bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change and its potential impact on menopausal hot flashes: a commentary
Authors: Smith James N. , van Daalen Kim R. , Venkatraman Rashmi
Published: February 2020

Climate change is known to impact men and women differently and yet how it will change the health impact of menopause, specifically hot flashes, has not been well researched or understood. Given the duration of symptoms, the high number of women suffering from them, and the associated consequences, any marginal change in incidence due to climate change could result in a very large number of women being affected. Global health systems need to be prepared for this and ensure that gendered issues like menopause do not fall through the cracks as we prepare for our future climate.

Video Summary:
http://links.lww.com/MENO/A549.
An examination of the reciprocal and concurrent relations between behavioral and cardiac indicators of acute pain in toddlerhood
Authors: Waxman Jordana A. , DiLorenzo Miranda G. , Pillai Riddell Rebecca R. , Flora David B. , Schmidt Louis A. , Garfield Hartley , Flanders Dan , Weinberg Eitan , Savlov Deena
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to examine the concurrent and predictive relations between healthy toddlers' pain behavior and cardiac indicators (ie, heart rate [HR] and respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) during routine vaccinations. Caregiver–infant dyads were part of a longitudinal cohort observed during their 12- and 18-month vaccinations. Behavioral and cardiac data were simultaneously collected for 1-minute preneedle and 3-minutes postneedle. Videotapes were coded for pain behaviors (FLACC; Merkel et al., 1997), and cardiac data were analyzed (HR, RSA) during sequential 30-second epochs. Four separate cross-lagged path models were estimated using data from the 12- (n = 147) and 18-month (n = 122) vaccinations. Across 12- and 18-month vaccinations, predictive within-measure relations were consistent for FLACC, HR, and RSA, reflecting good stability of these pain indicators. Behavioral indicators predicted subsequent HR and RSA within the immediate postneedle period. Both baseline behavior and HR/RSA predicted future pain scores. Concurrent residual relations between behavioral and cardiac indicators were inconsistent across time and indicators. Results suggest that behavioral and cardiac indicators reflect unique aspects of the nociceptive response. As such, multimodal assessment tools should be used and contextualized by child age, cardiac indicator, baseline behavior/physiology, and pain phase.
A highly cognitive demanding working memory task may prevent the development of nociceptive hypersensitivity
Authors: Torta Diana M. , De Laurentis Martina , Eichin Katharina Naomi , von Leupoldt Andreas , van den Broeke Emanuel N. , Vlaeyen Johan W.S.
Published: February 2020

Whether, how, and which cognitive factors modulate the development of secondary hypersensitivity/hyperalgesia after central sensitization is not fully understood. Here, we tested, in 3 subsequent experiments, whether being engaged in non–pain-related cognitive demanding tasks: (1) lessens the amount of hypersensitivity developed after an experimental procedure sensitizing nociceptive pathways; and (2) modulates cortical responses to somatosensory stimuli (measured by electroencephalography, EEG). In the first experiment, we validated a novel model in humans using low-frequency stimulation of the skin and demonstrated that it was able to successfully induce hypersensitivity to mechanical pinprick stimuli in the area surrounding the sensitized site. In the second and third experiments, we engaged participants in tasks of increasing difficulty (the Eriksen Flanker Task in experiment 2, and a modified N-back task in experiment 3). We observed that hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli still developed in experiment 2, that is, the pinprick stimuli applied on the sensitized arm were perceived as more intense after low-frequency stimulation. By contrast, no statistically significant enhancement of mechanical hypersensitivity was observed in experiment 3, indicating that, at the group level, being engaged in a difficult N-back task may interfere with the development of mechanical hypersensitivity. Contrary to previous studies, which have used different methods to induce sensitization, we did not observe any increase in the cortical response to somatosensory stimuli applied on the sensitized arm. We conclude that (1) the development of pinprick hypersensitivity is modulated by the concomitant execution of a difficult N-back task, and (2) the enhancement of cortical responses to somatosensory stimuli is related to the method used to induce central sensitization.
Almost 1 in 5 South African adults have chronic pain: a prevalence study conducted in a large nationally representative sample
Authors: Kamerman Peter R. , Bradshaw Debbie , Laubscher Ria , Pillay-van Wyk Victoria , Gray Glenda E. , Mitchell Duncan , Chetty Sean
Published: February 2020

Limited information on the prevalence and risk factors for chronic pain is available for developing countries. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of chronic pain and the association between this pain and various personal and sociodemographic factors by including questions in the South Africa Demographic and Household Survey 2016. The survey was conducted by face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of the adult population (ages 15 and older, n = 10,336). Chronic pain was defined as pain or discomfort that had been experienced all the time or on and off for 3 months or more. The prevalence of chronic pain was 18.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.0-19.7). Women were more likely than were men to have chronic pain (men = 15.8% [95% CI: 13.9-17.8]; woman = 20.1% [95% CI: 18.4-21.8]), and the prevalence of chronic pain increased from 11.3% (95% CI: 9.6-13.3) for the age range 15 to 24 years to 34.4% (95% CI: 30.6-38.4) for the age range over 65 years. The body sites affected most frequently were the limbs (43.6% [95% CI: 40.4-46.9]), followed by the back (30.5% [95% CI: 27.7-33.6]). This article presents the prevalence of chronic pain in the general population of a middle-income African country. These data give much needed insights into the burden of, and risk factors for, chronic pain in low-resource settings, and identify priority groups for intervention.
Altered updating of bodily and spatial representations after tool-use in complex regional pain syndrome
Authors: Vittersø Axel D. , Buckingham Gavin , Halicka Monika , Proulx Michael J. , Bultitude Janet H.
Published: February 2020

Distorted representations of the body and peripersonal space are common in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and might modulate its symptoms (eg, asymmetric limb temperature). In pain-free people, such representations are malleable, and update when we interact with objects in our environment (eg, during tool-use). Distortions are also common after immobilisation, but quickly normalise once movement is regained. We tested the hypothesis that people with CRPS have problems updating bodily and spatial representations, which contributes to the maintenance of their distorted representations by preventing normalization. We also explored spatially defined modulations of hand temperature asymmetries, and any influence of updating bodily and spatial representations on this effect. Thirty-six people with unilateral CRPS (18 upper limb and 18 lower limb) and 36 pain-free controls completed tool-use tasks considered to alter body and peripersonal space representations (measured using tactile distance judgements and a visuotactile crossmodal congruency task, respectively). We also tested how the arrangement (crossed and uncrossed) of the hands and tools affected hand temperature. In upper-limb CRPS, the nonaffected arm representation updated normally, but the affected arm representation updated in the opposite to normal direction. A similar pattern was seen in lower-limb CRPS, although not significant. Furthermore, people with CRPS showed more pronounced updating of peripersonal space than the controls. We did not observe any modulation of hand temperature asymmetries by the arrangement of hands or tools. Our findings show enhanced malleability of bodily and spatial representations in CRPS, which may suggest that central mechanisms are altered in this condition.
The potential role of metformin in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Lu Mengnan , Chen Huangtao , Nie Fayi , Wei Xinyi , Tao Zhiwei , Ma Jie
Published: February 2020

The main treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD) currently include surgery, rehabilitation, and most commonly, drug therapy. However, the drugs that are currently used to treat PD provide only symptomatic relief and delayed disease progression but have no curative effect and cause many adverse reactions. When considering pathogenic factors and metabolic regulation, PD and type 2 diabetes have a high rate of comorbidity; this provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of PD with first-line antidiabetic drugs. Among these agents, metformin reduces neuronal damage in the brains of PD patients via neuroprotection and the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, thus providing a novel strategy for the clinical treatment of PD. Here, we present the current state of knowledge about the use of metformin to treat PD and discuss its clinical prospects.
Increased problematic smartphone use among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the community: The utility of Chinese version of Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale
Authors: Huang Yu-Chieh , Hu Sz-Chi , Shyu Li-Yu , Yeh Chin-Bin
Published: February 2020

Background:

Problematic smartphone use is more prevalent in children than before. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (SAPS).

Methods:

We recruited 319 students aged 9 to 12 years including 70 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder subjects at a university hospital and 249 controls from elementary school. Finally, 164 males and 138 females were collected for data analysis with mean age of 10.99 ± 0.88 years. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency test, and t test were performed to verify the reliability and validity of the SAPS-Chinese version. Correlations were examined for relation between the score in the SAPS-Chinese version and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition diagnostic criteria.

Results:

Factor analysis showed two factors: problematic use–associated behaviors and impaired daily functions. Item analysis for every item in the SAPS-Chinese version showed significant differences in t values (p < 0.001) and high correlation in all items (r = 0.37-0.79). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) was equal to 0.94 and Bartlett’s test of Sphericity was significant (p < 0.001). Cronbach’s α for the SAPS-Chinese version was 0.93. It revealed high reliability and validity.

Conclusion:

The SAPS-Chinese version is reliable, valid, and suitable for clinical and research uses with satisfactory properties. Applying the modified SAPS-Chinese version offers early detection of problematic smartphone use.
Biodegradable Stents for the Relief of Vascular Bronchial Compression in Children With Left Atrial Enlargement
Authors: Griffiths Benedict T. , James Paul , Morgan Gareth , Diamantopoulos Athanasios , Durward Andrew , Nyman Andrew
Published: February 2020

Background:

We report our experience of the biodegradable polydioxanone stent in cases of bronchial compression by a dilated left atrium in children with heart disease.

Methods:

Eight custom-made biodegradable stents were inserted into the left main bronchus in 5 patients diagnosed with critical airway compression. Four of the 5 patients were ventilator-dependent with significant cardiac morbidity.

Results:

Stents were inserted without complication under fluoroscopic guidance. All experienced improvement in symptoms over time. In 3 patients, repeat bronchial stenting was performed where stent degradation was associated with recurrence of vascular airway compression and symptoms. No stents migrated nor was there evidence of bronchial or vascular erosion. There was 1 death, unrelated to the stent, and all remaining survivors were well at a 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion:

The use of the polydioxanone biodegradable stent appeared safe in this cohort of critically ill patients with vascular bronchial compression. There use may aid weaning from mechanical ventilation and support eventual cardiac recovery.
The vessel-depleted neck in head and neck microvascular reconstruction: extreme solutions for extreme situations
Authors: Breik Omar , Praveen Prav , Parmar Satyesh
Published: February 2020

Purpose of review

The vessel-depleted neck is the ultimate challenge for the head and neck reconstructive surgeon. In patients who have had previous neck dissections or radiotherapy, the arterial and venous options for future reconstruction can be very limited, and it is important for the surgeon to consider alternative options for vessels.

Recent findings

Appropriate preoperative planning is crucial in these patients with a thorough history including previous operation notes, details of previous treatments, and previously used vessels for reconstruction. Clinical examination and a dual phase CT angiogram/MR angiogram can identify vessels available for reconstruction. Arterial options are discussed including tips on using the common carotid artery and the use of Corlett loops for utilizing contralateral arteries. Venous options are also discussed including cephalic vein transposition and Corlett loops. Novel options, such as use of extracorporeal perfusion of flaps have been shown to be effective when all other options have been depleted.

Creative solutions are needed for these extreme circumstances, and reconstructive surgeons need to be aware of the options available to select the best one in each case. Careful planning and having multiple back-up choices is crucial to successful reconstruction in these cases.
Robotic neck dissection: state of affairs
Authors: Lira Renan Bezerra , Kowalski Luiz Paulo
Published: February 2020

Purpose of review

The progressive growth of endoscopic and robotic-assisted procedures provided the tools for development of remote approaches to the neck, which could avoid a visible large neck scar usually necessary for neck dissections. This review explores the current experience with robotic neck dissection, looking for pros and cons in surgical, oncologic and aesthetic outcomes.

Recent findings

Robotic neck dissection was shown to be feasible and well tolerated, with adequate oncological outcomes in different tumours. Although difficult to objectively analyse, cosmetic satisfaction seems to be significatively higher in patients submitted to this procedure when compared with those submitted to conventional neck dissection. The only consistently reported disadvantage was longer operative time. Other potential advantages beyond cosmesis such as improvements on oedema, fibrosis, neck movement, sensory loss and social interactions were not well explored so far.

Surgical treatment of neck metastasis had several evolutions in the last decades. Robotic neck dissection emerged as an option to avoid extensive visible neck scars, improving cosmesis and probably other functional outcomes, although securing oncologic effectiveness. Technological innovation is increasingly dynamic, promising progressive evolution in robotic surgery. Together, the lack of objective data on functional outcomes warrants the need for further investigation on robotic neck dissection.
System-Level Improvements in Work Environments Lead to Lower Nurse Burnout and Higher Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Brooks Carthon J. Margo , Hatfield Linda , Brom Heather , Houton Mary , Kelly-Hellyer Erin , Schlak Amelia , Aiken Linda H.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Burnout among nurses is associated with lower patient satisfaction, yet few system-level solutions have been identified to improve outcomes.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between nurse burnout and patient satisfaction and determine whether work environments are associated with these outcomes.

Methods:

This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 463 hospitals in 4 states. Burnout was defined using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Patient satisfaction was obtained from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey.

Results:

Fifty percent of hospitals where burnout is high have poor work environments, which is strongly related to lower patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

High levels of nurse burnout are associated with lower patient satisfaction. Our findings demonstrate that hospitals can improve outcomes through investments in work environments.
Evaluation of the Ability of Emergency Room Doctors at a French University Hospital Center to Identify Adverse Drug Events
Authors: Nizet Pierre , Tching-Sin Martine , Dubreuil Clémentine , Pinaud Virginie , Van Tricht Myriam , Navas Dominique , Huon Jean-François
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Numerous adverse drug events (ADEs) are not identified by doctors in medical emergencies, and they are a barrier to optimal treatment of patients. Identification of the factors that influence awareness of ADEs by doctors could allow events that compromise patient safety to be avoided. The aims of this study were to quantify the recognition of ADEs by emergency room (ER) doctors and to identify the factors associated with the lack of identification of drug-related risks.

Methods

This study was carried out at the ER of a French teaching hospital between January 1, 2014, and the December 31, 2017. A previously used form was administered to the patients being treated in the ER, and it was completed using medical files to identify ADEs. The ADEs were then validated by a doctor and a senior pharmacist.

Results

Of the 1870 included patients, 279 (14.9%) exhibited an ADE. Of these 279 ADEs, 201 (72%) had been identified by the doctor. The probability of an ADE being identified was higher when the drug was directly linked with the main ailment of the patient (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–2.97). Adverse drug events were identified less well when their severity was limited (spontaneous regression without treatment) (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.27–0.93).

Conclusions

This study showed that ADEs are identified less well when their severity is limited, as well as when the ADE is not directly linked with the main ailment of the patient.
Firearm laws and illegal firearm flow between US states
Authors: Andrade Erin G. , Hoofnagle Mark H. , Kaufman Elinore , Seamon Mark J. , Pah Adam R. , Morrison Christopher N.
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Considerable variation in firearm legislation exists. Prior studies show an association between stronger state laws and fewer firearm deaths. We hypothesized that firearms would flow from states with weaker laws to states with stronger laws based on proximity and population.

METHODS

Crime gun trace data from 2015 to 2017 was accessed from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and compared with the count and composition of firearm legislation in 2015 among the contiguous 48 states. Additional independent variables included population, median household income, distance, and presence or absence of a shared border. We used Exponential Random Graph Models to identify predictors of traced firearm transfers between origin and destination states.

RESULTS

After controlling for network structure, firearm laws in origin states were associated with fewer traced firearm transfers (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83–0.93;p< 0.001). Conversely, more firearm laws in destination states were associated with more traced firearm transfers (IRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06–1.15;p< 0.001). Larger population at the origin was associated with increased transfers (IRR, 1.38; 95%CI, 1.27–1.50;p< 0.001), as was larger population at the destination state (IRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.35–1.56;p< 0.001). Greater distance was associated with fewer transfers (for each 1,000 km; IRR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.27–0.46;p< 0.001), and transfers were greater between adjacent states (IRR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.90–3.27;p< 0.001).

CONCLUSION

State firearm legislation has a significant impact on gun trafficking even after controlling for network structure. States with stricter firearm legislation are negatively impacted by states with weaker regulations, as crime guns flow from out-of-state.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Epidemiologic, level III.
Progression Over 5 Years of Prelaminar Hyperreflective Lines to Optic Disc Drusen in the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000 Eye Study
Authors: Malmqvist Lasse , Li Xiao Q. , Hansen Mathias H. , Thomsen Alexander K. , Skovgaard Anne M. , Olsen Else M. , Larsen Michael , Munch Inger C. , Hamann Steffen
Published: February 2020

Background:

The purpose of the study was to examine 5-year changes in eyes with optic disc drusen at baseline on optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans and the relation of incident drusen to hyperreflective prelaminar lines.

Methods:

The study included children who presented at baseline, when participants were aged 11–12 years, and again 5 years later. Grading for optic disc drusen was made in all. Grading for prelaminar lines was made in all children at follow-up and in eyes with optic disc drusen at baseline. Analyses included associations with scleral canal diameter at baseline in all children with optic disc drusen and a nested control group of 115 children without optic disc drusen. Data are reported as the number of children having at least one drusen or at least one hyperreflective line per person.

Results:

The analysis included 724 children who attended both rounds of the study. Of these, 11 (1.5%) had optic disc drusen at baseline. Five additional children had developed optic disc drusen at follow-up, whereas optic disc drusen had disappeared in none, so that 16 (2.2%) children had optic disc drusen in one or both eyes at follow-up. Children with optic disc drusen at the 5-year follow-up had had a mean scleral canal diameter of 1,364 µm (interquartile range [IQR] 81 µm), compared with 1,457 µm (IQR 197) µm in 115 nested controls without optic disc drusen (P < 0.001). Optic disc drusen at follow-up were associated with more hypermetropic refraction. All children who had optic disc drusen at follow-up also had prelaminar hyperreflective lines. In addition, such lines were found at follow-up in 24 of the remaining 708 children without optic disc drusen (P < 0.001). Prelaminar hyperreflective lines with or without optic disc drusen were associated with a narrower scleral canal (diameter 1,364 µm, IQR 119 µm) compared with absence of prelaminar lines (1,486 µm, IQR 206 µm; P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

This study provides the first evidence from a prospective study that small optic discs and prelaminar hyperreflective lines on OCT are risk factors for the development of optic disc drusen. The association between prelaminar hyperreflective lines, hypermetropia, and a narrow scleral canal supports that a crowded disc is an essential predisposing factor for the development of optic disc drusen.
Anesthesia enhances spontaneous low-frequency oscillations in the brain
Authors: Zhang Zhuo , Li Fuquan , Li Ming , Hu Dewen
Published: February 2020

The neurophysiological basis of spontaneous low-frequency brain activity has become a major theme in the study of neural function in both humans and animal models. In such studies, the anesthesia model was generally adopted. However, the effects of anesthesia on spontaneous activity remain unclear. In this work, we explored the characteristics of cerebral spontaneous low-frequency activities at different depths of anesthesia in mice. Using Fourier transformation and the multitaper analysis methods, spontaneous low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) in the intrinsic signals of different cerebral regions (artery, vein, and cortex) were extracted and analyzed. Under different concentrations of anesthetic, the frequency of spontaneous LFO signals remained stable, while LFO amplitudes increased with the depth of anesthesia. The results imply that the anesthetic impacts the amplitude of spontaneous LFOs but does not alter the oscillation frequency.
Nutritional geometry of mitochondrial genetic effects on male fertility
Authors: Camus M. F. , Moore J. , Reuter M.
Published: February 2020

Organismal fitness is partly determined by how well the nutritional intake matches sex-specific metabolic requirements. Metabolism itself is underpinned by complex genomic interactions involving products from both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Products from these two genomes must coordinate how nutrients are extracted, used and recycled, processes vital for fuelling reproduction. Given the complicated nature of metabolism, it is not well understood how the functioning of these two genomes is modulated by nutrients. Here we use nutritional geometry techniques on
Drosophila
lines that only differ in their mtDNA, with the aim to understand if there is nutrient-dependent mitochondrial genetic variance for male reproduction. We first find genetic variance for diet consumption, indicating that flies are consuming different amounts of food to meet new physiological requirements. We then find an interaction between mtDNA and diet for fitness, suggesting that the mtDNA plays a role in modulating diet-dependent fitness. Our results enhance our basic understanding of nutritional health and our chimeric genomes.
Utilization of metakaolin-based geopolymer as a mud-cake solidification agent to enhance the bonding strength of oil well cement–formation interface
Authors: Bu Yuhuan , Ma Rui , Du Jiapei , Guo Shenglai , Liu Huajie , Zhao Letian
Published: February 2020

This research work designed a novel mud-cake solidification method to improve the zonal isolation of oil and gas wells. The calculation methodology of mud-cake compressive strength was proposed. The optimal formula of activator and solid precursors, the proper activating time and the best activator concentration were determined by the compressive strength test. The effects of solid precursors on the properties of drilling fluid were evaluated. Test results show that the respective percentage of bentonite, metakaolin, slag and activator is 1 : 1 : 0.3 : 0.8, as well as the optimum ratio of Na
2
SiO
3
/NaOH is 40 : 1. The optimum concentration of activator is 0.21 and the activating time should be more than 10 min. The solid precursors did not show any bad influence on the rheological property of drilling fluids. Even though the compressive strength decreased when the solid precursors blended with barite, the strength values can still achieve 8 MPa. The reaction of metakaolin and activator formed cross-link structure in the mud-cake matrix, which enhanced the connection of the loose bentonite particles, lead to the significant enhancement of shear bonding strength and hydraulic bonding strength. This mud-cake solidification method provides a new approach to improve the quality of zonal isolation.
Retrospective inferences in selective trust
Authors: Schütte Friederike , Mani Nivedita , Behne Tanya
Published: February 2020

Young children learn selectively from others based on the speakers' prior accuracy. This indicates that they recognize the models’ (in)competence and use it to predict who will provide the most accurate and useful information in the future. Here, we investigated whether 5-year-old children are also able to use speaker reliability retrospectively, once they have more information regarding their competence. They first experienced two previously unknown speakers who provided conflicting information about the referent of a novel label, with each speaker using the same novel label to refer exclusively to a different novel object. Following this, children learned about the speakers' differing labelling accuracy. Subsequently, children selectively endorsed the object–label link initially provided by the speaker who turned out to be reliable significantly above chance. Crucially, more than half of these children justified their object selection with reference to speaker reliability, indicating the ability to explicitly reason about their selective trust in others based on the informants’ individual competences. Findings further corroborate the notion that young children are able to use advanced, metacognitive strategies (trait reasoning) to learn selectively. By contrast, since learning
preceded
reliability exposure and gaze data showed no preferential looking toward the more reliable speaker, findings cannot be accounted for by attentional bias accounts of selective social learning.
Comparative study on photocatalytic activity of transition metals (Ag and Ni)-doped ZnO nanomaterials synthesized via sol–gel method
Authors: Azfar A. K. , Kasim M. F. , Lokman I. M. , Rafaie H. A. , Mastuli M. S.
Published: February 2020

Ag and Ni/ZnO photocatalyst nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a sol–gel method. In this work, the photocatalyst sample was systematically studied based on several factors affecting the performance of photocatalyst, which are size, morphology, band gap, textural properties and the number of active sites presence on the surface of the nanocatalyst. X-ray diffraction revealed that Ag/ZnO nanomaterials experienced multiple phases, meanwhile for Ni/ZnO the phase of nanomaterials were pure and single phase for stoichiometry less than 5%. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) showed almost all of the synthesized nanomaterials possessed a mixture of nanorods and spherical-like shape morphology. The Ag/ZnO showed high photocatalytic activity, producing at least 14th trials of nanocatalyst reusability on degradation of methyl orange under UV irradiation. Interestingly, this phenomenon was not observed in larger surface area of Ni/ZnO nanomaterials which supposedly favour photocatalytic activity, but instead producing poor photocatalytic performance. The main reasons were studied and exposed by temperature-programmed desorption of carbon dioxide (TPD–CO
2
) which showed that incorporation of Ag into ZnO lattice has enhanced the number of active sites on the surface of the nanocatalyst. Whereas incorporation of Ni in ZnO has lowered the number of active sites with respect to undoped ZnO. Active sites measurement is effective and significant, providing opportunities in developing an intensive study as an additional factor.
Urban herring gulls use human behavioural cues to locate food
Authors: Goumas Madeleine , Boogert Neeltje J. , Kelley Laura A.
Published: February 2020

While many animals are negatively affected by urbanization, some species appear to thrive in urban environments. Herring gulls (
Larus argentatus
) are commonly found in urban areas and often scavenge food discarded by humans. Despite increasing interactions between humans and gulls, little is known about the cognitive underpinnings of urban gull behaviour and to what extent they use human behavioural cues when making foraging decisions. We investigated whether gulls are more attracted to anthropogenic items when they have been handled by a human. We first presented free-living gulls with two identical food objects, one of which was handled, and found that gulls preferentially pecked at the handled food object. We then tested whether gulls' attraction to human-handled objects generalizes to non-food items by presenting a new sample of gulls with two non-food objects, where, again, only one was handled. While similar numbers of gulls approached food and non-food objects in both experiments, they did not peck at handled non-food objects above chance levels. These results suggest that urban gulls generally show low levels of neophobia, but that they use human handling as a cue specifically in the context of food. These behaviours may contribute to gulls’ successful exploitation of urban environments.
Nonlinear two-point boundary value problems: applications to a cholera epidemic model
Authors: Chowdhury Atiqur , Tanveer Saleh , Wang Xueying
Published: February 2020

This paper is concerned primarily with constructive mathematical analysis of a general system of nonlinear two-point boundary value problem when an empirically constructed candidate for an approximate solution (quasi-solution) satisfies verifiable conditions. A local analysis in a neighbour- hood of aquasi-solutionassures the existence and uniqueness of solutions and, at the same time, provides error bounds for approximate solutions. Applying this method to a cholera epidemic model, we obtain an analytical approximation of the steady-state solution with rigorous error bounds that also displays dependence on a parameter. In connection with this epidemic model, we also analyse the basic reproduction number, an important threshold quantity in the epidemiology context. Through a complex analytic approach, we determine the principal eigenvalue to be real and positive in a range of parameter values.
Mating preferences can drive expansion or contraction of major histocompatibility complex gene family
Authors: Bentkowski Piotr , Radwan Jacek
Published: February 2020

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based mating rules can evolve as a way to avoid inbreeding or to increase offspring immune competence. While the role of mating preference in shaping the MHC diversity in vertebrates has been acknowledged, its impact on individual MHC diversity has not been considered. Here, we use computer simulations to investigate how simple mating rules favouring MHC-dissimilar partners affect the evolution of the number of MHC variants in individual genomes, accompanying selection for resistance to parasites. We showed that the effect of such preferences could sometimes be dramatic. If preferences are aimed at avoiding identical alleles, the equilibrium number of MHC alleles is much smaller than under random mating. However, if the mating rule minimizes the ratio of shared to different alleles in partners, MHC number is higher than under random mating. Additionally, our simulations revealed that a negative correlation between the numbers of MHC variants in mated individuals can arise from simple rules of MHC-disassortative mating. Our results reveal unexpected potential of MHC-based mating preferences to drive MHC gene family expansions or contractions and highlight the need to study the mechanistic basis of such preferences, which is currently poorly understood.
Antimicrobial resistance in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli other than serotype O157 : H7 in England, 2014–2016
Authors: Gentle Amy , Day Martin R. , Hopkins Katie L. , Godbole Gauri , Jenkins Claire
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Despite many ongoing surveillance projects and the recent focus on the veterinary and clinical ‘One Health’ aspects of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), evidence of the extent of any public health risk posed by animal reservoirs with respect to the transmission of resistant strains of

Escherichia coli

to humans remains varied and contentious. In the UK, the main zoonotic reservoir for the foodborne pathogen Shiga toxin-producing

E. coli

(STEC) is cattle and sheep. In this study, we adopt an alternative approach to the risk assessment of transmission of AMR

E. coli

from animals to humans, involving monitoring AMR in isolates of STEC, an established zoonotic, foodborne pathogen, from human cases of gastrointestinal disease.

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the genome-derived AMR profiles for STEC from human cases to assess the risk of transmission of multidrug-resistant STEC from ruminants to humans.

Methodology. STEC belonging to 10 different clonal complexes (CCs) (n=457) isolated from human faecal specimens were sequenced and genome-derived AMR profiles were determined. Phenotypic susceptibility testing was undertaken on all isolates (n=100) predicted to be resistant to at least one class of antimicrobial.

Results. Of the 457 isolates, 332 (72.7 %) lacked identifiable resistance genes and were predicted to be fully susceptible to 11 classes of antimicrobials; 125/332 (27.3 %) carried 1 or more resistance genes, of which 83/125 (66.4 %) were resistant to 3 or more classes of antibiotic. The percentage of isolates harbouring AMR determinants varied between CCs, from 4% in CC25 to 100% in CC504. Forty-six different AMR genes were detected, which conferred resistance to eight different antibiotic classes. Resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracyclines and sulphonamides was most commonly detected. Four isolates were identified as extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers. An overall concordance of 97.7 % (n=1075/1100) was demonstrated between the phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Conclusion. This analysis provided an indirect assessment of the risk of transmission of AMR gastrointestinal pathogens from animals to humans, and revealed a subset of human isolates of the zoonotic pathogen STEC were resistant to the antimicrobials used in animal husbandry. However, this proportion has not increased over the last three decades, and thismay provide evidence that guidancepromoting responsible practice has been effective.
Clinical characteristics of 25 death cases with COVID-19: a retrospective review of medical records in a single medical center, Wuhan, China
Authors: Li Xun , Wang Luwen , Yan Shaonan , Yang Fan , Xiang Longkui , Zhu Jiling , Shen Bo , Gong Zuojiong
Published: February 2020

Background

The pneumonia caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly infectious disease, which was occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. As of February 13, 2020, a total of 59883 cases of COVID-19 in China have been confirmed and 1368 patients have died from the disease. However, the clinical characteristics of the dyed patients were still not clearly clarified. This study aims to summarize the clinical characteristics of death cases with COVID-19 and to identify critically ill patients of COVID-19 early and reduce their mortality.

Methods

The clinical records, laboratory findings and radiologic assessments included chest X-ray or computed tomography were extracted from electronic medical records of 25 died patients with COVID-19 in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from Jan 14 to Feb 13, 2020. Two experienced clinicians reviewed and abstracted the data.

Findings

The mean age of the dead was 71.48 ± 12.42 years, the average course of the disease was 10.56 ± 4.42 days, all patients eventually died of respiratory failure. All of those who died had underlying diseases, the most common of which was hypertension (16/25, 64%), followed by diabetes (10/25, 40%), heart diseases (8/25, 32%), kidney diseases (5/25, 20%), cerebral infarction (4/25, 16%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 2/25, 8%), malignant tumors (2/25, 8%) and acute pancreatitis (1/25, 4%). The most common organ damage outside the lungs was the heart, followed by kidney and liver. In the patients’ last examination before death, white blood cell and neutrophil counts were elevated in 17 patients (17/25, 68%) and 18 patients (18/25, 72%), lymphocyte counts were decreased in 22 patients (22/25, 88%). Most patients’ PCT, CRP and SAA levels were elevated, the percentages were 90.5% (19/21), 85% (19/20) and 100% (21/21) respectively. The levels of the last test of neutrophils (15/16, 93.8%), PCT (11/11, 100%), CRP (11/13, 84.6%), cTnI (8/9, 88.9%), D-Dimer (11/12, 91.6%) and LDH (9/9, 100%) were increased as compared to the first test, while the levels of lymphocytes were decreased (14/16, 87.5%).

Interpretation

The age and underlying diseases (hypertension, diabetes, etc.) were the most important risk factors for death of COVID-19 pneumonia. Bacterial infections may play an important role in promoting the death of patients. Malnutrition was common to severe patients. Multiple organ dysfunction can be observed, the most common organ damage was lung, followed by heart, kidney and liver. The rising of neutrophils, SAA, PCT, CRP, cTnI, D-Dimer and LDH levels can be used as indicators of disease progression, as well as the decline of lymphocytes counts.
Neurological Manifestations of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective case series study
Authors: Mao Ling , Wang Mengdie , Chen Shengcai , He Quanwei , Chang Jiang , Hong Candong , Zhou Yifan , Wang David , Li Yanan , Jin Huijuan , Hu Bo
Published: February 2020

OBJECTIVE

To study the neurological manifestations of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

DESIGN

Retrospective case series

SETTING

Three designated COVID-19 care hospitals of the Union Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred fourteen hospitalized patients with laboratory confirmed diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome from coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Data were collected from 16 January 2020 to 19 February 2020.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records and reviewed by a trained team of physicians. Neurological symptoms fall into three categories: central nervous system (CNS) symptoms or diseases (headache, dizziness, impaired consciousness, ataxia, acute cerebrovascular disease, and epilepsy), peripheral nervous system (PNS) symptoms (hypogeusia, hyposmia, hypopsia, and neuralgia), and skeletal muscular symptoms. Data of all neurological symptoms were checked by two trained neurologists.

RESULTS

Of 214 patients studied, 88 (41.1%) were severe and 126 (58.9%) were non-severe patients. Compared with non-severe patients, severe patients were older (58.7 ± 15.0 years vs 48.9 ± 14.7 years), had more underlying disorders (42 [47.7%] vs 41 [32.5%]), especially hypertension (32 [36.4%] vs 19 [15.1%]), and showed less typical symptoms such as fever (40 [45.5%] vs 92 [73%]) and cough (30 [34.1%] vs 77 [61.1%]). Seventy-eight (36.4%) patients had neurologic manifestations. More severe patients were likely to have neurologic symptoms (40 [45.5%] vs 38 [30.2%]), such as acute cerebrovascular diseases (5 [5.7%] vs 1 [0.8%]), impaired consciousness (13 [14.8%] vs 3 [2.4%]) and skeletal muscle injury (17 [19.3%] vs 6 [4.8%]).

CONCLUSION

Compared with non-severe patients with COVID-19, severe patients commonly had neurologic symptoms manifested as acute cerebrovascular diseases, consciousness impairment and skeletal muscle symptoms.
The HOSPITAL score and LACE index for predicting the risk of hospital readmission do not show sex discrimination in a retrospective study
Authors: Robinson Robert
Published: February 2020

Introduction

The perceived absence of human implicit and explicit biases, scalability, and the potential for rapid improvement with algorithmic decision-making systems make compelling arguments for the widespread use of this technology. Unfortunately, real-world performance of some algorithmic decision-making systems demonstrates the reinforcement of discriminatory human biases in a way that is hidden from the human user. This study aims to retrospectively investigate if the widely used HOSPITAL score and LACE index used to predict hospital readmissions exhibit bias on the basis of sex.

Materials and Methods

All adult medical patients discharged from the SIU-School of Medicine (SIU-SOM) Hospitalist service from Memorial Medical Center from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2017, were studied retrospectively to determine if patient sex had an influence on the ability of the HOSPTIAL score and LACE index to predict the likelihood of any cause hospital readmission within 30 days. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed comparing risk prediction tool performance by sex by measuring the area under the curve (AUC).

Results

The analysis includes data for the 1781 discharges for 1410 individual patients that met inclusion criteria. Of these discharges, 456 (27%) were readmitted to the same hospital within 30 days. The overall study population was 47% women, had an average age of 63 years and spent an average of 7.9 days in the hospital. Comparison of the performance of the LACE index in women and men showed no differences between AUCs (0.565 and 0.578, p = 0.613) and an ABROCA of 0.013. Sensitivity (67% and 70%), specificity (46% and 46%), PPV (30% and 31%), NPV (80% and 82%) and accuracy (51% and 52%) for the LACE index are very similar for women and men.

Comparison of the performance of the HOSPITAL in women and men showed no differences between AUCs (0.56 and 0.58, p = 0.407) and an ABROCA of 0.008 indicating highly similar performance. Sensitivity (16% and 21%), specificity (96% and 95%), PPV (59% and 57%), NPV (77% and 78%) and accuracy (76% and 76%) for the HOSPITAL score are very similar for women and men.

Discussion and Conclusions

The performance of the HOSPITAL and LACE readmission risk prediction tools appears to have equivalent performance when used for women or men in this small, single-center, retrospective study. Further research is needed to explore the potential of bias and discrimination on risk prediction tools used in healthcare.
Polygenic modulation of lipoprotein(a)-associated cardiovascular risk
Authors: Trinder Mark , Brunham Liam R.
Published: February 2020

Aims

Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) are one of the strongest inherited risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there is variability in cardiovascular risk among individuals with elevated lipoprotein(a). The sources of this variability are incompletely understood. We assessed the effects of a genomic risk score (GRS) for CAD on risk of myocardial infarction among individuals with elevated lipoprotein(a).

Methods

We calculated CAD GRSs for 408,896 individuals of British white ancestry from the UK Biobank using 6.27 million common genetic variants. Lipoprotein(a) levels were measured in 310,020 individuals. The prevalence and risk of myocardial infarction versus CAD GRS percentiles were compared for individuals with and without elevated lipoprotein(a) defined as ≥120 or 168 nmol/L (≈50 or 70 mg/dL, respectively).

Results

Individuals with elevated lipoprotein(a) displayed significantly greater CAD GRSs than individuals without elevated lipoprotein(a), which was largely dependent on the influence of genetic variants within or near the LPA gene. Continuous levels of CAD GRS percentile were significantly associated with risk of myocardial infarction for individuals with elevated lipoprotein(a). Notably, the risk of myocardial infarction for males with elevated lipoprotein(a) levels, but a CAD GRS percentile in the lower quintile (<20th percentile), was less than the overall risk of myocardial infarction for males with non-elevated lipoprotein(a) levels (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.79 [0.64-0.97], p=0.02). Similar results were observed for females.

Conclusion

These data suggest that CAD genomic scores influence cardiovascular risk among individuals with elevated lipoprotein(a) and may aid in identifying candidates for preventive therapies.