bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A qualitative exploration of the National Academy of medicine model of well‐being and resilience among healthcare workers during COVID‐19
Authors: Munn Lindsay T. , Huffman Carolyn S. , Connor C. Danielle , Swick Maureen , Danhauer Suzanne C. , Gibbs Michael A.
Published: March 2022

Aims

The aim of this research was to explore factors affecting the well‐being and resilience of healthcare workers (HCWs) during COVID‐19.

Design

Qualitative content analysis of survey responses to a single, open‐ended question.

Methods

The study took place in June and July 2020 in the Mid‐Atlantic United States. Qualitative data from 452 HCWs were analysed with deductive content analysis, using a National Academy of Medicine model of factors affecting clinician well‐being and resilience. The study is reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.

Findings

The findings reflect each of the seven domains of the National Academy of Medicine model, demonstrating the diverse factors that have impacted the well‐being and resilience of HCWs during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The results of the study show that factors within the workplace have significantly impacted the well‐being and resilience of HCWs during the pandemic, in particular, the practice environment and the rules and regulations implemented by healthcare organizations. At the same time, individual and even societal factors have also affected well‐being during the pandemic, but not to the same degree as factors within the workplace.

Conclusion

The research findings illustrate how multiple, diverse factors have influenced the well‐being and resilience of HCWs during the pandemic. The study has practical relevance for healthcare leaders and important implications for future research.

Impact

Health system leaders can address the well‐being and resilience of healthcare workers by implementing solutions that address health system factors like the practice environment and the policies and procedures of the organization. Researchers should not only focus on individual factors associated with professional well‐being but must also expand research and interventional studies to include the system and environmental factors that significantly affect clinicians.
Heterozygosity, genetic similarity and extra‐pair paternity variation in two populations of rock sparrow Petronia petronia: a within and between populations comparison
Authors: Corregidor‐Castro Alejandro , Griggio Matteo , Grapputo Alessandro , Mingozzi Toni , Pilastro Andrea , Plaza Mireia , Cantarero Alejandro
Published: March 2022

Extra‐pair paternity (EPP) has been broadly reported in socially monogamous bird species and it has been hypothesized that females engage in extra‐pair copulations to increase the genetic variability of the offspring and to reduce the risk of inbreeding and genetic incompatibilities. This hypothesis makes two predictions: within populations, females should engage with more dissimilar/heterozygous males and, among populations, females should pursue more frequently EPP in populations characterized by a lower genetic variability and a higher homozygosity. However, support is still unclear throughout literature, and usually involves the study of a single population. We compared a peripheral population of rock sparrow Petronia petronia living at the marginal distribution of the species and characterized by a high EPP level (> 50%) (Italian Alps) with a population located in the centre of the species' distribution (central Spain), to understand if variations in EPP could be linked to differences in mean heterozygosity and genetic similarity both between and within populations. EPP in the Spanish population was 18.1%, three times lower than that observed in the Alpine one (51.2%), and this difference remained fairly constant across different years. Supporting the between populations prediction, we found lower heterozygosity and reduced allelic richness in the Alpine population compared to the Spanish one. In contrast, social and extra‐pair males, as well as within and extra‐pair offspring, did not significantly differ in terms of genetic similarity and heterozygosity within brood in either population. Social and extra‐pair males did not differ in tarsus size, body weight or yellow badge size, suggesting that females were not choosing extra‐pair partners based on heterozygosity, genetic similarity or phenotypic quality. Although based on a limited sample in the within population analysis, our results indicate that EPP may evolve in response to a low level of genetic variability in the population.
Colonization rather than fragmentation explains the geographical distribution and diversification of treefrogs endemic to Brazilian shield sky islands
Authors: Oswald Caroline Batistim , Lemes Priscila , Thomé Maria Tereza C. , Pezzuti Tiago Leite , Santos Fabricio Rodrigues , Garcia Paulo Christiano de Anchietta , Leite Felipe Sá Fortes , de Magalhães Rafael Félix
Published: March 2022

Aim

Geographical patterns of montane biodiversity worldwide are related to biotic and abiotic factors, such as historical climate dynamics and species dispersal capabilities, which affect the biota from population to community levels. Understanding of processes related to population diversification in extra‐Andean Neotropical mountains remains largely unknown. Here, we tested how colonization of new areas as opposed to fragmentation of geographical ranges influenced the distribution and diversification of frogs from Brazilian mountains.

Location

Espinhaço Range, the largest extra‐Andean mountain range in South America.

Taxon

Ledge treefrog Bokermannohyla saxicola.

Methods

We used multilocus DNA and morphometric data throughout the species' distribution to delimit lineages, infer phylogenetic relationships and estimate divergence times. We used ecological niche modelling (ENM) and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) to reconstruct changes of geographical distribution and population sizes for testing alternative hypotheses of diversification concerning fragmentation and colonization.

Results

We found four evolutionary significant lineages that diverged from the Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene. All lineages were validated by DNA and morphometric data by independent and joint analyses. ENM showed that climatic fluctuations might have influenced the species' distribution, whereas ABC model selection further supports associated demographic changes. Taken together, a Pleistocene jump‐dispersal scenario best explains the diversification of the Bokermannohyla saxicola lineages.

Main conclusions

Endemism in the Espinhaço Range is usually explained by ancient diversification, associated with long‐term isolation of climatic stable areas following climate‐driven habitat fragmentation. Our results challenge this general view, indicating recent diversification, habitat expansion and colonization of new areas as important processes explaining the current distribution and genetic diversity of B. saxicola.
Polycystin‐1 regulates cell proliferation and migration through AKT/mTORC2 pathway in a human craniosynostosis cell model
Authors: Katsianou Maria A. , Papavassiliou Kostas A. , Gargalionis Antonios N. , Agrogiannis George , Korkolopoulou Penelope , Panagopoulos Dimitrios , Themistocleous Marios S. , Piperi Christina , Basdra Efthimia K. , Papavassiliou Athanasios G.
Published: March 2022

Craniosynostosis is the premature fusion of skull sutures and has a severe pathological impact on childrens’ life. Mechanical forces are capable of triggering biological responses in bone cells and regulate osteoblastogenesis in cranial sutures, leading to premature closure. The mechanosensitive proteins polycystin‐1 (PC1) and polycystin‐2 (PC2) have been documented to play an important role in craniofacial proliferation and development. Herein, we investigated the contribution of PC1 to the pathogenesis of non‐syndromic craniosynostosis and the associated molecular mechanisms. Protein expression of PC1 and PC2 was detected in bone fragments derived from craniosynostosis patients via immunohistochemistry. To explore the modulatory role of PC1 in primary cranial suture cells, we further abrogated the function of PC1 extracellular mechanosensing domain using a specific anti‐PC1 IgPKD1 antibody. Effect of IgPKD1 treatment was evaluated with cell proliferation and migration assays. Activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components was further detected via Western blot in primary cranial suture cells following IgPKD1 treatment. PC1 and PC2 are expressed in human tissues of craniosynostosis. PC1 functional inhibition resulted in elevated proliferation and migration of primary cranial suture cells. PC1 inhibition also induced activation of AKT, exhibiting elevated phospho (p)‐AKT (Ser473) levels, but not 4EBP1 or p70S6K activation. Our findings indicate that PC1 may act as a mechanosensing molecule in cranial sutures by modulating osteoblastic cell proliferation and migration through the PC1/AKT/mTORC2 cascade with a potential impact on the development of non‐syndromic craniosynostosis.
Sleeping Sound Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a randomised controlled trial of a brief behavioural sleep intervention in primary school‐aged autistic children
Authors: Papadopoulos Nicole , Sciberras Emma , Hiscock Harriet , Williams Katrina , McGillivray Jane , Mihalopoulos Cathrine , Engel Lidia , Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz Matthew , Bellows Susannah T. , Marks Deborah , Howlin Patricia , Rinehart Nicole
Published: March 2022

Background

Behavioural sleep problems are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, evidence for the efficacy of behavioural sleep interventions is limited. This study examined the efficacy of a brief behavioural sleep intervention in autistic children. It was hypothesised that the intervention would reduce overall child sleep problems (primary outcome), in addition to improvements in children’s social, emotional, cognitive, academic functioning, and quality of life, and parent/caregivers’ stress, quality of life, and mental health (secondary outcomes).

Methods

A randomised controlled trial was conducted with participants randomised via a computer‐generated sequence to the sleeping sound intervention (n = 123) or treatment as usual (n = 122) group. Participants comprised 245 children with an ASD diagnosis. Inclusion criteria were as follows: confirmation of DSM IV or DSM‐5 diagnosis of ASD, participants aged between 5 and 13 years and parent/caregiver report of moderate–severe sleep problems. Exclusion criteria were as follows: parent/caregiver intellectual disability or lacking sufficient English to complete questionnaires; and child participant with co‐occurring medical conditions known to impact sleep. The intervention group received the sleeping sound intervention (2 × 50‐min face‐to‐face sessions plus follow‐up phone call) by a trained clinician.

Results

Change in children’s sleep problems was measured by the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) at 3 months post randomisation. Parents/caregivers of children in the intervention group reported a reduction in child sleep problems at 3 months post randomisation (effect size: E.S −0.7). There were also small effects in a number of child (internalising symptoms, emotional behavioural disturbance and quality of life) and parent/caregiver (mental health, parenting stress and quality of life) outcomes; however, these did not remain significant when controlling for multiple comparisons.

Conclusions

The sleeping sound ASD intervention is an efficacious and practical way to reduce sleep problems for autistic children. This brief behavioural intervention has the potential to be embedded easily into the Australian healthcare system.
Minocycline suppresses lipogenesis via inhibition of p300 histone acetyltransferase activity in human SZ95 sebocytes
Authors: Shin H.S. , Zouboulis C.C. , Kim M.K. , Lee D.H. , Chung J.H.
Published: March 2022

Background

Minocycline is a second‐generation tetracycline drug, which is widely used to treat diverse infectious and inflammatory diseases such as acne vulgaris. The effects of minocycline on acne vulgaris have been mainly attributed to its anti‐inflammatory effect; however, its sebum‐regulating effect and the relevance to epigenetic regulation in human sebaceous glands remain uninvestigated.

Objectives

To identify the potential underlying epigenetic mechanism of sebum‐inhibitory effects of minocycline in human SZ95 sebocytes.

Methods

The quantity of lipid droplets and the expression of key lipogenic genes were analysed in minocycline‐treated SZ95 sebocytes. To examine whether the sebum‐inhibitory effects of minocycline are relevant to histone acetylation, we analysed the effects of minocycline on p300 HAT and total HDAC activity. To elucidate the functional implication of p300 HAT inhibition by minocycline in sebocytes, we assessed the effect of p300 knockdown, inhibition and overexpression on lipid accumulation in SZ95 sebocytes.

Results

Minocycline suppressed the insulin and liver X receptor agonist‐induced lipid accumulation and the expression of the key lipogenic transcription factor sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and its downstream genes, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase α (ACCα). Minocycline inhibited p300 HAT activity in a concentration‐dependent manner, but demonstrated no effect on global HDAC activity, resulting in a significant decrease in histone acetylation. Downregulation of p300 by knockdown or inhibition significantly suppressed SREBP1 expression, histone acetylation and lipid accumulation, whereas p300 overexpression enhanced these effects. Moreover, p300 overexpression rescued minocycline‐inhibited SREBP1 expression and lipid synthesis.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed a novel sebum‐regulating effect of minocycline. Moreover, as p300 HAT is a key epigenetic regulator of sebaceous lipogenesis, its inhibitors could be used for the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccines in patients with chronic diseases: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Jiang Ning , Gu Pengfei , Sun Xian , Han Hui , Liu Wenwen , Song Na , Jiang Xiaolian
Published: March 2022

Aims and objectives

This study aimed to clarify the attitudes, knowledge and vaccination willingness of patients with chronic diseases toward COVID‐19 vaccines and the influencing factors.

Background

Vaccination against COVID‐19 is an important way to protect patients with chronic diseases, but the vaccination acceptance varies across diseases and populations. A better understanding of this condition will lead to tailored intervention strategies and high vaccination rates.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Data were collected between March 2021 and May 2021 in China. A self‐compiled questionnaire was used in the survey. Two independent‐samples t‐tests/one‐way analysis of variance or U test/H test was used to measure the differences between groups. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors. The study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist, STROBE.

Results

A total of 998 patients participated in the study. Score rates of attitudes, knowledge and vaccination willingness were 69.9%, 68.4% and 70.6% respectively. Age, vaccination status of family members, education levels, vaccine side effects and economic level were positive factors that could influence patients’ vaccination acceptances, while time of illness, type of disease and political affiliations were negative predictors. The top reasons for willingness toward vaccination were supporting national strategies, belief on the vaccines and fearing of contracting COVID‐19, while physical reasons, side effects and having a wait‐and‐see attitude were unwillingness factors.

Conclusions

Patients’ attitudes, knowledge and vaccination willingness were medium. Nurses should pay attention to patients who are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, under 30 or over 70 years old, have no political affiliations, have damage to vital organs, have a long course of illness, family members have not received COVID‐19 vaccines and had no side effects after receiving other vaccines.

Relevance to clinical practice

Clinical nurses are recommended to take measures from patients’ duration of illness, damaged organs, demographic characteristics and families to improve patients’ vaccination acceptances.
Japanese Clinical Psychologists' Consensus Beliefs about Mental Health: A Mixed‐Methods Approach
Authors: Sunohara Momoka , Sasaki Jun , Kogo Sonora , Ryder Andrew G.
Published: March 2022

This study applied a two‐phase, mixed‐methods research design, grounded in cultural consensus theory (CCT), to examine shared beliefs about mental health held by Japanese clinical psychologists (CPs). In CCT, qualitative methods are first used to identify culturally salient elements of a domain; factor analysis is then used to quantify the degree of sharedness, an approach known as cultural consensus analysis (CCA). First, a free‐listing technique with 16 Japanese CPs was conducted to elicit salient terms for the two domains: (a) how members of the general public acquire beliefs about mental health; and (b) how Japanese mental healthcare ought to be reformed. In the second phase, CCA was conducted through a survey completed by 100 CPs. The free‐listing analysis generated 21 and 23 culturally salient terms for the two domains, respectively. Then, CCA demonstrated that the two domains could each be characterized as a single cultural model with a high degree of consensus. CCT provides a systematic mixed‐methods approach that is particularly well‐suited to investigating culturally grounded shared beliefs held by people in a specific cultural context.
Biopriming of maize seeds with plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from the earthworm Aporrectodea molleri: effect on seed germination and seedling growth
Authors: Houida S. , Yakkou L. , Kaya L.O. , Bilen S. , Fadil M. , Raouane M. , El Harti A. , Amghar S.
Published: March 2022

Earthworms have become a potential source of multi-beneficial bacteria and effective bioinoculants. Seed biopriming is an efficient inoculation method to apply bacteria prior to sowing, which enhances the chances of bacterial candidates to colonize the rhizosphere and/or establish a liaison with the plant. In this study, we evaluated plant growth-promoting traits of bacterial strains isolated from the earthworm’s Aporrectodea molleri chloragogenous tissue. In addition, we investigated their prospective use as biopriming agents to enhance Zea mays germination and seedling growth. Results were subjected to principal component analysis for potential correlations between the studied parameters. The bacterial strains displayed different in vitro plant growth-promoting characteristics and were efficient when applied in vivo as they significantly increased maize germination rate (26–78%), root elongation (67–84%), seedlings fresh weight and dry weight. Aeromonas encheleia TC22 was the most significant strain to influence germination due to its high ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, and along with Pseudomonas azotoformans TC1, they were the most proficient at enhancing seedling root elongation and biomass, which was significantly correlated with their in vitro plant growth-promoting traits. Our findings indicate that isolates TC22 and TC1 are potent bio-primers for maize seeds and should be tested further for their use as biopriming inoculants.
Evaluation of filter paper as a means of transporting inactivated Gram-negative non-fermentative bacteria and Haemophilus spp. for identification using the MALDI-TOF MS system
Authors: Carneiro M.S. , Crispim M.N. , Wilhelm C.M. , Volpato F.C.Z. , Barth A.L.
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the filter paper as a means to transport inactivated Gram-negative non-fermentative (GNNF) bacteria and Haemophilus spp. for analysis using MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 133 isolates were evaluated and the analysis of each isolate was performed directly from original bacterial colony and in filter paper after the processing. To evaluate the agreement between the identification performed directly from the colony and after impregnation in filter paper, we assign the scores: >2·3 as excellent (E); 2·0 to 2·3 as very good (VG); 1·7–1·99 as good (G); <1·7 as unidentified (U). The divergences were classified as: Minor Divergence, Intermediate Divergence and Major Divergence. A total of 80 isolates transported in the filter paper disks presented full category concordance; 39 isolates presented Minor Divergence; 4 isolates present Intermediate Divergence; 4 isolates present Major Divergence and 6 isolates present better results after impregnation in filter paper. The proposed methodology of bacteria transportation presented a sensitivity of 96·9% and a specificity of 100%. The filter paper as a means to transport and storage of inactivated GNNF and Haemophilus spp. may be considered a potential tool for faster, more accurate, biosafe and less-expensive identification.
Antimicrobial resistance tendency and collateral sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus adapted to antibiotics or extracts of medicinal plants grown in Viet Nam
Authors: Nguyen T.-P. , Vu Thi N.-A. , Nguyen Diep X.-N. , Nguyen T.N. , Bui L.M.
Published: March 2022

Antimicrobial resistance has silently turned into one of the biggest threats to global health, marking the fall of the Golden age of antibiotics. In the search for antibiotic replacement or enhancement, plant-derived natural compounds have attracted lots of interest. Even though firmly believed, the low-resistance tendency of pathogenic bacteria against plant extracts has been scarcely demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial activities of diethyl ether extracts from six medicinal plants grown in Viet Nam against Staphylococcus aureus and its variants, which were in vitro adapted to the same extracts. After 30 passages of S. aureus growing under sub-lethal concentrations of plant extracts or antibiotics, the bacteria slowly adapted to the extracts while rapidly resisting the antibiotics. Most of the resulting strains obtained from the adaptation to plant extracts were collaterally sensitive to antibiotics. In contrast, antibiotic-adapted strains showed cross-resistance to both antibiotics and extracts. The findings provided evidence of the low-resistance tendency of S. aureus to antimicrobial plant extracts. It is the first time a collateral antibiotic sensitivity of S. aureus adapted to natural compounds has been observed, suggesting an alternative approach to fight antibiotic resistance.
Balthasar, the Sublime, and the Avant‐Garde
Authors: Fritz Peter Joseph
Published: March 2022

Following Cyril O’Regan’s suggestion of possible Balthasarian reflections on the sublime and the avant‐garde, this article argues that actualizing these possibilities could contribute fruitfully to Hans Urs von Balthasar’s theological‐aesthetic resistance to Hegelian economy (mastery of all meaning and value through scientific reason) and to postmodern alternative philosophies to Hegel. The article expands the Balthasarian notion of “form” to open new partnerships between Balthasarian aesthetics and artistic currents that share his project of resisting economy. The article examines Balthasar’s early rejection of avant‐garde and modern art in historical and cultural context. It effects a critical dialogue between Balthasar and two prominent postmodern precedents for thinking about the sublime and avant‐garde art (Jean‐François Lyotard and Jean‐Luc Nancy). It constructs a different, Balthasarian perspective on the sublime and the avant‐garde, emphasizing the ontological sublime (Goethe, Scheeben) and Christus deformis (Augustine, Bonaventure). Then it sets the Balthasarian sublime in conversation with contemporary artist Sarah Sze to discover new counter‐economic possibilities for the Balthasarian Gestalt.
Modification of the N‐terminal FWKG−αH1 element of potyviral HC‐Pro affects its multiple functions and generates effective attenuated mutants for cross‐protection
Authors: Raja Joseph A. J. , Huang Chung‐Hao , Chen Chin‐Chih , Hu Wen‐Chi , Cheng Hao‐Wen , Goh Reun‐Ping , Chao Chia‐Hung , Tan Yue‐Rong , Yeh Shyi‐Dong
Published: March 2022

Control of plant viruses by cross‐protection is limited by the availability of effective protective strains. Incorporation of an NIa‐protease processing site in the extreme N‐terminal region of the helper component protease (HC‐Pro) of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) resulted in a mutant virus TuHNDI that induced highly attenuated symptoms. Recombination analysis verified that two variations, F7I mutation and amino acid 7‐upstream‐deletion, in HC‐Pro co‐determined TuHNDI attenuation. TuHNDI provided complete protection to Nicotiana benthamiana and Brassica campestris subsp. chinensis plants against infection by the severe parental strain. Aphid transmission tests revealed that TuHNDI was not aphid‐transmissible. An RNA silencing suppression (RSS) assay by agroinfiltration suggested the RSS‐defective nature of the mutant HC‐Pro. In the context (amino acids 3–17) encompassing the two variations of HC‐Pro, we uncovered an FWKG−α‐helix 1 (αH1) element that influenced the functions of aphid transmission and RSS, whose motifs were located far downstream. We further demonstrated that HC‐Pro F7 was a critical residue on αH1 for HC‐Pro functions and that reinstating αH1 in the RSS‐defective HC‐Pro of TuHNDI restored the protein's RSS function. Yeast two‐hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays indicated the FWKG−αH1 element as an integral part of the HC‐Pro self‐interaction domain. The possibility of regulation of the mechanistically independent functions of RSS and aphid transmission by the FWKG−αH1 element is discussed. Extension of TuMV HC‐Pro FWKG−αH1 variations to another potyvirus, zucchini yellow mosaic virus, also generated nonaphid‐transmissible cross‐protective mutant viruses. Hence, the modification of the FWKG−αH1 element can generate effective attenuated viruses for the control of potyviruses by cross‐protection.
Neuropathological changes in advanced Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Adachi Tadashi , Hanajima Ritsuko
Published: March 2022

Patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) show severe motor dysfunction, wearing‐off, dyskinesia, dementia, and autonomic failure. These symptoms correlate with the development of neuropathological findings such as severe nigrostriatal and non‐dopaminergic neuron loss and gliosis, and phosphorylated alpha‐synuclein (pSyn) accumulation in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In addition, there are often co‐pathological changes, including Alzheimer‐related tau and amyloid accumulations. According to Braak’s PD progression hypothesis, at the time of clinical diagnosis of PD, accumulation of pSyn‐positive structures is already widespread in the brainstem and peripheral nervous system, and in advanced PD, these pSyn‐positive structures have spread to the limbic system and neocortex. In this review, we describe the basic neuropathology of PD, with particular attention given to the Braak hypothesis and the distribution of pSyn‐positive structures in advanced PD.
Notes on the genus Amorphophallus Blume ex Decne. (Araceae) of northwestern Luzon, Philippines, including a new species
Authors: Calaramo Michael A. , Batuyong Mae Ann R. , Bulawin Norilyn F. , Alejandro Grecebio Jonathan D.
Published: March 2022

A botanical exploration conducted by the Northwestern University – Biodiversity Research Unit and other collaborating institutions in the Ilocos Region, Northwestern Luzon, Philippines, led to the documentation of five Amorphophallus species in the area. Here, we provide new distributional records for A. longispathaceus and A. urceolatus, an expanded description and new conservation status for A. adamsensis, and describe new color forms of A. paeoniifolius. Moreover, the new species Amorphophallus flammeus is described and compared to its closest relatives.
The impact of the cyanobacterial carbon‐regulator protein SbtB and of the second messengers cAMP and c‐di‐AMP on CO2‐dependent gene expression
Authors: Mantovani Oliver , Reimann Viktoria , Haffner Michael , Herrmann Felix Philipp , Selim Khaled A. , Forchhammer Karl , Hess Wolfgang R. , Hagemann Martin
Published: March 2022

The amount of inorganic carbon (Ci) fluctuates in aquatic environments. Cyanobacteria evolved a Ci‐concentrating mechanism (CCM) that is regulated at different levels. The regulator SbtB binds to the second messengers cAMP or c‐di‐AMP and is involved in acclimation to low Ci (LC) in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Here, we investigated the role of SbtB and of associated second messengers at different Ci conditions.

The transcriptome of wild‐type (WT) Synechocystis and the ΔsbtB mutant were compared with Δcya1, a mutant defective in cAMP production, and ΔdacA, a mutant defective in generating c‐di‐AMP.

A defined subset of LC‐regulated genes in the WT was already changed in ΔsbtB under high Ci (HC) conditions. This response of ΔsbtB correlated with a diminished induction of many CCM‐associated genes after LC shift in this mutant. The Δcya1 mutant showed less deviation from WT, whereas ΔdacA induced CCM‐associated genes under HC. Metabolome analysis also revealed differences between the strains, whereby ΔsbtB showed slower accumulation of 2‐phosphoglycolate and ΔdacA differences among amino acids compared to WT.

Collectively, these results indicate that SbtB regulates a subset of LC acclimation genes while c‐di‐AMP and especially cAMP appear to have a lesser impact on gene expression under different Ci availabilities.
Can 18‐years of data from a tertiary referral center help to identify risk factors in esophageal atresia?
Authors: Narsat Mehmet Ali , Kılıç Şeref Selçuk , Özden Önder , Alkan Murat , Tuncer Recep , İskit Hilmi Serdar
Published: March 2022

Background

Esophageal atresia is a complex esophageal malformation with an incidence of 1 in 3,500–4,000 live births, and it usually occurs together with anomalies in other systems or chromosomes. This study aimed to investigate the short‐term and long‐term results of cases of esophageal atresia retrospectively in our institution and to analyze the factors affecting the outcome.

Methods

Charts of the patients managed for esophageal atresia in our tertiary pediatric surgery department were investigated retrospectively. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for morbidity and mortality.

Results

One hundred and thirteen (95.8%) of 118 cases underwent a single‐stage or staged esophagoesophagostomy procedure. In only five of the 40 patients with a long gap between the two atretic ends was an esophageal replacement procedure required. The most common early and late complications were anastomotic stenosis (41.6%) and gastroesophageal reflux (44.9%). In logistic regression analysis, the birthweight (OR [95% CI] = 0.998 [0.997, 0.999], P = 0.001) and preoperative inotrope requirement (OR [95% CI] = 13.8 [3.6–53.3], P < 0.001) were the two risk factors in the mortality prediction model obtained by multivariate analysis. The gap length between the two atretic ends (OR [95% CI] = 1.436 [1.010, 2.041], P = 0.044) and the number of sutures for anastomosis (OR [95% CI] = 1.313 [1.042, 1.656], P = 0.021) were the two risk factors in the gastroesophageal reflux prediction model obtained by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Our study's early and late complication rates were like those found in other studies. Identifying risk factors would be beneficial and might help reduce the severity of potential complications in esophageal atresia patients. Prospective studies on large patient series would help develop registry‐based, standardized management protocols.
The impact of vitamin D on the onset and progress of Kawasaki disease
Authors: Okazaki Natsumi , Ikeda Hiroyuki , Honda Takafumi , Tsuno Kazuma , Inoue Fumiya , Takahashi Satoko , Sakurai Ayako , Ueki Hideaki , Noguchi Yasushi , Hamada Hiromichi , Igarashi Shunji
Published: March 2022

Background

The seasonal epidemic of Kawasaki disease (KD) in winter in Japan suggests that low vitamin D status may affect KD through the immune system. We aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D on the onset and clinical course of KD.

Methods

We conducted a case‐control study to compare 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in KD patients admitted to our hospital between March 2018 and June 2021, with those in healthy controls from published Japanese data. In patients with KD, we evaluated the association of 25(OH)D levels with intravenous immunoglobulin resistance and coronary artery lesions.

Results

We compared 290 controls and 86 age‐group‐adjusted patients with KD. The 25(OH)D levels in KD patients were lower than those in the controls (median: 17 vs. 29 ng/mL, P < 0.001). In winter, 25(OH)D levels in KD patients were lower than those in summer (median: 13 vs. 19 ng/mL). The adjusted odds ratios for the onset of KD were 4.9 (95% CI: 2.5–9.6) for vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D: 12–20 ng/mL) and 29.4 (95% CI: 12.5–78.2) for vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 12 ng/mL). Among 110 KD patients, 25(OH)D levels at diagnosis of KD were not associated with intravenous immunoglobulin resistance or coronary artery lesions.

Conclusions

The 25(OH)D levels in patients with KD were lower than those in the controls, especially in winter. Lower 25(OH)D levels in winter were associated with an increased risk of KD onset. It remains to be elucidated whether the observed association has a causal relationship.
Association of pediatric inguinal hernia contents with patient age and sex
Authors: Ohkura Takahiro , Kumori Koji , Kawamura Toshihiko , Manako Junko , Ishibashi Shuichi , Funabashi Narimasa , Tajima Yoshitsugu
Published: March 2022

Background

Although pediatric inguinal hernia (IH) is a very common disease, systematic reviews of herniated organs are scarce. The current study aims to clarify the contents of pediatric IH using preoperative ultrasonography (US) in association with patient age, sex, and risk for developing irreducible/strangulated hernia.

Methods

The medical records of pediatric IH patients who underwent inguinal US examination prior to surgery between 2014 and 2019 were reviewed. Hernia contents were categorized into four groups based on US findings: bowel, omentum, ovary with or without fallopian tube, and ascites.

Results

A total of 524 IH lesions found in 220 men and 304 women were analyzed. The most common hernia content in patients under 12 months of age was the bowel (91.0%) in males and ovaries (89.5%) in females. The omentum became the most common herniated organ in both men (78.6%) and women (88.0%) aged 2 years and older. Emergency operations were performed in 3 patients (0.57%) due to irreducible IH, where 2 patients with irreducible ovaries, 5 and 7 months old, developed ovarian torsion and needed to undergo emergent salpingo‐oophorectomy.

Conclusions

The contents of pediatric IH depended on patient age and sex. Herniated ovaries in infants can twist in the hernia sac and become strangulated. It is important for clinicians to expect the herniated organ and take appropriate measures in the pediatric primary care setting.
Repertoire of glycan‐binding placenta‐associated antibodies in healthy pregnancy and in pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Ziganshina Marina M. , Shilova Nadezhda V. , Khasbiullina Nailia R. , Terentyeva Anastasia V. , Dolgopolova Elena L. , Nokel Alexey Yu , Yarotskaya Ekaterina L. , Shmakov Roman G. , Bovin Nicolai V. , Sukhikh Gennady T.
Published: March 2022

A possible mechanism of the immune tolerance in pregnancy is production of blocking antibodies which reside in placenta and protect foetal allogeneic cells from the mother's immune system. Their epitope specificity, as well as the nature of the biomolecules masked by them, is unknown. For better understanding of this phenomenon, we attempted to characterize the specificity of antibodies isolated from placentas of women with healthy pregnancy and pre‐eclampsia (PE). It was found that: (1) the repertoire of placental antibodies is significantly less variable and qualitatively different from the peripheral blood; (2) with PE, the repertoire of placental antibodies is narrower than in healthy pregnancy; (3) some antibodies are found almost exclusively in the placenta, and some – only in the placenta of healthy women.
Contribuições da Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos sobre Violência Contra a Mulher: Uma Análise Jurisprudencial
Authors: Freitas Casoni Laura , Pulzatto Peruzzo Pedro
Published: March 2022

O presente artigo tem como objetivo sistematizar e analisar as contribuições da jurisprudência da Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos para as agendas interamericanas sobre violência contra a mulher. Partindo de uma análise crítica e qualitativa de casos julgados pela Corte IDH que envolvem esse tema, demonstramos como a Corte consolidou uma linha jurisprudencial que nos permite afirmar que existem contribuições importantes desse tribunal internacional para as agendas interamericanas sobre violência contra a mulher, considerando questões que tocam a colonialidade do poder e de gênero. Com um enfoque institucional e prático, a análise de julgados proferidos pela Corte nos permitiu demonstrar um movimento de ampliação do compromisso com as questões de gênero e de alinhamento não apenas com tratados e outros compromissos assumidos e encabeça‑ dos por Estados no âmbito da Organização dos Estados Americanos, mas também com as demandas dos movimentos femininos e feministas latino-americanos, contribuindo significativamente para a compreensão da violência contra a mulher como uma categoria translocal. Assim, concluímos que a Corte Interamericana tem desempenhado papel significativo ao atuar como esfera pública transna‑ cional, permeável aos múltiplos atores internacionais que, muitos deles na condição de vítimas, se deparam com o fato de que, diante de omissões e ações violadoras de direitos humanos pelo Estado, o recurso ao próprio Estado pode ser insuficiente para sanar os problemas, pois normalmente enco‑ bre questões relevantes e estruturais que são expostas com muito mais clareza e respondidas com muito mais eficiência nos foros internacionais.
Effect of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal on respiratory quotient measured by indirect calorimetry: Unravelling the mystery
Authors: Ghijselings Idris E. , Bockstael Brecht , De Waele Elisabeth , Jonckheer Joop
Published: March 2022

New Findings

What is the main observation in this case?

Several studies have reported progressive hypoxaemia once extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal is started in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure, possibly attributable to an altered respiratory quotient.

What insights does it reveal?

In this quality control report, we show that the respiratory quotient exhibits only minimal alteration when extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal is started and assume that the progressive hypoxaemia is attributable to an increase in intrapulmonary shunt.

The use of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) has been proposed in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome to achieve lung‐protective ventilation and in patients with selective hypercapnic respiratory failure. However, several studies have reported progressive hypoxaemia, as expressed by a need to increase the inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) to maintain adequate oxygenation or by a decrease in the ratio of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) to FiO2 once ECCO2R is started. We present the case of a patient who was admitted to the intensive care unit for a coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia and who was intubated because of hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency. Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal was started, and the patient subsequently developed progressive hypoxaemia. To test whether the hypoxaemia was attributable to the ECCO2R, blood samples were taken in different settings: (1) ‘no ECCO2R’, blood flow 150 ml/min with a ECCO2R gas flow of 0 L/min; and (2) ‘with ECCO2R’, blood flow 400 ml/min with gas flow 12 L/min. We measured PaO2, alveolar oxygen tension, PaO2/FiO2, alveolar–arterial oxygen tension difference, arterial carbon dioxide tension and the respiratory quotient (RQ) by indirect calorimetry in each setting. The RQ was 0.60 without ECCO2R and 0.57 with ECCO2R. The alveolar oxygen tension was 220.4 mmHg without ECCO2R and increased to 240.3 mmHg with ECCO2R, whereas PaO2/FiO2 decreased from 177 to 171. Our study showed only a minimal change in RQ when ECCO2R was started. We were the first to measure the RQ directly, before and after the initiation of ECCO2R, in a patient with hypercapnic respiratory failure.
The Effects of Incoming Vortex and Wake on the Aerodynamics of an Intermediate Turbine Duct
Authors: Zhou Chao , Dong Fan , Hou Jiangdong
Published: March 2022

In a high bypass ratio aircraft engine, the high-pressure and low-pressure turbines are connected by an intermediate turbine duct (ITD). The aerodynamic performance of the ITD is affected by the incoming flow from the high-pressure turbine. This paper investigates the effects of an incoming wake or/and a near casing streamwise vortex on the flow field and loss of an ITD. For the case with only an incoming wake, the wake interacts with the boundary layer (BL), forming a pair of vortices and causing additional loss. With an incoming streamwise vortex, the casing boundary layer interacts with it and a loss core forms near the casing. When both a wake and a streamwise vortex are present at the inlet, apart from interacting with the boundary layer, the wake and the streamwise vortex could interact with each other. It is found that the distance between the wake and streamwise vortex has a major effect on the flow pattern and aerodynamic loss of ITD. Three different distances between the wake and the incoming streamwise vortex are investigated. When the distance between the wake and incoming streamwise vortex is large, the two flow structures develop relatively independently and the combined effect is small. As the distance between them reduces, the flow structure induced by the wake interacts with the incoming streamwise vortex and suppresses the loss production. However, for the case with the shortest distance, the interaction enhances the loss generation. A simplified analytical model is proposed to explain this loss mechanism.
Influence of Supersonic Nozzle Design Parameters on the Unsteady Stator–Rotor Interaction in Radial-Inflow Turbines for Organic Rankine Cycles
Authors: Cappiello Alessandro , Tuccillo Raffaele
Published: March 2022

The use of radial-inflow turbine (RIT) for organic Rankine cycle (ORC) plant sizes below 100 kW is promising, although the application remains challenging. In fact, the single-stage arrangement imposed by economic constraints and hence the large expansion ratio, together with the large molecular weight, which characterizes organic fluids, usually result in highly supersonic flows, so making the use of transonic stators often mandatory.

Particularly, the influence of RIT stator design parameters on losses and the level of unsteadiness seen by the subsequent rotor is still scarcely addressed in published literature.

The present work investigates the effect of the convergent–divergent stators design parameters and the resulting downstream flow field non-uniformity on the unsteady stator–rotor interaction and loss generation in ORC RIT.

To this end, two stator and rotor configurations which differ by the stator design parameters (i.e., discharge metal angle and number of vanes) have been tested by means of three-dimensional (3D) unsteady CFD calculations accounting for real-gas properties.

The results show that larger stator–rotor interaction is present for the case featuring higher vane count and lower outlet metal, which also features the largest fluctuations of power output and pressure force on blade, together with a substantially lower average total-to-static efficiency, as a result of a larger stator downstream pitchwise non-uniformity.

Ultimately, the results indicate that only aiming for optimal stator efficiency during the stator design phase might lead to highly suboptimal configurations from the whole turbine stage point of view.
Optimization of a Tip Appendage for the Control of Tip Leakage Vortices in Axial Flow Fans
Authors: Meyer Thomas O. , van der Spuy Sybrand J. , Meyer Christiaan J. , Corsini Alessandro
Published: March 2022

This paper presents the numerical optimization of a tip appendage design for the passive control of tip leakage vortices in subsonic axial flow cooling fans. The studied class of fan was designed in the conventional manner without the consideration of tip clearance effects. As such, the objective of this investigation is the improvement of the aerodynamic performance characteristics of the datum fan through consideration of the blade tip geometry. Based on previous studies involving fan performance enhancement using various tip end-plate configurations, the most promising end-plate geometry which is found to best improve the fan’s performance characteristics is selected for further development through optimization. Before the optimization process can begin, initialization of the chosen end-plate’s design space using the design of experiments (DoEs) technique is performed. Formulation of the response surface is based on a multi-objective multi-point objective function which considers the fan’s various performance metrics. Considering the optimization process, the design and analysis of computer aided experiments method is used in the development of the Kriging-based surrogate model’s database. The resulting database is coupled with an efficient global optimization algorithm which completes the workflow of the optimization routine. The Pareto-front of non-dominated solutions is used to guide the optimal design selection, on which the experimental evaluations are based. The experimental results of the optimized design indicate improved fan performance characteristics at greater than peak efficiency flowrates. This design is found to increase the datum fan’s design point performance characteristics by a value of 32.90% in total-to-static pressure rise and a 7.66 percentage point increase in total-to-static efficiency at the fan’s design speed of 722 rpm.
Morphological and molecular characterization of adult Dermacentor pavlovskyi Olenev, 1927 (Acari: Ixodidae)
Authors: Gao Zhihua , Xu Xiaofeng , Zhang Jingkai , Xuan Yibo , Bai Lingqian , Chen Ze , Liu Jingze
Published: March 2022

Dermacentor pavlovskyi Olenev, 1927 is the type tick species of subgenus Asiacentor Filippova & Panova, 1974 in the genus Dermacentor, which is only found in Xinjiang of China and Central Asia. In the present study, the males and females of D. pavlovskyi from Xinjiang were firstly characterized in detail morphologically by scanning electron microscopy and molecularly by partial 16S rDNA, COI and ITS2 sequences. The results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that D. pavlovskyi and Palaearctic subgenus Dermacentor (s. str.) species clustered to form a phylogenetic lineage, and their genetic distances were smaller than those between Palaearctic and non-Palaearctic subgenus Dermacentor (s. str.) species. Among Palaearctic subgenus Dermacentor (s. str.), D. pavlovskyi seems to be much closer to D. raskemensis, D. marginatus and D. niveus than to D. silvarum, D. nuttalli, D. everestianus and D. reticulatus. We also suggested that D. montanus, as the closest relative species of D. pavlovskyi, should be further investigated.