bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decrease in Choroidal Vascularity Index of Haller’s layer in diabetic eyes precedes retinopathy
Authors: Foo Valencia Hui Xian , Gupta Preeti , Nguyen Quang Duc , Chong Crystal Chun Yuen , Agrawal Rupesh , Cheng Ching-Yu , Yanagi Yasuo 
Published: September 2020

IntroductionThe study aimed to evaluate Choroidal Vascularity Index (CVI) of Haller’s and Sattler’s layers and their relationships with choroidal and retinal thickness, volumes measured on enhanced depth imaging–optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in the eyes of patients without diabetes, patients with diabetes with no diabetic retinopathy (DR) and patients with diabetes and DR.Research design and methodsRetrospective analysis of 165 eyes from 84 Singapore Indian Eye Study-2 study participants (group 1: no diabetes, group 2: diabetes with no DR and group 3: with DR). Groups 1 and 2 were matched by age and gender from group 3.ResultsIn the eyes of patients with diabetes without DR, the macular CVI of Haller’s but not Sattler’s layer was significantly reduced compared with eyes of patients without diabetes. Eyes with >5 years of diabetes have significantly decreased CVI of Sattler’s layers (mean difference=0.06 ± 0.10, p=0.04) and also decreased subfoveal choroidal volume (mean difference=0.89 ± 0.16 mm3, p=0.02), compared with those with ≤5 years of diabetes.ConclusionDiabetic eyes without DR had significantly lower CVI of macular Haller’s layer than those of healthy controls. With a longer duration of diabetes, CVI of subfoveal Sattler’s layer and choroidal volume continue to decrease, irrespective of diabetic control, suggesting that early diabetic choroidopathy mainly affects larger choroidal veins initially before medium-sized arterioles. The CVI of macular Haller’s layer could potentially be used as a marker on spectral domain OCT imaging in newly diagnosed patients with diabetes for the onset of DR and as a possible prognostication tool in diabetic eyes. Future prospective longitudinal studies in diabetic eyes would be useful in establishing the relationship between CVIs of Haller’s and Sattler’s layer with visual acuity as a marker of photoreceptor health and visual prognosis.
Population impact and effectiveness of sequential 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate and monovalent rotavirus vaccine introduction on infant mortality: prospective birth cohort studies from Malawi
Authors: King Carina , Bar-Zeev Naor , Phiri Tambosi , Beard James , Mvula Hazzie , Crampin Amelia , Heinsbroek Ellen , Hungerford Dan , Lewycka Sonia , Verani Jennifer , Whitney Cynthia , Costello Anthony , Mwansambo Charles , Cunliffe Nigel , Heyderman Rob , French Neil 
Published: September 2020

BackgroundPneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and rotavirus vaccine (RV) are key tools for reducing common causes of infant mortality. However, measurement of population-level mortality impact is lacking from sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated mortality impact and vaccine effectiveness (VE) of PCV13 introduced in November 2011, with subsequent RV1 roll-out in October 2012, in Malawi.MethodsWe conducted two independent community-based birth cohort studies. Study 1, in northern Malawi (40000population), evaluated population impact using change-point analysis and negative-binomial regression of non-traumatic 14–51-week infant mortality preintroduction (1 January 2004 to 31 September 2011) and postintroduction (1 October 2011 to 1 July 2019), and against three-dose coverage. Study 2, in central Malawi (465 000 population), was recruited from 24 November 2011 to 1 June 2015. In the absence of preintroduction data, individual three-dose versus zero-dose VE was estimated using individual-level Cox survival models. In both cohorts, infants were followed with household visits to ascertain vaccination, socioeconomic and survival status. Verbal autopsies were conducted for deaths.ResultsStudy 1 included 20 291 live births and 216 infant deaths. Mortality decreased by 28.6% (95% CI: 15.3 to 39.8) post-PCV13 introduction. A change point was identified in November 2012. Study 2 registered 50 731 live births, with 454 deaths. Infant mortality decreased from 17 to 10/1000 live births during the study period. Adjusted VE was 44.6% overall (95% CI: 23.0 to 59.1) and 48.3% (95% CI: −5.9 to 74.1) against combined acute respiratory infection, meningitis and sepsis-associated mortality.ConclusionThese data provide population-level evidence of infant mortality reduction following sequential PCV13 and RV1 introduction into an established immunisation programme in Malawi. These data support increasing coverage of vaccine programmes in high-burden settings.
Acceptability of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) in a public health care setting before and after COVID-19: a prospective patient questionnaire survey
Authors: Shah Vishal , Naderi Khayam , Maubon Laura , Jameel Ashmal , Patel Darshak S , Gormley Jack , Heemraz Sanjeev , Azan Elodie , Verma Seema , Low Sancy , O'Brart David 
Published: September 2020

ObjectiveTo ascertain patient acceptance of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) in the National Health Service (NHS).MethodsA survey was devised using a 5-point Likert scale for questions related to ISBCS, which patients undertook during their cataract outpatient appointment pre-COVID-19 lockdown and by telephone during the lockdown.ResultsQuestionnaires were completed for 267 patients. Most respondents were aged over 71 (51%) and were female individuals (60%). Forty-five per cent agreed/strongly agreed with opting for ISBCS. A positive correlation was identified between opting for ISBCS and convenience to the patient (r=0.76, p<0.01) and family/carer/partner (r=0.71, p<0.01) and wanting to limit numbers of hospital visits (r=0.57, p<0.01). Fifty per cent agreed/strongly agreed that they were worried about the risk of simultaneous bilateral ocular complications, with this correlating with being less likely to opt for ISBCS (r=−0.49, p<0.01) and being scared of ISBCS (r=0.67, p<0.01). During COVID-19 lockdown, patients were less likely to want to minimise the time taken off work (p<0.05) and less intolerant of a prolonged hospital visit (p<0.05). Only 23% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that they had familiarity with ISBCS.ConclusionsISBCS was acceptable to 45% of our sampled population, suggesting limited routine implementation in the NHS is possible. Convenience and reduction in hospital visits appeared to contribute to this acceptance. Half of the patients expressed concern regarding bilateral complications and such concerns need addressing. Some attitudes did appear to change during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The familiarity of the concept of ISBCS is low suggesting the need for patient education.
Diffractive $$\gamma \gamma $$ production in pp collisions at the LHC
Authors: Gonçalves V. P. , Martins D. E. , Rangel M. S. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this letter we estimate the contribution of the double diffractive processes for the diphoton production inppcollisions at the large hadron collider (LHC). The acceptance of the central and forward LHC detectors is taken into account and predictions for the invariant mass, rapidity and, transverse momentum distributions are presented. A comparison with the predictions for the light-by-light (LbL) scattering and exclusive diphoton production is performed. We demonstrate that the events associated to double diffractive processes can be separated and its study can be used to constrain the behavior of the diffractive parton distribution functions.
Probing cosmic opacity with the type Ia supernovae and Hubble parameter
Authors: Xu Bing , Zhang Kaituo , Huang Qihong 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we probe the cosmic opacity with the newest Pantheon type Ia supernovae (SNIa) and the observational Hubble parameter $$\left( H(z)\right) $$

H
(
z
)

data based on the $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM and wCDM models with or without spatial curvature. In the analysis, we marginalize the likelihood function of SNIa data over the pertinent nuisance parameter $${\mathcal {M}}$$
M
, a combination of the absolute magnitude of SNIa $$M_{\mathrm{B}}$$

M
B

and the Hubble constant $$H_0$$

H
0

, with a flat prior. Two parameterizations of the optical depth $$\tau (z)$$

τ
(
z
)

associated to the cosmic absorption, namely $$\tau (z)=2\varepsilon z$$

τ
(
z
)
=
2
ε
z

and $$\tau (z)= (1+z)^{2\varepsilon }-1$$

τ

(
z
)

=

(
1
+
z
)

2
ε

-
1

, are adopted. We find that the results are not sensitive to the fiducial cosmological models, the spatial curvature and parameterizations of $$\tau (z)$$

τ
(
z
)

. Moreover, the results from the Pantheon data alone are consistent with a transparent universe ($$\varepsilon =0$$

ε
=
0

). And once the H(z) data is combined, $$\varepsilon =0$$

ε
=
0

falls within the 68% confidence level (CL) of the best fit when a flat $$H_0$$

H
0

prior or the distance priors are used, while it falls within the 95% CL when a Gaussian distribution prior of $$H_0=74.03\pm 1.42$$

H
0

=
74.03
±
1.42

km $$\mathrm {s}^{-1}\, \mathrm {Mpc}^{-1}$$

s

-
1

Mpc

-
1

is used.
Non-Kähler deformed conifold, ultraviolet completion and supersymmetric constraints in the baryonic branch
Authors: Dasgupta Keshav , Elituv Jake , Emelin Maxim , Trinh Anh-Khoi 
Published: September 2020

Gravity duals for a class of UV complete minimally supersymmetric nonconformal gauge theories require deformed conifolds with fluxes. However these manifolds do not allow for the standard Kähler or conformally Kähler metrics on them, instead the metrics are fully non-Kähler. We take a generic such configuration of a non-Kähler deformed conifold with fluxes and ask what constraints do supersymmetry impose in the baryonic branch. We study the supersymmetry conditions and show that for the correct choices of the vielbeins and the complex structure all the equations may be consistently solved. The constraints now lead not only to the known cases in the literature but also to some new backgrounds. We also show how geometric features of these backgrounds, including the overall warp-factor and the resolution parameters, can be seen on the field theory side from perturbative “probe-brane” type calculations by Higgsing the theory and studying one-loop 4-point functions of vector and chiral multiplets. Finally we discuss how UV completions of these gauge theories may be seen from our setup, both from type IIB as well as from the T-dual type IIA brane constructions.
Participating in the Digital Society
Authors: Grönlund Åke 
Published: September 2020

Many signs today indicate a decline of both democracy and trust in the Internet and social media. This seems to make digital democracy a hard sell. Furthermore, for digital democracy to be globally relevant, it is necessary to find ways to also make it useful in countries with less-democratic or even authoritarian regimes. This is where a majority of the world's population live and where improvements are most important for the world to become more democratic.
Drawing on the concept of “citizen participation” [Almond and Verba 1963] and the Information System Artefact model [Lee et al. 2015], we discuss how participation can be improved in countries of any regime in terms of the technology used, the information flows, and the social systems in which technology and information are used to communicate. Examples from Sweden and Uganda, countries with very different regimes, illustrate how improvements can be made everywhere, however, only with considerable effort.

The main conclusion is that democracy is not something you
have
but rather something you
do
. It has to be implemented every day, mostly in small steps and often in the context of administration rather than politics. Because such contexts occur also in authoritarian countries, technology can be used to improve participation everywhere.
Protein-Defined Subspecies of HDLs (High-Density Lipoproteins) and Differential Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in 4 Prospective Studies
Authors: Sacks Frank M. , Liang Liang , Furtado Jeremy D. , Cai Tianxi , Davidson W. Sean , He Zeling , McClelland Robyn L. , Rimm Eric B. , Jensen Majken K. 
Published: September 2020

Objective:
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) contains functional proteins that define single subspecies, each comprising 1% to 12% of the total HDL. We studied the differential association with coronary heart disease (CHD) of 15 such subspecies.

Approach and Results:

We measured plasma apoA1 (apolipoprotein A1) concentrations of 15 protein-defined HDL subspecies in 4 US-based prospective studies. Among participants without CVD at baseline, 932 developed CHD during 10 to 25 years. They were matched 1:1 to controls who did not experience CHD. In each cohort, hazard ratios for each subspecies were computed by conditional logistic regression and combined by meta-analysis. Higher levels of HDL subspecies containing alpha-2 macroglobulin, CoC3 (complement C3), HP (haptoglobin), or PLMG (plasminogen) were associated with higher relative risk compared with the HDL counterpart lacking the defining protein (hazard ratio range, 0.96–1.11 per 1 SD increase versus 0.73–0.81, respectively;
P
for heterogeneity <0.05). In contrast, HDL containing apoC1 or apoE were associated with lower relative risk compared with the counterpart (hazard ratio, 0.74;
P
=0.002 and 0.77,
P
=0.001, respectively).

Conclusions:
Several subspecies of HDL defined by single proteins that are involved in thrombosis, inflammation, immunity, and lipid metabolism are found in small fractions of total HDL and are associated with higher relative risk of CHD compared with HDL that lacks the defining protein. In contrast, HDL containing apoC1 or apoE are robustly associated with lower risk. The balance between beneficial and harmful subspecies in a person’s HDL sample may determine the risk of CHD pertaining to HDL and paths to treatment.
Increased ABCA1 (ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1)-Specific Cholesterol Efflux Capacity in Schizophrenia
Authors: Luquain-Costaz Céline , Kockx Maaike , Anastasius Malcolm , Chow Vincent , Kontush Anatol , Jessup Wendy , Kritharides Leonard 
Published: September 2020

Objective:
Patients with schizophrenia have increased long-term mortality attributable to cardiovascular disease and commonly demonstrate features of mixed dyslipidemia with low HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The removal of cholesterol from cells by HDL via specific ATP-binding cholesterol transporters is a major functional property of HDL, and its measurement as cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) can predict cardiovascular risk. Whether HDL function is impaired in patients with schizophrenia is unknown.

Approach and Results:
We measured basal and ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1)- and ABCG1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G1)-dependent CEC, comparing patients with schizophrenia with age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and related our findings to nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of lipoprotein subclasses. Total plasma cholesterol and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were comparable between healthy controls (n=51) and patients (n=120), but patients with schizophrenia had increased total plasma triglyceride, low HDL-C and apo (apolipoprotein) A-I concentrations. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis indicated a marked (15-fold) increase in large triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particle concentration, increased small dense LDL particles, and fewer large HDL particles. Despite lower HDL-C concentration, basal CEC was 13.7±1.6% higher, ABCA1-specific efflux was 35.9±1.6% higher, and ABCG1 efflux not different, in patients versus controls. In patients with schizophrenia, ABCA1-specific efflux correlated with the abundance of small 7.8 nm HDL particles but not with serum plasminogen or triglyceride levels.

Conclusions:
Patients with schizophrenia have increased concentrations of atherogenic apoB-containing lipoproteins, decreased concentrations of large HDL particles, but enhanced ABCA1-mediated CEC. In this population, preventative strategies should focus on reducing atherogenic lipoproteins rather than increasing CEC.
Electrocardiographic QT Intervals in Infants Exposed to Hydroxychloroquine Throughout Gestation
Authors: Friedman Deborah M. , Kim Mimi , Costedoat-Chalumeau Nathalie , Clancy Robert , Copel Joshua , Phoon Colin K. , Cuneo Bettina F. , Cohen Rebecca , Masson Mala , Wainwright Benjamin J. , Zahr Noel , Saxena Amit , Izmirly Peter M. , Buyon Jill P. 
Published: September 2020

Background:
Based on inhibition of viral replication and limited reports on clinical efficacy, hydroxychloroquine is being considered as prophylaxis and treatment of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Although hydroxychloroquine is generally considered safe during pregnancy based on studies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic conditions, there may still be reluctance to institute this antimalarial during pregnancy for the sole purpose of antiviral therapy.

Methods:
To provide data regarding any potential fetal/neonatal cardiotoxicity, we leveraged a unique opportunity in which neonatal ECGs and hydroxychloroquine blood levels were available in a recently completed study evaluating the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine 400 mg daily to prevent the recurrence of congenital heart block associated with anti-SSA/Ro (anti-Sjögren’s Syndrome A/Ro) antibodies.

Results:

Forty-five ECGs were available for corrected QT interval (QTc) measurement, and levels of hydroxychloroquine were assessed during each trimester of pregnancy and in the cord blood, providing unambiguous assurance of drug exposure. Overall, there was no correlation between cord blood levels of hydroxychloroquine and the neonatal QTc (
R
=0.02,
P
=0.86) or the mean of hydroxychloroquine values obtained throughout each individual pregnancy and the QTc (
R
=0.04,
P
=0.80). In total 5 (11% [95% CI, 4%–24%]) neonates had prolongation of the QTc >2 SD above historical healthy controls (2 markedly and 3 marginally) but ECGs were otherwise normal.

Conclusions:
In aggregate, these data provide reassurances that the maternal use of hydroxychloroquine is associated with a low incidence of infant QTc prolongation. However, if included in clinical COVID-19 studies, early postnatal ECGs should be considered.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01379573.
Public Support for Policies to Reduce School Shootings: A Moral-Altruistic Model
Authors: Burton Alexander L. , Pickett Justin T. , Jonson Cheryl Lero , Cullen Francis T. , Burton Velmer S. 
Published: September 2020

Objectives: The recurring mass murder of students in schools has sparked an intense debate about how best to increase school safety. Because public opinion weighs heavily in this debate, we examine public views on how best to prevent school shootings. We theorize that three moral-altruistic factors are likely to be broadly relevant to public opinion on school safety policies: moral intuitions about harm, anger about school crime, and altruistic fear. Methods: We commissioned YouGov to survey 1,100 Americans to explore support for a range of gun control and school programming policies and willingness to pay for school target hardening. We test the ability of a moral-altruistic model to explain public opinion, while controlling for the major predictors of gun control attitudes found in the social sciences. Results: The public strongly supports policies that restrict who can access guns, expand school anti-bullying and counseling programs, and target-harden schools. While many factors influence attitudes toward gun-related policies specifically, moral-altruistic factors significantly increase support for all three types of school safety policies. Conclusions: The public favors a comprehensive policy response and is willing to pay for it. Support for prevention efforts reflects moral intuitions about harm, anger about school crime, and altruistic fear.
The Constitutional Role of Electoral Management Bodies: The Case of the Australian Electoral Commission
Authors: Kildea Paul 
Published: September 2020

AbstractElectoral management bodies are increasingly being recognised as ‘fourth branch’ institutions that have a role to play in safeguarding electoral democracy against government attempts to undermine the fairness of the electoral process. This article explores the extent to which the Australian Electoral Commission (‘AEC’) fulfils that constitutional function by facilitating and protecting electoral democracy. It demonstrates that independence, impartiality and a supportive legislative framework help the AEC to be effective in performing these roles, but that inadequate powers, lack of budgetary autonomy and answerability to political actors operate as constraints. More generally, the analysis presented shows the value of expanding our understanding of the role of fourth branch institutions so that we take account of their activities in both fostering and safeguarding key democratic values.
Political Constitutionalism: Individual Responsibility and Collective Restraint
Authors: Ng Yee-Fui 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAustralia’s Constitution has been shaped by a blend of legal and political constitutionalism; yet there is limited attention given to political mechanisms of control in Australia. With the recent developments in the United Kingdom and the turmoil of Brexit that shifted the balance between legal and political constitutionalism, it is timely to examine how political constitutionalism has evolved in Australia. This article argues that Australian political constitutionalism is distinct from the United Kingdom as it is shaped not by internal conflict about the nature of the constitution but rather by the significant evolutionary development of fundamental institutions. In particular, it is argued that there are three critical junctures for political constitutionalism in Australia: the foundations of the Commonwealth, the formation of disciplined political parties and the rise of oversight bodies. It is contended that Australia may be reaching a new critical juncture due to the fragmentation of responsible government from privatisation and outsourcing and the rise of ministerial advisers.
Factors associated with errors in the heparin dose response test: recommendations to improve individualized heparin management in cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Lee Min-Ho , Riley William 
Published: September 2020

Background: A critical aspect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is to achieve full anticoagulation to prevent thrombosis and consumptive coagulation without using excessive amount of heparin. This can be achieved with heparin dose response (HDR) test in vitro to calculate an individualized heparin bolus to reach a target activated clotting time (ACT) and heparin concentration. However, we often observe that the measured ACT (mACT) with the calculated heparin bolus gives significant errors, both positive (mACT is higher than expected) and negative (mACT is lower), from expected ACT (eACT). Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 250 patients who underwent cardiac surgery to attain an error distribution of the mACT from eACT with calculated heparin bolus. In addition, it is aimed to identify possible patterns of baseline ACT (bACT), calculated heparin concentration (CHC) and HDR slope that are associated with the significant positive and negative errors. Results: We found that individualized heparin bolus by HDR test is consistently underestimated while it gave a significant number of positive and negative errors. Further analysis indicates that significant negative errors correlate with high bACT and slope and low CHC while significant positive errors with low bACT and slope and high CHC. Conclusion: The mACT can be substantially different from eACT. The accuracy of the HDR test appears to be dependent upon bACT, slope, and CHC. Based on our analysis, we provide several recommendations and a flow chart to improve the quality of individualized heparin management on CPB.