bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Newly trained operating room nurses’ experiences of nursing care in the operating room
Authors: Eriksson Johan , Lindgren Britt‐Marie , Lindahl Elisabeth
Published: January 2020

There is limited research on nurses’ experiences of nursing care in the operating room. The operating room nurses’ responsibility is to ensure good nursing care before, during and after surgery. In an increasingly technological health care environment, there is always a risk of turning the focus away from nursing care towards technology and medicine. Integration of past experiences into the role as an operating room nurse becomes a challenge for those who recently worked as general nurses. The present study aimed to explore newly trained operating room nurses’ experiences of nursing care in an operating room. Semi‐structured interviews were performed with ten operating room nurses with a maximum three years’ work experience from an operating room. The interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed three themes describing operating room nurses’ searching for their new role. They experienced a gap between theory and practice, felt alone and insignificant and had to find their own place. The operating room nurses’ experienced threats to safe nursing when they lacked time for the patients as well as for their own recovery, and they lacked feedback in order to improve care. They ensured security for patients by establishing one‐to‐one contact, protecting patients’ well‐being and working in teams for the patients’ best interest, participants also focused on the task at hand instead of the patient as a person. New ways of organising work in operating units, and well‐functioning teams can be a key to a successful integration of experiences from ward nurse to an operating room nurse, and provide support so that they feel more visible, at ease and safe in their new profession.
Do Firms Follow Immigrants? Empirical Evidence From Italy
Authors: Etzo Ivan , Massidda Carla , Piras Romano
Published: January 2020

This paper investigates the relationship between immigration and firms for Italy at NUTS 3 level, during the period 2012–2015. The main contribution to the existing literature is to provide results disaggregated at the sectoral level, taking into account the important heterogeneities existing across both provinces and sectors. At the aggregate level, the main result is the positive effect of immigrants on both the number of local units and employees. The analysis on employees by citizenship suggests that there are no displacement effects of immigrants relative to both Italian and foreign employees. When moving to the sectoral perspective, the results display a highly heterogeneous picture. However, sectors showing a statistically robust link for both establishments and employees sum up to 52 per cent of total value added and 48 per cent of total employment, while for five out of 19 sectors, immigrants do not exert any impact, neither in terms of local units nor employment.
The role of extracellular vesicles in skeletal muscle and systematic adaptation to exercise
Authors: Vechetti Ivan J. , Valentino Taylor , Mobley C. Brooks , McCarthy John J.
Published: January 2020

Regular exercise has a central role in human health by reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke and cancer. How exercise is able to promote such systemic benefits has remained somewhat of a mystery but has been thought to be in part mediated by the release of myokines, skeletal muscle‐specific cytokines, in response to exercise. Recent studies have revealed skeletal muscle can also release extracellular vesicles (EVs) into circulation following a bout of exercise. EVs are small membrane‐bound vesicles capable of delivering biomolecules to recipient cells and subsequently altering their metabolism. The notion that EVs may have a role in both skeletal muscle and systemic adaptation to exercise has generated a great deal of excitement within a number of different fields including exercise physiology, neuroscience and metabolism. The purpose of this review is to provide an introduction to EV biology and what is currently known about skeletal muscle EVs and their potential role in the response of muscle and other tissues to exercise.

image
Single-molecule imaging reveals the oligomeric state of functional TNFα-induced plasma membrane TNFR1 clusters in cells
Authors: Karathanasis Christos , Medler Juliane , Fricke Franziska , Smith Sonja , Malkusch Sebastian , Widera Darius , Fulda Simone , Wajant Harald , van Wijk Sjoerd J. L. , Dikic Ivan , Heilemann Mike
Published: January 2020

Ligand binding triggers the oligomerization of TNFR1 monomers and dimers into trimers and higher-order oligomers.
Draft Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus aetherivorans JCM 14343
T
, a Bacterium Capable of Degrading Recalcitrant Noncyclic and Cyclic Ethers
Authors: Inoue Daisuke , Nakazawa Masatoshi , Yamamoto Norifumi , Sei Kazunari , Ike Michihiko
Published: January 2020

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Rhodococcus aetherivorans
JCM 14343
T
, which possesses the versatile ability to degrade recalcitrant noncyclic and cyclic ether compounds. The 4.2-Mbp genome of this bacterium contains alkane hydroxylase and propane monooxygenase genes involved in the degradation of noncyclic and cyclic ethers, respectively.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp.
aurantiaca
ARS-38, a Bacterial Strain with Plant Growth Promotion Potential, Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Cotton in Pakistan
Authors: Mehnaz Samina , Bechthold Andreas , Gross Harald
Published: January 2020

Strain ARS-38 is a potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium that exhibits antifungal properties. Here, we report a 6.6-Mb draft genome, which gives insight into the complete secondary metabolite production capacity and reveals genes putatively responsible for its antifungal activity, as well as genes which contribute to plant growth promotion.
Complete Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas coronafaciens pv. oryzae 1_6
Authors: Baltrus David A. , Clark Meara
Published: January 2020

Pseudomonas coronafaciens
pv. oryzae 1_6 was originally isolated as a phytopathogen of rice. Here, we report a complete genome sequence for this strain, containing a circular chromosome and one circular plasmid, assembled using a hybrid approach combining Illumina paired-end reads and longer reads sequenced on an Oxford Nanopore Flongle flow cell.
Impact of school-based malaria case management on school attendance, health and education outcomes: a cluster randomised trial in southern Malawi
Authors: Halliday Katherine E , Witek-McManus Stefan S , Opondo Charles , Mtali Austin , Allen Elizabeth , Bauleni Andrew , Ndau Saidi , Phondiwa Emmanuel , Ali Doreen , Kachigunda Virginia , Sande John H , Jawati Mpumulo , Verney Allison , Chimuna Tiyese , Melody David , Moestue Helen , Roschnik Natalie , Brooker Simon J , Mathanga Don P
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Evidence indicates children who suffer from ill-health are less likely to attend or complete schooling. Malaria is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in school-age children. However, they are less likely to receive malaria treatment at health facilities and evidence for how to improve schoolchildren’s access to care is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a programme of school-based malaria case management on schoolchildren’s attendance, health and education.

Methods

A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 58 primary schools in Zomba District, Malawi, 2011–2015. The intervention, implemented in 29 randomly selected schools, provided malaria rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy to diagnose and treat uncomplicated malaria as part of basic first aid kits known as ‘Learner Treatment Kits’ (LTK). The primary outcome was school attendance, assessed through teacher-recorded daily attendance registers and independent periodic attendance spot checks. Secondary outcomes included prevalence ofPlasmodiumspp infection, anaemia, educational performance, self-reported child well-being and health-seeking behaviour. A total of 9571 children from standards 1–7 were randomly selected for assessment of school attendance, with subsamples assessed for the secondary outcomes.

Results

Between November 2013 and March 2015, 97 trained teachers in 29 schools provided 32 685 unique consultations. Female schoolchildren were significantly more likely than male to seek a consultation (unadjusted OR=1.78 (95% CI 1.58 to 2.00). No significant intervention effect was observed on the proportion of child-days recorded as absent in teacher registers (n=9017 OR=0.90 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.05), p=0.173) or of children absent during random school visits—spot checks (n=5791 OR=1.09 (95% CI 0.87 to 1.36), p=0.474). There was no significant impact on child-reported well-being, prevalence ofPlasmodiumspp, anaemia or education scores.

Conclusion

Despite high community demand, the LTK programme did not reduce schoolchildren’s absenteeism or improve health or education outcomes in this study setting.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.govNCT02213211.
Factors associated with positive user experience with primary healthcare providers in Mexico: a multilevel modelling approach using national cross-sectional data
Authors: Holt Kelsey , Doubova Svetlana V , Lee Dennis , Perez-Cuevas Ricardo , Leslie Hannah H
Published: January 2020

Objective

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with patient experience with primary care in a large public health system in Mexico and determine the amount of variability in experience attributable to facility-level and state-level factors.

Methods

We analysed cross-sectional 2016 national satisfaction survey data from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Patient-level data were merged with facility-level data and information on poverty by state. We assessed general contextual effects and examined the relationship of patient, facility and state factors with four patient experience measures using random effects logistic regression.

Results

25 745 patients’ responses from 319 facilities were analysed. The majority experienced good communication (78%), the opportunity to share health concerns (91%) and resolution of doubts (85%). 29% of visits were rated as excellent. Differences between facilities and states accounted for up to 12% and 6% of the variation in patient experience, respectively. Inclusion of facility-level contextual effects improved model predictions by 8%–12%; models with facility random effects and individual covariates correctly predicted 64%–71% of individual outcomes. In adjusted models, larger patient population was correlated with worse reported communication, less opportunity to share concerns and less resolution of doubts. Men reported more positive communication; older individuals reported more positive communication and experiences overall, but less opportunity to share concerns; and more educated individuals were less likely to report positive communication but more likely to report resolution of doubts and overall positive experiences. Preventive care visits were rated higher than curative visits for resolution of doubts, but lower for opportunity to share concerns, and specific conditions were associated with better or worse reported experiences in some cases.

Conclusion

Quality improvement efforts at IMSS facilities might bolster individual experiences with primary care, given that up to 12% of the variation in experience was attributable to facility-level differences. The relationship between individual characteristics and experience ratings reinforces the importance of patients’ expectations of care and the potential for differential treatment by providers to impact experience.
Developing the evidence base for evaluating dementia training in NHS hospitals (DEMTRAIN): a mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Ahmed Faraz , Morbey Hazel , Harding Andrew , Reeves David , Swarbrick Caroline , Davies Linda , Hann Mark , Holland Fiona , Elvish Ruth , Leroi Iracema , Burrow Simon , Burns Alistair , Keady John , Reilly Siobhan
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Around 70% of acute hospital beds in the UK are occupied by older people, approximately 40% of whom have dementia. Improving the quality of care in hospitals is a key priority within national dementia strategies. Limited research has been conducted to evaluate dementia training packages for staff, and evaluation of training often focuses on immediate, on-the-day training feedback and effects.

Objectives

Our study aims to answer two research questions: (1) How do variations in content, implementation and intensity of staff dementia training in acute hospitals in England relate to health service outcome/process measures and staff outcomes? and (2) What components of staff dementia training are most strongly related to improved patient and staff outcomes?

Methods and analysis

Using the principles of programme theory, a mixed-method study will be used to identify mechanisms and the interactions between them, as well as facilitators and barriers to dementia training in hospitals. We will use existing data, such as Hospital Episode Statistics, alongside two surveys (at hospital and staff level).We will recruit up to 193 acute hospitals in England to participate in the hospital level survey. We aim to recruit up to 30 staff members per hospital, from a random sample of 24 hospitals. In addition, we will explore the cost-effectiveness of dementia training packages and carry out an in-depth case study of up to six hospitals.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been reviewed and approved by the Faculty of Health and Medicine Research Ethics Committee (FHMREC 17056) and Health Research Authority (Integrated Research Approval System (IRAS) ID 242166: REC reference 18/HRA/1198). We plan to develop both standard (eg, academic publications, presentations at conferences) and innovative (eg, citizen scientist web portals, online fora, links with hospitals and third sector organisations) means of ensuring the study findings are accessible and disseminated regionally, nationally and internationally.
Is subjective well-being independently associated with mortality? A 14-year prospective cohort study in a representative sample of 25 139 US men and women
Authors: Barger Steven D , Broom Timothy W , Esposito Michael V , Lane Taylor S
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To examine whether the inverse association of subjective well-being with mortality is independent of self-rated health and socioeconomic status in healthy adults.

Design

A population-based prospective cohort study based on an in-person interview. Cox regression was used to examine mortality hazards for happiness alone and for a standardised summary well-being measure that included happiness, life satisfaction and negative emotions. Using prespecified analyses, we first adjusted for age and then additionally adjusted for self-rated health and then race/ethnicity, marital status, smoking and socioeconomic status.

Setting

Probability sample of adult US residents interviewed in their homes in 2001.

Participants

25 139 adults free of cardiovascular disease and cancer at baseline.

Primary outcome measure

All-cause mortality 14 years after the baseline interview as assessed by probabilistic matching using the National Death Index.

Results

Age-adjusted unhappiness was associated with mortality (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.45, p=0.001) but the association attenuated after adjusting for self-rated health (HR 1.01; 95% CI 0.88 to 1.16, p=0.85). A similar pattern was seen for the summary well-being measure in fully adjusted models (HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99 to 1.00, p=0.30). In contrast, self-rated health was strongly associated with mortality. In the fully adjusted model with the summary well-being measure the hazards for good, very good and excellent self-rated health were 0.71 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.80, p<0.001), 0.63 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.71, p<0.001) and 0.45 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.51, p<0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

In this representative sample of US adults, the association between well-being and mortality was strongly attenuated by self-rated health and to a lesser extent socioeconomic status.
Complement factors and reticular pseudodrusen in intermediate age-related macular degeneration staged by multimodal imaging
Authors: Lynch Anne M , Palestine Alan G , Wagner Brandie D , Patnaik Jennifer L , Frazier-Abel Ashley A , Mathias Marc T , Siringo Frank S , Holers Vernon Michael , Mandava Naresh
Published: January 2020

Objective

Systemic activation of the complement system in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is understudied. Moreover, links between the presence of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and systemic complement dysregulation have not been studied. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a difference in plasma complement factor levels in intermediate AMD compared with controls, and if complement levels are related to the presence of RPD.

Methods and analysis

Levels of complement factors C1q (µg/mL), C4 (µg/mL), C2 (µg/mL), Mannose Binding Lectin (ng/mL), C4b (µg/mL), C3 (µg/mL), factor B (µg/mL), factor D (µg/mL), properdin (µg/mL), C3a (ng/mL), iC3b/C3b (ng/mL), Ba (ng/mL), factor H (µg/mL), factor I (µg/mL), C5 (µg/mL), C5a (pg/mL) and SC5b-9 (ng/mL) were measured in plasma.

Results

109 cases and 65 controls were included in the study. Thirty-nine (36%) cases had RPD. Significantly lower systemic levels of: C1q (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.98), factor B (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.99), iC3b/C3b (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.98), factor H (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.99), factor I (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.89) and C5 (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.98) were found in cases versus controls. Significantly elevated levels of: C2 (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.59), C3a (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.05) Ba (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.05) and C5a (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.07) were found in cases versus controls. Systemic levels of complement factors measured were not related to the presence of RPD.

Conclusions

Levels of several systemic complement pathway factors were found to be altered in intermediate AMD. Systemic levels of complement factors were not related to RPD.
Improving predictor selection for injury modelling methods in male footballers
Authors: Philp Fraser , Al-shallawi Ahmad , Kyriacou Theocharis , Blana Dimitra , Pandyan Anand
Published: January 2020

Objectives

This objective of this study was to evaluate whether combining existing methods of elastic net for zero-inflated Poisson and zero-inflated Poisson regression methods could improve real-life applicability of injury prediction models in football.

Methods

Predictor selection and model development was conducted on a pre-existing dataset of 24 male participants from a single English football team’s 2015/2016 season.

Results

The elastic net for zero-inflated Poisson penalty method was successful in shrinking the total number of predictors in the presence of high levels of multicollinearity. It was additionally identified that easily measurable data, that is, mass and body fat content, training type, duration and surface, fitness levels, normalised period of ‘no-play’ and time in competition could contribute to the probability of acquiring a time-loss injury. Furthermore, prolonged series of match-play and increased in-season injury reduced the probability of not sustaining an injury.

Conclusion

For predictor selection, the elastic net for zero-inflated Poisson penalised method in combination with the use of ZIP regression modelling for predicting time-loss injuries have been identified appropriate methods for improving real-life applicability of injury prediction models. These methods are more appropriate for datasets subject to multicollinearity, smaller sample sizes and zero-inflation known to affect the performance of traditional statistical methods. Further validation work is now required.
The global burden of falls: global, regional and national estimates of morbidity and mortality from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Authors: James Spencer L , Lucchesi Lydia R , Bisignano Catherine , Castle Chris D , Dingels Zachary V , Fox Jack T , Hamilton Erin B , Henry Nathaniel J , Krohn Kris J , Liu Zichen , McCracken Darrah , Nixon Molly R , Roberts Nicholas L S , Sylte Dillon O , Adsuar Jose C , Arora Amit , Briggs Andrew M , Collado-Mateo Daniel , Cooper Cyrus , Dandona Lalit , Dandona Rakhi , Ellingsen Christian Lycke , Fereshtehnejad Seyed-Mohammad , Gill Tiffany K , Haagsma Juanita A , Hendrie Delia , Jürisson Mikk , Kumar G Anil , Lopez Alan D , Miazgowski Tomasz , Miller Ted R , Mini GK , Mirrakhimov Erkin M , Mohamadi Efat , Olivares Pedro R , Rahim Fakher , Riera Lidia Sanchez , Villafaina Santos , Yano Yuichiro , Hay Simon I , Lim Stephen S , Mokdad Ali H , Naghavi Mohsen , Murray Christopher J L
Published: January 2020

Background

Falls can lead to severe health loss including death. Past research has shown that falls are an important cause of death and disability worldwide. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017) provides a comprehensive assessment of morbidity and mortality from falls.

Methods

Estimates for mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were produced for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017 for all ages using the GBD 2017 framework. Distributions of the bodily injury (eg, hip fracture) were estimated using hospital records.

Results

Globally, the age-standardised incidence of falls was 2238 (1990–2532) per 100 000 in 2017, representing a decline of 3.7% (7.4 to 0.3) from 1990 to 2017. Age-standardised prevalence was 5186 (4622–5849) per 100 000 in 2017, representing a decline of 6.5% (7.6 to 5.4) from 1990 to 2017. Age-standardised mortality rate was 9.2 (8.5–9.8) per 100 000 which equated to 695 771 (644 927–741 720) deaths in 2017. Globally, falls resulted in 16 688 088 (15 101 897–17 636 830) YLLs, 19 252 699 (13 725 429–26 140 433) YLDs and 35 940 787 (30 185 695–42 903 289) DALYs across all ages. The most common injury sustained by fall victims is fracture of patella, tibia or fibula, or ankle. Globally, age-specific YLD rates increased with age.

Conclusions

This study shows that the burden of falls is substantial. Investing in further research, fall prevention strategies and access to care is critical.
Paraneoplastic leukemoid reactions induced by cytokine-secreting tumours
Authors: Abukhiran Ibrahim A , Jasser Judy , Syrbu Sergei
Published: January 2020

Paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction (PLR) is the extreme leukocytosis that occurs due to a non-haematolymphoid cytokine-secreting tumour (CST) in the absence of bone marrow infiltration by that solid tumour. The clinical presentation is widely variable, and therefore challenging. If the underlying malignancy is not clinically apparent, PLR could be mistaken for myeloproliferative neoplasms, altering the patient’s management. CSTs are highly aggressive tumours associated with a poor prognosis due to multiple mechanisms. Localising and treating the underlying malignancy is the mainstay of treatment. Both the treating clinician and the pathologist should keep a high level of suspicion for this entity in patients having unexplained leukocytosis. We herein discuss the underlying mechanisms, clinical presentation, pathological features, differential diagnosis and prognosis of this rare entity. An emphasis on the role of the pathologist is provided since the lack of knowledge on this entity can lead to dramatic effects on the patient, including unnecessary diagnostic testing and treatments.
Grating-based phase-contrast CT (PCCT): histopathological correlation of human liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma specimen
Authors: Kimm Melanie A , Willner Marian , Drecoll Enken , Herzen Julia , Noël Peter B , Rummeny Ernst J , Pfeiffer Franz , Fingerle Alexander A
Published: January 2020

Aims

To correlate signal intensities in grating-based phase-contrast CT (PCCT) images obtained at a synchrotron light source and a conventional X-ray source with tissue components in human liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimen.

Methods

Study approval was obtained by the institutional review board. Human specimen of liver cirrhosis and HCC were imaged at experimental grating-based PCCT setups using either a synchrotron radiation source or a conventional X-ray tube. Tissue samples were sectioned and processed for H&E and Elastica van Gieson staining. PCCT and histological images were manually correlated. Depending on morphology and staining characteristics tissue components like fibrosis, HCC, inflammation, connective tissue and necrosis were differentiated and visually correlated with signal intensity in PCCT images using a 5-point Likert scale with normal liver parenchyma as a reference.

Results

Grating-based PCCT images of human cirrhotic liver and HCC specimen showed high soft-tissue contrast allowing correlation with histopathological sections. Signal intensities were similar in both setups independent of the nature of the radiation source. Connective tissue and areas of haemorrhage displayed the highest signal intensities, fibrotic liver tissue the lowest.

Conclusions

Grating-based PCCT provides comparable results for the characterisation of human specimen of liver cirrhosis and HCC using either a synchrotron light source or a conventional X-ray tube. Due to its high soft-tissue contrast and its applicability to conventional X-ray tubes grating-based PCCT holds potential for preclinical research and virtual histology applications.
Influence of meteorological conditions on physical activity in adolescents
Authors: Beghin Laurent , Vanhelst Jérémy , Drumez Elodie , Migueles Jairo , Manios Yannis , Moreno Luis A , De Henauw Stefaan , Gottrand Frederic
Published: January 2020

Background

It has been shown that meteorological conditions and season affect physical activity (PA) during adolescence. Today, meteorological conditions have never been combined to study their influence on PA level in a single sample of a large adolescent multicountries population. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of meteorological conditions on PA in adolescents from several European countries.

Methods

The study included 2024 healthy adolescents aged 12.5–17.4 years who participated in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence cross-sectional study. Participants wore a uniaxial accelerometer for 7 consecutive days to measure total PA and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a one-off measurement manner. Comparison of PA according to meteorological conditions was done using linear mixed models.

Results

The highest difference of MVPA was observed in boys on free days when comparing the best meteorological conditions versus the worse (ie, +39% with highest temperature, +29% without rainfall, +39% with highest sunlight duration and +21% with highest length of day) and in girls on free days (ie, +26% with highest sunlight duration). This increase in MVPA contributed to a simultaneous increase in total PA when considering the same meteorological condition parameters.

Conclusions

Meteorological conditions act as a determinant of PA differentially between boys and girls. PA and MVPA in boys are mainly modified by meteorological conditions on free days whereas PA and MVPA in girls are modified by sunlight duration.
The great decline in adolescent cigarette smoking since 2000: consequences for drug use among US adolescents
Authors: Miech Richard , Keyes Katherine M , O'Malley Patrick M , Johnston Lloyd D
Published: January 2020

Objective

Adolescent cigarette smoking declined steadily and substantially from 2000 to 2018. This paper considers the potential consequences of this ‘great decline’ for the prevalence of other drug use among adolescents.

Methods

Data are annual, cross-sectional, nationally representative Monitoring the Future surveys of more than 1.2 million US students in 12th, 10th and 8th grades from 2000 to 2018. Analyses include trends in the past 12 months’ non-medical amphetamine, tranquillisers and opioid use overall, among ever and never cigarette smokers, and projected if adolescent cigarette smoking levels had remained at 2000 levels.

Results

Within groups of ever and never cigarette smokers, the prevalence for each of the three substances has either changed little or overall increased in 2018 as compared with 2000. When the two groups were combined into one pool, the overall prevalence for each of the drugs declined by about half. The decline resulted from the growing group of never smokers, whose levels of non-medical drug use over the study period were at least four times lower than the levels of ever smokers.

Conclusions

The results support the ‘gateway’ prediction that declines in cigarette smoking among adolescents pull downward their non-medical use of amphetamines, tranquillisers and opioids. Continuing to reduce adolescent smoking through policy and programmatic prevention efforts should have further positive spillover effects on adolescent drug use.
LGBT young adults’ awareness of and receptivity to the This Free Life tobacco public education campaign
Authors: Guillory Jamie , Crankshaw Eric , Farrelly Matthew C , Alam Ishrat , Fiacco Leah , Curry Laurel , Hoffman Leah , Ganz Ollie , Delahanty Janine
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study measures awareness of and receptivity to the Food and Drug Administration’s This Free Life campaign seeking to change tobacco-related attitudes and beliefs among lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) young adults.

Methods

Participants were young adults who self-identify as LGBT. The evaluation uses a treatment-control design. This study includes data from four survey rounds with participants from each round invited to participate in subsequent rounds and new participants invited to account for attrition. Bivariate analyses assess treatment-control differences in campaign awareness by round. We used multivariable logistic regression models with a time×treatment interaction and covariates to assess whether increases in awareness were greater in treatment than control from follow-ups 1 to 4. Descriptive statistics describe perceived effectiveness and models explore covariates of perceived effectiveness.

Results

At each round, an increasing number of participants in treatment were brand aware (25%–67%) and reported high (16%–34%) and medium (16%–25%) video awareness compared with control (all p<0.001). Regressions revealed interactions in brand and video awareness, wherein the effect of treatment on awareness increased more over time, with significant treatment-control differences in change from follow-up 1 to 4 (all p<0.05). Reactions to all but one ad were positive (one neutral) with mean perceived effectiveness scores from 3.21 to 3.92 (‘neither disagree nor agree’ to ‘agree’ on 5-point scale). Perceived effectiveness differed by LGBT identity (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

At follow-up 4, This Free Life reached most of the campaign audience in treatment markets and has achieved higher awareness in treatment than control markets, at individual survey rounds and over time.
Nitrogen release from five organic fertilizers commonly used in greenhouse organic horticulture with contrasting effects on bacterial communities
Authors: Dion Pierre-Paul , Jeanne Thomas , Thériault Mireille , Hogue Richard , Pepin Steeve , Dorais Martine
Published: January 2020

Organic fertilization in greenhouses relies on organic fertilizers with low carbon/nitrogen ratio. Nitrogen (N) availability thus depends on an efficient mineralization driven by microbial communities. However, data on the mineralization rate of such fertilizers are scarce, and their improper use can lead to either N deficiency, or N losses to the environment. Consequently, better knowledge of N availability following organic fertilization is crucial for the development of sustainable greenhouse organic horticulture. We investigated the effect of pelleted poultry manure (PM) and blood (BM), feather (FM), alfalfa (AM), and shrimp (SM) meals on N availability and bacterial communities in a peat-based organic growing medium and a mineral soil. Nitrogen and carbon (C) pools were measured periodically over a 52 wk incubation experiment. Bacterial communities were characterized by sequencing the regions V6–V8 of the 16S rRNA gene on the high-throughput Illumina MiSeq platform, 4 wk after the start of the incubation. Nitrogen mineralization plateaued for the mineral soil and the peat substrate at, respectively, 41% and 63% of applied N for PM, 56%–93% (BM), 54%–81% (FM), 34%–53% (AM), and 57%–73% (SM). Organic fertilizers supported markedly contrasted bacterial communities, closely linked to soil biochemical properties, especially mineral N, pH, and soluble C. Alfalfa meal promoted the highest Shannon diversity index in the mineral soil, whereas SM and PM increased it in the peat-based growing medium. Our results quantified the mineralization and highlighted the impact on bacterial communities of commonly used organic N fertilizers in conditions relevant to organic greenhouse horticulture.
Sensing microwave photons with a Bose–Einstein condensate
Authors: Kálmán Orsolya , Domokos Peter
Published: January 2020

We consider the interaction of a magnetically trapped Bose–Einstein condensate of Rubidium atoms with the stationary microwave radiation field sustained by a coplanar waveguide resonator. This coupling allows for the measurement of the magnetic field of the resonator by means of counting the atoms that fall out of the condensate due to hyperfine transitions to non-trapped states. We determine the quantum efficiency of this detection scheme and show that weak microwave fields at the single-photon level can be sensed.
The effect of data exchange policy on traffic flow between interconnected networks
Authors: Lazfi S. , Ben Haddou N. , Rachadi A. , Ez-Zahraouy H.
Published: January 2020

In order to understand and achieve an optimal functioning in real traffic systems, the problem of congestion in complex networks takes an important place in many recent researches. In this paper, we study the effect of different types of interconnections between two scale free networks on the traffic flow. Two interconnection strategies are used: in the first, we create links between nodes chosen at random from the two subnets [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and, while in the second one, we link nodes selected among the hubs of the subnets. The resulting network [Formula: see text] is under a new routing strategy inspired from the minimal traffic model introduced in [D. De Martino, Phys. Rev. E 79, 015101 (2009); S. Lamzabi, S. Lazfi, H. Ez-Zahraouy, A. Benyoussef, A. Rachadi and S. Ziti, Int. J. Mod. Phys. C 25, 1450019 (2014)]. We find that in case of this routing method, the interconnection pattern has no effect on the results. Further, to control the exchange of packets between the subnets, we propose two adjusting parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The study of the variation of these parameters shows that the optimal network capacity is obtained when the two subnets are allowed to exchange data more openly.
A study of energy conditions in static plane symmetric space–times via homothetic symmetries
Authors: Hussain Tahir , Nasib Uzma , Farhan Muhammad , Bokhari Ashfaque H.
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study is twofold. First, we use a new approach to study the homothetic vector fields (HVFs) of static plane symmetric space–times by an algorithm which we have developed using the Maple platform. The interesting feature of this algorithm is that it provides the most general form of metrics admitting HVFs as compared to those obtained in an earlier study where direct integration techniques were used. Second, the obtained metrics are used in Einstein’s field equations to compute the energy–momentum tensor and it is shown how the parameters involved in the obtained space–time metrics are associated with certain important energy conditions.
Silicic volcanism in the Scottish Lower Carboniferous; lavas, intrusions and ignimbrites of the Garleton Hills Volcanic Formation, SE Scotland
Authors: Upton Brian G. J. , Kirstein Linda A. , Odling Nicholas , Underhill John R. , Ellam Robert M. , Cayzer Nicola , Clarke Ben A.
Published: January 2020

Extensional tectonics and incipient rifting on the north side of the Iapetus suture were associated with eruption of (mainly) mildly alkaline olivine basalts. Initially in the Tournaisian (Southern Uplands Terrane), magmatic activity migrated northwards producing the Garleton Hills Volcanic Formation (GHVF) across an anomalous sector of the Southern Uplands. The latter was followed by resumption of volcanism in the Midland Valley Terrane, yielding the Arthur's Seat Volcanic Formation. Later larger-scale activity generated the Clyde Plateau Volcanic Formation (CPVF) and the Kintyre lavas on the Grampian Highlands Terrane. Comparable volcanic successions occur in Limerick, Ireland. This short-lived (
c.
30 myr) phase was unique in the magmatic history of the Phanerozoic of the British Isles in which mildly alkaline basaltic magmatism locally led to trachytic differentiates. The Bangly Member of the GHVF represents the largest area occupied by such silicic rocks. The most widespread lavas and intrusions are silica-saturated/oversaturated trachytes for which new whole-rock and isotopic data are presented. Previously unrecognized ignimbrites are described. Sparse data from the fiamme suggest that the magma responsible for the repetitive ignimbrite eruptions was a highly fluid rhyolite. The Bangly Member probably represents the remains of a central-type volcano, the details of which are enigmatic.
A psychosocial perspective on community resilience and preparedness in the context of earthquakes in Turkey
Authors: Doğulu Canay , Ikizer Gözde , Karanci A. Nuray
Published: January 2020

Disaster risk management efforts worldwide are increasingly targeted at building the resilience capacities of individuals and communities for strengthening their resistance, absorption, accommodation, adaptation, transformation and recovery skills in the face of disasters. In addition, as a key element of resilience, preparedness is essential for empowering individuals and communities. Such prioritization of resilience and preparedness has been stressed by international disaster-related policies and actions. Research has also focused on understanding the dynamics of community resilience and preparedness in the context of disasters. In particular, research has revealed that addressing community resilience and preparedness from a psychosocial perspective greatly contributes to a more holistic understanding of the topic. In the present chapter, qualitative findings from two different case studies conducted in Turkey are elaborated with a psychosocial focus on community resilience for the 2011 Van earthquakes and preparedness for the 1999 Kaynaşlı, Düzce earthquakes. Drawing on two different earthquake case studies from different geographical regions of Turkey, the adoption of a local and evidence-based approach is necessary for disaster work. This would enable disaster risk management efforts and policies to be participatory and sustainable with respect to psychosocial aspects along with technical and geographical aspects.
Geological features of landslides caused by the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake in Japan
Authors: Ito Yoshihiko , Yamazaki Shusaku , Kurahashi Toshiyuki
Published: January 2020

Before dawn on 6 September 2018, a powerful earthquake with a Japan Meteorological Agency magnitude (
M
j
) of 6.7 hit central Hokkaido, causing more than 6000 landslides. As human damage, 36 of the 44 fatalities from the earthquake were from earthslides in Atsuma Town. Most slope movements were shallow earthslides of mantle-bedded tephra and soil layers, but some were deep rockslides involving basement rocks such as shale and mudstone of Miocene. Although the shallow earthslides were easily distinguishable in photos from satellites or airplane, the rockslides were more difficult to identify owing to their vegetation. Based on the quick interpretation of a high-resolution (0.5 m horizontal resolution) shaded relief map made from digital elevation model data by airborne laser survey and supplemental field surveys, we effectively identified 259 rockslides (196 certain ones and 63 possible ones) in Atsuma and Mukawa towns under newly invented identification criteria based on the scarp depth and positional relation between scarp and ridge topography. It was revealed that most rockslides were distributed within 10 km from the epicentre, while earthslides were distributed until 20 km north of the epicentre, and they seemed to be controlled by the thickness of mantle-bedded tephra and the soil layer. We also identified many traces of past rockslides and earthslides. The results show the possibilities for effective measurement of slope by clarifying the landslide distribution both this earthquake and past ones using high-resolution digital elevation model data.
Modeling of Sulfation in a Flooded Lead-Acid Battery and Prediction of its Cycle Life
Authors: Gandhi K. S.
Published: January 2020

A major cause of failure of a lead acid battery (LAB) is sulfation, i.e. accumulation of lead sulfate in the electrodes over repeated recharging cycles. Charging converts lead sulfate formed during discharge into active materials by reduction of Pb2+ ions. If this is controlled by mass transfer of the ions to the electrochemically active area, charging voltage can far exceed the OCV of a charged battery. Then, charge is partly consumed to electrolyse water, and for evolution of hydrogen and oxygen. It causes sulfation since regeneration of active materials will be incomplete. A mathematical model is developed incorporating resistance to mass transfer of Pb2+ ions into the rate of charge transfer reactions, changes in areas of active materials and sulfate particles, and dependence of electrodes’ resistance on content of lead sulfate. It was used to show that this mechanism of sulfation does lead to failure of flooded LABs because of increased resistance of electrodes, and to predict cycle life. Capacity fade, and increased cycle life when recharging protocol uses lower DoD are other features of degradation which the model predicts. The model also predicts the observed increase in cycle life when conducting additives are added to the negative electrode.
MicroRNA-145 suppresses gastric cancer progression by targeting Hu-antigen R
Authors: Li Qian , Tong Dongdong , Guo Chen , Wu Fei , Li Fang , Wang Xiaofei , Jiang Qiuyu , Wei Yameng , Liu Liying , Ni Lei , Guo Bo , Huang Chen
Published: January 2020

Hu-antigen R (HuR) is involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of multiple types of cancer. However, its precise role in gastric cancer (GC) and the relevant molecular mechanism remain largely unclear. In the present study, we found that HuR expression level was higher in GC tissues and cell lines than in adjacent normal tissues and normal gastric epithelial cell lines, and this elevated expression was found to have a significant association with lymph node metastasis. Moreover, silencing HuR with RNA interference inhibited cell viability and induced cell apoptosis through the apoptosis-related regulators (Bcl-2 and Bax) in GC cells. In addition, bioinformatic analysis revealed that HuR expression was inversely correlated with miR-145 expression in GC tissue samples, and HuR was identified as a direct target of miR-145 with the dual-luciferase reporter. Enforced expression of miR-145 inhibited the HuR expression at both mRNA and protein levels and induced similar biologic effects of silencing HuR in GC cells. Additionally, we also found that restoration of HuR could eliminate the effects induced by miR-145 in GC cells. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the exact role of the miR-145-HuR axis in the progression of GC and indicate a potential target for GC therapy.
Zinc is essential for the transcription function of the PGC-1α/Nrf2 signaling pathway in human primary endometrial stromal cells
Authors: Lu Xiaodan , Zhang Qiang , Xu Li , Lin Xiuying , Fu Jianhua , Wang Xue , Liu Yinong , Lin Yifan , Li Bing , Wang Ruobing , Liu Lei , Mi Xuguang , Wei Haifeng , Tan Yan , Fang Yanqiu
Published: January 2020

Zinc (Zn) has antioxidant effect in different types of organs and is closely associated with human health. Endometrial receptivity is one of the most important factors in the embryo implantation and development. However, the regulatory mechanism of Zn in endometrium tissue is still unclear. In the study, we found that plasma Zn level is significantly associated with female infertility, which severely affects female reproductive health. Primary endometrial stromal cells were isolated from female endometrium and cultured in the laboratory. Zn chelator TPEN treatment reduced the expression of stem cell markers CD73, CD90, and CD105 and generated reactive oxygen species in endometrial stromal cells. However, pretreatment of Zn (zinc sulfate) is able to prevent TPEN-induced oxidative stress in vitro. By transcriptional profiling and gene ontology analysis, we found that Zn increased the cellular pluripotency signaling and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, but reduced autophagy, endocytosis, and the nitrogen metabolism pathway. We further discovered the antioxidant function of Zn through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α/nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor signaling pathway in endometrial stromal cells. Zn supplementation may open up an effective therapeutic approach for patients with oxidative stress-related endometrial diseases.
Structural and functional definition of the pulmonary vein system in a chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension rat model
Authors: Wu Xiongting , Lu Wenju , He Mengzhang , Chen Haixia , Chen Yuqin , Duan Xin , Zheng Qiuyu , Li Yi , Chen Jiyuan , Liu Shiyun , Liao Jing , Kuang Meidan , Lin Ziying , Yang Kai , Wang Jian
Published: January 2020

Unlike the pulmonary artery (PA), the pathophysiological changes of the pulmonary vein (PV) in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) remain largely unknown. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the structural and functional changes in the PV isolated from the chronic hypoxia (CH; 10% O2, 21 days)-induced PH rat model (CHPH). Results showed that CH caused an increase in right ventricular pressure but did not affect the mean pulmonary venous pressure and the left atrial pressure. Similar to the PA, vascular lumen stenosis and medial thickening were also observed in the intrapulmonary veins isolated from the CHPH rats. Notably, CH induced more severe loss in the endothelium of intrapulmonary veins than the arteries. Then, the contractile response to 5-HT and U46619 was significantly greater in the intrapulmonary small veins (ISPV) and arteries (ISPA) isolated from CHPH rats than those from normoxic rats but not in the extrapulmonary and intrapulmonary large veins. Treatment with nifedipine (Nif), SKF96365 (SKF), or ryanodine and caffeine either partially attenuated (Nif) or dramatically abolished (SKF or ryanodine and caffeine) 5-HT-induced maximal contraction in ISPV from both normoxic and CHPH rats. Because of the severe loss of endothelium in the PV of CHPH rats, the decrease in acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly larger in ISPV than ISPA, whereas the sodium nitroprusside-induced endothelium-independent relaxation was not altered in both ISPA and ISPV. In conclusion, our results provide fundamental data to comprehensively define the PV system in CHPH rat model.