bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hedgehog inhibitors with and without adjunctive therapy in treatment of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Patel Akash D. , Ravichandran Surya , Kheterpal Meenal 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundHedgehog inhibitor therapy (HHIT) is considered first‐line treatment for locally advanced, unresectable basal cell carcinoma (laBCC). HHIT often results in a partial response, which requires adjunctive therapy (AT) post HHIT. We present real‐world data for laBCCs undergoing HHIT ± AT.MethodsRetrospective review at Duke University from 11/01/2007 through 5/20/2020 revealed 13 patients treated with systemic HHIT (sonidegib or vismodegib) for laBCC.ResultsFourteen laBCCs were identified in 13 patients. LaBCCs were treated with sonidegib (n = 10, 71%) or vismodegib (n = 4, 29%) for a median (IQR) of 9.4 (9.3) or 9.8 (8.5) months, respectively. The median (IQR) follow‐up time from HHIT initiation was 15.5 (8.7) months. Tumors were most often located on the trunk (43%), followed by head and neck (29%), extremities (21%), and orbit/periorbital area (7%). Nine laBCCs (64%) were treated with HHIT alone, of which five (36%) achieved complete response (CR), four (29%) achieved partial response (PR), and five (36%) achieved CR with combined HHIT and AT post‐HHIT. Duration of HHIT treatment (IQR) was 7.5 (3.5) months in the 10 CR patients, versus 15.1 (6.3) months in the four PR patients (P = 0.024). Nine patients (69%) experienced adverse events from HHIT, most commonly ageusia/dysgeusia, muscle spasms, and alopecia.ConclusionAs a single institutional experience, we report 10/14 laBCCs (71%) with CRs without recurrence and 4/14 laBCCs (29%) with PRs with HHIT ± AT over median follow‐up of 15.5 months. Longer follow‐up and larger cohorts evaluating responses with HHIT followed by AT are needed to substantiate our findings.
Australia and New Zealand Transplant and Cellular Therapies COVID‐19 vaccination consensus position statement
Authors: Hamad Nada , Ananda‐Rajah Michelle , Gilroy Nicole , MacIntyre Raina , Gottlieb David , Ritchie David , Harrison Simon , Kennedy Glen , Watson Anne M. , Greenwood Matthew , Doocey Richard , Perera Travis , Spencer Andrew , Wong Eric , O'Brien Tracey , Shaw Peter , Conyers Rachel , Milliken Samuel , Bardy Peter , Larsen Stephen , Ho Phoebe J. , Lai Hock , Bajel Ashish , Butler Jason , Tiley Campbell , D'Rozario James , Johnston Anna , Cochrane Tara , Mills Tony , Irving Ian , Pullon Humprey , Purtill Duncan 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAustralia and New Zealand have achieved excellent community control of COVID‐19 infection. In light of the imminent COVID‐19 vaccination roll out in both countries, representatives of all adult and paediatric allogeneic bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy (TCT) centres as well as representatives from autologous transplant only centres in Australia and New Zealand collaborated with infectious diseases specialists with expertise in TCT on this consensus position statement regarding COVID‐19 vaccination in TCT patients in Australia and New Zealand. It is our recommendation that TCT patients, should have expedited access to high‐efficacy COVID‐19 vaccines given that these patients are at high risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID‐19 infection. We also recommend prioritising vaccination of TCT healthcare workers and household members of TCT patients. Vaccination should not replace other public health measures in TCT patients given the effectiveness of COVID‐19 vaccination in TCT patients is unknown. Furthermore, given the limited available data, prospective collection of safety and efficacy data of COVID‐19 vaccination in this patient group is a priority.
Using a distributed systems laboratory to facilitate students' cognitive, metacognitive and critical thinking strategy use
Authors: Marquès Puig Joan Manuel , Daradoumis Thanasis , Arguedas Marta , Calvet Liñan Laura 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundRecent research in online settings reports that supporting self‐regulated learning (SRL) strategy use could lead to greater online academic success. A growing number of studies have started to investigate SRL supports in online environments recently, which indicates a great interest in this matter. Though several systems for automatic assessment of programming have been developed, there is hardly any study that has investigated how an automated assessment tool for distributed programming could facilitate students' SRL strategies.ObjectivesThis study examined the ways our online Distributed Systems Laboratory (DSLab) tried to enhance students' SRL strategies in an authentic long‐term online educational experience.MethodsWe applied an experimental research design, involving 111 university students who performed a programming assignment using DSLab. A customized questionnaire was used to collect data from all students.Results and ConclusionsThe statistical analyses revealed that DSLab tool managed to facilitate students' cognitive and meta‐cognitive strategy use to a certain extent and critical thinking strategy use to a fairly large extent.ImplicationsThough more experimental results are needed to delve more deeply into these findings, this study provides relevant implications for online distributed (or general) programming course teachers who seek to increase students' SRL strategies in this field.
Bone microstructure and bone mineral density are not systemically different in Antarctic icefishes and related Antarctic notothenioids
Authors: Ashique Amir M. , Atake Oghenevwogaga J. , Ovens Katie , Guo Ruiyi , Pratt Isaac V. , Detrich H. William , Cooper David M. L. , Desvignes Thomas , Postlethwait John H. , Eames B. Frank 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAncestors of the Antarctic icefishes (family Channichthyidae) were benthic and had no swim bladder, making it energetically expensive to rise from the ocean floor. To exploit the water column, benthopelagic icefishes were hypothesized to have evolved a skeleton with “reduced bone,” which gross anatomical data supported. Here, we tested the hypothesis that changes to icefish bones also occurred below the level of gross anatomy. Histology and micro‐CT imaging of representative craniofacial bones (i.e., ceratohyal, frontal, dentary, and articular) of extant Antarctic fish species specifically evaluated two features that might cause the appearance of “reduced bone”: bone microstructure (e.g., bone volume fraction and structure linear density) and bone mineral density (BMD, or mass of mineral per volume of bone). Measures of bone microstructure were not consistently different in bones from the icefishes Chaenocephalus aceratus and Champsocephalus gunnari, compared to the related benthic notothenioids Notothenia coriiceps and Gobionotothen gibberifrons. Some quantitative measures, such as bone volume fraction and structure linear density, were significantly increased in some icefish bones compared to homologous bones of non‐icefish. However, such differences were rare, and no microstructural measures were consistently different in icefishes across all bones and species analyzed. Furthermore, BMD was similar among homologous bones of icefish and non‐icefish Antarctic notothenioids. In summary, “reduced bone” in icefishes was not due to systemic changes in bone microstructure or BMD, raising the prospect that “reduced bone” in icefish occurs only at the gross anatomic level (i.e., smaller or fewer bones). Given that icefishes exhibit delayed skeletal development compared to non‐icefish Antarctic fishes, combining these phenotypic data with genomic data might clarify genetic changes driving skeletal heterochrony.
Clinical use of lefamulin: A first‐in‐class semisynthetic pleuromutilin antibiotic
Authors: Covvey Jordan R. , Guarascio Anthony J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractLefamulin is a novel antibiotic agent within the pleuromutilin derivative class approved for the treatment of community‐acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The objective of this article is to provide a summary of clinically relevant data underlying lefamulin and to provide recommendations for its place in therapy. In vitro data establish lefamulin's activity against a number of Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative and atypical organisms relevant in the treatment of CABP, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Two phase‐3 studies, the Lefamulin Evaluation Against Pneumonia trials, established non‐inferiority of lefamulin against moxifloxacin in the treatment of CABP, including the sequential transition from intravenous to oral therapy and across a broad set of patient demographics and severities. Pooled and post hoc analyses have confirmed these effects for a variety of subgroups and secondary endpoints. Real‐world study data post‐approval have largely not yet emerged for lefamulin, and there is a need for further investigation into safety/efficacy for off‐label indications such as acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and sexually transmitted infections. Further data regarding tolerability, particularly with long‐term use, as well as the emergence of resistance over time, are still undefined.
Successful management of aspiration pneumopathy without antimicrobial agents: 14 dogs (2014‐2021)
Authors: Cook S. , Greensmith T. , Humm K. 
Published: August 2021

ObjectivesTo describe clinical cases of aspiration pneumonitis and pneumonia in dogs, which were successfully managed without antimicrobials.Materials and MethodsRetrospective case review of dogs presenting to a referral teaching hospital between February 2014 and February 2021. Cases were included when a clinical diagnosis of aspiration pneumopathy was made (requiring one or more of the following: radiographic evidence of an aspiration pneumopathy, endotracheal airway sampling consistent with aspiration and/or a positive endotracheal airway sample culture) which was not treated with antimicrobial therapy.ResultsFourteen cases were identified of which nine had respiratory signs including increased respiratory rate or effort (n=8), arterial hypoxaemia (n=2), or a clinician‐determined requirement for oxygen therapy (n=4). Where haematology was performed, five of nine displayed a normal neutrophil count with toxic changes, three displayed neutrophilia and one displayed neutropenia with toxic changes. Endotracheal airway sample cytology in four cases revealed neutrophilic inflammation with bacteria, plant material, yeasts and unidentified foreign material. Where respiratory signs were present, these resolved within 12 to 36 hours.Clinical SignificanceIn this case series, immunocompetent dogs sustaining aspiration events, even with classical evidence of pneumonitis or pneumonia, have been managed successfully without antimicrobials. Radiography alone cannot be used to determine the requirement for antimicrobials. Better characterisation of the pathogenesis and clinical trajectory of aspiration pneumopathy is required, which may enable a reduction in inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions.
Escherichia coli K‐12 has two distinguishable PriA‐PriB replication restart pathways
Authors: Sandler Steven J. , Leroux Maxime , Windgassen Tricia A. , Keck James L. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn Escherichia coli, PriA, PriB, PriC, and DnaT proteins mediate three pathways for Replication Restart called PriA‐PriB, PriA‐PriC, and PriC. PriA is crucial for two of the three pathways. Its absence leads to slow growth, high basal levels of SOS expression, poorly partitioning nucleoids, UV sensitivity, and recombination deficiency. PriA has ATPase and helicase activities and interacts with PriB, DnaT, and single‐stranded DNA‐binding protein (SSB). priA300 (K230R) and priA301 (C479Y) have no phenotype as single mutants, but each phenocopy a priA‐null mutant combined with ∆priB. This suggested that the two priA mutations affected the helicase activity that is required for the PriA‐PriC pathway. To further test this, the biochemical activities of purified PriA300 and PriA301 were examined. As expected, PriA300 lacks ATPase and helicase activities but retains the ability to interact with PriB. PriA301, however, retains significant PriB‐stimulated helicase activity even though PriA301 interactions with PriB and DNA are weakened. A PriA300,301 variant retains only the ability to interact with DNA in vitro and phenocopies the priA‐null phenotype in vivo. This suggests that there are two biochemically and genetically distinct PriA‐PriB pathways. One uses PriB‐stimulated helicase activity to free a region of ssDNA and the other uses helicase‐independent remodeling activity.
When Left Is Right and Right Is Left: The Psychological Correlates of Political Ideology in China
Authors: Beattie Peter , Chen Rong , Bettache Karim 
Published: August 2021

A robust empirical literature suggests that the development of one's political ideology is the product of an “elective affinity” between the discursive, socially constructed elements of ideological belief systems and the psychological constraints, motives, and interests of those who are drawn to those belief systems. However, most studies which support this elective affinity theory have been conducted in the West. In the present study, we tested the theory in China to see whether elective affinities between psychological traits and political ideology are more likely to be universal. Across a nationally representative sample (N = 509), we found initial support for the characterization of the left‐right divide in China, albeit in reverse. Namely, the “liberal Right in China mostly evinces traits of the psychological Left in the West (e.g., lower intolerance of ambiguity), while the “conservative Left” mostly evinces traits of the psychological right in the West (e.g., higher system justification). Epistemic motives were most reliably related to political ideology, while existential and relational motives were more mixed; economic and political aspects of ideology were more closely linked to psychological traits than social/cultural aspects. The present findings provide an extension of existing theory and opportunities for further development.
Social integration after moving to a new city predicts lower systolic blood pressure
Authors: Roddick Charlotte M. , Christie Chelsea D. , Madden Kenneth M. , Chen Frances S. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractResidential mobility is linked to higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. A mechanism by which residential relocation may impact health is through the disruption of social networks. To examine whether moving to a new city is associated with increased CVD risk and whether the extent to which movers rebuild their social network after relocating predicts improved CVD risk and psychosocial well‐being, recent movers (n = 26), and age‐ and sex‐matched nonmovers (n = 20) were followed over 3 months. Blood pressure, C‐reactive protein/albumin ratio (CRP/ALB), social network size, and psychosocial well‐being were measured at intake (within 6 weeks of residential relocation for movers) and 3 months later. Multiple regression indicated higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) for movers (M = 107.42, SD = 11.39), compared with nonmovers (M = 102.37, SD = 10.03) at intake, though this trend was not statistically significant. As predicted, increases in movers' social network size over 3 months predicted decreases in SBP, even after controlling for age, sex, and waist‐to‐hip ratio, b = −2.04 mmHg, 95% CI [−3.35, −.73]. Associations between increases in movers' social ties and decreases in depressive symptoms and stress were in the predicted direction but did not meet the traditional cutoff for statistical significance. Residential relocation and movers' social network size were not associated with CRP/ALB in this healthy sample. This study provides preliminary evidence for increased SBP among recent movers; furthermore, it suggests that this elevation in CVD risk may decrease as individuals successfully rebuild their social network.
Order Matters: The Benefits of Ordinal Fragility Curves for Damage and Loss Estimation
Authors: Nguyen Michele , Lallemant David 
Published: August 2021

AbstractProbabilistic loss assessments from natural hazards require the quantification of structural vulnerability. Building damage data can be used to estimate fragility curves to obtain realistic descriptions of the relationship between a hazard intensity measure and the probability of exceeding certain damage grades. Fragility curves based on the lognormal cumulative distribution function are popular because of their empirical performance as well as theoretical properties. When we are interested in estimating exceedance probabilities for multiple damage grades, these are usually derived per damage grade via separate probit regressions. However, they can also be obtained simultaneously through an ordinal model which treats the damage grades as ordered and related instead of nominal and distinct. When we use nominal models, a collapse fragility curve is constructed by treating data of “near‐collapse” and “no damage” the same: as data of noncollapse. This leads to a loss of information. Using synthetic data as well as real‐life data from the 2015 Nepal earthquake, we provide one of the first formal demonstrations of multiple advantages of the ordinal model over the nominal approach. We show that modeling the ordering of damage grades explicitly through an ordinal model leads to higher sensitivity to the data, parsimony and a lower risk of overfitting, noncrossing fragility curves, and lower associated uncertainty.
Approximate Laplace Approximations for Scalable Model Selection
Authors: Rossell David , Abril Oriol , Bhattacharya Anirban 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe propose the approximate Laplace approximation (ALA) to evaluate integrated likelihoods, a bottleneck in Bayesian model selection. The Laplace approximation (LA) is a popular tool that speeds up such computation and equips strong model selection properties. However, when the sample size is large or one considers many models the cost of the required optimizations becomes impractical. ALA reduces the cost to that of solving a least-squares problem for each model. Further, it enables efficient computation across models such as sharing pre-computed sufficient statistics and certain operations in matrix decompositions. We prove that in generalized (possibly non-linear) models ALA achieves a strong form of model selection consistency for a suitably-defined optimal model, at the same functional rates as exact computation. We consider fixed- and high-dimensional problems, group and hierarchical constraints, and the possibility that all models are misspecified. We also obtain ALA rates for Gaussian regression under non-local priors, an important example where the LA can be costly and does not consistently estimate the integrated likelihood. Our examples include non-linear regression, logistic, Poisson and survival models. We implement the methodology in the R package mombf.
Does it matter who extorts? Extortion by competent and incompetent enforcers*
Authors: Samuel Andrew , Mishra Ajit 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis paper offers a novel explanation for extortion, which is the practice of demanding payments from compliant agents by law‐enforcement officers. Namely, that extortion occurs due to the officer's incompetence, where the competence level is endogenous. Because competence improves enforcement, extortion affects deterrence directly by weakening agents' incentive to be compliant and indirectly by affecting officers' incentives to become competent. Accordingly, the harmful effects of extortion on deterrence depend on whether the competent or incompetent officer extorts. We show that extortion by incompetent officers is the lesser of the two evils, compared to bribery.
Clinical Teacher Training for health professionals: From blended to online and (maybe) back again?
Authors: Burgess Annette , Bansal Akhil , Clarke Antonia , Ayton Tom , van Diggele Christie , Clark Tyler , Matar Elie 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe Clinical Teacher Training (CTT) programme was originally developed as an interprofessional, blended learning programme, to support health professionals working across health services within Australia, although it has also been delivered internationally. With the disruption of COVID‐19, we rapidly moved to ‘online only’ delivery. We sought to modify the programme, ensuring that the constructivist paradigms important for our learner experience through the original blended format were maintained in the online platform.ApproachConsisting of 10 modules on a range of topics, the new CTT online only programme was facilitated online across 6 weeks with asynchronous and synchronous assessable activities, and provision of peer and facilitator feedback. The learning outcomes for each module were similar to the ‘blended learning’ format. The new programme was delivered three times throughout 2020 and completed by a total of 208 health professionals from across 10 metropolitan and rural health districts.EvaluationThe focus of our evaluation was on the programme's final 2020 iteration, for which we had ethics approval. Participants (n = 59) were from diverse health professions, across five metropolitan and rural health districts. We prioritised the learner experience in constructing our evaluation strategy. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by post‐course questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Twenty participants (34%) responded to the post‐course questionnaire. Participants valued the structure, topics, clear outcomes, timeframe, online resources, small group activities, feedback and the flexibility and accessibility afforded by online only delivery. However, participants identified a need for additional ‘real‐time’ engagement in activities. Faculty were surprised by the time required to adequately facilitate online learning, and similarly, valued the real‐time interactions.ImplicationsThe online only CTT programme provided an excellent, scalable framework to ensure continued provision of a relevant and accessible training resource for clinicians working in metropolitan and regional/rural health services. Learner‐reported achievement of programme learning outcomes was not negatively impacted by online only delivery. Balancing these resource advantages with learner preferences and our desire to build active teaching networks, we will continue to host the majority of the programme online, while offering short face‐to‐face sessions within local contexts.