bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Issues affecting nurses' capability to use digital technology at work: An integrative review
Authors: Brown Janie , Pope Nicole , Bosco Anna Maria , Mason Jaci , Morgan Alani
Published: May 2020

Background

Digital capability, that is the ability to live, work, participate and thrive in a digital world, is imperative for nurses because increasingly nurses' work and patient outcomes are influenced by technology.

Aim

To evaluate and synthesise the evidence regarding the development of digital capability in nurses and the strategies that support effective integration of digital skills into the workplace.

Design

Whittemore and Knafl's methodology, following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) guidelines.

Data sources

CINAHL, Embase, PsychINFO, Medline (Ovid) and PubMed databases were searched for articles published in English from 2008–2019. Search terms included; digital capabil*, digital literacy, informatics, nursing informatics, health informatics, nurs*, knowledge, knowledge integration, competency, continuing education, nursing skills, workplace and work environment.

Review methods

A total of 35 studies were retrieved for quality assessment by two reviewers using standardised critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI‐MAStARI and JBI‐QARI). Minimum essential criteria and scores were agreed prior to appraisal.

Results

The 17 studies included comprised quantitative (n = 7), qualitative (n = 8) and mixed methods (n = 2). Integration of digital capability in nurses' workplaces is dependent on user proficiency and competence (theme 1). Nurses use technology to access data at the point of care, specifically accessing evidence to guide care (theme 2a) as well as accessing the medical records (theme 2b). Nurses have several concerns related to the use of technology at point of care (theme 3), some of which can be resolved through investment for implementation (theme 4).

Conclusions

There are key attributes of digitally proficient nurses. Nurses with these attributes are more inclined to use digital technology in their work. Involvement of the nurses as end users in the development of digital systems to ensure they are fit for purpose, alongside investment in professional development opportunities for nurses to develop digital capability, should be prioritised.
Healthy Conflict in an Era of Intractability
Authors: Springs Jason A.
Published: May 2020

The essay responds to four critical essays by Rosemary Kellison, Ebrahim Moosa, Joseph Winters, and Martin Kavka on the author’s recent book, Healthy Conflict in Contemporary American Society: From Enemy to Adversary (2018). Parts 1 and 2 work in tandem to further develop my accounts of strategic empathy and agonistic political friendship. I defend these accounts against criticisms that my argument for moral imagination obligates oppressed people to empathize with their oppressors. I argue, further, that healthy conflict can be motivated by a kind of “secular” love. This enables my position to immanently critique and mediate the claims that one must either love (agapically) one’s opponent in order to engage them in “healthy conflict,” on one hand, or that one must vanquish, exclude, or “cancel” one’s opponent, on the other. In Part 3, I demonstrate how my account mediates the challenge of an alleged standing opposition between moral imagination and socio‐theoretical critique. I defend a methodologically pragmatist account of immanent prophetic criticism, resistance, and conflict transformation. Finally, I respond to one critic’s vindication of a strong enemy/adversary opposition that takes up the case of white supremacist violence in the U.S. I argue that the time horizon for healthy conflict must be simultaneously immediate and also long‐term, provided that such engagements remain socio‐critically self‐reflexive and seek to cultivate transformational responses.
Keeping our children safe and calm in troubled times
Authors: Nunn Kenneth
Published: May 2020

Keeping children safe and keeping children free from worry are usually tasks that parents do without any sense of cross‐purpose. In times of threat and very real danger, these two parental goals come into conflict. This article articulates the confusion of intentions amidst the pandemic. It alludes to previous crises such as happened in both World Wars to protect children including Operation Pied Piper to evacuate them from London in World War 2. The aim of this paper is to give parents and clinicians an awareness of the child's and young person's point of view, in particular, the worry of children for parents. The burden on children of fearing that they may infect parents, grandparents and loved ones generally is considerable. Parents who deny what is happening lack credibility. Parents who fail to manage their own anxieties burden their children with burdens they themselves cannot bear. Honesty about the need for safety and courage as parents to promote calm are what good parents have been doing throughout history. Telling children what they are doing that is right helps them to know what ‘the right’ is. The possibility is considered that we will come through the pandemic with a greater sense of what matters to our children and what should matter to us.
Melatonin improves uterine‐conceptus interaction via regulation of SIRT1 during early pregnancy
Authors: Bae Hyocheol , Yang Changwon , Lee Jin‐Young , Park Sunwoo , Bazer Fuller W. , Song Gwonhwa , Lim Whasun
Published: May 2020

Melatonin has been shown to improve in vitro fertilization and offspring survival after bacterial infection, but its role in regulating maternal‐fetal communication during early pregnancy has not been investigated. Results of this study demonstrated expression of abundant melatonin receptors in conceptus and endometrium during early pregnancy. In gilts, expression of melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A or MT1) and melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B or MT2) increased in trophectoderm (Tr) and uterine luminal epithelium (LE) with advancing days during early pregnancy in a different manner. Melatonin increased proliferation and migration of porcine trophectoderm (pTr) cell, the percent pTr cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, and the expression of implantation‐related genes by pTr cells and endometrial luminal epithelium (pLE). Melatonin also attenuated the production of LPS‐induced pro‐inflammatory cytokines and tunicamycin‐induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‐sensing proteins. The expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) as a potential target of melatonin increased between Days 9 and 14 of gestation. Co‐treatment with SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 and melatonin restored cell‐cell interactions through PI3K and MAPK signaling. Knockdown of SIRT1 decreased the expression of implantation‐related genes, as well as migration of pTr and pLE cells. The expression of microRNAs regulated by SIRT1 was suppressed in response to melatonin. Furthermore, melatonin significantly increased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐reduced fertilization and embryogenesis in zebrafish model. These results suggest that melatonin may improve the uterine‐conceptus interactions via the regulation of SIRT1 during early pregnancy.
Bartonella rochalimae, a newly recognized pathogen in dogs
Authors: Ernst Elijah , Qurollo Barbara , Olech Carolyn , Breitschwerdt Edward B.
Published: May 2020

Background

Bartonella spp. comprise a genus of bacteria that frequently cause persistent, often subclinical infection. Although many Bartonella spp. have been implicated in a variety of clinical presentations, Bartonella rochalimae has yet to be documented in association with a clinical presentation other than infectious endocarditis (IE) in dogs.

Objectives

To document a spectrum of clinical presentations accompanied by mild hematological abnormalities in B rochalimae‐infected dogs from the United States.

Animals

Eight dogs with documented B rochalimae infection.

Methods

Retrospective 10‐year study of B rochalimae naturally infected dogs. Clinical and clinicopathologic data, including medical history, CBC, serum biochemistry panel, urinalysis, echocardiogram, and comprehensive vector‐borne disease diagnostic panel results, were reviewed.

Results

Eight dogs were diagnosed with B rochalimae via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Five dogs were diagnosed with IE. Three dogs, PCR positive for B rochalimae, were diagnosed with seizures or antibiotic responsive lameness or during routine screening of a military working dog.

Conclusions

This case series provides support for an association between B rochalimae and IE and provides documentation of dogs infected with B rochalimae with other clinical diagnoses.
A fair fight between molecular marker types in a seascape genetics setting
Authors: Timm Laura E.
Published: May 2020

From its inception, population genetics has been nearly as concerned with the genetic data type—to which analyses are brought to bear—as it is with the analysis methods themselves. The field has traversed allozymes, microsatellites, segregating sites in multilocus alignments and, currently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated by high‐throughput genomic sequencing methods, primarily whole genome sequencing and reduced representation library (RRL) sequencing. As each emerging data type has gained traction, it has been compared to existing methods, based on its relative ability to discern population structural complexity at increasing levels of resolution. However, this is usually done by comparing the gold standard in one data type to the gold standard in the new data type. These gold standards frequently differ in power and in sampling density, both across a genome and throughout a spatial range. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, D’Aloia et al. apply the high‐throughput approach as fully as possible to microsatellites, nuclear loci and SNPs genotyped through an RRL method; this is coupled with a spatially dense sampling scheme. Completing a battery of population genetics analyses across data types (including a series of down‐sampled data sets), the authors find that SNP data are slightly more sensitive to fine‐scale genetic structure, and the results are more resilient to down‐sampling than microsatellites and nonrepetitive nuclear loci. However, their results are far from an unqualified victory for RRL SNP data over all previous data types: the authors note that modest additions to the microsatellites and nuclear loci data sets may provide the necessary analytical power to delineate the fine‐scale genetic structuring identified by SNPs. As always, as the field begins to fully embrace the newest thing, good science reminds us that traditional data types are far from useless, especially when combined with a well‐designed sampling scheme.
Visual pigment evolution in Characiformes: The dynamic interplay of teleost whole‐genome duplication, surviving opsins and spectral tuning
Authors: Escobar‐Camacho Daniel , Carleton Karen L. , Narain Devika W. , Pierotti Michele E. R.
Published: May 2020

Vision represents an excellent model for studying adaptation, given the genotype‐to‐phenotype map that has been characterized in a number of taxa. Fish possess a diverse range of visual sensitivities and adaptations to underwater light, making them an excellent group to study visual system evolution. In particular, some speciose but understudied lineages can provide a unique opportunity to better understand aspects of visual system evolution such as opsin gene duplication and neofunctionalization. In this study, we showcase the visual system evolution of neotropical Characiformes and the spectral tuning mechanisms they exhibit to modulate their visual sensitivities. Such mechanisms include gene duplications and losses, gene conversion, opsin amino acid sequence and expression variation, and A1/A2‐chromophore shifts. The Characiforms we studied utilize three cone opsin classes (SWS2, RH2, LWS) and a rod opsin (RH1). However, the characiform's entire opsin gene repertoire is a product of dynamic evolution by opsin gene loss (SWS1, RH2) and duplication (LWS, RH1). The LWS‐ and RH1‐duplicates originated from a teleost specific whole‐genome duplication as well as characiform‐specific duplication events. Both LWS‐opsins exhibit gene conversion and, through substitutions in key tuning sites, one of the LWS‐paralogues has acquired spectral sensitivity to green light. These sequence changes suggest reversion and parallel evolution of key tuning sites. Furthermore, characiforms' colour vision is based on the expression of both LWS‐paralogues and SWS2. Finally, we found interspecific and intraspecific variation in A1/A2‐chromophores proportions, correlating with the light environment. These multiple mechanisms may be a result of the diverse visual environments where Characiformes have evolved.
Aquinas on Faith and Charity
Authors: Di Ceglie Roberto
Published: May 2020

Charity plays a crucial role in Thomas Aquinas's view of faith. However, there is a tension in his writings between this fact and some passages that suggest that there may be faith without charity and that faith may merely consist of an intellectual act. In this essay, I explore this tension, which has been neglected in the literature. My thesis is that, although there are tensions and lack of clarity that characterize Aquinas's treatment of this subject, it can be said that he believed that faith is impossible without the intervention of charity, however exiguous this intervention may be.
Oral bacterial diversity is inversely correlated with mucosal inflammation
Authors: Hijazi Karolin , Morrison Roderick W. , Mukhopadhya Indrani , Martin Brennan , Gemmell Matthew , Shaw Sophie , Santoro Francesco
Published: May 2020

Objective

We investigated the relationship amongst the oral mucosal bacterial community, clinical severity and inflammatory markers in the two most common immune‐mediated oral mucosal diseases, namely recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and oral lichen planus (LP).

Methods

Patients with RAS (n = 15) and LP (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 13) were recruited using criteria to reduce the effect of factors that influence the microbiota structure independently of oral mucosal disease. Clinical severity was quantified using validated scoring methods. DNA was extracted from oral mucosal swabs for 16S rRNA gene high‐throughput sequencing. Salivary cytokines were measured using cytometric bead assays. Correlation studies were conducted amongst microbial diversity, clinical scores and cytokine concentrations.

Results

We observed a significant reduction of bacterial diversity in LP and RAS patients compared to controls (p = .021 and .044, respectively). Reduced bacterial diversity in LP and RAS correlated with increased clinical scores of the two conditions (⍴ = −0.551 to −0.714). A negative correlation was observed between microbial diversity and salivary interferon‐γ, interleukin‐17A and interleukin‐1β (⍴ = −0.325 to −0.449).

Conclusions

This study reports reduced oral microbial diversity in the context of increased mucosal inflammation and supports the role for microbial diversity as a marker or contributor to oral mucosal inflammatory disease activity and development.
Symptoms and immunoglobulin development in hospital staff exposed to a SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreak
Authors: Brandstetter Susanne , Roth Samra , Harner Susanne , Buntrock‐Döpke Heike , Toncheva Antoaneta A. , Borchers Natascha , Gruber Rudolf , Ambrosch Andreas , Kabesch Michael
Published: May 2020

Background

Worldwide, the number of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections is increasing. Serological immunoglobulin tests may help to better understand the development of immune mechanisms against SARS‐CoV‐2 in COVID‐19 cases and exposed but asymptomatic individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure to SARS‐CoV‐2, symptoms, and antibody responses in a large sample of healthcare workers following a COVID‐19 outbreak.

Methods

A COVID‐19 outbreak among staff members of a major German children's and women's hospital was followed by massive RT‐PCR SARS‐CoV‐2 tests and provided the opportunity to study symptoms, chains of infection, and SARS‐CoV‐2–specific antibody responses (IgG and IgA) by ELISA. Study participants were classified as COVID‐19 cases, and persons with close, moderate, or no exposure to SARS‐CoV‐2 in the clinical setting, respectively.

Results

Out of 201 study participants, 31 were COVID‐19 cases. While most study participants experienced many symptoms indicative for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, anosmia and coughing were remarkably more frequent in COVID‐19 cases. Approximately 80% of COVID‐19 cases developed some specific antibody response (IgA and IgG) approximately 3 weeks after onset of symptoms. Subjects in the non‐COVID‐19 groups had also elevated IgG (1.8%) and IgA values (7.6%) irrespective of contact history with cases.

Conclusion

We found that a significant number of diseased did not develop relevant antibody responses three weeks after symptom onset. Our data also suggest that exposure to COVID‐19 positive co‐workers in a hospital setting is not leading to the development of measurable immune responses in a significant proportion of asymptomatic contact persons.
Influence of Clinical, Physical, Psychological, and Psychophysical Variables on Treatment Outcomes in Somatic Tinnitus Associated With Temporomandibular Pain: Evidence From a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Plaza‐Manzano Gustavo , Delgado‐de‐la‐Serna Pablo , Díaz‐Arribas María J. , Rodrigues‐de‐Souza Diana P. , Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas César , Alburquerque‐Sendín Francisco
Published: May 2020

Objective

To assess the influence of clinical, psychological, and psychophysical variables on treatment outcomes after application of exercise combined with education with/without manual therapy in people with tinnitus associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Methods

A secondary analysis of a clinical trial was performed investigating the effectiveness of including cervico‐mandibular manual therapy into an exercise combined with education program in 61 subjects with TMD‐related tinnitus. Clinical outcomes including tinnitus severity and tinnitus‐related handicap were assessed at 3 and 6 months post‐intervention. Patients were assessed at baseline for clinical (tinnitus severity, tinnitus‐related handicap, quality of life), physical (range of motion), psychological (depression), and psychophysical (pressure pain thresholds [PPTs]) variables that were included as predictors.

Results

The regression models indicated that higher scores of tinnitus severity at baseline predicted better outcomes 3 and 6 months post‐intervention (explaining 13% to 41% of the variance) in both groups. Higher scores of tinnitus‐related handicap at baseline predicted better outcome of tinnitus‐related handicap (45% variance) in the manual therapy with exercise/education group. Lower PPTs over the temporalis muscle at baseline predicted poorer clinical outcomes (10.5% to 41% of the variance) in both groups. Other predictors were sex and quality of life (6.7% variance) in the manual therapy group and PPTs over the masseter muscle (5.8% variance) in the exercise/education group.

Conclusion

This study found that baseline tinnitus severity and localized PPT over the temporalis muscle were predictive of clinical outcomes in individuals with TMD‐related tinnitus following physical therapy. Other predictors (eg, sex, quality of life) were less influential.
Diverse conserved domains and a positively selected site in the sugarcane streak mosaic virus P1 protein are essential for RNA silencing suppression and protein stability
Authors: Chen Jian‐Sheng , Liang Shan‐Shan , Sun Sheng‐Ren , Damaj Mona B. , Fu Hua‐Ying , Gao San‐Ji
Published: May 2020

RNA silencing is one of the conserved antiviral mechanisms in plants, and viruses encode RNA silencing suppressors (RSS) to overcome host RNA silencing and facilitate virus infection. Sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV; species Sugarcane streak mosaic virus, genus Poacevirus, family Potyviridae) is a major causal agent of sugarcane mosaic disease in many countries in Asia, including China. In this study, we used Agrobacterium co‐infiltration to show that the SCSMV P1 protein, rather than the helper component‐proteinase (HC‐Pro), functions as a strong RSS to suppress local RNA silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana. Mutational analysis indicated that the 15 amino acids (aa; aa 1–15) of the SCSMV P1 N‐terminus were not important for RNA silencing suppression, but rather another 15 aa domain (aa 108–122) containing a conserved motif (LFR/KNKQAYIST) was essential for efficient silencing suppression by P1. In addition to the 15 aa (aa 344–358) domain in the P1 N‐terminus, another 15 aa domain (aa 65–79) of P1, containing the LXKA motif and one conserved aa (D78), were associated with P1 protein stability. Furthermore, substituting the histidine (H263) residue in P1 with threonine (H263T) or alanine (H263A) also affected P1 protein stability. Notably, the H263 residue is both a positively selected site and part of the serine protease catalytic triad (HDS). Taken together, our data demonstrate that SCSMV P1, and not HC‐Pro, plays a functional role in suppressing RNA silencing, and also show that some conserved motifs and a positivelyselected site in the P1 protein are associated with RSS activity and protein stability.
Phytochrome‐imposed inhibition of PIF7 activity shapes photoperiodic growth in Arabidopsis together with PIF1, 3, 4 and 5
Authors: Leivar Pablo , Martín Guiomar , Soy Judit , Dalton‐Roesler Jutta , Quail Peter H. , Monte Elena
Published: May 2020

Under photoperiodic conditions, Arabidopsis thaliana seedling growth is inhibited in long days (LDs), but promoted under the extended nights of short days (SDs). This behavior is partly implemented by phytochrome (phy)‐imposed oscillations in the abundance of the growth‐promoting, phy‐interacting bHLH transcription factors PHY‐INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (PIF1), PIF3, PIF4 and PIF5 (PIF quartet or PIFq). However, the observation that a pifq mutant is still stimulated to elongate when given a phy‐inactivating end‐of‐day far‐red pulse (EODFR), suggests that additional factors are involved in the phy‐mediated suppression of growth during the subsequent dark period. Here, by combining growth‐analysis of pif7 single‐ and higher‐order mutants with gene expression analysis under SD, LD, SD‐EODFR, and LD‐EODFR, we show that PIF7 promotes growth during the dark hours of SD, by regulating growth‐related gene expression. Interestingly, the relative contribution of PIF7 in promoting growth is stronger under EODFR, whereas PIF3 role is more important under SD, suggesting that PIF7 is a prominent target of phy‐suppression. Indeed, we show that phy imposes phosphorylation and inactivation of PIF7 during the light hours in SD, and prevents full dephosphorylation during the night. This repression can be lifted with an EODFR, which correlates with increased PIF7‐mediated gene expression and elongation. In addition, our results suggest that PIF7 function might involve heterodimerization with PIF3. Furthermore, our data indicate that a pifqpif7 quintuple mutant is largely insensitive to photoperiod for hypocotyl elongation. Collectively, the data suggest that PIF7, together with the PIFq, is required for the photoperiodic regulation of seasonal growth.
Metabolism of abscisic acid in two contrasting rice genotypes submitted to recurrent water deficit
Authors: Auler Priscila Ariane , Nogueira do Amaral Marcelo , Rossatto Tatiana , Lopez Crizel Rosane , Milech Cristini , Clasen Chaves Fabio , Maia Souza Gustavo , Bolacel Braga Eugenia Jacira
Published: May 2020

Drought is the main constrain for crops worldwide, however, the effects of recurrent water deficit remain still hidden. We analysed two rice genotypes, ‘BRS‐Querência’ (lowlands) and ‘AN‐Cambará’ (uplands), after 7 days of recurrent drought followed by 24 h of rehydration, hypothesising that genotypes grown in regions with different water availabilities respond differently to water deficits, and that a previous exposure to stress could alter abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism. The results showed that both genotypes reduced stomatal conductance and increased ABA concentration. After rehydration, the ABA levels decreased, mainly in the plants of BRS‐Querência subjected to recurrent stress. However, the levels of ABA were higher in plants in recurrent water deficit compared to non‐recurrent stress plants in both genotypes. Remarkably in the lowland genotype, the ABA glucosyl‐ester (ABA‐GE) concentration increased after recovery in the plants under recurrent stress. Regarding of gene expression, the genes associated in ABA biosynthesis with the highest expression levels were NCED2, NCED3, NCED4 and AAO2. However, ‘AN‐Cambará’ showed less transcriptional activation. Taking into account the genes involved in ABA catabolism, ABAH1 appears to play an important role related to the recurrent stress in upland plants. These results indicate that one of the factors that can promote greater tolerance for the upland genotype is the tradeoff between ABA and ABA‐GE when plants are subjected to water deficits. In addition, they indicate that abscisic acid metabolism is altered due to the genotype (upland or lowland) and pre‐exposure to stress can also modify adaptive responses in rice varieties (recurrent stress).
Effect of RNF4‐SacII gene polymorphism on reproductive traits of Landrace × Large White crossbred sows
Authors: Menčik Sven , Vuković Vlado , Jiang Zhihua , Ostović Mario , Sušić Velimir , Žura Žaja Ivona , Samardžija Marko , Ekert Kabalin Anamaria
Published: May 2020

Contents

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether and to what extent the RNF4‐SacII gene polymorphism influences reproduction performances in hyperprolific sow lines. The study involved 101 Landrace x Large White crossbred sows, with 461 records collected on the following reproductive traits: Total Number of piglets Born per litter (TNB), Number of piglets Born Alive per litter (NBA), Number of StillBorn piglets per litter (NSB), piglet Pre‐Weaning Mortality (PWM) and Number of piglets at Weaning per litter (NW). The least square method with the GLM procedure in SAS with eight effects was used to pursue the data analysis. Study results revealed that TT homozygotes and TC heterozygotes had a significantly higher (p < .05) NW than CC homozygotes for the life‐span performance in all parities and first parity analysed. In the fourth parity analysed, TNB and NBA in TC genotype were significantly higher (p < .05) as compared with TT genotype. Based on the life‐span performance, significant effect (p < .05) was recorded for order of parity on TNB, NBA and NW, for farrowing season on TNB and NSB, and for lactation length on PWM. In the second parity, significant effect (p < .05) was recorded for sire of boar on NSB and for gestation length on TNB. Only in the fourth parity, significant effect (p < .05) of RNF4 gene was observed on NBA. There was significant additive effect (p < .05) of the RNF4 gene polymorphism identified on NW in all parities analysed, and significant additive and dominance effects (p < .05) on NSB in the third parity analysed. In conclusion, additional research on related production pig genotypes is necessary to elucidate the effect of RNF4 gene mutation on reproductive traits.
Hybridization in China's elder care service provision
Authors: Maags Christina
Published: May 2020

Although the party‐state has embarked on a mission to increase elder care services, evaluating this development according to different sectors demonstrates certain challenges. Official statistics do not include sector‐specific information, and while provider websites suggest that elder care services are largely in public hands, Chinese experts argue that they are mostly “civilian‐run.” How can we explain these discrepancies in data on Chinese elder care? Drawing on the concept of hybridization and triangulating quantitative and qualitative data, I argue that the party‐state's efforts to “socialize” elder care provision has resulted in hybridization within the industry which blurs the line between care providers and obfuscates the stark role of the state in elder care service provision. During the implementation of state‐initiated hybridization, providers misclassify their ownership type to benefit from financial incentives or circumvent political control, resulting in even greater hybridization and fragmentation on the ground.
Hyperammonemia syndrome due to Ureaplasma urealyticum in a kidney transplant recipient: A case of disseminated disease from a fluoroquinolone‐resistant isolate
Authors: Higgins Andrea B. , Farmakiotis Dimitrios , Rogers Ralph , Osband Adena J. , Seo Angie , Chen Brendan , Birkenbach Mark P. , Crabb Donna , Xiao Li , Leal Sixto , Waites Ken , Gohh Reginald , Morrissey Paul , Nau Gerard J.
Published: May 2020

Ureaplasmaspecies (spp.) are common colonizers of the urogenital tract but may cause systemic infection in immunocompromised patients. They release significant amounts of ammonia via urea hydrolysis and have been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of hyperammonemia syndrome after organ transplantation. We describe a unique case of hyperammonemia syndrome after kidney transplant caused byU urealyticuminfection, and the first, to our knowledge, case of a fluoroquinolone‐resistantUreaplasmastrain causing hyperammonemia syndrome. A 17‐year‐old female developed intermittent fevers, rising creatinine, sterile pyuria and debilitating polyarthritis approximately 1 year after kidney transplant. Serum ammonia level was elevated, and urine PCR was positive forU urealyticum. Near the end of treatment with levofloxacin, she had rebound hyperammonemia, which preceded clinical relapse of polyarthritis and encephalopathy. Blood and urine PCR and synovial fluid culture were positive forU urealyticum. Susceptibility testing showed fluoroquinolone resistance, but she responded well to azithromycin and doxycycline. The frequency ofUreaplasmaspp. infection in immunocompromised patients is probably underestimated due to diagnostic challenges. Ammonia levels were helpful biomarkers of response to antimicrobial therapy in our case. Susceptibility testing of clinical isolates should be pursued. In seriousUreaplasmaspp. infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients, two empiric antibiotics may be indicated given the potential for antimicrobial resistance.
Transcriptome and epigenome analyses of vernalization in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Xi Yanpeng , Park Sung‐Rye , Kim Dong‐Hwan , Kim Eun‐Deok , Sung Sibum
Published: May 2020

Vernalization accelerates flowering after prolonged winter cold. Transcriptional and epigenetic changes are known to be involved in the regulation of the vernalization response. Despite intensive applications of next‐generation sequencing in diverse aspects of plant research, genome‐wide transcriptome and epigenome profiling during the vernalization response has not been conducted. In this work, to our knowledge, we present the first comprehensive analyses of transcriptomic and epigenomic dynamics during the vernalization process in Arabidopsis thaliana. Six major clusters of genes exhibiting distinctive features were identified. Temporary changes in histone H3K4me3 levels were observed that likely coordinate photosynthesis and prevent oxidative damage during cold exposure. In addition, vernalization induced a stable accumulation of H3K27me3 over genes encoding many development‐related transcription factors, which resulted in either inhibition of transcription or a bivalent status of the genes. Lastly, FLC‐like and VIN3‐like genes were identified that appear to be novel components of the vernalization pathway.
A pilot study to identify perceived barrier and motivating factors of primary veterinarians in the USA for specialty referral and management of atopic dermatitis with allergen‐specific immunotherapy
Authors: Flanagan Sarah , Schick Anthea , Lewis Thomas P.
Published: May 2020

Background

Allergen‐specific immunotherapy (ASIT) may decrease clinical signs and potential neosensitization in dogs with canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). Identification of barriers to referral and specialty level case management may improve clinical outcome and satisfaction for both clients and primary veterinarians.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The objective of this cross‐sectional, descriptive, survey‐based pilot study was to identify factors influencing a veterinarian’s decision to recommend dermatology referral and prescribe ASIT for management of cAD.

Methods and materials

An online survey was administered to small animal veterinarians through two veterinary associations in the western United States. Participants were asked to rate factors using Likert scales.

Results

Of 60 responses, 18 (30%) rarely or never recommended ASIT. The top three factors against recommending ASIT included successful pharmaceutical management (100%), clients’ concern for cost (94.4%) and veterinarians’ perceptions that immunotherapy is unable to reduce pharmacological dependency (83.4%). The top three motivating factors included concerns for glucocorticoid adverse effects (83.3%), animal/owner quality of life (77.8%) and risk of antimicrobial resistant infection (55.6%). Results of the secondary objective revealed that 19 of 60 (31.7%) respondents rarely or never refer atopic pets to a dermatologist, citing cost of referral, availability of serological testing, and perception of limited benefits as the greatest barriers.

Conclusions and clinical significance

Numerous factors appear to influence decisions to recommend referral or ASIT for management of pets with cAD. Further work is needed to determine if these can be generalized to larger populations with a goal of providing suggestions to bridge these gaps and improve outcomes.
Creep-Relaxation Modeling of HDPE and Polyvinyl Chloride Bolted Flange Joints
Authors: Kanthabhabha Jeya Rahul Palaniappan , Zhao Zijian , Bouzid Abdel-Hakim
Published: May 2020

Similar to many polymer materials, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) show a clear creep behavior, the rate of which is influenced by temperature, load, and time. Most bolted flange joints undergo relaxation under compression, which is caused by the creep of the material. However, the creep property of the two polymers is different under tension and compression loading. Since the sealing capacity of a flanged gasketed joint is impacted by the amount of relaxation that takes place, it is important to properly address and predict the relaxation behavior due to flange creep under compression and thereby reducing the chances of leakage failure of HDPE and PVC bolted flange joints. The main objective of this study is to analyze the compressive creep behavior of HDPE and PVC flanges under normal operating conditions. This is achieved by developing a respective creep model for the two materials, based on their short-term experimental creep test data. Both numerical and experimental simulations of the polymeric flange relaxation behavior are conducted on an NPS 3 class 150 bolted flange joint of dissimilar materials, where one of the flanges is made of HDPE or PVC material and the other one is made of steel SA105. The study also provides a clear picture on how the compression creep data of ring specimen may be utilized for predicating the flange bolt load relaxation over time at the operating temperatures.
Probing the chemistry of CdS paints in
The Scream
by in situ noninvasive spectroscopies and synchrotron radiation x-ray techniques
Authors: Monico Letizia , Cartechini Laura , Rosi Francesca , Chieli Annalisa , Grazia Chiara , De Meyer Steven , Nuyts Gert , Vanmeert Frederik , Janssens Koen , Cotte Marine , De Nolf Wout , Falkenberg Gerald , Sandu Irina Crina Anca , Tveit Eva Storevik , Mass Jennifer , de Freitas Renato Pereira , Romani Aldo , Miliani Costanza
Published: May 2020

A two-length scale spectroscopic approach unveils the composition and degradation state of CdS paints in
The Scream
by Munch.
Ethanol Metabolism Dynamics in Clostridium ljungdahlii Grown on Carbon Monoxide
Authors: Liu Zi-Yong , Jia De-Chen , Zhang Kun-Di , Zhu Hai-Feng , Zhang Quan , Jiang Wei-Hong , Gu Yang , Li Fu-Li
Published: May 2020

Ethanol production from carbon monoxide (CO) as a carbon and energy source by
Clostridium ljungdahlii
and “
Clostridium autoethanogenum
” is currently being commercialized. During gas fermentation, ethanol synthesis is NADH-dependent. However, ethanol oxidation and its regulatory mechanism remain incompletely understood. Energy metabolism analysis demonstrated that reduced ferredoxin is the sole source of NADH formation by the Rnf-ATPase system, which provides ATP for cell growth during CO fermentation. Therefore, ethanol production is tightly linked to biomass production (ATP production). Clarification of the mechanism of ethanol oxidation and biosynthesis can provide an important reference for generating high-ethanol-yield strains of
C. ljungdahlii
in the future.
Experimental evidence for crustal control over seismic fault segmentation
Authors: Lefevre M. , Souloumiac P. , Cubas N. , Klinger Y.
Published: May 2020

Strike-slip faults are generally described as continuous structures, while they are actually formed of successive segments separated by geometrical complexities. Although this along-strike segmentation is known to affect the overall dynamics of earthquakes, the physical processes governing the scale of this segmentation remain unclear. Here, we use analogue models to investigate the structural development of strike-slip faults and the physical parameters controlling segmentation. We show that the length of fault segments is regular along strike and scales linearly with the thickness of the brittle material. Variations of the rheological properties only have minor effects on the scaling relationship. Ratios between the segment length and the brittle material thickness are similar for coseismic ruptures and sandbox experiments. This supports a model where crustal seismogenic thickness controls fault geometry. Finally, we show that the geometrical complexity acquired during strike-slip fault formation withstands cumulative displacement. Thus, the inherited complexity impedes the formation of an ever-straighter fault, and might control the length of earthquake ruptures.
Supplemental Material: Incipient evolution of the Eastern California shear zone through the transpressional zone of the San Bernardino Mountains and San Gorgonio Pass, California
Authors: Cochran W.J.
Published: May 2020

Table of UAV parameters and four uninterpreted UAV and lidar topographic hillshade models. Figures are in the RAW format used as the basis for neotectonic interpretations in this paper.
Tension pneumothorax in a patient with COVID-19
Authors: Flower Luke , Carter John-Paul L , Rosales Lopez Juan , Henry Alun Marc
Published: May 2020

A 36-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with suspected COVID-19, following a 3-week history of cough, fevers and shortness of breath, worsening suddenly in the preceding 4 hours. On presentation he was hypoxaemic, with an SpO2of 88% on 15 L/min oxygen, tachycardic and had no audible breath sounds on auscultation of the left hemithorax. Local guidelines recommended that the patient should be initiated on continuous positive airway pressure while investigations were awaited, however given the examination findings an emergency portable chest radiograph was performed. The chest radiograph demonstrated a left-sided tension pneumothorax. This was treated with emergency needle decompression, with good effect, followed by chest drain insertion. A repeat chest radiograph demonstrated lung re-expansion, and the patient was admitted to a COVID-19 specific ward for further observation. This case demonstrates tension pneumothorax as a possible complication of suspected COVID-19 and emphasises the importance of thorough history-taking and clinical examination.
The healthcare worker at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Jewish ethical perspective
Authors: Solnica Amy , Barski Leonid , Jotkowitz Alan
Published: May 2020

The current COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions and dilemmas for modern day ethicists and healthcare providers. Are physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers morally obligated to put themselves in harm’s way and treat patients during a pandemic, occurring a great risk to themselves, their families and potentially to other patients? The issue was relevant during the 1918 influenza epidemic and more recently severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003. Since the risk to the healthcare workers was great, there was tension between the ethical duty and responsibility to treat and the risk to one’s own life. This tension was further noted during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa that left hundreds of healthcare workers dead. The AMA Code of Ethics states that physicians are to ‘provide urgent medical care during disasters…even in the face of greater than usual risk to physicians’ own safety, health or life.’1 Classic Jewish sources have dealt with this question as well. There is an obligation ‘to not stand by idly when your friends life is in danger’; however, the question arises as to whether there are limits to this obligation? Is one required to risk one’s own life to save another’s? There is a consensus that one is not required but the question open to debate is whether it is praiseworthy to do so. However, regarding healthcare workers, there is agreement for ethical, professional and societal reasons that they are required to put themselves in harm’s way to care for their patients.
Comparing the outcomes of two independent computed tomography perfusion softwares and their impact on therapeutic decisions in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Bathla Girish , Ortega-Gutierrez Santiago , Klotz Ernst , Juergens Markus , Zevallos Cynthia B , Ansari Sameer , Ward Caitlin E , Policeni Bruno , Samaniego Edgar , Derdeyn Colin
Published: May 2020

Background

To compare the computed tomography perfusion (CTP) outcomes derived from two commercial CTP processing software and evaluate their concordance in terms of eligibility for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS), based on DEFUSE III criteria.

Methods

A total of 118 patients (62 patients in the MT group and 56 patients in the non-MT (NMT) group) were included. Volumetric perfusion outputs were compared between Syngo.via (package A) and RAPID (package B). Influence on proceeding or not-proceeding with MT was based on DEFUSE III imaging eligibility criteria.

Results

Median core infarct/hypoperfusion volumes were 12.3/126 mL in the MT group and 7.7/29.3 ml in the NMT group with package A and 10.5/138 mL and 1.9/24.5 mL with package B, respectively. In the MT group (n=62), concordant perfusion results in terms of patient triage were noted in all but two cases. Of these, one patient would not have qualified (low ASPECTS), while the other qualified based on package A results. For the NMT group (n=56), there was discordance in terms of MT eligibility in seven cases. However, none of these patients qualified for MT based on DEFUSE III criteria.

Conclusions

Both perfusion softwares showed high concordance in correctly triaging patients in the MT versus NMT groups (110/118, 93.2%), which further improved when all DEFUSE III imaging criteria were considered (117/118, 99.1%). The core/hypoperfusion volumes in the NMT group and core infarct volumes in the MT groups were comparable. The hypoperfusion volumes in the MT group varied slightly but did not affect triage between groups.
Siblings of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased mortality rate: a Swedish cohort study
Authors: Westerlind Helga , Delcoigne Bénédicte , Askling Johan
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To estimate the mortality among siblings of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and put any excess mortality among these in relation to the mortality among patients with RA.

Methods

Using prospective nation-wide registers, we identified patients diagnosed with new-onset RA 2001–2017 (n=8137), patients with prevalent RA 2006–2017 (n=25 464), matched general population comparator subjects to all RA patients (n=22 457/68 674) and full-siblings of all groups (n=28 878/91 546).

We followed all cohorts until death, 31 December 2018, migration and (for non-RA subjects) RA diagnosis. We compared patients with RA versus the general population, and siblings of RA versus siblings of the general population using Cox regression, including adjustment for socio-economy.

Results

The HR of death versus the general population was 1.11 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.22) for incident and 1.46 (95% CI 1.39 to 1.52) for prevalent patients with RA. The siblings of these patient groups were also at increased risk of death (HR=1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20 and 1.09, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.13, respectively), with little impact of adjustment for socio-economy.

Conclusion

The mortality in RA is increased, but around one-fifth of this excess is present also among their siblings. Previous literature using general population rates for comparison has thus likely overestimated the direct impact on mortality attributable to RA. To bring down excess mortality in RA, optimal disease control is important but may not suffice.
The $$\pi \eta $$ interaction and $$a_0$$ resonances in photon–photon scattering
Authors: Lu Junxu , Moussallam B.
Published: May 2020

We revisit the information on the two lightest$$a_0$$a0resonances andS-wave$$\pi \eta $$πηscattering that can be extracted from photon–photon scattering experiments. For this purpose we construct a model for theS-wave photon–photon amplitudes which satisfies analyticity properties, two-channel unitarity and obeys the soft photon as well as the soft pion constraints. The underlying I=1 hadronicT-matrix involves six phenomenological parameters and is able to account for two resonances below 1.5 GeV. We perform a combined fit of the$$\gamma \gamma \rightarrow \pi \eta $$γγ→πηand$$\gamma \gamma \rightarrow K_SK_S$$γγ→KSKShigh statistics experimental data from the Belle collaboration. Minimisation of the$$\chi ^2$$χ2is found to have two distinct solutions with approximately equal$$\chi ^2$$χ2. One of these exhibits a light and narrow excited$$a_0$$a0resonance analogous to the one found in the Belle analysis. This however requires a peculiar coincidence between the$$J=0$$J=0and$$J=2$$J=2resonance effects which is likely to be unphysical. In both solutions the$$a_0(980)$$a0(980)resonance appears as a pole on the second Riemann sheet. The location of this pole in the physical solution is determined to be$$m-i\varGamma /2=1000.7^{+12.9}_{-0.7} -i\,36.6^{+12.7}_{-2.6}$$m-iΓ/2=1000.7-0.7+12.9-i36.6-2.6+12.7MeV. The solutions are also compared to experimental data in the kinematical region of the decay$$\eta \rightarrow \pi ^0\gamma \gamma $$η→π0γγ. In this region an isospin violating contribution associated with$${\pi ^+}{\pi ^-}$$π+π-rescattering must be added for which we provide a dispersive evaluation.
The structure of biquandle brackets
Authors: Hoffer Will , Vengal Adu , Winstein Vilas
Published: May 2020

In their paper entitled “Quantum Enhancements and Biquandle Brackets”, Nelson, Orrison, and Rivera introduced biquandle brackets, which are customized skein invariants for biquandle-colored links. We prove herein that if a biquandle bracket [Formula: see text] is the pointwise product of the pair of functions [Formula: see text] with a function [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] is also a biquandle bracket if and only if [Formula: see text] is a biquandle 2-cocycle (up to a constant multiple). As an application, we show that a new invariant introduced by Yang factors in this way, which allows us to show that the new invariant is in fact equivalent to the Jones polynomial on knots. Additionally, we provide a few new results about the structure of biquandle brackets and their relationship with biquandle 2-cocycles.