bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Species‐specific responses to warming alter community composition
Authors: Tituskin Julia R. , Waddell Shane M. , Mabry Karen E.
Published: November 2021

Species are responding to global climate change in varied and nuanced ways. However, how species‐specific responses to climate change= affect interactions among species remains poorly understood. It is important to understand species interactions under potential climate change scenarios because those interactions can in turn alter community dynamics.

In this study, we conducted two complementary experiments to examine how simulated warming might alter larval intraguild predation (IGP) rates and resulting adult assemblage composition in three species of North American dragonflies: Pachydiplax longipennis, Plathemis lydia and Libellula luctuosa.

First, using both P. longipennis and L. luctuosa, we isolated interspecific and intraspecific pairs of larval dragonflies of different size differentials to determine how the size and species identity might influence IGP rates.

In tandem, we conducted a year‐long mesocosm experiment with all three species to assess how simulated warming and heat waves influenced the resulting adult dragonfly assemblages.

IGP trials revealed that P. longipennis individuals were much more likely to engage in IGP than L. luctuosa, regardless of size differential. In the mesocosm experiment, emerging adult assemblages were dominated by P. longipennis individuals, a pattern that was most pronounced in the control treatment.

Our results indicate that while P. longipennis may be the competitively dominant species under current ambient conditions, warming may alter this dynamic and lessen the dominance of this species on the resulting assemblage composition.
Early‐life exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Long‐term effects on pain and affective comorbidities
Authors: Baudat Mathilde , de Kort Anne R. , van den Hove Daniel L. A. , Joosten Elbert A.
Published: November 2021

A growing body of evidence indicates that early‐life exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor has long‐term consequences on the offspring's pain in addition to affective disorders like anxiety disorder and major depression. Serotonin, besides its role in regulating pain and emotions, promotes neuronal network formation. The prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are two key brain regions involved in the modulation of pain and its affective comorbidities. Thus, the aim of this review is to understand how early‐life selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure alters the developing prefrontal cortex and amygdala and thereby underlies the long‐term changes in pain and its affective comorbidities in later life. While there is still limited data on the effects of early‐life selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure on pain, there is a substantial body of evidence on its affective comorbidities. From this perspective paper, four conclusions emerged. First, early‐life selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure results in long‐term nociceptive effects, which needs to be consistently studied to clarify. Second, it results in enhanced depressive‐like behaviour and diminished exploratory behaviour in adult rodents. Third, early‐life selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure alters serotonergic levels, transcription factors expression, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor levels, resulting in hyperconnectivity within the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. Finally, it affects antinociceptive inputs of the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in the spinal cord. We conclude that early‐life selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure affects the maturation of prefrontal cortex and amygdala circuits and thereby enhances their antinociceptive inputs in the spinal cord.
Effective connectivity in the default mode network after paediatric traumatic brain injury
Authors: Vaughn Kelly A. , DeMaster Dana , Kook Jeong Hwan , Vannucci Marina , Ewing‐Cobbs Linda
Published: November 2021

Children who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at elevated risk for a range of negative cognitive and neuropsychological outcomes. Identifying which children are at greatest risk for negative outcomes can be difficult due to the heterogeneity of TBI. To address this barrier, the current study applied a novel method of characterizing brain connectivity networks, Bayesian multi‐subject vector autoregressive modelling (BVAR‐connect), which used white matter integrity as priors to evaluate effective connectivity—the time‐dependent relationship in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity between two brain regions—within the default mode network (DMN). In a prospective longitudinal study, children ages 8–15 years with mild to severe TBI underwent diffusion tensor imaging and resting state fMRI 7 weeks after injury; post‐concussion and anxiety symptoms were assessed 7 months after injury. The goals of this study were to (1) characterize differences in positive effective connectivity of resting‐state DMN circuitry between healthy controls and children with TBI, (2) determine if severity of TBI was associated with differences in DMN connectivity and (3) evaluate whether patterns of DMN effective connectivity predicted persistent post‐concussion symptoms and anxiety. Healthy controls had unique positive connectivity that mostly emerged from the inferior temporal lobes. In contrast, children with TBI had unique effective connectivity among orbitofrontal and parietal regions. These positive orbitofrontal‐parietal DMN effective connectivity patterns also differed by TBI severity and were associated with persisting behavioural outcomes. Effective connectivity may be a sensitive neuroimaging marker of TBI severity as well as a predictor of chronic post‐concussion symptoms and anxiety.
Examination of the body composition of patients with Werner syndrome using bioelectrical impedance analysis
Authors: Tanaka Fumihiko , Kuzuya Masafumi
Published: November 2021

Aim

This study performed anthropometric measurements for Werner syndrome (WS) using bioelectrical impedance analysis and compared them with the Japanese reference data.

Methods

The analytical sample included nine participants with WS (four men, five women, 49.6 ± 9.3 years, SD). The height‐corrected appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), upper‐ and lower‐limb muscle mass index (USMI/LSMI) of the patients with WS were compared with the Japanese reference data (40–79 years). The body mass index, SMI, height‐corrected fat mass index (FMI) and fat‐free mass index (FFMI) were compared with the reference data of Japanese older adults (65–94 years). The SMIs of WS were also compared with the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia.

Results

The SMI and USMI/LSMI of all participants with WS were lower than the Japanese reference data corresponding to gender and age, and the rate of decrease was more pronounced for USMI than for LSMI. The body mass index, SMI and FFMI for all the WS cases were lower than those for the older Japanese, while the FMI was higher in men with WS but lower in women than the reference data of the older Japanese. The SMI was below the cut‐off value for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in all patients with WS.

Conclusion

The SMI for WS is comparable with that for sarcopenia and significantly lower than that for healthy individuals of the same age and older adults. The USMI was significantly lower than LSMI in patients with WS, and FMI was higher in male patients with WS and lower in women than in healthy older people. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 75–80.
Timing and durability of response to erenumab in patients with episodic migraine
Authors: McAllister Peter J. , Turner Ira , Reuter Uwe , Wang Andrea , Scanlon James , Klatt Jan , Chou Denise E. , Paiva da Silva Lima Gabriel
Published: November 2021

Objective

We sought to evaluate temporal response patterns to erenumab treatment in patients with episodic migraine.

Background

Although many patients treated with erenumab experience onset of efficacy as early as 1 week, clinical benefits of migraine preventive therapies may accrue with continued treatment. Furthermore, details about the maintenance of clinical responses have not been reported.

Methods

This was a post hoc analysis of a 6‐month, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase 3 study of erenumab for the prevention of episodic migraine. We analyzed temporal responses to erenumab using a threshold of ≥50% reduction from baseline in monthly migraine days (MMDs).

Results

During the 6‐month treatment period, 73.7% (230/312) and 79.6% (253/318) of patients in the erenumab 70 mg (n = 312) and 140 mg (n = 318) groups, respectively, achieved a response in at least 1 month. In this group of responders, at least half reached first monthly response (first month with ≥50% reduction from baseline in MMDs) by month 2 and at least 75% of them by month 3. The remainder responded in months 4–6. Of patients in the erenumab 70 and 140 mg groups, 35.3% (110/312) and 41.8% (133/318), respectively, responded over months 1–3 (mean response over first 3 months). Of these patients, 81.8% (90/110) and 81.9% (109/133) maintained this response over months 4–6 (mean response over last 3 months) in the 70 and 140 mg groups, respectively. Many patients who did not achieve an initial response (≥50% reduction from baseline in MMDs during month 1) responded later with continued treatment, with approximately one‐half or more of initial nonresponders responding by months 4–6.

Conclusions

These results support guidelines recommending at least 3 months following the initiation of erenumab for migraine prevention before the assessment of response.
COVID‐19 beliefs and vaccination uptake in dialysis patients: lessons from an anonymous patient survey
Authors: Wallace Hannah , Mount Peter F.
Published: November 2021

Background

There is a lack of data on how to best optimise uptake of COVID‐19 vaccination in dialysis patients.

Aim

To understand attitudes and beliefs about COVID‐19 and vaccination uptake in dialysis patients.

Methods

A single‐centre, cross‐sectional study involving a clinical audit and an anonymous survey of adult maintenance dialysis patients was conducted.

Results

The vaccination uptake during the study period was 77.5% at least single dose, compared with 70% in Victoria during the same period. Participants were more likely to be vaccinated if they believed COVID‐19 was a serious problem that is worse for people on dialysis. Those unvaccinated were more likely to overestimate the risk of vaccine complications and less likely to have the annual influenza vaccine. Despite over 80% of participants agreeing that they would have the vaccine if recommended by their nephrologist, less than 40% reported receiving information from this source. A predominant reason for vaccine hesitancy was concern regarding vaccine safety. Over 60% of those who were unvaccinated were still open to the vaccine, indicating a significant opportunity to improve vaccination rates through medical consultation and direction.

Conclusions

Vaccine hesitancy for COVID‐19 in dialysis patients associates with less informed health beliefs, both about the disease and the risks of vaccination. Patients are more likely to get vaccinated if it is recommended by their nephrologist. Clinicians caring for dialysis patients have a key role in providing high‐quality education and advice, representing an urgent opportunity for improvement in vaccination uptake against COVID‐19.
Pedagogies for Democratic Participation in Design Studios: Towards More Inclusive Group Work among Interior Design Students
Authors: Fathallah Rim
Published: November 2021

Although teamwork is essential in design, interior design education can be competitive and individualistic. The role of design educators is to structure projects seeking to promote inclusive group dynamics and democratic participation among team members. Navigating the challenges of group work should not rest solely on the shoulders of students. Repeated group work in educational settings does not suffice, on its own, for fostering constructive team dynamics or for preparing students to successfully manage conflict, which, if it remains positive, can yield more creative design outcomes. This article, animated by critical and poststructural curriculum theories, proposes pedagogies incorporating positive interdependence and complex instruction for collaborative, inclusive group work and co‐design tasks that leverage conflict and promote constructive relations within teams. Instilling democratic values in design students is equally important for higher education as it is for the design discipline itself.
(Re)Considering Pedagogy – Entangled Ontology in a Complex Age: Abstraction Pedagogy and the Critical Pedagogical Importance of Art Education for Other Discipline Areas
Authors: Barritt Laura , Thompson Stephen , Woodward Martyn
Published: November 2021

This article argues that a UK education system is required such that it specifically recognises the particular dynamic, co‐constructive nature of complex and rapid contemporary entanglements (both human and non‐human) and how they inform the epistemic and ontological development of students. This article draws from posthumanist theory and uses the concept of ‘lifeworld’ to cast new light on the lived‐experiences of contemporary children to inform pedagogy. It is part of a doctoral research into the wider pedagogical value of the teaching and assessment of processes of abstraction deployed in art practice.
Research Skills Immersive Induction: Preparing Widening Participation First Year Students for Undergraduate Art School Study
Authors: McNeill Rickie
Published: November 2021

Much has been written about the necessity for induction programmes that help students bridge the gap between secondary and tertiary education. Oftentimes the language around this issue focuses on perceived student deficit rather than institutional shortcomings, not least in discussion of students from Widening Participation backgrounds. The purpose of this study was to use action research to critically examine aspects of the bridging programme I helped deliver in my role within an art school Widening Participation programme, and investigate the impact it was having on students entering higher education from high school. My action research project aimed to address the disparity between student preparedness and institutional expectations and explore improvements that could be made at institutional level to smooth students' transition to art school undergraduate study. This article outlines my findings on the impact of this project, drawing on thematic analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collected through participant evaluation forms and interviews conducted with former students on the Transitions Week programme, as well as reflections gathered from my project research diary.
Experiences and aftermath of the COVID‐19 lockdown among community‐dwelling older people in Serbia: A qualitative study
Authors: Gazibara Tatjana , Maksimovic Natasa , Dotlic Jelena , Jeremic Stojkovic Vida , Cvjetkovic Smiljana , Milic Marija
Published: November 2021

Rationale and Aim

At the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic in March 2020, the Serbian government instituted a 24‐h curfew for people aged ≥65 years for 2 months. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences and perceptions of curfew for older people in Serbia 15 months after the curfew had ended.

Methods

In‐depth interviews were carried out with 23 older adults from urban areas in Serbia. We identified the first three participants, while others were selected using the snowballing method. The interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed and data were analyzed according to guidelines for qualitative studies.

Results

Six topics emerged: (1) perception of the curfew announcement; (2) attitude toward the curfew; (3) organization of daily living; (4) mood; (5) frustrations/limitations and 6) making sense of the curfew 15 months after. Older people in this study overall remember not feeling disturbed by the curfew because they perceived it as prevention, especially because this population group is considered to have the highest rate of mortality from COVID‐19. Some people remember being extremely frustrated because of the restrictions and considered them unnecessary. Most people remembered that the lack of social interactions and lack of physical activity were the most difficult to cope with.

Conclusions

Although challenging and bothersome, the majority of older people in this study accepted the curfew as an appropriate measure to avoid catching the virus and combat the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Accepting influence in military couples: Implications for couples’ communication and family satisfaction
Authors: Peterson Clairee , Lucier‐Greer Mallory
Published: November 2021

In popular relationship resources, accepting influence is regarded as a couple‐level process vital for relational satisfaction. However, empirical research has demonstrated inconsistent evidence for these suppositions, with several studies identifying no associations between accepting influence and relationship outcomes, and, furthermore, several gaps in the literature remain with regard to our knowledge on accepting influence (e.g., little identified research on military couples or family outcomes). To address these gaps, a measure of perceptions of one's partner accepting influence was retrospectively created to examine accepting influence in Army couples (N = 244). With theoretical underpinnings from family systems theory, this study used an actor‐partner interdependence approach to investigate the associations between partners’ accepting influence and couple communication satisfaction and satisfaction with the family. Service members’ perceptions of their partners’ accepting influence were associated with their own outcomes, whereas civilian spouses’ perceptions of partners’ accepting influence were related to both partners’ outcomes. Results suggest accepting influence may be an intervention point to improve couple and family outcomes.
What is the structure of our infrastructure? A review of UK light microscopy facilities
Authors: Fletcher Georgina , Anderson Kurt I.
Published: November 2021

Core Facilities and Technology Platforms are increasingly important components of the science research landscape. However, data on facility operations and staff careers are lacking to inform their development. Here we have surveyed 114 people working in 46 light microscopy (LM) facilities within the United Kingdom. Our survey explores issues around career progression, facility operations and funding. The data show that facilities are substantial repositories of equipment and knowledge which adapt to meet the needs of their local environments. Our report highlights the challenges faced by facility managers, institutions and funders in evaluating facility performance and devising strategies to maximise the return on research funding investment.
Ontogenetic variation in the crocodylian vestibular system
Authors: Schwab Julia A. , Young Mark T. , Walsh Stig A. , Witmer Lawrence M. , Herrera Yanina , Brochu Christopher A. , Butler Ian B. , Brusatte Stephen L.
Published: November 2021

Crocodylians today live in tropical to subtropical environments, occupying mostly shallow waters. Their body size changes drastically during ontogeny, as do their skull dimensions and bite forces, which are associated with changes in prey preferences. Endocranial neurosensory structures have also shown to change ontogenetically, but less is known about the vestibular system of the inner ear. Here we use 30 high‐resolution computed tomography (CT) scans and three‐dimensional geometric morphometrics to investigate the size and shape changes of crocodylian endosseous labyrinths throughout ontogeny, across four stages (hatchling, juvenile, subadult and adult). We find two major patterns of ontogenetic change. First, the labyrinth increases in size during ontogeny, with negative allometry in relation to skull size. Second, labyrinth shape changes significantly, with hatchlings having shorter semicircular canal radii, with thicker diameters and an overall dorsoventrally shorter labyrinth than those of more mature individuals. We argue that the modification of the labyrinth during crocodylian ontogeny is related to constraints imposed by skull growth, due to fundamental changes in the crocodylian braincase during ontogeny (e.g. verticalisation of the basicranium), rather than changes in locomotion, diet, or other biological functions or behaviours.
Cast away in the Adriatic: Low degree of parallel genetic differentiation in three‐spined sticklebacks
Authors: Dahms Carolin , Kemppainen Petri , Zanella Linda N. , Zanella Davor , Carosi Antonella , Merilä Juha , Momigliano Paolo
Published: November 2021

The three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) has repeatedly and independently adapted to freshwater habitats from standing genetic variation (SGV) following colonization from the sea. However, in the Mediterranean Sea G. aculeatus is believed to have gone extinct, and thus the spread of locally adapted alleles between different freshwater populations via the sea since then has been highly unlikely. This is expected to limit parallel evolution, that is the extent to which phylogenetically related alleles can be shared among independently colonized freshwater populations. Using whole genome and 2b‐RAD sequencing data, we compared levels of genetic differentiation and genetic parallelism of 15 Adriatic stickleback populations to 19 Pacific, Atlantic and Caspian populations, where gene flow between freshwater populations across extant marine populations is still possible. Our findings support previous studies suggesting that Adriatic populations are highly differentiated (average FST ≈ 0.45), of low genetic diversity and connectivity, and likely to stem from multiple independent colonizations during the Pleistocene. Linkage disequilibrium network analyses in combination with linear mixed models nevertheless revealed several parallel marine–freshwater differentiated genomic regions, although still not to the extent observed elsewhere in the world. We hypothesize that current levels of genetic parallelism in the Adriatic lineages are a relic of freshwater adaptation from SGV prior to the extinction of marine sticklebacks in the Mediterranean that has persisted despite substantial genetic drift experienced by the Adriatic stickleback isolates.
lncRsp1, a long noncoding RNA, influences Fgsp1 expression and sexual reproduction in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Wang Jie , Zeng Wenping , Cheng Jiasen , Xie Jiatao , Fu Yanping , Jiang Daohong , Lin Yang
Published: November 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulators of gene expression in many biological processes, but their biological functions remain largely unknown, especially in fungi. Fusarium graminearum is an important pathogen that causes the destructive disease Fusarium head blight (FHB) or head scab disease on wheat and barley. In our previous RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) study, we discovered that lncRsp1 is an lncRNA that is located +99 bp upstream of a putative sugar transporter gene, Fgsp1, with the same transcription direction. Functional studies revealed that ΔlncRsp1 and ΔFgsp1 were normal in growth and conidiation but had defects in ascospore discharge and virulence on wheat coleoptiles. Moreover, lncRsp1 and Fgsp1 were shown to negatively regulate the expression of several deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis genes, TRI4, TRI5, TRI6, and TRI13, as well as DON production. Further analysis showed that the overexpression of lncRsp1 enhanced the ability of ascospore release and increased the mRNA expression level of the Fgsp1 gene, while lncRsp1‐silenced strains reduced ascospore discharge and inhibited Fgsp1 expression during the sexual reproduction stage. In addition, the lncRsp1 complementary strains lncRsp1‐LC‐1 and lncRsp1‐LC‐2 restored ascospore discharge to the level of the wild‐type strain PH‐1. Taken together, our results reveal the distinct and specific functions of lncRsp1 and Fgsp1 in F. graminearum and principally demonstrate that lncRsp1 can affect the release of ascospores by regulating the expression of Fgsp1.
Abjection and the weaponization of bodily excretions in forensic psychiatry settings: A poststructural reflection
Authors: Johansson Jim A. , Holmes Dave
Published: November 2021

Nurses working in forensic psychiatric settings face unique challenges in practice, where they take on a dual role of custody and caring. Patient resistance is widespread within these restrictive settings and can take many forms. Perhaps the most disturbing form of resistance entails a patient's weaponization of their bodily fluids, with nurses as their target. The tendency in assigning motive for this act is to relegate to the psychopathology of the patient. This paper will adopt a poststructuralist perspective to reexamine this phenomenon as an act of resistance through the lens of Kristeva's concept of abjection. Patients confined in these settings have little sense of control, and in resistance may resort to the only thing available: their bodily fluids. By weaponizing the abject, patients actively violate and permeate the physical and psychological boundaries of nurses—the very boundaries considered crucial to safe and professional forensic psychiatric nursing practice. By recognizing this phenomenon as an act of resistance to confinement and loss of control, nurses may reorient their approach to care in forensic psychiatric settings.
High‐resolution colonic manometry interobserver analysis trial
Authors: Pannemans Jasper , Vanuytsel Tim , Pauwels Ans , Rommel Nathalie , De Schepper Heiko , Lam Tze J. , Thys Alexander , Tack Jan
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Colonic high‐resolution manometry (HRM) is a novel, not widely used diagnostic method used in the final workup of chronic constipation before surgery. Since its introduction, different motor patterns have been defined. However, it remains to be established whether these patterns are easily and reproducibly identified by different investigators.

Methods

The primary aim of this study was to determine agreement for motor pattern identification with HRM. To calculate the interobserver agreement (IOA), the Fleiss's kappa statistic for multiple observers was used. Seven participants analyzed 106 one‐min time frames, derived from five measurements in healthy volunteers and five in patients with chronic constipation. The time frames were chosen to show a variety and combination of motor patterns consisting of short antegrade, short retrograde, cyclic anterograde, cyclic retrograde, long antegrade, long retrograde, slow retrograde motor pattern, high‐amplitude propagating motor patterns, and pancolonic pressurizations. All of the measurements were performed with a solid‐state colonic HRM catheter, comprising 40 pressure sensors spaced 2.5 cm apart.

Results

A median of 10.25 h (range 6–20) were required to analyze all time frames. High‐amplitude propagating contractions achieved an almost perfect level of agreement (k = 0.91). Several motor patterns achieved substantial agreement; these included the short antegrade (k = 0.63), long antegrade (k = 0.68), cyclic retrograde (k = 0.70), slow retrograde motor pattern (k = 0.80), and abdominal pressure or movement artifacts (k = 0.67). Moderate agreement was found for short retrograde (k = 0.57), cyclic anterograde (k = 0.59), long retrograde motor patterns (k = 0.59) and simultaneous pressure waves (k = 0.59).

Conclusion

For the majority of motor patterns, the overall IOA for colonic manometry was substantial or high. This high level of agreement supports the use of colonic manometry application in clinical and research settings. Harmonization has the potential to improve agreement for long anterograde motor patterns with high amplitudes and for mixed direction patterns.
Environmental Justice Modules: A Case Study Approach for Intermediate and Advanced German Learners
Authors: Brunow Beate , Krick‐Aigner Kirsten , Kuhn‐Brown Kerstin
Published: November 2021

Sustainability and environmental justice are connected concepts; however, environmental justice serves as a foundation to an approach to sustainability that moves beyond conservation and preservation of resources for current and future generations to explore issues of equity in terms of access to resources and protection from environmental hazards. Examining environmental conditions for communities from an environmental justice lens uncovers disparities that suggest connections between lower socioeconomic status and exposure to environmental issues. This article addresses the need to integrate environmental justice across the German curriculum and demonstrates a case study approach for intermediate‐ and advanced‐level German classes. The first case study presents an Instagram job application for environmental justice projects in Berlin‐Neukölln, and the second case study deals with a blog about Schimmelwohnungen or apartments with mold in the city of Bremen. This article illustrates how case studies can be embedded in both a genre‐based approach and how case studies on environmental justice can be integrated in courses across the German curriculum.
Patients undergoing dialysis as a model for medical students’ longitudinal engagement with chronic illness: Patient perspectives
Authors: Koehler Nicole , Schmidt Erica , Roberts Matthew A , Martin Jenepher Ann
Published: November 2021

Background: Medical students are predominantly exposed to patients with chronic conditions during acute episodes requiring hospitalisation. Consequently, this limits students’ opportunities to learn about continuity of patient care. Unlike hospitalised patients, patients undergoing haemodialysis attend dialysis clinics in ambulatory/outpatient settings multiple times per week over long time periods. Patients undergoing dialysis would be well placed to share their knowledge of their own chronic illness and their experience of patient-centred care. This study explored the willingness of patients undergoing haemodialysis to interact with the same medical student throughout the academic year. Methods: Twenty-seven patients undergoing dialysis at four dialysis units were interviewed.Results: Twenty-five patients indicated that they would be willing to regularly interact with students. Patients indicated that they would permit students to conduct a range of activities (e.g., taking a medical history). All 25 were willing to provide students with verbal feedback. Twelve were willing to provide written feedback. In terms of interacting with students, there were two predominant groups: 1) those who focus on the students’ needs and are prepared to interact with students frequently and over a long duration and 2) those who have had “enough” after a while and are prepared to interact with students over a shorter duration. Conclusions: Patients undergoing haemodialysis could provide students with opportunities to follow a patient’s journey, provided the length and frequency of the patient–student interaction is matched with patient preferences.
Effects of sputtering process on the thermochromic function of vanadium dioxide thin films
Authors: Li Chuan , Hsieh Jang Hsing , Su Chuan Ming , Chang Nai-Yun
Published: November 2021

Vanadium oxide is known to be semiconductive and thermochromic with a very selective amount of oxygen in order to form the required monoclinic crystal structure (nonconductive, M phase) at room temperature and transform to a tetragonal phase (conductive, R phase) above 68 °C. In this study, vanadium oxide thin films are deposited by sputtering under different oxygen flow rates to include various amounts of oxygen, which is then followed by rapid thermal annealing to become crystalline with a variety of properties and functions. The properties and functions of annealed vanadium oxide are examined by x-ray diffraction for crystal structures, Raman spectrometer for crystal vibrational modes, four-point probe for electrical resistivity, and UV-Vis-NIR spectrometers for optical properties. All these characterizations help us to determine the range of oxygen supply under which thermochromic VO2 films can form. Results indicate that in our current setup, the lower oxygen (<0.25 SCCM) produces vanadium-rich films, the medium (0.5–1.5 SCCM) results in semiconductive films, and the higher (>2 SCCM) creates insulated oxides. Among the semiconductive films, the one deposited under 1.0 SCCM O2 supply after annealed becomes thermochromic as confirmed by the hysteresis changes of optical transmittance and electrical conductivity under thermal cycles between 25 and 95 °C.
Nucleation, growth, and stability of WSe2 thin films deposited on HOPG examined using in situ, real-time synchrotron x-ray radiation
Authors: Bullen Hugh J. , Vishwanath Suresh , Nahm Rambert K. , Xing H. Grace , Engstrom James R.
Published: November 2021

We have examined the nucleation and growth of WSe2 thin films in ultrahigh vacuum on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) using in situ real-time x-ray fluorescence (XRF), and ex situ x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. We employed W(CO)6 as the W source delivered via a supersonic molecular beam, Sen delivered via an effusion cell, and we examined substrate temperatures from 400 to 540 °C. Crystalline, near stoichiometric thin films were formed at temperatures Ts ≤ 470 °C, whereas those formed at 540 °C were very W-rich. The thin films were not continuous but consisted of filamentlike features with spikelike edges. A focus of our work was to examine the initial stages of growth and the effects of extinguishing one of the species (W or Se) both before and during growth. First, in all cases examined, there was a delay in the onset of a measurable rate of growth on the clean HOPG surface following the introduction of both species, W(CO)6 and Sen. In cases where the incident flux of W(CO)6 was gated, once WSe2 growth had commenced, extinguishing the flux of W(CO)6 quenched growth immediately and did not result in the deposition of additional Se. Once the incident flux of W(CO)6 was re-started, growth began essentially immediately. The pattern with Sen gating was strikingly different. In this case, once WSe2 growth had commenced, extinguishing the flux of Sen resulted in a continuing uptake of W essentially unabated, while the amount of Se in the thin film decreased, which resulted in an oscillation in the Se-to-W content in the thin film. As the thin films were stable in UHV in the absence of both species, the incident W(CO)6 is responsible for the etching of Se, which we postulate is due to a ligand exchange reaction forming volatile SeCO.
Apparent slip in colloidal suspensions
Authors: Abbasi Moud Aref , Piette Jourdain , Danesh Marziyeh , Georgiou Georgios C. , Hatzikiriakos Savvas G.
Published: November 2021

In this study, we have carried out experiments to characterize the wall slip of colloidal suspensions of kaolinites. To demonstrate slip, the rheological measurements were carried out with parallel-plate geometry with smooth and rough plates. The asperities of the rough surface penetrated the slip layer and created a nearly no-slip region, whereas the smooth plate showed significantly higher slip, a conclusion drawn by comparing the macroscopic flow curves in both cases. Two slip regimes were identified, namely, (i) an elastic slip regime below the yield stress of the suspension where the material slips like a solid and (ii) a slip regime above the yield stress where the material yields and flows. The slip velocity was quantified using a simple phenomenological slip model that seems to capture slip in both flow regimes. The transition from the first slip regime to the other has been resolved numerically as the material starts yielding first at the edge of the parallel-plate geometry with the yield point propagating inwards as the rotational speed is increased. The numerical method also establishes uniquely the yield stress value, which was found to agree with data obtained from parallel-plate, cone-and-plate, and concentric cylinder geometries.
Composite entanglement topology and extensional rheology of symmetric ring-linear polymer blends
Authors: O’Connor Thomas C. , Ge Ting , Grest Gary S.
Published: November 2021

Extensive molecular simulations are applied to characterize the equilibrium dynamics, entanglement topology, and nonlinear extensional rheology of symmetric ring-linear polymer blends with systematically varied ring fraction ϕR. Chains with degree of entanglement Z≈14 are mixed to produce 10 well-entangled systems with ϕR varying from neat linear to neat ring melts. Z is large enough that except for very large ϕR, the rings are threaded by multiple linear chains in equilibrium. Primitive path analysis is used to visualize and quantify the structure of the composite ring-linear entanglement network. We measure the quantity of ring-linear threading and linear-linear entanglement as a function of ϕR and identify with simple arguments a ring fraction ϕR≈0.4 where the topological constraints of the composite entanglement network are maximized. These topological analyses are used to rationalize the ϕR-dependence of ring and linear chain dynamics, conformations, and rheology. Simulations of startup uniaxial elongation flows demonstrate the extensional stress overshoot observed in recent filament stretching experiments and characterize how it depends on the blend composition and entanglement topology. The overshoot is driven by an overstretching and recoil of ring polymers due to the convective unthreading of rings from linear chains.
Azorhizobium caulinodans Chemotaxis Is Controlled by an Unusual Phosphorelay Network
Authors: Kennedy Emily N. , Barr Sarah A. , Liu Xiaolin , Vass Luke R. , Liu Yanan , Xie Zhihong , Bourret Robert B.
Published: November 2021

Chemotaxis allows bacteria to move toward nutrients and away from toxins in their environment. Chemotactic movement provides a competitive advantage over nonspecific motion.
Pulsating Flow of a Viscous Fluid over a Cavity Containing a Compressible Gas Bubble
Authors: Ageev A. I. , Osiptsov A. N.
Published: November 2021

A two-dimensional pulsating flow of a viscous fluid in a plane channel whose wall has rectangular microcavities partially or completely filled with a compressible gas is investigated. This problem formulation can clarify the friction reduction mechanism in a laminar sublayer of a turbulent viscous boundary layer flow over a textured stripped superhydrophobic surface containing periodically arranged rectangular micro-cavities filled with gas. It is assumed that the dimensions of the cavities are much smaller than the channel thickness. On the macroscale, the problem of one-dimensional unsteady viscous flow in a plane channel with no-slip conditions on the walls and a harmonic variation of the pressure difference is solved. The solution obtained in this way is used for formulating non-stationary in time and periodic in space boundary conditions for the flow on the scale of a chosen cavity (microscale), with the instantaneous volume of the gas bubble in the cavity depending on the instantaneous pressure over the cavity. The flow on the microscale near a cavity with a gas bubble occurs in the Stokes regime. The numerical solution is obtained using an original version of the boundary element method. A parametric numerical study of the flow field in a pulsating shear flow over a cavity with a compressible gas bubble is performed. The averaged parameters characterizing the effective ‘velocity slip’ of viscous fluid and the friction reduction in a pulsating flow over a stripped superhydrophobic surface are calculated.
Comparison of Terrestrial and Lunar Time Scales by Giant Pulsar Impulses
Authors: Rodin A. E. , Oreshko V. V. , Fedorova V. A.
Published: November 2021

We have developed a model for the time delay of pulse arrival between stations on the Moon and Earth. Comparison of the lunar and terrestrial time scales is proposed to be carried out by comparing the arrival time moments of giant pulses from pulsars. A method for such a comparison has been developed based on the cross-correlation analysis of the received pulses. Using the example of giant pulses from the pulsar PSR 0531+21, we showed that the error of comparing scales in the case of a high signal-to-noise ratio reaches a sub-discrete level and, thus, is determined by the reception band of the recording equipment.
A ruptured ovarian cystadenofibroma presenting with life-threatening sepsis and an incidental synchronous endometrial stromal sarcoma
Authors: Boyd Alistair , Sheth Hemant , Kubba Faris , Aziz Mohammad
Published: November 2021

A woman in her 60s presented with a rare complication of an ovarian cyst which many clinicians may not consider at first presentation. She was admitted with life-threatening staphylococcus aureus sepsis. She presented shocked with a collapse following a 2-day history of diarrhoea, vomiting and pain in the right iliac fossa. She was taken to theatre where a ruptured, widely infarcted left ovarian serous cystadenofibroma was discovered with over 2 litres of purulent fluid exuding from the cyst into the abdomen. She had a left cyst removal, hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy performed. Histological analysis and molecular gene testing of an incidentally discovered uterine neoplasm revealed an undifferentiated uterine sarcoma. She successfully recovered as an inpatient and was discharged under the care of an oncology team for ongoing management.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with dydrogesterone use
Authors: Ioannou Adam
Published: November 2021

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterised by left ventricular apical ballooning, in the absence of coronary artery disease, and classically occurs at times of intense stress. Due to the striking preponderance of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurring in postmenopausal women, it has been postulated that female sex hormones may also be implicated in its pathogenesis. This case report describes the first case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with the initiation of dydrogesterone (a synthetic retroprogesterone) in a premenopausal woman.
Interventions recommended for myopia prevention and control among children and adolescents in China: a systematic review
Authors: Zhu Zhuoting , Chen Yanxian , Tan Zachary , Xiong Ruilin , McGuinness Myra Beth , Müller Andreas
Published: November 2021

In 2018, a consortium of government bodies in China led by the Ministry of Education released theComprehensive Plan to Prevent Nearsightedness among Children and Teenagers(CPPNCT), aiming to reduce the incidence of myopia and control myopic progression in China. Recommendations span from home-based to school-based interventions, including time outdoors, physical activity, light exposure, near-work activity, screen time, Chinese eye exercises, diet and sleep. To date, the levels of evidence for this suite of interventions have not been thoroughly investigated. This review has summarised the evidence of the interventions recommended by the CPPNCT in myopia prevention and control. Thus, the following statements are supposed by the evidence: (1) Increasing time outdoors and reducing near-work time are effective in lowering incident myopia in school-aged children. (2) All interventions have a limited effect on myopia progression. Ongoing research may lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of myopia development, the interaction of different interventions and recommendations, confounding variables and their true effect on myopia prevention, and the identification of those most likely to respond to specific interventions. This field may also benefit from longer-term studies of the various interventions or strategies covered within this review article, to better understand the persistence of treatment effects over time and explore more novel approaches to myopia control.
Long-term outcomes of administration of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide after posterior vitreous detachment during pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Liao Mengyu , Huang Yunli , Wang Jiaxing , Meng Xiangda , Liu Yuanyuan , Yu Jinguo , Yan Hua
Published: November 2021

Aim

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) administration after posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods

A total of 189 eyes (152 patients) who underwent PPV for severe PDR were reviewed. Intravitreal injection of TA (IVTA) was administered during PPV in 118 eyes (PPV+IVTA group), and 71 eyes did not receive IVTA (PPV group). Immediately after PVD, when most of the vitreous and proliferative membranes were removed, 0.1 mL TA (40 mg/mL) was injected into the vitreous cavity in the PPV+IVTA group. All patients were followed-up for least 12 months. Visual outcomes and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the two groups.

Results

IVTA was helpful for proliferative membrane peeling and haemostasis during PPV. In the PPV+IVTA group, best-corrected visual acuity had significantly improved and the intraocular pressure was controlled well during the follow-up. The incidence of early recurrent vitreous haemorrhage after PPV was significantly lower in the PPV+IVTA group (1.7%) than in the PPV group (9.9%) (p=0.028).

Conclusion

The administration of IVTA after PVD during PPV can effectively improve the final visual outcomes and prevent postoperative complications in patients with severe PDR.
SARS-CoV-2 infection and return to play in junior competitive athletes: is systematic cardiac screening needed?
Authors: Cavigli Luna , Cillis Michele , Mochi Veronica , Frascaro Federica , Mochi Nicola , Hajdarevic Arnel , Roselli Alessandra , Capitani Massimo , Alvino Federico , Giovani Silvia , Lisi Corrado , Cappellini Maria Teresa , Colloca Rosa Anna , Mandoli Giulia Elena , Valente Serafina , Focardi Marta , Cameli Matteo , Bonifazi Marco , D'Ascenzi Flavio
Published: November 2021

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection might be associated with cardiac complications in low-risk populations, such as in competitive athletes. However, data obtained in adults cannot be directly transferred to preadolescents and adolescents who are less susceptible to adverse clinical outcomes and are often asymptomatic.

Objectives

We conducted this prospective multicentre study to describe the incidence of cardiovascular complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large cohort of junior athletes and to examine the effectiveness of a screening protocol for a safe return to play.

Methods

Junior competitive athletes suffering from asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent cardiac screening, including physical examination, 12-lead resting ECG, echocardiogram and exercise ECG testing. Further investigations were performed in cases of abnormal findings.

Results

A total of 571 competitive junior athletes (14.3±2.5 years) were evaluated. About half of the population (50.3%) was mildly symptomatic during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the average duration of symptoms was 4±1 days. Pericardial involvement was found in 3.2% of junior athletes: small pericardial effusion (2.6%), moderate pericardial effusion (0.2%) and pericarditis (0.4%). No relevant arrhythmias or myocardial inflammation was found in subjects with pericardial involvement. Athletes with pericarditis or moderate pericardial effusion were temporarily disqualified, and a gradual return to play was achieved after complete clinical resolution.

Conclusions

The prevalence of cardiac involvement was low in junior athletes after asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. A screening strategy primarily driven by cardiac symptoms should detect cardiac involvement from SARS-CoV-2 infection in most junior athletes. Systematic echocardiographic screening is not recommended in junior athletes.