bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finding a pathway and making it strong: Learning from Yolŋu about meaningful health education in a remote Indigenous Australian context
Authors: Lowell Anne , Maypilama Elaine Läwurrpa , Gundjarranbuy Rosemary
Published: August 2020

Issue addressed

Access to meaningful health information is limited in remote regions of Australia where Indigenous languages and culture are strong but the prevalence of chronic conditions is extremely high. This qualitative study aimed to support and understand the evolution of an educational approach to improve communication about chronic conditions for Yolŋu (Aboriginal people of Northeast Arnhem Land).

Methods

Within a culturally responsive research design, data were gathered through participant observation and semi‐structured interviews with educators and community members. An iterative and continuous process of data collection and inductive analysis, exploring key elements of the process as it evolved, supported the Project Team to modify and refine their approach as the project progressed.

Results

A high level of community participation and control was a critical element of the project. Collaboration between Yolŋu educators and community experts, with culturally competent support from others, enabled Yolŋu to share health information in ways that could not be achieved by outsiders. Yolŋu and biomedical knowledges were integrated to build and share meaningful, in‐depth (not simplified or directive) oral explanations in local languages using culturally responsive communication processes. The urgent need for ongoing, sufficient and meaningful health education was a consistent and recurring theme in this context where chronic conditions are having a devastating impact.

Conclusion

Sustained and equitable access to meaningful information, using a culturally responsive approach led by community educators, is crucial to improve health literacy and to enable genuinely informed decisions in prevention and management of chronic conditions. Long‐term funding is needed to support ongoing programs. These findings may have relevance for others who do not share the culture and language of the majority population.

So what?

Equity of access to meaningful health information through sustained support for community‐led education processes is essential to improve First Nations health outcomes.
Medical intervention before death of elderly in India: An inquiry into gender‐based difference
Authors: Ghosh Dona , Sengupta Jayedeep
Published: August 2020

Background

Demographic shift in India has prolonged life expectancy. The phenomenon caused episodes of illness to protract and sufferings of the elderly populace to be aggravated. In such a situation, medical attention and hospital‐based care emerges as an important choice for many. However, such argument needs scientific validation that is attempted in the present article.

Method

Using nationally representative sample, the study attempts a comparative analysis and estimates the major socioeconomic determinants of medical intervention before death, for the senior citizens, aged 60 years and above.

Findings

Major findings are as follows: Firstly, gender discrepancy is evident in seeking medical attention and hospitalization when social caste and economic status of household are considered; secondly, medical attention or hospitalization is more familiar among the socioeconomically privileged group segment; thirdly, health‐seeking behavior is approaching towards homogeneity with all the four wealth quartiles showing a more or less equal preference for hospital‐based care.

Conclusion

Receiving medical attention before death is confined in the privileged section of the society and of course gender plays an important role in this regard. Lack of proper treatment still increases the incidences of death among the elderly at the lower segments of society.
Buoyancy forces and activation energy on the MHD radiative flow over an exponentially stretching sheet with second‐order slip
Authors: Sandhya Gogula , Sarojamma Ganganapalli , Satya Narayana Panyam Venkata , Venkateswarlu Bhumavarapu
Published: August 2020

The current study explores the effects of second‐order slip and activation energy (AE) on the magnetohydrodynamic and radiative fluid flow caused by a surface with exponential stretching. The binary chemical reaction with mixed convection is considered in this physical model to discover the heat transfer phenomenon. The governing system of equations leads to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using scaling analysis. The transformed system is calculated computationally by using the most powerful Shooting procedure with the support of MATLAB software. The characteristics of various flow parameters on the governing flow field are exhibited pictorially and deliberated. The results revealed that the coefficient of heat and mass transfer upsurge with growing values of the second‐order slip parameter and skin friction coefficient has a reverse effect on the first‐order slip parameter. The thermal measure of the fluid in the presence of suction and slip conditions is seen to be lesser than that with the nonslip and nonsuction conditions. The heat measure of the fluid augments with the rising buoyancy parameter. The influence of slips coupled with AE is significant in the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics. The outputs of the current investigation are validated by comparing the Nusselt number with the available results and are found to closely agree as a limiting case.
Fossil energy consumption, economic development, inward FDI impact on CO2 emissions in Pakistan: Testing EKC hypothesis through ARDL model
Authors: Ali Muhammad Uzair , Gong Zhimin , Ali Muhammad Ubaid , Wu Xiong , Yao Chen
Published: August 2020

The rapid rise in carbon production has been broadly accepted as a serious global issue and has become the centre of focus for policy makers and researchers. The consumption of fossil energy has been a chief source of carbon dioxide emission; in the meantime, academics focus on fossil energy consumption impact on carbon dioxide in developing like Pakistan is very infrequent. The current study investigated the long‐run and short‐run elasticities between economic development, square of economic development, fossil energy consumption, inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and carbon dioxide emission by utilizing the auto‐regressive distributive lag (ARDL) bound test technique for Pakistan from 1975 to 2014. The outcomes of co‐integration have confirmed the existence of long‐run relationship between variables. The results of short‐run and long‐run dynamics have confirmed the inverted U‐shaped relationship between economic development and carbon dioxide emission. ARDL model long run and short run coefficients have indicated that the fossil energy consumption has positive impact on carbon dioxide emission. Moreover, the impact of FDI on carbon emission is also quite considerable. Overall, the outcomes propose that Pakistan should encourage sustainable growth through energy efficiency, support the use of low GHG emission and efficient technologies, increase the consumption of renewable energy sources and channel the inward FDI to environment‐friendly technologies.
Financial rigidities and oil‐based business cycles
Authors: Ghiaie Hamed , Tabarraei Hamidreza , Shahmoradi Asghar
Published: August 2020

The structural model of this paper incorporates a heterogeneous financial sector and an oil fund into a micro‐founded new Keynesian framework. We take a novel approach in introducing an oil fund into the model. This approach features a rule‐based budget financing, linkages between the oil and financial sectors and a saving mechanism for future generations. The primary goal is to examine the role of financial and non‐financial rigidities in an oil‐exporting economy. We show that financial rigidities are key in propagating shocks across sectors by differentiating interest rates in the economy. In addition, the financial sector transfers shocks from one sector to another through its intermediary role. We find that the oil fund plays a key role in the stabilization/propagation of oil price fluctuations through the saving‐liquidity transfer channel used by the central bank. These channels connect and amplify business and financial cycles in oil‐exporting economies.
Faith‐based versus value‐based finance: Is there any portfolio diversification benefit between responsible and Islamic finance?
Authors: Ali Md Hakim , Uddin Md Akther , Khan Md. Atiqur Rahman , Goud Blake
Published: August 2020

The aim of the study is to explore whether responsible investment and Islamic (Shari'ah‐compliant) investment, which have many similarities in objectives but some differences in how they are implemented, hold any diversification benefits for investors across a variety of investment horizons. We adopt an advanced econometric estimation using MGARCH‐DCC and wavelet using daily returns data between January 1, 1997, and May 22, 2017. We find indications that responsible investment strategies can offer some hedging benefit to Islamic investors and vice versa. Moreover, the returns from this hedging strategy are higher for those addressing a shorter‐term rather than long‐term investment horizon. One exception was that we found diversification benefits for both short‐ and long‐term focused investors during the financial crisis, when the time‐varying correlation were near their lowest point.
The impact of unconventional monetary policy in the euro area. Structural and scenario analysis from a Bayesian VAR
Authors: Evgenidis Anastasios , Papadamou Stephanos
Published: August 2020

This paper employs a medium scale Bayesian VAR model to provide a rich picture of the transmission of unconventional monetary policy (UMP) shocks in various dimensions of the economy, and to shed light on the appropriate policy mix that the central bank could adopt to fulfil its price stability mandate. We show that UMP shocks have a significant positive impact on both economic activity and inflation; stem financial market stress episodes and boost economic sentiment. Additionally, several channels seem to have been activated, including the exchange rate, inflation expectations and the bank lending channel. Counterfactual policy analysis suggests that a policy mix that combines the use of permanently negative interest rates with a balance sheet expansion at a steady pace over a long period, could bring inflation closer to the target. Alternative policy scenarios that, either give more weight on the purchases during the first months or, terminate asset purchases too early, would fail to keep inflation on track to meet its target.
Non‐performing assets and its determinants in the Indian banking system: An empirical analysis using dynamic panel data models
Authors: Mishra Aswini Kumar , Jain Shikhar , Abid Mohammad
Published: August 2020

Non‐performing assets (NPAs) in the Indian banking system are currently one of the biggest financial threats to the Indian economy. The gross NPAs for Indian banks have increased by nearly four times from nearly USD 35 billion as of March 2014 to more than USD 150 billion as of March 2018. The factors responsible for this are political, macroeconomic as well as bank‐specific in nature. In this study, we study the determinants of NPAs for Indian banks by using a panel dataset for 40 public and private banks in India, for the period March 2010 to June 2019 (quarterly‐frequency). Among the macro‐economic variables, we find the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation, policy repo rate, and exchange rate to be significant determinants of NPAs. Among the bank‐specific variables, we find gross loans and advances, provisions and contingencies, income on investments, and sector of bank (Public vs. Private) to be significant determinants of NPAs. We also find the role of demonetization (2016) towards influencing the NPAs of Indian banks, to be insignificant. Finally, we also provide some policy implications and remedial measures to tackle the problem of NPAs.
A new risk measurement method for China's carbon market
Authors: Yang Xianzi , Zhang Chen , Yang Yu , Wang Wenjun , Wagan Zulfiqar Ali
Published: August 2020

Carbon markets were set up with the aim to achieve carbon reduction target and sustainable development. However, market risk has become one of the key factors influencing continuous development of carbon markets. Different from traditional financial asset price, carbon price has a heterogeneous characteristic in its tail distribution. The current value at risk (VaR) model with student t or generalized error distribution (GED) cannot describe the asymmetric tail distribution of carbon price. Therefore, this article propose to develop a combined model for China's carbon market risk measurement. First, extend generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) with standardized standard asymmetric exponential power distribution (SSAEPD) to reflect volatility clustering phenomenon and heterogeneous distribution character of China's carbon price. Then, genetic algorithm (GA) was innovatively used to solve GARCH‐SSAEPD linear programming instead of interior‐point algorithm. Finally, use VaR to measure the carbon market risk. The new model (GARCH‐SSAEPD‐GA‐VaR) is implied to China's carbon market and compared with the traditional GARCH‐VaR model, the empirical results show: (a) Compared with current VaR framework, the GARCH‐SSAEPD‐GA‐VaR model we constructed can help describe the heterogeneous tail distribution of carbon price and help increase the precision of carbon market risk measurement. (b) SSAEPD can capture fat‐tail, asymmetric effects of China's carbon price more entirely, which puts forward a new method to study the evolvement laws of carbon market risk. (c) GA is effective to achieve global optimum to some extent in parameter estimation. This study contribute to developing theory and methodology of describing particularity features of carbon price, increasing the accuracy of carbon market risk measurement and provide a new perspective for investigating the evolvement regularity of China's carbon market risks.
Restructuring fetal medicine services in a low‐resource setting during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Experience from a tertiary care fetal medicine center
Authors: Rana Anubhuti , Sharma K Aparna , Dadhwal Vatsla
Published: August 2020

Fetal medicine services are essential part of prenatal care. With appropriate modifications, these time‐sensitive services can be continued during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Vitamin B12 may inhibit RNA‐dependent‐RNA polymerase activity of nsp12 from the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus
Authors: Narayanan Naveen , Nair Deepak T.
Published: August 2020

SARS‐CoV‐2 is the causative agent for the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, and this virus belongs to the Coronaviridae family. Like other members of this family, the virus possesses a positive‐sense single‐stranded RNA genome. The genome encodes for the nsp12 protein, which houses the RNA‐dependent‐RNA polymerase (RdRP) activity responsible for the replication of the viral genome. A homology model of nsp12 was prepared using the structure of the SARS nsp12 (6NUR) as a model. The model was used to carry out in silico screening to identify molecules among natural products, or Food and Drug Administration‐approved drugs that can potentially inhibit the activity of nsp12. This exercise showed that vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) may bind to the active site of the nsp12 protein. A model of the nsp12 in complex with substrate RNA and incoming NTP showed that vitamin B12 binding site overlaps with that of the incoming nucleotide. A comparison of the calculated energies of binding for RNA plus NTP and methylcobalamin suggested that the vitamin may bind to the active site of nsp12 with significant affinity. It is, therefore, possible that methylcobalamin binding may prevent association with RNA and NTP and thus inhibit the RdRP activity of nsp12. Overall, our computational studies suggest that methylcobalamin form of vitamin B12 may serve as an effective inhibitor of the nsp12 protein.
LncRNA GAS5 sponges miR‐362‐5p to promote sensitivity of thyroid cancer cells to 131I by upregulating SMG1
Authors: Li Li , Lin Xiaozong , Xu Peng , Jiao Yuying , Fu Peng
Published: August 2020

This study aims to investigate the role of lncRNA growth arrest‐specific transcript 5 (GAS5)/miR‐362‐5p/suppressor of morphogenesis in the genitalia 1 (SMG1) axis in 131I‐resistance in thyroid cancer (TC). GAS5, miR‐362‐5p, and SMG1 expression in TC tissues was assessed and the 131I‐resistant TC cells were established, which were treated with altered GAS5, miR‐362‐5p, and SMG1. The proliferation and apoptosis of 131I‐resistant TC cells were detected, and the expression of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway‐related proteins was assessed. Binding relations between GAS5 and miR‐362‐5p, and miR‐362‐5p and SMG1 were confirmed. The role of GAS5 in 131I‐resistant TC cell growth in vivo was observed. GAS5 was downregulated and miR‐362‐5p was upregulated in TC tissues and 131I‐resistant cells. The 131I‐resistant TC cells had enhanced proliferation and repressed apoptosis, and the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was activated. Overexpressed GAS5 strengthened 131I sensitivity and suppressed TC cell growth, while upregulated miR‐362‐5p had an opposite effect. MiR‐362‐5p upregulation reversed the effect of GAS5, and SMG1 overexpression eliminated the impact of miR‐362‐5p upregulation on 131I‐resistant TC cells. GAS5 competitively binds to miR‐362‐5p and SMG1 is targeted by miR‐362‐5p. GAS5 sponges miR‐362‐5p to promote sensitivity of TC cells to 131I by upregulating SMG1 and inactivating Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
Design and fabrication of bone tissue scaffolds based on PCL/PHBV containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles: dual‐leaching technique
Authors: Nahanmoghadam Amir , Asemani Maryam , Goodarzi Vahabodin , Ebrahimi‐Barough Somayeh
Published: August 2020

Scaffolds are the important part of the tissue‐engineering field that are made from different biomaterials using various techniques. In this study, new scaffold based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly (hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) containing hydroxyapatite nanopraticles (n‐HA) were fabricated using the dual‐leaching technique (DLT). Morphology, porosity, degradation rate, Fourier transfer infrared ray (FTIR) spectra, surface, and mechanical properties as well as capacity of cell binding and cell proliferation on the constructed scaffolds were evaluated. FTIR analysis showed that n‐HA particles have some interest interactions with polymeric chains. The best 3D‐structure was seen in PCL70PHBV30 scaffold using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and its structure improved in the presence of 3, 5 wt% of n‐HA. Results of energy dispersive x‐ray analysis (EDXA, map of Ca) showed that the nanoparticles have the uniform distribution within the fabricated scaffolds. Porosity analysis showed that the particulate salt leaching technique is a successful approach to building a 3D structure. Increasing of PHBV content and n‐HA up to 3 and 5 wt% in the PCL matrix led to increase porosity in all samples. Mechanical properties analysis showed that values of compression modulus and strength are decreased with addition of PHBV and HA nanoparticles. These results were directly in line with the results of morphology and porosity. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that the PCL/PHBV/nHA nanocomposite scaffold has a better tendency of proliferation to cells than that of the pure PCL/PHBV scaffold. All of these results suggest promising potentials of the developed PCL/PHBV/nHA scaffolds in this study desire for bone tissue engineering.
Regeneration of the peripheral nerve via multifunctional electrospun scaffolds
Authors: Ghane Nazanin , Khalili Shahla , Nouri Khorasani Saied , Esmaeely Neisiany Rasoul , Das Oisik , Ramakrishna Seeram
Published: August 2020

Over the last two decades, electrospun scaffolds have proved to be advantageous in the field of nerve tissue regeneration by connecting the cavity among the proximal and distal nerve stumps growth cones and leading to functional recovery after injury. Multifunctional nanofibrous structure of these scaffolds provides enormous potential by combining the advantages of nano‐scale topography, and biological science. In these structures, selecting the appropriate materials, designing an optimized structure, modifying the surface to enhance biological functions and neurotrophic factors loading, and native cell‐like stem cells should be considered as the essential factors. In this systematic review paper, the fabrication methods for the preparation of aligned nanofibrous scaffolds in yarn or conduit architecture are reviewed. Subsequently, the utilized polymeric materials, including natural, synthetic and blend are presented. Finally, their surface modification techniques, as well as, the recent advances and outcomes of the scaffolds, both in vitro and in vivo, are reviewed and discussed.
Crystalline phase evolution and thermal behavior of zirconia‐lanthanum aluminate ceramics produced by surface modification
Authors: Denry Isabelle , Dawson Deborah V. , Holloway Julie A.
Published: August 2020

The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effect doping with lanthanum aluminate on the phase assemblage and thermal behavior of zirconia ceramics for biomedical applications. Four compositions were prepared by a surface modification route of either conventional tetragonal zirconia (3Y‐TZP) or high translucency cubic‐based zirconia (5Y‐PSZ) to reach a nominal composition of either 0.5 wt. % (3Y‐0.5LAO and 5Y‐0.5LAO) or 5 wt. % of lanthanum monoaluminate (3Y‐5LAO and 5Y‐5LAO). Undoped powders were used as controls. DTA and XRD analyses revealed that lanthanum dizirconate crystallized in the 934°C–936°C range, while lanthanum aluminate crystallized in the 1,056°C–1,063°C range in both types of zirconias doped at the 5% level. No second phase was found in compositions doped at the 0.5% level. The a lattice parameter and the amount of the cubic phase increased in both 3Y‐5LAO and 5Y‐5LAO. The microstructure of the compositions doped with 5% LAO was characterized by well distributed LAO twinned crystals and sparse needle‐shaped lanthanum hexaaluminate crystals. A bimodal grain size distribution was observed in 5Y‐doped compositions. This was attributed to abnormal grain growth of the cubic phase, and in line with aluminum segregation at grain boundaries and the presence of second‐phase LAO crystals.
Vascular access for optimal hematopoietic stem cell collection
Authors: Couzin Chloé , Manceau Sandra , Diana Jean‐Sébastien , Joseph Laure , Magnani Alessandra , Magrin Elisa , Amrane Horiya , Dupont Emilie , Raphalen Jean‐Herlé , Sibon David , Marcais Ambroise , Suarez Felipe , Cavazzana Marina , Lefrère François , Delville Marianne
Published: August 2020

Background

Autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of cytokine‐mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) is increasingly used to treat patients with hematologic disorders. Different types of vascular access have been exploited for the apheresis procedure, including peripheral veins (PV) and central venous catheter (CVC). In some cases, PV access is unavailable. There are few published data on the efficiency and quality of harvesting with different types of vascular access. This study brings out complications and morbidity of this procedure linked to these different access.

Methods

We performed a comparative, retrospective, single‐center study of hematopoietic stem cell collection using these two types of vascular access. We compared the efficiency and complication rate for 617 adults apheresis sessions in 401 patients and healthy donors, for PBSC collection via PV or CVC between 2010 and 2016. The quality of the HSC product was evaluated in terms of the total CD34 + count and neutrophil contamination.

Results

The PV and CVC groups did not differ significantly in terms of the quality of the apheresis product, mean ± SD CD34 + cells collected in PV group was 383.1 ± 402.7 × 10e6 and 298.8 ± 372.7 × 10e6 and the level of neutrophil contamination was 21.0 ± 17.8% in the PV group and 20.6 ± 18.4% in the CVC group. The complication rate did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusion

The type of vascular access for apheresis hematopoietic stem cell harvesting must be determined by trained staff. Successful harvesting can be performed via PV then CVC is not needed or not available.
Semiconductor nanocrystals possessing broadly size‐ and facet‐dependent optical properties
Authors: Huang Michael H.
Published: August 2020

Cu2O cubes, octahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra have been shown to exhibit continuous light absorption and emission band shifts with increasing particle sizes from 10 nm to sub‐microcrystals. They also possess clear facet‐dependent optical properties. Ag3PO4, Ag2O, SrTiO3, and CeO2 crystals show similar optical size and facet effects. Thus, spectral shifts over a broad size range far beyond the quantum‐size regime should be generally observable in many semiconductor materials. Facet‐dependent optical properties of a semiconductor can be understood to arise from the presence of an ultrathin surface layer with subtle bond and orbital level variations for different crystal faces. Although these optical features seem unexpected, they should be the general behaviors of semiconductor crystals. As more examples of these optical effects are available, we will find that these intrinsic properties of semiconductors have been ignored in the past. Furthermore, if valence and conduction band positions are broadly tunable by particle size, the knowledge should have tremendous impacts on the applications of semiconductors, where band energies are important to efficient interfacial charge transfer.
Identification of plasma hsa_circ_0008673 expression as a potential biomarker and tumor regulator of breast cancer
Authors: Hu Youting , Song Qi , Zhao Jianguo , Ruan Jian , He Fan , Yang Xia , Yu Xiaocheng
Published: August 2020

Objective

Cell‐free circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable and abundantly exist in body fluids. In this study, we aimed to investigate plasma cell‐free circRNAs as a novel class of biomarkers for the diagnosis of breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Differentially expressed circRNAs from 6 normal and 6 BC plasma samples were detected by microarray. Hsa_circ_0008673 was then screened and validated in the plasma of 102 normal and 378 BC samples. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value. The correlations between hsa_circ_0008673 expression and demographic characteristics, tumor features, and prognosis were analyzed. The effects of hsa_circ_0008673 on BC cell proliferation and metastasis were also measured.

Results

Of the top ten up‐regulated (hsa_circ_0008673, hsa_circ_0008500, hsa_circ_0005260, hsa_circ_0003423, hsa_circ_0119881, hsa_circ_0000987, hsa_circ_0007386, hsa_circ_0000091, hsa_circ_0016601, and hsa_circ_0008549) and top ten down‐regulated (hsa_circ_0000826, hsa_circ_0072697, hsa_circ_0004587, hsa_circ_0000471, hsa_circ_0007786, hsa_circ_0001417, hsa_circ_0005982, hsa_circ_0001566, hsa_circ_0003823, and hsa_circ_0003823) circRNAs from microarray, hsa_circ_0008673 was the most significantly up‐regulated circRNA in BC, and represented a good diagnostic value. Hsa_circ_0008673 was remarkably down‐regulated after breast mastectomy. Hsa_circ_0008673 expression was associated with larger tumor size, distant metastasis, positive estrogen receptor (ER) status, and positive progesterone receptor (PR) status. Additionally, hsa_circ_0008673 could serve as a prognostic predicator of overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS). Cell assays proved that hsa_circ_0008673 knockdown contributed to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusion

Plasma cell‐free hsa_circ_0008673 was up‐regulated in BC, which was associated with poorer prognosis and promoted tumor proliferation and metastasis. Hsa_circ_0008673 is a promising biomarker for tumor diagnosis and prognostic assessment of BC patients.
Development and validation of a three‐item version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Authors: Martínez Pablo , Magaña Irene , Vöhringer Paul A. , Guajardo Viviana , Rojas Graciela
Published: August 2020

Objective

To develop and validate a brief screening instrument for postpartum depression in resource‐constrained primary care settings.

Method

Secondary data analysis of a cohort of 305 mothers (Mdnage = 26) attending well‐child check‐ups in six primary care centers in Santiago, Chile, answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview depression module. A predictive model for postpartum depression was built using logistic and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regressions, with bootstrap validation.

Results

A three‐item version of the EPDS exhibited excellent discriminative capacity (c statistic = 0.95) and showed no significant differences versus the full version of the EPDS (χ2(1) = 1.75, p = .187). The best trade‐off between sensitivity (92.86%) and specificity (86.70%) was achieved at a cut‐off score of 8/9.

Conclusions

The three‐item version of the EPDS can save clinicians valuable time, which might potentially improve communication of results to patients.
Positive effect of Astragaloside IV on neurite outgrowth via talin‐dependent integrin signaling and microfilament force
Authors: Wang Yifan , Zhou Jingwen , Tang Chuanfeng , Yu Jia , Zhu Wen , Guo Jun , Wang Yue
Published: August 2020

Integrin plays a prominent role in neurite outgrowth by transmitting both mechanical and chemical signals. Integrin expression is closely associated with Astragaloside IV (AS‐IV), the main component extracted from Astragali radix, which has a positive effect on neural‐protection. However, the relationship between AS‐IV and neurite outgrowth has not been studied exhaustively to date. The present study investigated the underlying mechanism of AS‐IV on neurite outgrowth. Longer neurites have been observed in SH‐SY5Y cells or cortical neurons after AS‐IV treatment. Furthermore, AS‐IV not only increased the expression of integrin β but also activated it. The AS‐IV‐induced increased integrin activity was attributed to the integrin‐activating protein talin. Application of the actin force probe showed that AS‐IV led to an increase in intracellular microfilament force during neurite growth. Furthermore, in response to AS‐IV, the microfilament force was regulated by talin and integrin activity during neurite growth. These results suggest that AS‐IV has the ability to increase intracellular structural force and facilitate neurite elongation by integrin signaling, which highlights its therapeutic potential for neurite outgrowth.
The effect of fasting or calorie restriction on mitophagy induction: a literature review
Authors: Mehrabani Sanaz , Bagherniya Mohammad , Askari Gholamreza , Read Morgayn I. , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: August 2020

Mitochondrial dysfunction can be a major cause of a wide range of age‐related diseases. Maintaining the normal homeostasis of mitochondria population plays an important role in ensuring people's health, which is done through the mitophagy process. Among the various stimuli for the onset of mitophagy, caloric restriction (CR) is one of the strongest non‐genetic triggers for initiating the mitophagy process. The primary objective of this paper is to review the literature assessing the effect of CR on mitophagy. Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases was searched from inception to 1 August 2019. Reference lists from all selected articles were also examined for additional relevant studies. The evidence regarding the effect of fasting or CR on mitophagy is still limited. In addition, the methodological approaches of the studies are too heterogeneous in terms of types of food restriction, study duration, and targeted tissues. Most of the studies showed that fasting or CR induced mitophagy and mitophagy‐related markers such as Binp3 and Parkin. However, some studies demonstrated that mitophagy occurred both in fasting and fed state with no significant differences or may be induced in fed state. Study on the muscle tissue of subjects after exercise showed that mitophagy was upregulated in the fed state. It has been demonstrated that mitophagy in the muscle was lowered in the absence of AMP‐dependent kinase and fibroblast growth factor 21 genes, both in fasted and fed conditions. Current evidence overwhelmingly suggests that CR and fasting induce mitophagy and mitophagy‐related markers. Based on the current evidence that we reviewed here, it could be concluded that fasting or CR has a promising role as a novel and practical approach in the prevention of age‐related diseases without any side effects by inducing mitophagy in different organs of the body. More studies will be required in future to clarify the relationship between food deprivation and mitophagy. Further studies using a variety of different types of CR and fasting states are also warranted to determine the best approach for inducing mitophagy and improving health.
Quality of information on YouTube about artificial intelligence in dental radiology
Authors: Cesur Aydin Kader , Gunec Huseyin Gurkan
Published: August 2020

Objectives

This study was designed to investigate Artificial Intelligence in Dental Radiology (AIDR) videos on YouTube in terms of popularity, content, reliability, and educational quality.

Methods

Two researchers systematically searched about AIDR on YouTube on January 27, 2020, by using the terms “artificial intelligence in dental radiology,” “machine learning in dental radiology,” and “deep learning in dental radiology.” The search was performed in English, and 60 videos for each keyword were assessed. Video source, content type, time since upload, duration, and number of views, likes, and dislikes were recorded. Video popularity was reported using Video Power Index (VPI). The accuracy and reliability of the source of information were measured using the adapted DISCERN score. The quality of the videos was measured using JAMAS and modified Global Quality Score (mGQS) and content via Total Concent Evaluation (TCE).

Results

There was high interobserver agreement for DISCERN (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.975; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.957–0.985; P: 0.000; P < 0.05) and mGQS (ICC: 0.904; 95% CI: 0.841–0.943; P: 0.000; P < 0.05). Academic source videos had higher DISCERN, GQS, and TCE, revealing both reliability and quality. Also, positive relationship of VPI with mGQS (30.1%) (P: 0.035) and DISCERN (38.1%) (P: 0.007) is detected. The scores revealed 51.9% relationship between mGQS and DISCERN (P: 0.001); and educational quality predictor scores revealed 62.5% relationship between TCE and GQS (P: 0.000).

Conclusion

Despite the limited number of relevant videos, YouTube involves reliable and quality videos that can be used by dentists about learning AIDR.
The impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the teaching of dentistry in Brazil
Authors: Spanemberg Juliana Cassol , Simões Cinthia Coelho , Cardoso Juliana Andrade
Published: August 2020

A new disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐COV‐2) virus, was discovered in the city of Wuhan in China in December 2019, and has reached, quickly and progressively, several countries on different continents. Even before the World Health Organization recognized the COVID‐19 epidemic as a pandemic, the Brazilian Ministry of Health had already declared COVID‐19 a national public health emergency due to the confirmation of cases in Brazil. In this scenario, the educational sector was one of the first to suffer the effects of the pandemic soon after the announcement of social distancing as a way to prevent the collapse of the Unified Health System. The aim of this paper is to report how Brazilians dental schools are leading with the new coronavirus pandemic.
Ergonomics of preclinical dental students and potential musculoskeletal disorders
Authors: Kamal Alaa M. , Ahmed Doaa R. M. , Habib Shaimaa F. K. , Al‐Mohareb Rahaf A.
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Dental ergonomics aim to improve the safety and efficiency of dentists, reducing possible occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Factors affecting dental ergonomics include gender, tooth position, and use of equipment such as magnifying loupes. Since work habits are acquired early during undergraduate dental training, it is essential to assess the ergonomics of students at the preclinical training level.

Objectives

The present study aimed to assess the ergonomics of preclinical dental students in different clinical settings and their correlation to potential MSDs.

Methods

Student posture was assessed during preclinical restorative training using the Dental Ergonomics Assessment rubrics visual scale. The variables tested were use of magnification, gender, and tooth position. Musculoskeletal (MS) pain was reported using a questionnaire. Results were analyzed statistically using Mann‐Whitney U test and Wilcoxon t‐test (P < 0.05). Spearman test was used to determine the correlation between posture and pain.

Results

Use of magnification and tooth position significantly affected student posture. Female students had worse posture in certain clinical situations. Reported MS pain positively correlated with poor posture.

Conclusion

The use of magnifying loupes could have a positive impact on the ergonomics of dental students during their preclinical training, possibly decreasing the risk of developing MSDs.
Diagnostic value of serum biomarkers FGF21 and GDF15 compared to muscle sample in mitochondrial disease
Authors: Lehtonen Jenni M. , Auranen Mari , Darin Niklas , Sofou Kalliopi , Bindoff Laurence , Hikmat Omar , Uusimaa Johanna , Vieira Päivi , Tulinius Már , Lönnqvist Tuula , de Coo Irenaeus F. , Suomalainen Anu , Isohanni Pirjo
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the value of serum biomarkers, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), with histological analysis of muscle in the diagnosis of mitochondrial disease. We collected 194 serum samples from patients with a suspected or known mitochondrial disease. Biomarkers were analyzed blinded using enzyme‐labeled immunosorbent assay. Clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Only 39% of patients with genetically verified mitochondrial disease had mitochondrial pathology in their muscle histology. In contrast, biomarkers were elevated in 62% of patients with genetically verified mitochondrial disease. Those with both biomarkers elevated had a muscle manifesting disorder and a defect affecting mitochondrial DNA expression. If at least one of the biomarkers was induced and the patient had a myopathic disease, a mitochondrial DNA expression disease was the cause with 94% probability. Among patients with biomarker analysis and muscle biopsy taken <12 months apart, a mitochondrial disorder would have been identified in 70% with analysis of FGF21 and GDF15 compared to 50% of patients whom could have been identified with muscle biopsy alone. Muscle findings were nondiagnostic in 72% (children) and 45% (adults). Induction of FGF21 and GDF15 suggest a mitochondrial etiology as an underlying cause of a muscle manifesting disease. Normal biomarker values do not, however, rule out a mitochondrial disorder, especially if the disease does not manifest in muscle. We suggest that FGF21 and GDF15 together should be first‐line diagnostic investigations in mitochondrial disease complementing muscle biopsy.
Enolase-specific cross antibodies induce neutrophilic inflammation in the intestine
Authors: Lin Jianli , Feng Bai-Sui , Huang Nana , Ma Na , Liu Zhi-Qiang , Shu Qing , Zhong Nanshan , Liu Zhi-Gang , Yang Ping-Chang
Published: August 2020

The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is to be further investigated. House dust mites (HDM) are highly associated with the pathogenesis of immune inflammation in the body. This study aims to investigate the role of enolase (one of the HDM-derived proteins)-specific cross Abs in the induction of UC-like inflammation. The enolase specific IgG (EsIgG) was identified in UC patients by mass spectrometry. Mice were treated with EsIgG to induce inflammation in the colon mucosa. EsIgG was detected in the serum and the colon tissues of UC patients, which was positively correlated with the polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) counts in the blood and colon tissues of UC patients. EsIgG formed immune complexes with the constitutive enolase in the UC colon epithelium that activated complement, induced epithelial cell apoptosis, compromised epithelial barrier functions, and resulted in UC-like inflammation in the mouse colon. In summary, UC patients have high serum levels of Abs against HDM-derived enolase and intestinal epithelial cell-derived enolase. These Abs attack the colonic epithelium to induce UC-like inflammation.
Bacterial infections and patterns of antibiotic use in patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Goncalves Mendes Neto Alvaro , Lo Kevin Bryan , Wattoo Ammaar , Salacup Grace , Pelayo Jerald , DeJoy Robert , Bhargav Ruchika , Gul Fahad , Peterson Eric , Albano Jeri , Patarroyo‐Aponte Gabriel , Rangaswami Janani , Azmaiparashvili Zurab
Published: August 2020

Bacterial coinfection is associated with poor outcomes in patients with viral pneumonia, but data on its role in the mortality of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is limited. This is a single‐center retrospective analysis of 242 patients with confirmed COVID‐19 admitted to both intensive care and non‐intensive care settings. Bacterial coinfection was determined by the presence of characteristic clinical features and positive culture results. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association of concomitant bacterial infection with inpatient death after adjusting for demographic factors and comorbidities. Antibiotic use pattern was also determined. Bacterial coinfection was detected in 46 (19%) patients. Genitourinary source was the most frequent, representing 57% of all coinfections. The overall mortality rate was 21%. Concomitant bacterial infections were independently associated with increased inpatient mortality (OR, 5.838; 95% CI, 2.647‐12.876). Patients with bacterial coinfection were relatively older (71.35 ± 11.20 vs 64.78 ± 15.23; P = .006). A total of 67% of patients received antibiotic therapy, yet 72% did not have an obvious source of bacterial infection. There was a significantly higher rate of inpatient mortality in patients who received antibiotics compared to those who did not (30% vs 5%; P < .0001). Bacterial coinfection in COVID‐19 is associated with increased mortality.
Hydroxychloroquine for treatment of nonsevere COVID‐19 patients: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled clinical trials
Authors: Elsawah Hozaifa Khalil , Elsokary Mohamed Ahmed , Elrazzaz Mahmoud Gamal , Elshafie Ahmed Hanei
Published: August 2020

Being a pandemic and having a high global case fatality rate directed us to assess the evidence strength of hydroxychloroquine efficacy in treating coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) arising from clinical trials and to update the practice with the most reliable clinical evidence.

A comprehensive search was started in June up to 18 July, 2020 in many databases, including PubMed, Embase, and others. Of 432 studies found, only six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, which includes: clinical trials, age more than 12 years with nonsevere COVID‐19, polymerase chain reaction‐confirmed COVID‐19, hydroxychloroquine is the intervention beyond the usual care. Data extraction and bias risk assessment were done by two independent authors. Both fixed‐effect and random‐effect models were utilized for pooling data using risk difference as a summary measure. The primary outcomes are clinical and radiological COVID‐19 progression, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 clearance in the pharyngeal swab, and mortality. The secondary outcomes are the adverse effects of hydroxychloroquine.

Among 609 COVID‐19 confirmed patients obtained from pooling six studies, 294 patients received hydroxychloroquine and 315 patients served as a control. Hydroxychloroquine significantly prevents early radiological progression relative to control with risk difference and 95% confidence interval of −0.2 (−0.36 to −0.03). On the other hand, hydroxychloroquine did not prevent clinical COVID‐19 progression, reduce 5‐day mortality, or enhance viral clearance on days 5, 6, and 7. Moreover, many adverse effects were reported with hydroxychloroquine therapy. Failure of hydroxychloroquine to show viral clearance or clinical benefits with additional adverse effects outweigh its protective effect from radiological progression in nonsevere COVID‐19 patients. Benefit‐risk balance should determine the hydroxychloroquine use in COVID‐19.
Cognitive foundations of impartial punitive decision making in organizations: Attribution and abstraction
Authors: van Houwelingen Gijs , van Dijke Marius , van Hiel Alain , De Cremer David
Published: August 2020

Partial decision making about disciplinary responses to misbehavior is generally considered unfair and undermines the effectiveness of punishment. Nonetheless, organizational actors often struggle to remain impartial in situations that call for punishment. Impartiality appears specifically hard to obtain when some element of the transgression reflects badly upon the punisher themselves, for instance, when in the past the punisher has benefited from the misbehavior, even if just derivatively. In this paper, we argue that in such cases, punishers tend to defensively attribute causes of the transgression to the circumstances in order to protect their own self‐image, thus leading them to relatively lenient punishments. However, we also suggest that psychological impartiality can be obtained through cognitive abstraction. An abstract understanding (high‐level construal) of the punitive situation puts the focus squarely on the gist of the situation and makes circumstantial details less likely to be cognitively available. This hinders defensive circumstantial attribution. We show in a field study and an experiment that partiality in making decisions about punishments occurs under conditions of low‐level (i.e., concrete) construal, whereas impartiality is facilitated by high‐level (i.e., abstract) construal.