bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gambling formats, involvement, and problem gambling: which types of gambling are more risky?
Authors: Mazar Alissa , Zorn Martha , Becker Nozipho , Volberg Rachel A.
Published: May 2020

Background

The recognition of problem gambling as a public health issue has increased as the availability of gambling expands. Research has found that some formats of gambling are more closely linked to problem gambling than others. Conflicting evidence, however, has emerged, suggesting that the most important consideration is involvement (i.e., number of gambling formats an individual participates in). This debate has important implications for the regulation of gambling formats and for the allocation of problem gambling prevention and treatment services.

Method

Analyses utilized the Baseline General Population Survey (BGPS) and the Baseline Online Panel Survey (BOPS) of Massachusettscollected in 2013–2014. The BGPS contains a representative sample of 9523 Massachusetts adults and the BOPS contains a sample of 5046 Massachusetts adults. All participants were administered the same comprehensive survey of their past year gambling behavior and problem gambling symptomology. Only those who gambled regularly in the past 12 months (n = 5852) were included. The Problem and Pathological Gambling Measure was used to classify gambling behavior. Within the sample, there were 446 problem gamblers. We assessed: 1) whether some gambling formats are more related to problem gambling; 2) whether problem gambling is positively related to high involvement in gambling; 3) the relationship between involvement in gambling and intensity of gambling; and 4) whether gambling formats mediate the relationship between gambling involvement and problem gambling.

Results

Groups of monthly gamblers participating in casino gambling, bingo, and sports betting contained a higher proportion of problem gamblers. High gambling involvement was also positively associated with problem gambling; however, a large minority of gamblers experienced problems when engaging in only one or two forms of gambling. Gambling involvement was also positively associated with intensity of gambling. Therefore, intensity of gambling may be partly driving the relationship between involvement and problem gambling. Specific gambling formats mediated the relationship between involvement and problem gambling.

Conclusions

The gambling format an individual participates in is connected to whether an individual is likely to experience problem gambling. We also found that the level of involvement (and its relationship to intensity) may affect the likelihood that an individual will experience problematic gambling behavior. Ultimately, the type of gambling format an individual partakes in does mediate the relationship between problem gambling and involvement. In Massachusetts, participating in casino gambling was more closely associated with problem gambling than other formats across all levels of involvement.
Cardiac overload resolved by resection of a large plexiform neurofibroma on both the buttocks and upper posterior thighs in a patient with neurofibromatosis type I: a case report
Authors: Mikami Taro , Honma-Koretsune Yuki , Tsunoda Yui , Kagimoto Shintaro , Yabuki Yuichiro , Maegawa Jiro , Terauchi Miki , Nawata Shintaro , Kamide Hiroyuki , Ishiwata Yoshinobu , Kino Tabito , Sugano Teruyasu
Published: May 2020

Background

A large plexiform neurofibroma in patients with neurofibromatosis type I can be life threatening due to possible massive bleeding within the lesion. Although the literature includes many reports that describe the plexiform neurofibroma size and weight or strategies for their surgical treatment, few have discussed their possible physical or mental benefits, such as reducing cardiac stress. In addition, resection of these large tumors can result in impaired wound healing, partly due to massive blood loss during surgery.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old man was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type I and burdened with a large plexiform neurofibroma on the buttocks and upper posterior thighs. The patient was 159 cm in height and 70.0 kg in weight at the first visit. Cardiac overload was indicated by an echocardiography before surgery. His cardiac output was 5.2 L/min with mild tricuspid regurgitation. After embolism of the arteries feeding the tumor, the patient underwent surgery to remove the neurofibroma, followed by skin grafting. Follow-up echocardiography, performed 6 months after the final surgery, indicated a decreased cardiac output (3.6 L/min) with improvement of tricuspid regurgitation. Because the blood loss during the first surgery was over 3.8 L, malnutrition with albuminemia was induced and half of the skin graft did not attach. Nutritional support to improve the albuminemia produced better results following a second surgery to repair the skin wound.

Conclusion

Cardiac overload may be latent in patients with neurofibromatosis type I with large plexiform neurofibromas. As in pregnancy, the body may compensate for this burden. In these patients, one stage total excision may improve quality of life and reduce cardiac overload. In addition, nutritional support is likely needed following a major surgery that results in either an extensive skin wound or excessive blood loss during treatment.
Nurse’s attunement to patient’s meaning in life - a qualitative study of experiences of Dutch adults ageing in place
Authors: Hupkens Susan , Goumans Marleen , Derkx Peter , Machielse Anja
Published: May 2020

Background

Meaning in life (MiL) is considered to be an important part of health and is associated with many positive outcomes in older adults, such as quality of life and longevity. As health promotors, nurses may take patients’ MiL into account in the care process. There is a knowledge gap in terms of what constitutes good care in relation to older patients’ MiL, and what the benefits may be for patients when nursing is attuned to this aspect. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of home nursing older adults in relation to nurses’ attunement to MiL.

Methods

Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenological design with semi-structured interviews. Participants were 24 aged home nursing patients. A framework of care ethical evaluation was used in the analysis. Multiple dialogues enhanced understanding.

Results

Patients did not expect nurses’ regard for their MiL. They rather expected ‘normal contact’ and adequate physical care. Nurses showed that they were open to patients’ MiL by being interested in the patient as a person and by being attentive to specific and hidden needs. Participants explained that the nurse’s behaviour upon arrival set the tone: they knew immediately if there was room for MiL or not. All participants had positive and negative experiences with nurses’ behaviour in relation to MiL. Valued nursing care included maintaining a long, kind and reciprocal relationship; doing what was needed; and skilled personalised care. Participants mentioned ‘special ones’: nurses who attuned to them in a special way and did more than expected. Benefits of care that was attuned to patients’ MiL were: experiencing a cheerful moment, feeling secure, feeling like a valuable person and having a good day. Older adults also stressed that consideration for MiL helps identify what is important in healthcare.

Conclusion

Aged homecare patients value nurses’ attunement to their MiL positively. Although patients regard MiL mostly as their own quest, nurses play a modest yet important role. Managers and educators should support nurses’ investment in reciprocal nurse-patient relationships.
Preferences heterogeneity of health care utilization of community residents in China: a stated preference discrete choice experiment
Authors: Jiang Ming-zhu , Fu Qiang , Xiong Ju-yang , Li Xiang-lin , Jia Er-ping , Peng Ying-ying , Shen Xiao
Published: May 2020

Background

To tackle the issue with the low usage of primary healthcare service in China, it is essential to align resource distribution with the preferences of the community residents. There are few academic researches for describing residents’ perceived characteristics of healthcare services in China. This study aims to investigate the preferences of healthcare services utilization in community residents and explore the heterogeneity. The findings will be useful for the policy makers to take targeted measures to tailor the provision of healthcare services.

Methods

The face-to-face interviews and surveys were conducted to elicit four key attributes (care provider; mode of services; cost; travel time) of the preference from community residents for healthcare utilization. A rational test was presented first to confirm the consistency, and then 16 pairs of choice tasks with 12 sociodemographic items were given to the respondents. Two hypothetical options for each set, without an opt-out option, were presented in each choice task. The latent class analysis (LCA) was used to analyse the data.

Results

Two thousand one hundred sixty respondents from 36 communities in 6 cities were recruited for our study. 2019 (93.47%) respondents completed valid discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaires. The LCA results suggested that four groups of similar preferences were identified. The first group (27.29%) labelled as “Comprehensive consideration” had an even preference of all four attributes. The second group (37.79%) labelled as “Price-driven” preferred low-price healthcare services. The third group labelled as “Near distance” showed a clear preference for seeking healthcare services nearby. The fourth group (34.18%) labelled as “Quality seeker” preferred the healthcare service provided by experts. Willingness to pay (WTP) results showed that people were willing to accept CNY202.12($29.37) for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services and willing to pay CNY604.31($87.81) for the service provided by experts.

Conclusions

Our study qualitatively measures the distinct preferences for healthcare utilization in community residents in China. The results suggest that the care provider, mode of services, travel time and cost should be considered in priority setting decisions. The study, however, reveals substantial disagreement in opinion of TCM between different population subgroups.
Community pharmacy teams’ experiences of general practice-based pharmacists: an exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Karampatakis Georgios Dimitrios , Patel Nilesh , Stretch Graham , Ryan Kath
Published: May 2020

Background

In England, since 2015, there has been a formal drive to integrate pharmacists into general practice as a new healthcare service. Research efforts have offered insights into how general practice-based professionals and patients view the service, however, they took no account of community pharmacy teams’ opinions. There have been anecdotal statements about opposition from community pharmacies to the service, due to fears of losing business. The aim of the current study was to identify the experiences and perceptions of community pharmacy teams regarding pharmacists’ presence in general practice.

Methods

The National Health Service Choices website was used to identify community pharmacies within a radius of two miles from eight West London general practices. The search resulted in 104 community pharmacies which were all contacted via telephone. Pharmacy staff who verbally expressed their interest to participate were then provided with the study’s documents. Qualitative, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted inside the pharmacy from which each participant was recruited. Interviews lasted 30 to 45 min and were audio-recorded. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and transcripts analysed thematically.

Results

Forty-eight community pharmacy staff participated. Four themes were discerned: awareness (“I knew that [pharmacists] have already been implemented [in general practice] but I haven’t really followed it … where does the pharmacist role come?”); interactions (“I’m just so pleased that there’s a pharmacist professional in the general practice … because we speak the same language!”); patient care (“if I was a patient knowing that there is a general practitioner and a pharmacist [in general practice], I would … think ‘nothing can go wrong at the moment’”); and funding challenges (“if general practices take on the extra responsibility of stop smoking or flu vaccination campaigns … financially, this would affect this pharmacy”).

Conclusions

The current study revealed the perceived impact of general practice-based pharmacists on community pharmacies would be improved communication between pharmacies and practices. Findings will inform policy so that any future framing of pharmacists’ presence in general practice considers the needs of community pharmacies.
Establishing injury surveillance in emergency departments in Nepal: protocol for mixed methods prospective study
Authors: Magnus Dan , Bhatta Santosh , Mytton Julie , Joshi Elisha , Bird Emma L. , Bhatta Sumiksha , Manandhar Sunil Raja , Joshi Sunil Kumar
Published: May 2020

Background

Globally, injuries cause more than 5 million deaths annually, a similar number to those from HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria combined. In people aged between 5 and 44 years of age trauma is the leading cause of death and disability and the burden is highest in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Like other LMICs, injuries represent a significant burden in Nepal and data suggest that the number is increasing with high morbidity and mortality. In the last 20 years there have been significant improvements in injury outcomes in high income countries as a result of organised systems for collecting injury data and using this surveillance to inform developments in policy and practice. Meanwhile, in most LMICs, including Nepal, systems for routinely collecting injury data are limited and the establishment of injury surveillance systems and trauma registries have been proposed as ways to improve data quality and availability.

Methods

This study will implement an injury surveillance system for use in emergency departments in Nepal to collect data on patients presenting with injuries. The surveillance system will be introduced in two hospitals and data collection will take place 24 h a day over a 12-month period using trained data collectors. Prospective data collection will enable the description of the epidemiology of hospital injury presentations and associated risk factors. Qualitative interviews with stakeholders will inform understanding of the perceived benefits of the data and the barriers and facilitators to embedding a sustainable hospital-based injury surveillance system into routine practice.

Discussion

The effective use of injury surveillance data in Nepal could support the reduction in morbidity and mortality from adult and childhood injury through improved prevention, care and policy development, as well as providing evidence to inform health resource allocation. This study seeks to test a model of injury surveillance based in emergency departments and explore factors that have the potential to influence extension to additional settings.
Financial risk of seeking maternal and neonatal healthcare in southern Ethiopia: a cohort study of rural households
Authors: Borde Moges Tadesse , Loha Eskindir , Johansson Kjell Arne , Lindtjørn Bernt
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Ethiopian households’ out-of-pocket healthcare payments constitute one-third of the national healthcare budget and are higher than the global and low-income countries average, and even the global target. Such out-of-pocket payments pose severe financial risks, can be catastrophic, impoverishing, and one of the causal barriers for low utilisation of healthcare services in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the financial risk of seeking maternal and neonatal healthcare in southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A population-based cohort study was conducted among 794 pregnant women, 784 postpartum women, and their 772 neonates from 794 households in rural kebeles of the Wonago district, southern Ethiopia. The financial risk was estimated using the incidence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure, impoverishment, and depth of poverty. Annual catastrophic healthcare expenditure was determined if out-of-pocket payments exceeding 10% of total household or 40% of non-food expenditure. Impoverishment was analysed based on total household expenditure and the international poverty line of ≈ $1.9 per capita per day.

Results

Approximately 93% (735) of pregnant women, 31% (244) of postpartum women, and 48% (369) of their neonates experienced illness. However, only 56 households utilised healthcare services. The median total household expenditure was $527 per year (IQR = 390: 370,760). The median out-of-pocket healthcare payment was $46 per year (IQR = 46: 46, 92) with two episodes per household, and shared 19% of the household’s budget. The poorer households paid more than did the richer for healthcare, during pregnancy-related and neonatal illness. However, the richer paid more than did the poorer during postpartum illness. Forty-six percent of households faced catastrophic healthcare expenditure at the threshold of 10% of total household expenditure, or 74% at a 40% non-food expenditure, and associated with neonatal illness (aRR: 2.56, 95%CI: 1.02, 6.44). Moreover, 92% of households were pushed further into extreme poverty and the poverty gap among households was 45 Ethiopian Birr per day. The average household size among study households was 4.7 persons per household.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that health inequity in the household’s budget share of total OOP healthcare payments in southern Ethiopia was high. Besides, utilisation of maternal and neonatal healthcare services is very low and seeking such healthcare poses a substantial financial risk during illness among rural households. Therefore, the issue of health inequity should be considered when setting priorities to address the lack of fairness in maternal and neonatal health.
Self-reported and parent proxy reported functional impairment among pediatric cancer survivors and controls
Authors: Erickson Sarah J. , Hile Sarah , Kubinec Nicole , Annett Robert D.
Published: May 2020

Background

A unique and limiting component in the research on functional impairment among children has been the exclusive use of parent proxy reports about child functioning; and there is limited information regarding the impact of pediatric cancer treatment on children’s day-to-day functioning and how this is related to neurocognitive functioning. The objective of the current study was to examine a novel measure of self-reported functional impairment, and explore the relationship between self-reported and parent-reported child functional impairment in pediatric cancer survivors compared to controls.

Methods

A cross-sectional cohort of survivors (n = 26) and controls (n = 53) were recruited. Survivors were off treatment an average of 6.35 years (SD = 5.38; range 1–15 years) and demonstrated an average “medium” Central Nervous System treatment intensity score. Participants completed measures of functional impairment (FI), intellectual assessment (RIST) and executive functions (NIH Examiner), while parents reported on children’s functional impairment.

Results

Survivors were similar to controls in functional impairment. Regardless of group membership, self-reported FI was higher than parent-reported FI, although they were correlated and parent report of FI significantly predicted self-reported FI. Across groups, increased impairment was associated with four of seven Examiner scores.

Conclusions

Research regarding self-reported functional impairment of cancer survivors and its association with parent-reported functional impairment and neurocognitive deficits has been limited. Our results suggest that self-reported FI appears to be a reasonable and viable outcome measure that corresponds with and adds incremental validity to parent reported FI. While low treatment intensity may confer relative sparing of functional impairment among survivors, children report higher FI levels than parents, suggesting that FI can be of clinical utility. In conclusion, pediatric cancer survivors should be screened for self-reported functional difficulties.
Correction to: Bispecific CAR-T cells targeting both CD19 and CD22 for therapy of adults with relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Dai Hanren , Wu Zhiqiang , Jia Hejin , Tong Chuan , Guo Yelei , Ti Dongdong , Han Xiao , Liu Yang , Zhang Wenying , Wang Chunmeng , Zhang Yajing , Chen Meixia , Yang Qingming , Wang Yao , Han Weidong
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Age-related differences in white matter diffusion measures in autism spectrum condition
Authors: Thompson Abigail , Shahidiani Asal , Fritz Anne , O’Muircheartaigh Jonathan , Walker Lindsay , D’Almeida Vera , Murphy Clodagh , Daly Eileen , Murphy Declan , Williams Steve , Deoni Sean , Ecker Christine
Published: May 2020

Background

Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is accompanied by developmental differences in brain anatomy and connectivity. White matter differences in ASC have been widely studied with diffusion imaging but results are heterogeneous and vary across the age range of study participants and varying methodological approaches. To characterize the neurodevelopmental trajectory of white matter maturation, it is necessary to examine a broad age range of individuals on the autism spectrum and typically developing controls, and investigate age × group interactions.

Methods

Here, we employed a spatially unbiased tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) approach to examine age-related differences in white matter connectivity in a sample of 41 individuals with ASC, and 41 matched controls between 7–17 years of age.

Results

We found significant age-related differences between the ASC and control group in widespread brain regions. This included age-related differences in the uncinate fasciculus, corticospinal tract, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, superior longitudinal fasciculus and forceps major. Measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) were significantly positively associated with age in both groups. However, this relationship was significantly stronger in the ASC group relative to controls. Measures of radial diffusivity (RD) were significantly negatively associated with age in both groups, but this relationship was significantly stronger in the ASC group relative to controls.

Limitations

The generalisability of our findings is limited by the restriction of the sample to right-handed males with an IQ > 70. Furthermore, a longitudinal design would be required to fully investigate maturational processes across this age group.

Conclusions

Taken together, our findings suggest that autistic males have an altered trajectory of white matter maturation relative to controls. Future longitudinal analyses are required to further characterize the extent and time course of these differences.
Activity landscape image analysis using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Iqbal Javed , Vogt Martin , Bajorath Jürgen
Published: May 2020

Activity landscapes (ALs) are graphical representations that combine compound similarity and activity data. ALs are constructed for visualizing local and global structure–activity relationships (SARs) contained in compound data sets. Three-dimensional (3D) ALs are reminiscent of geographical maps where differences in landscape topology mirror different SAR characteristics. 3D AL models can be stored as differently formatted images and are thus amenable to image analysis approaches, which have thus far not been considered in the context of graphical SAR analysis. In this proof-of-concept study, 3D ALs were constructed for a variety of compound activity classes and 3D AL image variants of varying topology and information content were generated and classified. To these ends, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were initially applied to images of original 3D AL models with color-coding reflecting compound potency information that were taken from different viewpoints. Images of 3D AL models were transformed into variants from which one-dimensional features were extracted. Other machine learning approaches including support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) algorithms were applied to derive models on the basis of such features. In addition, SVM and RF models were trained using other features obtained from images through edge filtering. Machine learning was able to accurately distinguish between 3D AL image variants with different topology and information content. Overall, CNNs which directly learned feature representations from 3D AL images achieved highest classification accuracy. Predictive performance for CNN, SVM, and RF models was highest for image variants emphasizing topological elevation. In addition, SVM models trained on rudimentary images from edge filtering classified such images with high accuracy, which further supported the critical role of altitude-dependent topological features for image analysis and predictions. Taken together, the findings of our proof-of-concept investigation indicate that image analysis has considerable potential for graphical SAR exploration to systematically infer different SAR characteristics from topological features of 3D ALs.
Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway
Authors: Marin Andrei , Sjaastad Espen , Benjaminsen Tor A. , Sara Mikkel Nils M. , Borgenvik Erik Johan Langfeldt
Published: May 2020

The official governance of the reindeer pastoralist system in the north of Norway relies overwhelmingly on one central argument: that in order to maintain a sustainable system, maximum numbers and densities of reindeer, as well as certain herd structures, should be upheld. If these indicators are ignored, the argument goes, the consequences are resource degradation and economic collapse. Even though this argument has been challenged by both researchers and reindeer herders across Fennoscandia, it continues to dominate management policies and practice. Here we set out to investigate the validity of the premise that there is a strong relationship between density and carcass weights over the whole of Finnmark, based on official data. We find that although the relationship is present, its explanatory power is not very strong in a variety of circumstances and propose that it therefore cannot be used to frame important governance policies for the whole system. We also critically reflect on the model’s goal of high productivity per capita of reindeer (high carcass weight). We suggest that productivity per area unit can be at least as relevant as carcass weights and perhaps a better indicator for pastoralist systems in general. For the Finnmark pastoralist system, we argue, a measure of productivity in kilogrammes per square kilometer reveals a different picture: rather than being a failed system marred by suffering animals and low economic returns, reindeer herding in Western Finnmark becomes the most productive in Norway. This shift of focus is likely relevant for other pastoralist systems where governance is premised on similar arguments.
Distinct actions of the fermented beverage kefir on host behaviour, immunity and microbiome gut-brain modules in the mouse
Authors: van de Wouw Marcel , Walsh Aaron M. , Crispie Fiona , van Leuven Lucas , Lyte Joshua M. , Boehme Marcus , Clarke Gerard , Dinan Timothy G. , Cotter Paul D. , Cryan John F.
Published: May 2020

Background

Mounting evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiota in modulating brain physiology and behaviour, through bi-directional communication, along the gut-brain axis. As such, the gut microbiota represents a potential therapeutic target for influencing centrally mediated events and host behaviour. It is thus notable that the fermented milk beverage kefir has recently been shown to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. It is unclear whether kefirs have differential effects on microbiota-gut-brain axis and whether they can modulate host behaviour per se.

Methods

To address this, two distinct kefirs (Fr1 and UK4), or unfermented milk control, were administered to mice that underwent a battery of tests to characterise their behavioural phenotype. In addition, shotgun metagenomic sequencing of ileal, caecal and faecal matter was performed, as was faecal metabolome analysis. Finally, systemic immunity measures and gut serotonin levels were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed by ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post hoc test or Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

Fr1 ameliorated the stress-induced decrease in serotonergic signalling in the colon and reward-seeking behaviour in the saccharin preference test. On the other hand, UK4 decreased repetitive behaviour and ameliorated stress-induced deficits in reward-seeking behaviour. Furthermore, UK4 increased fear-dependent contextual memory, yet decreased milk gavage-induced improvements in long-term spatial learning. In the peripheral immune system, UK4 increased the prevalence of Treg cells and interleukin 10 levels, whereas Fr1 ameliorated the milk gavage stress-induced elevation in neutrophil levels and CXCL1 levels. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that both kefirs significantly changed the composition and functional capacity of the host microbiota, where specific bacterial species were changed in a kefir-dependent manner. Furthermore, both kefirs increased the capacity of the gut microbiota to produce GABA, which was linked to an increased prevalence in Lactobacillus reuteri.

Conclusions

Altogether, these data show that kefir can signal through the microbiota-gut-immune-brain axis and modulate host behaviour. In addition, different kefirs may direct the microbiota toward distinct immunological and behavioural modulatory effects. These results indicate that kefir can positively modulate specific aspects of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and support the broadening of the definition of psychobiotic to include kefir fermented foods.
Journeying to freedom: the spatial ecology of a reintroduced population of Orinoco crocodiles (Crocodylus intermedius) in Colombia
Authors: Moreno-Arias Rafael A. , Ardila-Robayo María Cristina
Published: May 2020

Background

The Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) is the largest crocodile and the most threatened by extinction in the Neotropics due to overexploitation for the skin trade during the early–middle twentieth century. Knowledge of their ecology is poor in Colombia because long-term armed conflict has restricted fieldwork. In 2015, we reintroduced four captive-reared adult crocodiles, each equipped with a Sirtrack KiwiSat 202 satellite transmitter and monitored their movements from 2015 to 2018.

Results

Seasonal movements were as far 177 km in males and 115 km in females. Home ranges were as large as 55 km2 for males and 16 km2 for females for a single year and 178 km2 and 21 km2, respectively, for males and females over 2 years. Spatial ecological patterns changed drastically by season, with males increasing their home range and females reducing home range during the wet season. We confirmed that daily activity patterns defined as measure by number of locations across the day were not influenced by season.

Conclusions

We believe that seasonal changes in the size and shape of home ranges were associated with patrolling or exploratory behaviors after release, while daily activity behavior was independent of season, sex or size of the animal.
Progressive lysosomal membrane permeabilization induced by iron oxide nanoparticles drives hepatic cell autophagy and apoptosis
Authors: Levada Kateryna , Pshenichnikov Stanislav , Omelyanchik Alexander , Rodionova Valeria , Nikitin Aleksey , Savchenko Alexander , Schetinin Igor , Zhukov Dmitry , Abakumov Maxim , Majouga Alexander , Lunova Mariia , Jirsa Milan , Smolková Barbora , Uzhytchak Mariia , Dejneka Alexandr , Lunov Oleg
Published: May 2020

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) are frequently used in various biomedical applications, in particular as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents in liver imaging. Indeed, number of IONs have been withdrawn due to their poor clinical performance. Yet comprehensive understanding of their interactions with hepatocytes remains relatively limited. Here we investigated how iron oxide nanocubes (IO-cubes) and clusters of nanocubes (IO-clusters) affect distinct human hepatic cell lines. The viability of HepG2, Huh7 and Alexander cells was concentration-dependently decreased after exposure to either IO-cubes or IO-clusters. We found similar cytotoxicity levels in three cell lines triggered by both nanoparticle formulations. Our data indicate that different expression levels of Bcl-2 predispose cell death signaling mediated by nanoparticles. Both nanoparticles induced rather apoptosis than autophagy in HepG2. Contrary, IO-cubes and IO-clusters trigger distinct cell death signaling events in Alexander and Huh7 cells. Our data clarifies the mechanism by which cubic nanoparticles induce autophagic flux and the mechanism of subsequent toxicity. These findings imply that the cytotoxicity of ION-based contrast agents should be carefully considered, particularly in patients with liver diseases.
Faculty persistence with research-based instructional strategies: a case study of participation in a faculty online learning community
Authors: Corrales Adriana , Goldberg Fred , Price Edward , Turpen Chandra
Published: May 2020

Background

Incorporating research-based instructional strategies (RBISs) into college classrooms is essential for improving learning outcomes. However, the rate of implementation of new strategies is quite low. The development and dissemination model of introducing faculty to new strategies has shown to be inadequate in encouraging uptake and consistent use of those strategies. This model lacks the ongoing support that has shown to be exceedingly important in the adoption and persistent use of new strategies. In addition, this model ignores the necessity of adaptation of RBISs due to differences in teaching situations including availability of particular resources or different student populations. Faculty online learning communities (FOLCs) are online collaborative faculty groups that provide continued support in order to fill this gap. This case study explores one FOLC member’s adoption of a research-based physical science curriculum as they reflect on their teaching experiences. We operationalize Rodgers’ cycle of reflection to make sense of these changes. Specifically, the study aims to understand how the focal faculty member’s participation in reflection in the context of the FOLC changes over time.

Results

Analysis via Rodgers’ reflection framework revealed changes in the way Leslie participated in reflection within the context of the FOLC. The faculty participant optimized her teaching practice through iterative cycles of reflection with the FOLC cluster. As a result, she became more satisfied with the curriculum and her implementation over time.

Conclusions

Faculty encounter challenges when adopting RBISs that must be addressed in real time. Reflection accompanied by ongoing community support via the Next Gen PET FOLC can provide support for changes in practice and increase faculty satisfaction with RBISs. The results contribute to evidence that community building and ongoing support in implementing new curricula is integral to the adaptation process, and FOLCs can provide that support to sustain long-term change.
Correction to: A single-arm feasibility cohort study of rivaroxaban in antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Legault Kimberly , Blostein Mark , Carrier Marc , Kahn Susan , Schulman Sam , Shivakumar Sudeep , Wu Cynthia , Crowther Mark A.
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Natural selection, selective breeding, and the evolution of resistance of honeybees (Apis mellifera) against Varroa
Authors: van Alphen Jacques J. M. , Fernhout Bart Jan
Published: May 2020

We examine evidence for natural selection resulting in Apis mellifera becoming tolerant or resistant to Varroa mites in different bee populations. We discuss traits implicated in Varroa resistance and how they can be measured. We show that some of the measurements used are ambiguous, as they measure a combination of traits. In addition to behavioural traits, such as removal of infested pupae, grooming to remove mites from bees or larval odours, small colony size, frequent swarming, and smaller brood cell size may also help to reduce reproductive rates of Varroa. Finally, bees may be tolerant of high Varroa infections when they are resistant or tolerant to viruses implicated in colony collapse. We provide evidence that honeybees are an extremely outbreeding species. Mating structure is important for how natural selection operates. Evidence for successful natural selection of resistance traits against Varroa comes from South Africa and from Africanized honeybees in South America. Initially, Varroa was present in high densities and killed about 30% of the colonies, but soon after its spread, numbers per hive decreased and colonies survived without treatment. This shows that natural selection can result in resistance in large panmictic populations when a large proportion of the population survives the initial Varroa invasion. Natural selection in Europe and North America has not resulted in large-scale resistance. Upon arrival of Varroa, the frequency of traits to counter mites and associated viruses in European honey bees was low. This forced beekeepers to protect bees by chemical treatment, hampering natural selection. In a Swedish experiment on natural selection in an isolated mating population, only 7% of the colonies survived, resulting in strong inbreeding. Other experiments with untreated, surviving colonies failed because outbreeding counteracted the effects of selection. If loss of genetic variation is prevented, colony level selection in closed mating populations can proceed more easily, as natural selection is not counteracted by the dispersal of resistance genes. In large panmictic populations, selective breeding can be used to increase the level of resistance to a threshold level at which natural selection can be expected to take over.
Carbonate dual-phase improves the performance of single-layer fuel cell made from mixed ionic and semiconductor composite
Authors: Jouttijärvi S. , Yao X. , Asghar M. I. , Etula J. , Reinecke A.-M. , Lippmann W. , Lund P. D.
Published: May 2020

A mixed ionic and semiconducting composite in a single-layer configuration has been shown to work as a fuel cell at a lower temperature (500–600 °C) than a traditional solid-oxide fuel cell. The performance of a single-layer fuel cell (SLFC) is often limited by high resistive losses. Here, a eutectic mixture of alkali-carbonates was added to SLFC to improve the ionic conductivity. The dual-phase composite ionic conductor consisted of a ternary carbonate (sodium lithium potassium carbonate, NLKC) mixed with gadolinium-doped cerium oxide (GDC). Lithium nickel zinc oxide (LNZ) was used as the semiconducting material. The LNZ-GDC-NLKC SLFC reached a high power density, 582 mW/cm2(conductivity 0.22 S/cm) at 600 °C, which is 30 times better than without the carbonate. The best results were obtained with the ternary carbonate which decreased the ohmic losses of the cell by more than 95%, whereas the SLFC with a binary carbonate (sodium lithium carbonate, NLC) showed a lower conductivity and performance (243 mW/cm2, 0.17 S/cm at 600 °C). It is concluded that adding carbonates to LNZ-GDC will improve the ionic conductivity and positively contribute to the cell performance. These results suggest a potential path for further development of SLFCs, but also imply the need for efforts on up-scaling and stability to produce practical applications with SLFC.
Egyptian Association of Vascular Biology and Atherosclerosis (EAVA) consensus on the usage of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors
Authors: Reda Ashraf , Elserafy Ahmed Shawky , Farag Elsayed , Mostafa Tamer , Farag Nabil , Elbahry Atef , Sanad Osama , Bendary Ahmed , Elkersh Ahmed , Selim Mohammed , Beshay Morad , Khamis Hazem
Published: May 2020

Background

The current expert view of the PCSK9 inhibitors’ use in Egypt is still ambiguous.

Main body

Hyperlipidemia is an important, if not the most important, risk factor for the occurrence of atherosclerosis worldwide. Egypt is the most populous country in the Middle East and North Africa and has > 15% of the cardiovascular deaths in the region. The burden of dyslipidemia as seen in the recently published CardioRisk project conducted throughout Egypt shows a high prevalence of dyslipidemia as a risk factor that is still reaching up to 71% in female participants. Reaching the targets for LDL lowering, and thus control of hyperlipidemia, is quite often very difficult especially with the update of the last ESC guidelines. With the advent of PCSK9 inhibitors, the control rate of patients, reduction of cardiac major adverse events, and mortality have been improved. However, Egypt is not considered a rich country on the grounds of annual income, and this raises a concern on which patients would benefit from these expensive medications. Revising the randomized control trials, we analyzed the data that would enable us to control LDL in those patients, at risk, to obtain simple clear indications for the use of these rather expensive medications.

Conclusion

We recommend the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in addition to statins ± ezetimibe in patients with ASCVD, by definition at very high risk; patients with ASCVD at very high risk who do not tolerate appropriate doses of at least three statins; and familial hypercholesterolaemia patients with clinically diagnosed ASCVD, at very high cardiovascular risk.
Carers’ views on autism and eating disorders comorbidity: qualitative study
Authors: Adamson James , Kinnaird Emma , Glennon Danielle , Oakley Madeleine , Tchanturia Kate
Published: May 2020

Background

Patients with co-occurring anorexia nervosa and autism respond differently to eating disorder treatments. Previous interviews with patients with both conditions and clinicians working in eating disorder services has highlighted service and treatment adaptations might be beneficial and could improve outcomes for these individuals.

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore carers’ experiences of current treatment approaches for people with autism who have anorexia nervosa, and their views on how these can be improved.

Method

Ten carers of a loved one diagnosed with autism and anorexia nervosa were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule and the transcripts were analysed with thematic analysis.

Results

Four key themes emerged from the interviews: the role of autism in anorexia nervosa, carers’ problems with clinical services, the impact on carers and suggestions for future improvements.

Conclusions

Carers agreed that autism played a significant role in the development and maintenance of their daughters’ anorexia nervosa. However, this comorbidity does not appear to be appropriately addressed in current treatment provisions. They described several difficulties, including problems getting an autism diagnosis and the perception that eating disorder services did not accept or adapt around the condition. This resulted in feelings of frustration and isolation for families, a scenario exacerbated by a perceived lack of support or specific resources for carers of individuals on the autism spectrum. Clinical recommendations on the basis of the current and previous studies are outlined.
Dermatologic Adverse Events of Systemic Anticancer Therapies: Cytotoxic Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, and Immunotherapy
Authors: Deutsch Alana , Leboeuf Nicole R. , Lacouture Mario E. , McLellan Beth N.
Published: May 2020

Over the past 2 decades, rapid advancement in systemic anticancer therapeutics has led to astounding improvement in survival rates of patients with cancer. However, this celebrated progress has brought with it an evolving spectrum of drug toxicities that limit their prodigious capabilities. Cutaneous adverse events are of the most frequent of these toxicities, with substantial impact on quality of life and commonly resulting in dose reduction or change in therapy. Thus, familiarity with the array of dermatologic manifestations caused by these drugs is prudent for patient treatment. As such, the advent of dedicated oncodermatologists, and their introduction into multidisciplinary cancer care, has been crucial in optimizing treatment through therapeutic achievement and overall well-being. This review will address the epidemiology, clinical presentations, and management strategies of the major dermatologic adverse events of systemic anticancer agents, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Spray-Dried Proliposomes: an Innovative Method for Encapsulation of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Polyphenols
Authors: Bankole Victor Oloruntoba , Osungunna Michael Oluwole , Souza Claudia Regina Fernandes , Salvador Sergio Luiz , Oliveira Wanderley Pereira
Published: May 2020

This work aims to improve the functionality of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) polyphenols by encapsulation in an optimized proliposome formulation. A 23 Box-Wilson central composite design (CCD) was employed to determine lone and interaction effects of composition variables on moisture content (Xp); water activity (Aw); concentration and retention of rosemary polyphenols—rosmarinic acid (ROA), carnosol (CAR), and carnosic acid (CNA); and recovery of spray-dried proliposomes (SDP). Processing conditions which generate proliposomes with optimum physicochemical properties were determined by multi-response analysis (desirability approach). Antioxidant and antifungal activities were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) sequestering and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)/minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) assays, respectively. SDP exhibited high polyphenol retention, ranging from 62.0 to 100.0% w/w, showing dependence on composition variables and polyphenol lipophilicity. SDP recovery ranged from 20.1 to 45.8%, with Xp and Aw of 1.7 ± 0.14–2.5 ± 0.23% w/w and 0.30 ± 0.004–0.47 ± 0.003, respectively, evidencing product with good chemical and microbiological stability. Optimum liposomal composition was determined, namely, lipid concentration (4.26% w/w), lyophilized extract (LE) concentration (4.48% w/w), and drying aid:(lipid+extract) ratio (7.55% w/w) on wet basis. Relative errors between experimental and predicted values for SDP properties showed concurrence for all responses except CAR retention, being 22% lower. SDP showed high antioxidant activity with IC50 of 9.2 ± 0.2 μg/mL, superior to results obtained for LE (10.8 μg/mL) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a synthetic antioxidant (12.5 μg/mL). MIC and MFC against Candida albicans (ATCC1023) were 312.5 μg/mL and 1250 μg/mL, respectively, a moderate antimicrobial activity for phytochemical-based products. SDP is shown as a veritable tool to encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic rosemary polyphenols generating a product with optimal physicochemical and biological properties.