of haemolysis is associated with moderate/severe paravalvular aortic regurgitation but not with post-TAVI aortic valve area. Haemolysis is mild with no impact on prognosis.
Plasmids Related to the Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Are Not Only Cooperated Functionally but Also May Have Evolved over a Time Span in Family Rhizobiaceae
Authors: Yang Ling-Ling , Jiang Zhao , Li Yan , Wang En-Tao , Zhi Xiao-Yang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Rhizobia are soil bacteria capable of forming symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules associated with leguminous plants. In fast-growing legume-nodulating rhizobia, such as the species in the family Rhizobiaceae, the symbiotic plasmid is the main genetic basis for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, and is susceptible to horizontal gene transfer. To further understand the symbioses evolution in Rhizobiaceae, we analyzed the pan-genome of this family based on 92 genomes of type/reference strains and reconstructed its phylogeny using a phylogenomics approach. Intriguingly, although the genetic expansion that occurred in chromosomal regions was the main reason for the high proportion of low-frequency flexible gene families in the pan-genome, gene gain events associated with accessory plasmids introduced more genes into the genomes of nitrogen-fixing species. For symbiotic plasmids, although horizontal gene transfer frequently occurred, transfer may be impeded by, such as, the host’s physical isolation and soil conditions, even among phylogenetically close species. During coevolution with leguminous hosts, the plasmid system, including accessory and symbiotic plasmids, may have evolved over a time span, and provided rhizobial species with the ability to adapt to various environmental conditions and helped them achieve nitrogen fixation. These findings provide new insights into the phylogeny of Rhizobiaceae and advance our understanding of the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
From “Coffin Dodger” to “Boomer Remover”: Outbreaks of Ageism in Three Countries With Divergent Approaches to Coronavirus Control
Authors: Lichtenstein Bronwen 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Objectives
This article compares responses to coronavirus control in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, 3 countries in which public ageism erupted over the social and economic costs of protecting older adults from Covid-19.

Methods
Thirty-five (35) newspapers, media websites, and current affairs magazines were sourced for the study: 8 for Australia, 12 for the United Kingdom, and 15 for the United States. Searches were conducted daily from April to June 2020, using key words to identify age-related themes on pandemic control.

Results
Despite divergent policies in the 3 countries, ageism took similar forms. Public responses to lockdowns and other measures cast older adults as a problem to be ignored or solved through segregation. Name-calling, blame, and “so-be-it” reactions toward age vulnerability were commonplace. Policies banning visits to aged care homes angered many relatives and older adults. Indefinite isolation for older adults was widely accepted, especially as a vehicle to end public lockdowns and economic crises.

Discussion
Older adults have and will continue to bear the brunt of Covid-19 in terms of social burdens and body counts as the pandemic continues to affect people around the globe. The rhetoric of disposability underscores age discrimination on a broader scale, with blame toward an age cohort considered to have lived past its usefulness for society and to have enriched itself at the expense of future generations.
Functional Limitations, Volunteering, and Diurnal Cortisol Patterns in Older Adults
Authors: Huo Meng , Han Sae Hwang , Kim Kyungmin , Choi Jean 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Objectives
Older adults often experience functional limitations that affect their everyday lives, but many of them continue to make positive contributions to society and benefit from these contributions themselves. We examine (a) whether older adults’ functional limitations are associated with diurnal cortisol patterns and (b) whether these associations vary on volunteering days versus nonvolunteering days.

Methods
Participants were adults aged older than 60 years (N = 435) from the National Study of Daily Experiences, part of the Midlife in the United States Study. They completed an initial interview on functional limitations and background characteristics, indicated volunteering activities in daily interviews, and also provided salivary samples across 4 days.

Results
Multilevel models showed that older adults with greater functional limitations exhibited dysregulated cortisol awakening responses and diurnal cortisol slopes throughout the rest of the day, compared to older adults with lower limitations. Yet, we also observed a significant moderating effect of volunteering on these associations.

Discussion
This study advances our understanding of functional limitations and cortisol stress responses, revealing the benefits of volunteering to older adults who experience these limitations. Rather than treating these older adults solely as care recipients, interventions should offer them opportunities to help others.
Decision-making and health system strengthening: bringing time frames into perspective
Authors: Belghiti Alaoui Abelali , De Brouwere Vincent , Meessen Bruno , Bigdeli Maryam 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
In many low-and middle-income countries, health systems decision-makers are facing a host of new challenges and competing priorities. They must not only plan and implement as they used to do but also deal with discontented citizens and health staff, be responsive and accountable. This contributes to create new political hazards susceptible to disrupt the whole execution of health plans. The starting point of this article is the observation by the first author of the limitations of the building-blocks framework to structure decision-making as for strengthening of the Moroccan health system. The management of a health system is affected by different temporalities, the recognition of which allows a more realistic analysis of the obstacles and successes of health system strengthening approaches. Inspired by practice and enriched thanks a consultation of the literature, our analytical framework revolves around five dynamics: the services dynamic, the programming dynamic, the political dynamic, the reform dynamic and the capacity-building dynamic. These five dynamics are differentiated by their temporalities, their profile, the role of their actors and the nature of their activities. The Moroccan experience suggests that it is possible to strengthen health systems by opening up the analysis of temporalities, which affects both decision-making processes and the dynamics of functioning of health systems.
Transcriptomic and epigenomic dynamics associated with development of human iPSC-derived GABAergic interneurons
Authors: Inglis George Andrew S , Zhou Ying , Patterson Dillon G , Scharer Christopher D , Han Yanfei , Boss Jeremy M , Wen Zhexing , Escayg Andrew 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
GABAergic interneurons (GINs) are a heterogeneous population of inhibitory neurons that collectively contribute to the maintenance of normal neuronal excitability and network activity. Identification of the genetic regulatory elements and transcription factors that contribute toward GIN function may provide new insight into the pathways underlying proper GIN activity while also indicating potential therapeutic targets for GIN-associated disorders, such as schizophrenia and epilepsy. In this study, we examined the temporal changes in gene expression and chromatin accessibility during GIN development by performing transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons at 22, 50 and 78 days (D) post-differentiation. We observed 13 221 differentially accessible regions (DARs) of chromatin that associate with temporal changes in gene expression at D78 and D50, relative to D22. We also classified families of transcription factors that are increasingly enriched at DARs during differentiation, indicating regulatory networks that likely drive GIN development. Collectively, these data provide a resource for examining the molecular networks regulating GIN functionality.
Global Seasonality of Human Seasonal Coronaviruses: A Clue for Postpandemic Circulating Season of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2?
Authors: Li You , Wang Xin , Nair Harish 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Background
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could recur as seasonal outbreaks, a circulating pattern observed among other preexisting human seasonal coronaviruses (sCoVs). However, little is known about seasonality of sCoVs on a global scale.

Methods
We conducted a systematic review of data on seasonality of sCoVs. We compared seasonality of sCoVs with influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus. We modeled monthly activity of sCoVs using site-specific weather data.

Results
We included sCoV seasonality data in 40 sites from 21 countries. sCoVs were prevalent in winter months in most temperate sites except for China, whereas sCoVs tended to be less seasonal in China and in tropical sites. In temperate sites excluding China, 53.1% of annual sCoV cases (interquartile range [IQR], 34.6%–61.9%) occurred during influenza season and 49.6% (IQR, 30.2%–60.2%) of sCoV cases occurred during respiratory syncytial virus season. Low temperature combined with high relative humidity was associated with higher sCoV activity.

Conclusions
This is the first study that provides an overview of the global seasonality of sCoVs. Our findings offer clues to the possible postpandemic circulating season of SARS-CoV-2 and add to the knowledge pool necessary for postpandemic preparedness for SARS-CoV-2.
Efficacy of Antigonococcal CMP-Nonulosonate Therapeutics Require Cathelicidins
Authors: Gulati Sunita , Schoenhofen Ian C , Lindhout-Djukic Theresa , Lewis Lisa A , Moustafa Iesha Y , Saha Sudeshna , Zheng Bo , Nowak Nancy , Rice Peter A , Varki Ajit , Ram Sanjay 
Published: July 2020

AbstractNovel therapies to counteract multidrug-resistant gonorrhea are urgently needed. A unique gonococcal immune evasion strategy involves capping of lipooligosaccharide (LOS) with sialic acid by gonococcal sialyltransferase (Lst), utilizing host-derived CMP-sialic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac in humans). LOS sialylation renders gonococci resistant to complement and cationic peptides, and down-regulates the inflammatory response by engaging siglecs. CMP-sialic acid analogs (CMP-nonulosonates [CMP-NulOs]) such as CMP-Leg5,7Ac2 and CMP-Kdn are also utilized by Lst. Incorporation of these NulO analogs into LOS maintains gonococci susceptible to complement. Intravaginal administration of CMP-Kdn or CMP-Leg5,7Ac2 attenuates gonococcal colonization of mouse vaginas. Here, we identify a key mechanism of action for the efficacy of CMP-NulOs. Surprisingly, CMP-NulOs remained effective in complement C1q-/- and C3-/- mice. LOS Neu5Ac, but not Leg5,7Ac2 or Kdn, conferred resistance to the cathelicidins LL-37 (human) and mouse cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide in vitro. CMP-NulOs were ineffective in Camp-/- mice, revealing that cathelicidins largely mediate the efficacy of therapeutic CMP-NulOs.
Development and evaluation of a quality improvement framework for healthcare
Authors: Hamilton Samantha , Jennings Alison , Forster Alan J 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Objective
Develop and evaluate a framework for quality improvement which will provide a common approach, terminology and greater likelihood of success in achieving demonstrable and sustained improvement.

Design
Descriptive with mixed methods evaluation.

Setting
Tertiary care academic hospital in Ottawa, Canada.

Participants
Students enrolled in the Quality and Patient Safety Leadership Executive Program at the local university.

Methods
The quality improvement (QI) framework was developed though comparison and coding of key strengths across four commonly applied quality improvement frameworks. Effectiveness of the framework was evaluated through a satisfaction survey of students who were taught the framework, and independent assessment of student improvement initiatives that followed the QI Framework versus initiatives from a prior year who did not.

Main Outcome Measures
Acceptability and effectiveness of the QI Framework.

Results
All participants found the QI Framework to be useful and easy to follow. Independent evaluation of improvement initiatives following the QI Framework, as compared to those that did not, scored higher (95% CI: 3.0 ± 0.49) than the projects completed without the QI Framework (95% CI: 2.2 ± 0.30), P value &lt; 0.01. Scores were higher for cohort 2017/18 in all criteria except scaling and spreading, in which there was no change (2015/16 95% CI: 1.2 ± 0.24, 2017/18 95% CI: 1.2 ± 0.38).

Conclusions
The method we have developed is acceptable and helpful to users, and overall application resulted in higher quality initiatives. We believe this method, which we have branded as The Ottawa Hospital Innovation Framework, can be beneficial in healthcare settings for a variety of change initiatives.
Generating contextual embeddings for emergency department chief complaints
Authors: Chang David , Hong Woo Suk , Taylor Richard Andrew 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Objective
We learn contextual embeddings for emergency department (ED) chief complaints using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), a state-of-the-art language model, to derive a compact and computationally useful representation for free-text chief complaints.

Materials and methods
Retrospective data on 2.1 million adult and pediatric ED visits was obtained from a large healthcare system covering the period of March 2013 to July 2019. A total of 355 497 (16.4%) visits from 65 737 (8.9%) patients were removed for absence of either a structured or unstructured chief complaint. To ensure adequate training set size, chief complaint labels that comprised less than 0.01%, or 1 in 10 000, of all visits were excluded. The cutoff threshold was incremented on a log scale to create seven datasets of decreasing sparsity. The classification task was to predict the provider-assigned label from the free-text chief complaint using BERT, with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Embeddings from Language Models (ELMo) as baselines. Performance was measured as the Top-k accuracy from k = 1:5 on a hold-out test set comprising 5% of the samples. The embedding for each free-text chief complaint was extracted as the final 768-dimensional layer of the BERT model and visualized using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE).

Results
The models achieved increasing performance with datasets of decreasing sparsity, with BERT outperforming both LSTM and ELMo. The BERT model yielded Top-1 accuracies of 0.65 and 0.69, Top-3 accuracies of 0.87 and 0.90, and Top-5 accuracies of 0.92 and 0.94 on datasets comprised of 434 and 188 labels, respectively. Visualization using t-SNE mapped the learned embeddings in a clinically meaningful way, with related concepts embedded close to each other and broader types of chief complaints clustered together.

Discussion
Despite the inherent noise in the chief complaint label space, the model was able to learn a rich representation of chief complaints and generate reasonable predictions of their labels. The learned embeddings accurately predict provider-assigned chief complaint labels and map semantically similar chief complaints to nearby points in vector space.

Conclusion
Such a model may be used to automatically map free-text chief complaints to structured fields and to assist the development of a standardized, data-driven ontology of chief complaints for healthcare institutions.
Evaluation of the GENE-UP® Listeria monocytogenes Method for the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a Variety of Foods and Select Environmental Surfaces: Collaborative Study, First Action 2019.11
Authors: Johnson Ronald , Mills John , Pittet Jean-Louis , Mathia Olivier , Bird Patrick , Nelson Maria 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Background
The GENE-UP® Listeria monocytogenes 2 (LMO 2) assay (Performance Tested MethodSM 121804) uses real-time PCR technology and a proprietary detection platform, the GENE-UP Thermocycler, to detect Listeria monocytogenes in a variety of foods and environmental surfaces.

Objective
The purpose of this validation was to evaluate the method’s interlaboratory performance and submit the result to AOAC INTERNATIONAL for adoption as First Action Official MethodSM for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a variety of foods and select environmental surfaces.

Method
The GENE-UP method was evaluated in a multi-laboratory study as part of the AFNOR NF VALIDATION certification process using unpaired test portions for one food matrix, full-cream goat milk cottage cheese (8.4% fat). The candidate method was compared to the ISO 11290-1/Amd.1:2004 reference method. Sixteen participants from 15 laboratories throughout the European Union participated. Three levels of contamination were evaluated: a non-inoculated control level (0 CFU/test portion), a low inoculum level (∼2 CFU/test portion), and a high inoculum level (∼10 CFU/test portion). Data from the study were analyzed according to the Probability of Detection (POD) statistical model as presented in the AOAC validation guidelines.

Results
The dLPODC values with 95% confidence interval for each comparison were; -0.02 (-0.07, 0.03), -0.08 (-0.31, 0.16), and 0.00 (-0.03, 0.03) for the non-inoculated, low, and high contamination levels, respectively.

Conclusions
The dLPODC results demonstrate no difference in performance between the candidate method and reference method for the matrix evaluated.

Highlights
The GENE-UP LMO method demonstrated accuracy and precision in detecting and discerning L. monocytogenes from other Listeria species.
Timing the Implementation of Cultural Practices for Spissistilus festinus (Hemiptera: Membracidae) in California Vineyards Using a Stage-Structured Degree-Day Model
Authors: Bick Emily N , Kron Cindy R , Zalom Frank G 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The three-cornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say), was shown to transmit Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV), the causative agent for Grapevine red blotch disease, in a greenhouse study on grapes. GRBV is a major concern of wine grape growers due to its economic impact on wine quality. Plants in the family Fabaceae are preferred hosts of S. festinus and are commonly planted as cover crops or present in a vineyard’s native vegetation. In late winter, during grapevine dormancy, S. festinus migrate into vineyards to feed and reproduce on these cover crop and weed hosts. Tilling vineyard floor vegetation provides growers an opportunity to disrupt the life cycle of early instars that are relatively immobile, reducing the S. festinus first-generation population. Nymphal presence is difficult to detect. First through third instars were not detected in sweep net samples in a 2-yr weekly sampling study, whereas fourth and fifth instars were first found on the same sample date as emerging adults. A degree-day model was developed and successfully predicted when early S. festinus instars are present in the vineyard to aid in exploiting the time period when S. festinus is most susceptible to cultural control measures.
Unregulated Algorithmic Trading: Testing the Boundaries of the European Union Algorithmic Trading Regime
Authors: Martins Pereira Clara 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Trading in modern equity markets has come to be dominated by machines and algorithms. However, there is significant concern over the impact of algorithmic trading on market quality and a number of jurisdictions have moved to address the risks associated with this new type of trading. The European Union has been no exception to this trend.
This article argues that while the European Union algorithmic trading regime is often perceived as a tough response to the challenges inherent in machine trading, it has one crucial shortcoming: it does not regulate the simpler, basic execution algorithms used in automated order routers. Yet the same risk generally associated with algorithmic trading activity also arises, in particular, from the use of these basic execution algorithms—as was made evident by the trading glitch that led to the fall of United States securities trader Knight Capital in 2012. Indeed, such risk could even be amplified by the lack of sophistication of these simpler execution algorithms.
It is thus proposed that the European Union should amend the objective scope of its algorithmic trading regime by expanding the definition of algorithmic trading under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) to include all execution algorithms, regardless of their complexity.
Highlights of Veterinary Entomology, 2019
Authors: Pitzer Jimmy B 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Research in the field of veterinary entomology is dominated by studies concerning arthropods that affect animal health. In 2019, this research primarily addressed the overwhelming industry need to manage detrimental species such as biting flies and ticks and the ongoing problems caused by insecticide/acaricide resistance evolution in these pests. Research also included evidence supporting the need for the conservation of beneficial species, such as biological control organisms. Many studies in a variety of pest systems have demonstrated the potential detrimental effects of insecticide use on nontarget organisms, and those of veterinary importance are no exception. An emphasis also was placed on research regarding alternative management strategies for veterinary pests. The presentation herein provides a descriptive summary of selected research that contributed greatly to the body of knowledge regarding arthropods of veterinary importance. This included several studies that will pave the way towards more effective veterinary pest management in an effort to improve animal health and welfare and, therefore, the sustainability of animal agriculture.