bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preserved Mucosal-Associated Invariant T-Cell Numbers and Function in Idiopathic CD4 Lymphocytopenia
Authors: Sortino Ornella , Dias Joana , Anderson Megan , Laidlaw Elizabeth , Leeansyah Edwin , Lisco Andrea , Sheikh Virginia , Sandberg Johan K , Sereti Irini
Published: December 2020

Background

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells constitute a subset of unconventional, MR1-restricted T cells involved in antimicrobial responses as well as inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune diseases. Chronic infection and inflammatory disorders as well as immunodeficiencies are often associated with decline and/or dysfunction of MAIT cells.

Methods

We investigated the MAIT cells in patients with idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia (ICL), a syndrome characterized by consistently low CD4 T-cell counts (<300 cell/µL) in the absence of HIV infection or other known immunodeficiency, and by susceptibility to certain opportunistic infections.

Results

The numbers, phenotype, and function of MAIT cells in peripheral blood were preserved in ICL patients compared to healthy controls. Administration of interleukin-7 (IL-7) to ICL patients expanded the CD8+ MAIT-cell subset, with maintained responsiveness and effector functions after IL-7 treatment.

Conclusions

ICL patients maintain normal levels and function of MAIT cells, preserving some antibacterial responses despite the deficiency in CD4+ T cells.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT00867269.
Control ofLeiodes cinnamomeus(Coleoptera: Leiodidae) in Cultivated Black Truffle Orchards by Kairomone-Based Mass Trapping
Authors: Navarro-Llopis Vicente , López Borja , Primo Jaime , Martín-Santafé María , Vacas Sandra
Published: December 2020

The monoculture situation of truffle cultivation is favoring the appearance of pests that would not be economically important in naturally balanced forest ecosystems. The most prominent of them is the European truffle beetle Leiodes cinnamomeus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Leiodidae), for which there are no effective control methods capable of reducing its populations. The potential of the mass trapping technique against this beetle, based on adapted pitfall traps and the semiochemical methyl disulfide as an attractant, is explored in the present work. Two trap densities (40 and 80 traps/ha) were tested in 2-yr field trials carried out in the region of Teruel (Spain) with black truffle cultivation tradition. Kairomone dispensers were placed in the field immediately before adult outbreak and remained active there throughout the season. The efficacy of each treatment was measured according to the reduction in beetle populations and the damaged truffles in the center of the treated areas. The results showed that both trapping densities reduced adult populations (mean 57% catch reduction), but 80 traps/ha were needed to significantly lower damage parameters (>40% reduction), percentage of attacked truffles and number of galleries/g truffle. The cost effectiveness of these treatments and possible improvements are discussed.
Impact of Constant and Fluctuating Temperatures on Population Characteristics of Tetranychus pacificus (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Rismayani  , Ullah Mohammad Shaef , Chi Hsin , Gotoh Tetsuo
Published: December 2020

To understand the effect of fluctuating temperature on the population characteristics of Tetranychus pacificus, we determined their life tables under constant temperatures between 10 and 35°C and fluctuating temperatures (12 h per day at each of 5°C above and 5°C below the corresponding constant temperature). Tetranychus pacificus eggs did not hatch when held at a constant temperature of 10°C, whereas 77.6% of the T. pacificus eggs reached an adult life stage at fluctuating temperature 10°C ± 5°C. Female preadult development was faster under fluctuating temperatures 12.5, 15, and 20°C than under constant temperatures, whereas it was not significantly different at temperatures ≥ 22.5°C. The lower developmental thresholds (T0) for female preadult development were 10.24 and 5.73°C for the constant and fluctuating temperatures, respectively, while the thermal summations (K) were 215.10 and 265.64 degree days, respectively. The net reproductive rates (R0) at constant temperatures 15 and 35°C were significantly higher than those at the corresponding fluctuating temperatures. However, for 20, 25, and 30°C, the R0 values were not significantly different between constant and fluctuating temperatures. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) at fluctuating temperatures 10, 20, and 30°C were higher compared to the corresponding constant temperature. However, the values of r and λ at constant 25 and 35°C were higher than those at fluctuating temperature. The differential responses of life history between constant and fluctuating temperatures help to understand the population dynamics of T. pacificus under natural conditions.
Weak signal enhancement using adaptive local similarity and neighboring super-virtual trace for first arrival picking
Authors: Liang Shanglin , Hu Tianyue , Cui Dong , Ding Pengcheng
Published: December 2020

Accurate traveltime of first arrivals is of great importance in investigating subsurface velocity information. A significant challenge preventing the picking of the first arrival, however, is that the recorded traces in complex mountain areas are often characterised by weak energy, strong noise and dramatic phase variation. The method of super-virtual refraction interferometry (SVI) is capable of retrieving and enhancing the weak first arrivals from those traces and attenuating the random noise. Unfortunately, the conventional SVI has equal-weighted stacking, and is susceptible to strong local noise. This paper introduces adaptive data-driven weights based on local similarity into SVI to solve this problem. Both near- and far-offset reference traces of high quality are technically selected for better preservation of useful information. Next, we develop some neighboring super-virtual traces in the stacking process for further enhancement of weak signals, which is a further extension and theoretically superior to conventional SVI in increasing the total stacking number. The successful applications of model and field data show the great advantages of our improved method. Compared with conventional SVI, our method has a better local noise suppression effect and stronger enhancement ability, especially at weak refractions. More importantly, it can provide a significant guarantee of higher quality data, thus distinctly achieving a more accurate and reliable traveltime in first arrival picking.
Exploring the Genetic Consequences of Clonality in Haplodiplontic Taxa
Authors: Krueger-Hadfield Stacy A , Guillemin Marie-Laure , Destombe Christophe , Valero Myriam , Stoeckel Solenn
Published: December 2020

Partially clonality is an incredibly common reproductive mode found across all the major eukaryotic lineages. Yet, population genetic theory is based on exclusive sexuality or exclusive asexuality, and partial clonality is often ignored. This is particularly true in haplodiplontic eukaryotes, including algae, ferns, mosses, and fungi, where somatic development occurs in both the haploid and diploid stages. Haplodiplontic life cycles are predicted to be correlated with asexuality, but tests of this prediction are rare. Moreover, there are unique consequences of having long-lived haploid and diploid stages in the same life cycle. For example, clonal processes uncouple the life cycle such that the repetition of the diploid stage via clonality leads to the loss of the haploid stage. Here, we surveyed the literature to find studies that had genotyped both haploid and diploid stages and recalculated population genetic summary metrics for seven red algae, one green alga, three brown algae, and three mosses. We compared these data to recent simulations that explicitly addressed the population genetic consequences of partial clonality in haplodiplontic life cycles. Not only was partial clonality found to act as a homogenizing force, but the combined effects of proportion of haploids, rate of clonality, and the relative strength of mutation versus genetic drift impacts the distributions of population genetic indices. We found remarkably similar patterns across commonly used population genetic metrics between our empirical and recent theoretical expectations. To facilitate future studies, we provide some recommendations for sampling and analyzing population genetic parameters for haplodiplontic taxa.
Breast Tumor Microenvironment in Black Women: A Distinct Signature of CD8+ T-Cell Exhaustion
Authors: Yao Song , Cheng Ting-Yuan David , Elkhanany Ahmed , Yan Li , Omilian Angela , Abrams Scott I , Evans Sharon , Hong Chi-Chen , Qi Qianya , Davis Warren , Liu Song , Bandera Elisa V , Odunsi Kunle , Takabe Kazuaki , Khoury Thaer , Ambrosone Christine B
Published: December 2020

Background

Blacks tend to have a stronger inflammatory immune response than Whites. We hypothesized that racial differences in host immunity also manifest in the tumor microenvironment, constituting part of a distinct aggressive tumor biology underlying higher mortality in Black women.

Methods

Pathological and gene expression profiling approaches were used for characterizing infiltrating immune cells in breast tumor microenvironment from 1315 patients from the Women’s Circle of Health Study. Racial differences in tumor immune phenotypes were compared, with results validated in a publicly accessible dataset. Prognostic associations of immune phenotypes were assessed in 3 independent cohorts.

Results

We found marked and consistent differences in tumor immune responses between Black and White patients. Not only did tumors from Blacks display a stronger overall immune presence but also the composition and quality of immune infiltrates differed, regardless of tumor subtypes. Black patients had a stronger CD4+ and B-cell response, and further, a more exhausted CD8+ T-cell profile. A signature indicating a higher ratio of exhausted CD8+ T cells to total CD8+ T cells (ExCD8-r) was consistently associated with poorer survival, particularly among hormone receptor–positive patients. Among hormone receptor–negative patients, combinations of the absolute fraction of CD8+ T cells and ExCD8-r signature identified the CD8lowExCD8-rhigh subgroup, the most prevalent among Blacks, with the worst survival.

Conclusions

Our findings of a distinct exhausted CD8+ T-cell signature in Black breast cancer patients indicate an immunobiological basis for their more aggressive disease and a rationale for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the exhaustion phenotype.
Public Attitude in the Netherlands towards Cartels in Comparison to Other Economic Infringements
Authors: Dijkstra Peter T , van Stekelenburg Loet
Published: December 2020

We investigate the public attitude towards cartels in the Netherlands in comparison with other economic infringements. We examine this in a survey on several types of economic infringements. We find that cartels are considered serious offenses in the Netherlands. People generally think that cartels are not allowed, consider them immoral, and have negative consequences for society. However, on average, most other infringements are considered more serious, are less allowed, more immoral, and have more negative consequences for society than cartel behavior. Furthermore, we find that the considered seriousness of an infringement is explained by people’s personal norms, followed by the infringement’s consequences, whether people think the infringement is allowed and to what extent it has direct impact on people.

JEL: L41
Deflection calculation of cam profile due to a Hertzian contact pressure
Authors: Yousuf Louay S
Published: December 2020

The bending deflection of cam profile was analyzed for three paths of contact and distinct Hertzian contact pressure. The impact happened between the disc cam and roller follower based on the contact parameters. The contact parameters are contact body stiffness, sliding contact velocity, exponent and penetration. A disc cam and roller follower system were discussed and analyzed for the dynamic response of the follower and bending deflection of the cam profile. The objective of this paper was to study the effect of contact load on the bending deflection. A system with spring stiffness (k) and viscous damping coefficient (c) at the end of the follower stem was used to reduce the bending deflection on the cam profile. The theory of circular plate was applied to derive the analytic solution of the bending deflection. The dynamic response of the follower had been determined by using the SolidWorks software based on the contact parameters. The experimental setup was done through an infrared camera device. Finite-element analysis was used to calculate the bending deflection of the cam profile numerically. Finite-element analysis was carried out by using the ANSYS version 19.2 package. The analytic and simulation results are checked and verified for bending deflection at the point of contact. The reduction rate for bending deflection was 73.425% for path no. (1), 85.925% for path no. (2) and 61.467% for path no. (3).
The role ofWOX1genes in blade development and beyond
Authors: Vandenbussche Michiel
Published: December 2020

This article comments on:

Wang C, Zhao B, He L, Zhou S, Liu Ye, Zhao W, Guo S, Wang R, Bai Q, Li Y, Wang D, Wu Q, Yang Y, Yan J, Liu Yu, Tadege M, Chen J. 2021. The WOX family transcriptional regulator SlLAM1 controls compound leaf and floral organ development in Solanum lycopersicum. Journal of Experimental Botany 72, 1822–1835.
Host susceptibility factors render ripe tomato fruit vulnerable to fungal disease despite active immune responses
Authors: Silva Christian J , van den Abeele Casper , Ortega-Salazar Isabel , Papin Victor , Adaskaveg Jaclyn A , Wang Duoduo , Casteel Clare L , Seymour Graham B , Blanco-Ulate Barbara
Published: December 2020

The increased susceptibility of ripe fruit to fungal pathogens poses a substantial threat to crop production and marketability. Here, we coupled transcriptomic analyses with mutant studies to uncover critical processes associated with defense and susceptibility in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit. Using unripe and ripe fruit inoculated with three fungal pathogens, we identified common pathogen responses reliant on chitinases, WRKY transcription factors, and reactive oxygen species detoxification. We established that the magnitude and diversity of defense responses do not significantly impact the interaction outcome, as susceptible ripe fruit mounted a strong immune response to pathogen infection. Then, to distinguish features of ripening that may be responsible for susceptibility, we utilized non-ripening tomato mutants that displayed different susceptibility patterns to fungal infection. Based on transcriptional and hormone profiling, susceptible tomato genotypes had losses in the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis, while jasmonic acid accumulation and signaling coincided with defense activation in resistant fruit. We identified and validated a susceptibility factor, pectate lyase (PL). CRISPR-based knockouts of PL, but not polygalacturonase (PG2a), reduced susceptibility of ripe fruit by >50%. This study suggests that targeting specific genes that promote susceptibility is a viable strategy to improve the resistance of tomato fruit against fungal disease.
The tip of the iceberg: emerging roles of TORC1, and its regulatory functions in plant cells
Authors: Pacheco Javier Martínez , Canal María Victoria , Pereyra Cintia M , Welchen Elina , Martínez-Noël Giselle M A , Estevez José M
Published: December 2020

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that plays a central role in coordinating cell growth with light availability, the diurnal cycle, energy availability, and hormonal pathways. TOR Complex 1 (TORC1) controls cell proliferation, growth, metabolism, and defense in plants. Sugar availability is the main signal for activation of TOR in plants, as it also is in mammals and yeast. Specific regulators of the TOR kinase pathway in plants are inorganic compounds in the form of major nutrients in the soils, and light inputs via their impact on autotrophic metabolism. The lack of TOR is embryo-lethal in plants, whilst dysregulation of TOR signaling causes major alterations in growth and development. TOR exerts control as a regulator of protein translation via the action of proteins such as S6K, RPS6, and TAP46. Phytohormones are central players in the downstream systemic physiological TOR effects. TOR has recently been attributed to have roles in the control of DNA methylation, in the abundance of mRNA splicing variants, and in the variety of regulatory lncRNAs and miRNAs. In this review, we summarize recent discoveries in the plant TOR signaling pathway in the context of our current knowledge of mammalian and yeast cells, and highlight the most important gaps in our understanding of plants that need to be addressed in the future.
Methodology to Evaluate Clinical Impact of 0/3 Hour High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Protocol on Managing Acute Coronary Syndrome in Daily Emergency Department Practice
Authors: Bellini Claudia , Cinci Francesca , Bova Giovanni , Mascarucci Monica , Leoncini Roberto , Scapellato Carlo , Guerranti Roberto
Published: December 2020

Objective

Sex-/age-differentiated cutoffs and the magnitude of serial changes in high-sensitivity cardiac troponins (hs-cTn) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnosis algorithms are still under discussion. This study presents a methodology to evaluate decision-making limits and to assess whether sex-specific cutoffs could improve diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

A high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) 0-/3-hour protocol was adopted, applying the 2015 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines. Decision-making limits (99th percentile: 14 ng/L; delta change ≥ 30%) were agreed upon with the emergency department (ED) at the University Hospital of Siena in Siena, Italy. One-year requests (5177) for hs-cTnT serial determination were compared with the final International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, clinical modifications diagnosis (contingency tables; receiver operating characteristic curves).

Results

The algorithm’s capability to exclude or confirm ACS was verified by remarkable negative predictive value (97%) and high areas under the curve for the first troponin sampling (0.712), troponin sampling at 3 hours (0.789), and delta (0.744). The clinical utility for the general population—even those with comorbidities—accessing the ED was verified. Our data did not support a sex-differentiated cutoff utility because it would not have affected patient management.

Conclusion

This methodology allowed us to confirm the effectiveness of our decision-making limits.
Confirming known planetary trends using a photometrically selected Kepler sample
Authors: Hansen Jonah T , Casagrande Luca , Ireland Michael J , Lin Jane
Published: December 2020

Statistical studies of exoplanets and the properties of their host stars have been critical to informing models of planet formation. Numerous trends have arisen in particular from the rich Kepler data set, including that exoplanets are more likely to be found around stars with a high metallicity and the presence of a ‘gap’ in the distribution of planetary radii at 1.9 R⊕. Here we present a new analysis on the Kepler field, using the APOGEE spectroscopic survey to build a metallicity calibration based on Gaia, 2MASS and Strömgren photometry. This calibration, along with masses and radii derived from a Bayesian isochrone fitting algorithm, is used to test a number of these trends with unbiased, photometrically derived parameters, albeit with a smaller sample size in comparison to recent studies. We recover that planets are more frequently found around higher metallicity stars; over the entire sample, planetary frequencies are 0.88 ± 0.12 per cent for [Fe/H] < 0 and 1.37 ± 0.16 per cent for [Fe/H] ≥ 0 but at two sigma we find that the size of exoplanets influences the strength of this trend. We also recover the planet radius gap, along with a slight positive correlation with stellar mass. We conclude that this method shows promise to derive robust statistics of exoplanets. We also remark that spectrophotometry from Gaia DR3 will have an effective resolution similar to narrow band filters and allow to overcome the small sample size inherent in this study.
Testing the intrinsic scatter of the asteroseismic scaling relations with Kepler red giants
Authors: Li Yaguang , Bedding Timothy R , Stello Dennis , Sharma Sanjib , Huber Daniel , Murphy Simon J
Published: December 2020

Asteroseismic scaling relations are often used to derive stellar masses and radii, particularly for stellar, exoplanet, and Galactic studies. It is therefore important that their precisions are known. Here we measure the intrinsic scatter of the underlying seismic scaling relations for Δν and νmax, using two sharp features that are formed in the H–R diagram (or related diagrams) by the red giant populations. These features are the edge near the zero-age core-helium-burning phase, and the strong clustering of stars at the so-called red giant branch bump. The broadening of those features is determined by factors including the intrinsic scatter of the scaling relations themselves, and therefore it is capable of imposing constraints on them. We modelled Kepler stars with a Galaxia synthetic population, upon which we applied the intrinsic scatter of the scaling relations to match the degree of sharpness seen in the observation. We found that the random errors from measuring Δν and νmax provide the dominating scatter that blurs the features. As a consequence, we conclude that the scaling relations have intrinsic scatter of $\sim 0.5$ (Δν), $\sim 1.1$ (νmax), $\sim 1.7$ (M), and $\sim 0.4{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ (R), for the SYD pipeline measured Δν and νmax. This confirms that the scaling relations are very powerful tools. In addition, we show that standard evolution models fail to predict some of the structures in the observed population of both the HeB and RGB stars. Further stellar model improvements are needed to reproduce the exact distributions.
tRNA 3′ shortening by LCCR4 as a response to stress in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Cristodero Marina , Brogli Rebecca , Joss Oliver , Schimanski Bernd , Schneider André , Polacek Norbert
Published: December 2020

Sensing of environmental cues is crucial for cell survival. To adapt to changes in their surroundings cells need to tightly control the repertoire of genes expressed at any time. Regulation of translation is key, especially in organisms in which transcription is hardly controlled, like Trypanosoma brucei. In this study, we describe the shortening of the bulk of the cellular tRNAs during stress at the expense of the conserved 3′ CCA-tail. This tRNA shortening is specific for nutritional stress and renders tRNAs unsuitable substrates for translation. We uncovered the nuclease LCCR4 (Tb927.4.2430), a homologue of the conserved deadenylase Ccr4, as being responsible for tRNA trimming. Once optimal growth conditions are restored tRNAs are rapidly repaired by the trypanosome tRNA nucleotidyltransferase thus rendering the recycled tRNAs amenable for translation. This mechanism represents a fast and efficient way to repress translation during stress, allowing quick reactivation with a low energy input.
H3K27me3 loss indicates an increased risk of recurrence in the Tübingen meningioma cohort
Authors: Behling Felix , Fodi Christina , Gepfner-Tuma Irina , Kaltenbach Kristina , Renovanz Mirjam , Paulsen Frank , Skardelly Marco , Honegger Jürgen , Tatagiba Marcos ,   International Consortium on Meningiomas, Schittenhelm Jens , Tabatabai Ghazaleh
Published: December 2020

Background

A loss of the trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3) in meningioma has been recently suggested as an adjunct to identify subsets of higher risk of recurrence. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of H3K27 histone trimethylation and its potential clinical utility in the “Tübingen meningioma cohort.”

Methods

Patients who underwent meningioma resection between October 2003 and December 2015 at the University Hospital Tübingen were included. Immunohistochemical stainings for H3K27me3 and the proliferation marker MIB1 were assessed and correlated with clinical parameters using univariate and multivariate Cox regressions as well as Pearson's chi-squared and log-rank test.

Results

Overall, 1268 meningiomas were analyzed with a female to male ratio of 2.6 and a mean age of 58.7 years (range 8.3–91.0). With 163 cases lost to follow up, 1103 cases were available for further analysis with a mean follow-up of 40.3 months (range 1.1–186.3). Male gender, younger age, intracranial tumor localization, progressive tumor, subtotal resection, higher WHO grade, increased MIB1 rate, and loss of H3K27me3 were significant negative prognostic factors in the univariate analysis. H3K27me3 status and all other prognostic factors, except age and tumor location, remained significant in the multivariate model. Furthermore, adjuvant radiotherapy was an independent positive prognostic factor.

Conclusions

Loss of H3K27me3 combined with MIB1 labeling index are independent prognostic factors in meningioma. These data from the Tübingen meningioma cohort support the clinical utility of H3K27me3 immunohistochemical staining in meningioma and its integration into the routine histopathological workup.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: Updates in Glioblastoma Treatment
Authors: Feldman Lisa , Brown Christine , Badie Behnam
Published: December 2020

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are the most common and among the deadliest brain tumors in adults. Current mainstay treatments are insufficient to treat this tumor, and therefore, more effective therapies are desperately needed. Immunotherapy, which takes advantage of the body's natural defense mechanism, is an exciting emerging field in neuro-oncology. Adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells provides a treatment strategy based on using patients’ own selected and genetically engineered cells that target tumor-associated antigens. These cells are harvested from patients, modified to target specific proteins expressed by the tumor, and re-introduced into the patient with the goal of destroying tumor cells. Here, we review the history of CAR T-cell therapy, and describe the characteristics of various generations of CAR T therapies, and the challenges inherent to treatment of GBM. Finally, we describe recent and current CAR T clinical trials designed to combat GBM.
E-cigarette Use in Prisons With Recently Established Smokefree Policies: A Qualitative Interview Study With People in Custody in Scotland
Authors: Brown Ashley , O’Donnell Rachel , Eadie Douglas , Ford Allison , Mitchell Danielle , Hackett Alison , Sweeting Helen , Bauld Linda , Hunt Kate
Published: December 2020

Introduction

E-cigarettes were one measure introduced to help people in custody (PiC) to prepare for and cope with implementation of comprehensive smokefree policies in Scottish prisons. Our earlier study explored experiences of vaping when e-cigarettes were first introduced and most participants were dual tobacco and e-cigarette users. Here we present findings of a subsequent study of vaping among a different sample of PiC when use of tobacco was prohibited in prison, and smokefree policy had become the norm.

Methods

Twenty-eight qualitative interviews were conducted with PiC who were current or former users of e-cigarettes in prison, 6–10 months after implementation of a smokefree policy. Data were managed and analyzed using the framework approach.

Results

PiC reported that vaping helped with mandated smoking abstinence. However, findings suggest that some PiC may be susceptible to heavy e-cigarette use potentially as a consequence of high nicotine dependence and situational factors such as e-cigarette product choice and availability in prisons; issues with nicotine delivery; prison regimes; and use of e-cigarettes for managing negative emotions. These factors may act as barriers to cutting down or stopping use of e-cigarettes by PiC who want to make changes due to dissatisfaction with vaping or lack of interest in continued use of nicotine, cost, and/or health concerns.

Conclusions

E-cigarettes helped PiC to cope with smokefree rules, although concerns about e-cigarette efficacy, cost, and safety were raised. PiC may desire or benefit both from conventional smoking cessation programs and from interventions to support reduction, or cessation, of vaping.

Implications

Findings highlight successes, challenges, and potential solutions in respect of use of e-cigarettes to cope with mandated smoking abstinence in populations with high smoking prevalence and heavy nicotine dependence. Experiences from prisons in Scotland may be of particular interest to health and/or justice services in other jurisdictions, with similar legislation on e-cigarettes to the United Kingdom, who are planning for institutional smokefree policies in their prisons or inpatient mental health settings in the future.
Affordability of nutritious foods for complementary feeding in Eastern and Southern Africa
Authors: Ryckman Theresa , Beal Ty , Nordhagen Stella , Chimanya Kudakwashe , Matji Joan
Published: December 2020

Low intake of diverse complementary foods causes critical nutrient gaps in the diets of young children. Inadequate nutrient intake in the first 2 years of life can lead to poor health, educational, and economic outcomes. In this study, the extent to which food affordability is a barrier to consumption of several nutrients critical for child growth and development was examined in Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Drawing upon data from nutrient gap assessments, household surveys, and food composition tables, current consumption levels were assessed, the cost of purchasing key nutritious foods that could fill likely nutrient gaps was calculated, and these costs were compared with current household food expenditure. Vitamin A is affordable for most households (via dark leafy greens, orange-fleshed vegetables, and liver) but only a few foods (fish, legumes, dairy, dark leafy greens, liver) are affordable sources of iron, animal-source protein, or calcium, and only in some countries. Zinc is ubiquitously unaffordable. For unaffordable nutrients, approaches to reduce prices, enhance household production, or increase household resources for nutritious foods are needed.
Mental health of staff working in intensive care during Covid-19
Authors: Greenberg N , Weston D , Hall C , Caulfield T , Williamson V , Fong K
Published: December 2020

Background

Staff working in intensive care units (ICUs) have faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic which have the potential to adversely affect their mental health.

Aims

To identify the rates of probable mental health disorder in staff working in ICUs in nine English hospitals during June and July 2020.

Methods

An anonymized brief web-based survey comprising standardized questionnaires examining depression, anxiety symptoms, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), well-being and alcohol use was administered to staff.

Results

Seven hundred and nine participants completed the surveys comprising 291 (41%) doctors, 344 (49%) nurses and 74 (10%) other healthcare staff. Over half (59%) reported good well-being; however, 45% met the threshold for probable clinical significance on at least one of the following measures: severe depression (6%), PTSD (40%), severe anxiety (11%) or problem drinking (7%). Thirteen per cent of respondents reported frequent thoughts of being better off dead, or of hurting themselves in the past 2 weeks. Within the sample used in this study, we found that doctors reported better mental health than nurses across a range of measures.

Conclusions

We found substantial rates of probable mental health disorders, and thoughts of self-harm, amongst ICU staff; these difficulties were especially prevalent in nurses. Whilst further work is needed to better understand the real level of clinical need amongst ICU staff, these results indicate the need for a national strategy to protect the mental health, and decrease the risk of functional impairment, of ICU staff whilst they carry out their essential work during COVID-19.
The Banks of Tay
Authors: Ruskin John
Published: December 2020

60. The reader has, I hope, observed that in all I have hitherto said, emphasis has been laid only on the favourable conditions which surrounded the child whose history I am writing, and on the docile and impressionable quietness of its temper.

No claim has...
The Col de la Faucille
Authors: Ruskin John
Published: December 2020

177. About the moment in the forenoon when the modern fashionable traveller, intent on Paris, Nice, and Monaco, and started by the morning mail from Charing Cross, has a little recovered himself from the qualms of his crossing, and the irritation of fighting...
Of Age
Authors: Ruskin John
Published: December 2020

1. This second volume must, I fear, be less pleasing to the general reader, with whom the first has found more favour than I had hoped,—not because I tire of talking, but that the talk must be less of other persons, and more...
Rome
Authors: Ruskin John
Published: December 2020

20. However dearly bought, the permission to cease reading, and put what strength was left into my sketching again, gave healthy stimulus to all faculties which had been latently progressive in me; and the sketchbooks and rulers were prepared for this journey on...
The Campo Santo
Authors: Ruskin John
Published: December 2020

104. The summer’s work of 1844, so far from advancing the design of ‘Modern Painters,’ had thrown me off it—first into fine botany, then into difficult geology, and lastly, as that entry about the Madonna shows, into a fit of figure study which...
Macugnaga
Authors: Ruskin John
Published: December 2020

125. When first I saw Florence, in 1840, the great street leading into the Baptistery square from the south had not been rebuilt, but consisted of irregular ancient houses, with far projecting bracketed roofs. I mourned over their loss bitterly in 1845; but...
Joanna’s Care
Authors: Ruskin John
Published: December 2020

60. The mischances* which have delayed the sequence of ‘Praeterita’ must modify somewhat also its intended order. I leave Rosie’s letter to tell what it can of the beginning of happiest days; but omit, for a little while, the further record...
Chapter III
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

‘My husband was connected with many charitable institutions,’ the widow began. ‘Am I right in believing that he was one of the governors of Bethlehem Hospital?’*

At this reference to the famous asylum for insane persons, popularly known among the inhabitants of London...
Chapter V
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.

We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower. High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light....
Chapter VI
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

On our return to home, I found Fritz Keller smoking his pipe in the walled garden at the back of the house.

In those days, it may not be amiss to remark that merchants of the old-fashioned sort still lived over their counting-houses in the...
Chapter X
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

On the afternoon of the next day, while my two good friends were still occupied by the duties of the office, I stole out to pay my promised visit to Minna and Minna’s mother.

It was impossible not to arrive at the conclusion that they...
Chapter XIV
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

Thanks to the instructions confided to me, my errand presented no difficulties. There were certain persons to whom I was introduced, and certain information to be derived from them, which it was my duty to submit to Mr Keller on my return. Fidelity was...
Chapter XV
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

From these reflections I was roused by the appearance of a waiter, with a letter for me. The envelope contained a slip cut from a German newspaper, and these lines of writing, signed by Frau Meyer:—

‘You are either a very just, or a very...
Chapter XVII
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

The widow was alone in the room; standing by the bedside table on which Mr Keller’s night-drink was placed. I was so completely taken by surprise, that I stood stock-still like a fool, and stared at Madame Fontaine in silence.

On her side she was,...
Chapter XX
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

When, late that night, I entered my bedroom again, how I blessed the lucky accident of my six hours’ sleep, after a night’s watching at Mr Keller’s bedside!

If I had spoken to Doctor Dormann as I had positively resolved to speak, he would,...
Chapter XXI
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

The next day, my calculation of possibilities in the matter of Fritz turned out to be correct.

Returning to Main Street, after a short absence from the house, the door was precipitately opened to me by Minna. Before she could say a word, her face...
Chapter III
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

In the gloom thrown over the household by Mr Engelman’s death, Mrs Wagner, with characteristic energy and good sense, had kept her mind closely occupied. During the office hours, she studied those details of the business at Frankfort which differed from the details of...
Chapter XIV
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

Doctor Dormann was punctual to his appointment. He was accompanied by a stranger, whom he introduced as a surgeon.* As before, Jack slipped into the room, and waited in a corner, listening and watching attentively.

Instead of improving under the administration of the remedies,...
Chapter XV
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

Doctor Dormann had behaved very strangely.

He was the first person who made the terrible discovery of the death. When he came to the house, on his evening visit to his patient, Mr Keller was in the room. Half an hour before, Mrs Wagner had...
Chapter XVIII
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

The discovery of Jack agreeably surprised Schwartz, without in the least perplexing him.

His little friend (as he reasoned) had, no doubt, remembered the invitation to the Deadhouse, and had obtained admission through the interference of the strange gentleman who was with him....
VII
Authors: Collins Wilkie
Published: December 2020

‘It was past midnight,’ said the doctor, ‘when I made the discovery, with which you are now acquainted. I went at once to Mr Keller. He had fortunately not gone to bed; and he accompanied me to the Deadhouse. Knowing the overseer’s private door, at...
Chapter II
Authors: Walpole Horace
Published: December 2020

Matilda, who by Hippolita’s order had retired to her apartment, was ill-disposed to take any rest. The shocking fate of her brother had deeply affected her. She was surprised at not seeing Isabella: but the strange words which had fallen from her father, and...
Volume I Chapter I
Authors: Lewis Matthew
Published: December 2020

—Lord Angelo is precise;

Stands at a guard with envy; Scarce confesses

That his blood flows, or that his appetite

Is more to bread than stone.*

Measure for Measure.

Scarcely had the Abbey-Bell tolled for five minutes, and already was the Church of...
The Water-King
Authors: Lewis Matthew
Published: December 2020

A Danish Ballad

With gentle murmur flowed the Tide,

While by the fragrant flowery side

The lovely Maid with carols gay

To Mary’s Church pursued her way.

The Water-Fiend’s malignant eye

Along the Banks beheld her hie;

Straight to his Mother-witch He sped,

And thus...
Alonzo The Brave, And Fair Imogine
Authors: Lewis Matthew
Published: December 2020

A Warrior so bold, and a Virgin so bright

Conversed, as They sat on the green:

They gazed on each other with tender delight;

Alonzo the Brave was the name of the Knight,

The Maid’s was the Fair Imogine.

‘And Oh!’ said the Youth, ‘since...
Chapter III
Authors: Lewis Matthew
Published: December 2020

Oh! could I worship aught beneath the skies,

That earth hath seen or fancy could devise,

Thine altar, sacred Liberty, should stand,

Built by no mercenary vulgar hand,

With fragrant turf, and flowers as wild and fair,

As ever dressed a bank, or scented summer...
Chapter V
Authors: Lewis Matthew
Published: December 2020

——He was a fell despightful Fiend:

Hell holds none worse in baleful bower below:

By pride, and wit, and rage, and rancor keened;

Of Man alike, if good or bad the Foe.*

Thomson.

On the day following Antonia’s death, all Madrid was a...
‘You Should Remember that I am His Mother’
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

‘This is so kind of you,’ said Lady Carbury, grasping her cousin’s hand as she got out of the carriage.

‘The kindness is on your part,’ said Roger.

‘I felt so much before I dared to ask you to take us. But I did...
The Bishop and the Priest
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

The afternoon on which Lady Carbury arrived at her cousin’s house had been very stormy. Roger Carbury had been severe, and Lady Carbury had suffered under his severity,—or had at least so well pretended to suffer as to leave on Roger’s mind a strong...
Hetta Carbury Hears a Love Tale
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

‘I have half a mind to go back to-morrow morning,’ Felix said to his mother that Sunday evening after dinner. At that moment Roger was walking round the garden by himself, and Henrietta was in her own room.

‘To-morrow morning, Felix! You are engaged...
Lord Nidderdale’s Morality
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

It was very generally said in the city about this time that the Great South Central Pacific and Mexican Railway was the very best thing out. It was known that Mr Melmotte had gone into it with heart and hand. There were many who...
Mr Broune Has Made Up His Mind
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

‘And now I have something to say to you.’ Mr Broune as he thus spoke to Lady Carbury rose up to his feet and then sat down again. There was an air of perturbation about him which was very manifest to the lady,...
Lord Nidderdale Tries His Hand Again
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

Lord Nidderdale had half consented to renew his suit to Marie Melmotte. He had at any rate half promised to call at Melmotte’s house on the Sunday with the object of so doing. As far as that promise had been given it was broken,...
‘So shall be my enmity’
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

‘You shall be troubled no more with Winifred Hurtle.’ So Mrs Hurtle had said, speaking in perfect good faith to the man whom she had come to England with the view of marrying. And then when he had said good-bye to her, putting...
Sir Felix Protects His Sister
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

Up to this period of his life Sir Felix Carbury had probably felt but little of the punishment due to his very numerous shortcomings. He had spent all his fortune; he had lost his commission in the army;* he had incurred the...
Hetta and Her Lover
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

Lady Carbury was at this time so miserable in regard to her son that she found herself unable to be active as she would otherwise have been in her endeavours to separate Paul Montague and her daughter. Roger had come up to...
Ruby Prepares for Service
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

Our poor old honest friend John Crumb was taken away to durance vile* after his performance in the street with Sir Felix, and was locked up for the remainder of the night. This indignity did not sit so heavily on his spirits...
Melmotte Again at the House
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

On that Thursday afternoon it was known everywhere that there was to be a general ruin of all the Melmotte affairs. As soon as Cohenlupe had gone, no man doubted. The City men who had not gone to the dinner prided themselves on their...
A True Lover
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

Hetta Carbury, out of the fulness of her heart, having made up her mind that she had been unjust to her lover, wrote to him a letter full of penitence, full of love, telling him at great length all the details of her meeting...
Mrs Hurtle’s Fate
Authors: Trollope Anthony
Published: December 2020

Mrs Hurtle had consented at the joint request of Mrs Pipkin and John Crumb to postpone her journey to New York and to go down to Bungay and grace the marriage of Ruby Ruggles, not so much from any love for the persons concerned,...
Chapter II
Authors: Equiano Olaudah
Published: December 2020

The author’s birth and parentage—His being kidnapped with his sister—Their separation—Surprise at meeting again—Are finally separated—Account of the different places and incidents the author met with till his arrival on the coast—The effect the sight of a slave ship had on him—He sails for the...
Chapter I: Outside Dorlcote Mill
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

A Wide plain, where the broadening Floss hurries on between its green banks to the sea, and the loving tide, rushing to meet it, checks its passage with an impetuous embrace. On this mighty tide the black ships—laden with the fresh-scented fir-planks, with...
Chapter VII: Enter the Aunts and Uncles
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

The Dodsons were certainly a handsome family, and Mrs Glegg was not the least handsome of the sisters. As she sat in Mrs Tulliver’s arm-chair, no impartial observer could have denied that for a woman of fifty she had a very comely face and...
Chapter VIII: Mr Tulliver Shows His Weaker Side
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

‘Suppose sister Glegg should call her money in—it’ud be very awkward for you to have to raise five hundred pounds now,’ said Mrs Tulliver to her husband that evening, as she took a plaintive review of the day.

Mrs Tulliver had lived fourteen years...
Chapter XIII: Mr Tulliver Further Entangles the Skein of Life
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

Owing to this new adjustment of Mrs Glegg’s thoughts, Mrs Pullet found her task of mediation the next day surprisingly easy. Mrs Glegg, indeed, checked her rather sharply for thinking it would be necessary to tell her eldest sister what was the...
Chapter V: Maggie’s Second Visit
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

This last breach between the two lads was not readily mended, and for some time they spoke to each other no more than was necessary. Their natural antipathy of temperament made resentment an easy passage to hatred, and in Philip the transition...
Chapter VI: A Love Scene
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

Poor Tom bore his severe pain heroically, and was resolute in not ‘telling’ of Mr Poulter more than was unavoidable: the five-shilling piece remained a secret even to Maggie. But there was a terrible dread weighing on his mind—so terrible that he dared not...
Chapter IX: An Item Added to the Family Register
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

That first moment of renunciation and submission was followed by days of violent struggle in the miller’s mind, as the gradual access of bodily strength brought with it increasing ability to embrace in one view all the conflicting conditions under which he found himself....
Chapter II: The Torn Nest Is Pierced by the Thorns
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

There is something sustaining in the very agitation that accompanies the first shocks of trouble, just as an acute pain is often a stimulus, and produces an excitement which is transient strength. It is in the slow, changed life that follows—in the time when...
Chapter I: A Duet in Paradise
Authors: Eliot George
Published: December 2020

The well-furnished drawing-room, with the open grand piano, and the pleasant outlook down a sloping garden to a boat-house by the side of the Floss, is Mr Deane’s. The neat little lady in mourning, whose light-brown ringlets are falling over the coloured embroidery with...