bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Registration of six upland cotton germplasm lines with improved fiber quality through ethyl methane sulfonate treatments and selection
Authors: Bechere Efrem , Auld Dick L. , Smith C. Wayne , Cantrell Roy G. , Hequet Eric F. , Ritchie Glen L. , Pabuayon Irish L. B. , Mishra Deepika , Hendon Bralie R. , Brown Nino , Kelly Branden R.
Published: March 2020

Six mutant lines of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with superior fiber quality were developed by the Department of Plant and Soil Science at Texas Tech University at Lubbock, TX, and released in 2019. Additional evaluations were conducted at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, and at the USDA‐ARS, Crop Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS. Three of the lines, TTU 1‐817 (Reg. no. GP‐1076, PI 691517), TTU 1‐1051 (Reg. no. GP‐1077, PI 691518), and TTU 1‐1283 (Reg. no. GP‐1078, PI 691519), were selected from a mutant population of ‘Acala 1517‐99’. Another three lines, TTU 2‐411 (Reg. no. GP‐1079, PI 691520), TTU 2‐475 (Reg. no. GP‐1080, PI 691521), and TTU 2‐1073 (Reg. no. GP‐1081, PI 691522), were selected from a mutant population derived from TAM 94L‐25. Imbibed seeds of Acala 1517‐99 and TAM 94L‐25 were treated with 3.0% v/v of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). In 2002 (M2), 2003 (M3), and 2004 (M4), generations of the mutant populations were advanced by harvesting a single boll from each plant and bulking the seeds to generate the next generation. In 2005, seed cotton samples were hand harvested from a total of 3,122 individual M2:5 plants and evaluated for fiber quality. In 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, 33 of these M5 lines selected from the TAM 94‐L25 mutant population and 30 M5 lines from the Acala 1517‐99 mutant population were evaluated. Six M5 lines were selected and released for their longer, stronger fibers and lower micronaire.
Optimal high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level for decreasing benign prostatic hyperplasia in men not taking statin medication: A historical cohort study
Authors: Yoo Sangjun , Oh Sohee , Suh Jungyo , Park Juhyun , Cho Min Chul , Jeong Hyeon , Won Sungho , Son Hwancheol
Published: March 2020

Background

We evaluated the optimal high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) prevention in men not taking statin medication using a large historical cohort.

Methods

We initially selected 130 454 men who underwent health checkups in 2009 from the National Health Information Database of the National Health Insurance Service. After excluding 36 854 men with BPH in 2009, and 45 061 men for statin use, 48 539 men were ultimately included in the analysis. A Kaplan‐Meier analysis and multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the optimal high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level for preventing BPH.

Results

High‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were less than 40 mg/dL in 7431 (15.3%) men, 40 to 49 in 15 861 (32.7%), 50 to 59 in 15 328 (27.5%), and greater than or equal to 60 in 11 919 (24.6%). The overall cumulative incidence of BPH was 4.4%, 8.7%, 13.0%, and 17.8% at the 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, and 4‐year follow‐up periods, respectively. In multivariable analysis, high‐density lipoprotein greater than or equal to 60 mg/dL were significantly associated with a decreased incidence of BPH, as were age, residence, income, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, triglyceride, and increased annual clinic visits, especially in men in their 40s.

Conclusion

Elevated serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were negatively associated with BPH incidence. In addition, maintaining high‐density lipoprotein greater than or equal to 60 mg/dL was associated with a decreased BPH incidence compared with high‐density lipoprotein less than 40 mg/dL, especially in men in their 40s.
What “Impact” Do NLME Publications Have Outside Our Community?
Authors: Hennig Stefanie , Fischer Julia , Kloft Charlotte
Published: March 2020

The number of publications applying nonlinear mixed‐effect (NLME) modeling has increased yearly since its first appearance in 1979. Here, we evaluated articles that have used NLME modeling, were published in journals that attract a broader audience, and we discussed the standard of presentation of these to stimulate target audience‐specific improvements for increased impact in the future.
Field‐scale digital soil mapping of clay: Combining different proximal sensed data and comparing various statistical models
Authors: Arshad Maryem , Li Nan , Bella Lawrence Di. , Triantafilis John
Published: March 2020

Knowledge about clay fraction is important for soil management. Laboratory analysis is time consuming, however, because information is required at the topsoil (0‒0.3 m), subsurface (0.3‒0.6 m), and subsoil (0.9‒1.2 m). Herein, we developed digital soil mapping (DSM) of clay by coupling limited laboratory data with proximal sensed data (i.e., elevation, γ‐ray, and electromagnetic). Our first aim was to determine whether individual or combined data were better for modeling using various models (i.e., regression kriging [RK], linear mixed model [LMM], and a Bayesian model named integrated nested Laplace approximation [INLA] with stochastic partial differential equation [SPDE]). We also evaluated DSM of clay and associated errors at different depths using various indices (e.g., Lin's concordance). Digital soil mapping performance was compared by mean square prediction error (MSPE). Considering proximal data, the Akaike information criteria and Log‐likelihood showed that RK and LMM performed best by combining proximal data, whereas for INLA‐SPDE individual and combined data performed equally well. Considering prediction uncertainty, RK error was larger where predicted clay was larger, whereas LMM and INLA‐SPDE had larger errors associated with texture or field boundaries. With increasing depth, model performance decreased, as exemplified by LMM and for topsoil (Lin's = 0.79), subsurface (0.72), and subsoil (0.71). The MSPE showed that the DSM map for topsoil clay was best for LMM (28), followed by INLA‐SPDE (29) and RK (39). The LMM DSM was also best in the subsurface (37) and subsoil (84); however, RK was superior to INLA‐SPDE.
Wearable Textile‐Based Co−Zn Alkaline Microbattery with High Energy Density and Excellent Reliability
Authors: Wang Yao , Hong Xufeng , Guo Yaqing , Zhao Yunlong , Liao Xiaobin , Liu Xiong , Li Qi , He Liang , Mai Liqiang
Published: March 2020

Wearable in‐plane Zn‐based microbatteries are considered as promising micropower sources for wearable electronics due to their high capacity, low cost, high safety, and easy integration. However, their applications are severely impeded by inadequate energy density arising from unsatisfactory capacity of cathode and poor cycling stability caused by degradation of electrode materials and Zn dendrite. Additionally, the short‐circuit induced safety issue caused by Zn dendrite is still a roadblock for Zn‐based microbatteries. Herein, a textile‐based Co−Zn microbattery with ultrahigh energy density and excellent cycling stability is demonstrated. Benefiting from the fast electron transport of three‐dimensional (3D) porous Ni‐coated textile and synergistic effect from the hierarchical Co(OH)2@NiCo layered double hydroxide (LDH) core−shell electrode, the fabricated Co−Zn microbattery with high flexibility delivers superior energy/power densities of 0.17 mWh cm−2/14.4 mW cm−2, outperforming most reported micro energy storage devices. Besides, the trench‐type configuration as well as the 3D porous Zn@carbon clothes can avoid the short‐circuit‐induced safety issues, resulting in excellent cycling stability (71% after 800 cycles). The unique core−shell structure and novel configuration provide a brand‐new design strategy for high‐performance wearable in‐plane microdevices.
Insulating Polymers for Enhancing the Efficiency of Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Meng , Liu Shenghua , You Peng , Wang Naixiang , Tang Guanqi , Miao Qian , Yan Feng
Published: March 2020

A series of insulating polymers are used as additives in nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) for the first time. A significant relative power conversion efficiency (PCE) enhancement of up to 16% is observed with an introduction of polystyrene for only 5.0 wt% into the active layer of OSCs. Other insulating polymers possessing linear nonconjugated backbones with different side chains are also incorporated into OSCs and the resultant PCE enhancement decreases with the decrease in the side chain size. Another important issue that is noted is the glass transition temperature of the polymer additive. When the glass transition temperature is higher than the thermal annealing temperature of the active layer, the polymer additive plays a negative effect on the device performance and the device efficiency decreases monotonically with the increase in addition amount. So the effect of the insulating polymer additives in nonfullerene OSCs can be attributed to the reconstruction of the active layer films, which increases the crystallinity, carrier mobility, and carrier lifetime of the organic semiconductors in the bulk heterojunction of the devices. This work provides a guideline for the selection of polymer additives in OSCs apart from the consideration on the optoelectronic property of the additives.
Ultraviolet‐Protective Transparent Photovoltaics Based on Lead‐Free Double Perovskites
Authors: Liu Ganghong , Wu Cuncun , Zhang Zehao , Chen Zhijian , Xiao Lixin , Qu Bo
Published: March 2020

Perovskite solar cells have attracted great research interest as a promising candidate for silicon solar cells. Plenty of work has been reported to use perovskites to semitransparent windows and transparent photovoltaic (TPV) devices to obtain multifunctional systems. However, the narrow bandgap and sharp absorption edge of the typical perovskites prevent them from achieving the highest transparency to satisfy the requirements of aesthetic and integration, and the poor stability and toxic Pb compositions hinder their practical application. Herein, lead‐free halide double perovskites with a wide bandgap and indirect bandgap characteristics is introduced to fabricate long‐term stable transparent photovoltaic devices exhibiting high visible transmittance (73%) and considerable energy conversion efficiency (1.56%). Through further theoretical calculation and evaluation, a new strategy using indirect bandgap material on TPV devices is proposed to combine the enhancement of these two parameters. This approach will be a significant compliment to near‐infrared‐absorbing solar cells to selectively harvest light in the invisible region to obtain highly performing multi‐junction smart windows on buildings, vehicles and mobile electronics, providing a new reasonable idea to realize TPVs with high efficiency and transparency simultaneously.
Polymer Additives for Morphology Control in High‐Performance Lead‐Reduced Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wu Ming-Chung , Li Yi-Ying , Chan Shun-Hsiang , Lee Kun-Mu , Su Wei-Fang
Published: March 2020

The organic–inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are rapidly developed in just a few years due to its high power conversion efficiency. However, it still faces some critical issues, one of which is the presence of toxic lead (Pb2+). Recent researches show that barium (Ba2+) can partially replace the Pb2+ in perovskite structure and achieve a promising device performance because of its adequate ionic radius. However, the optimal replacement amount of Ba2+ in perovskite is still limited. Herein, the methylammonium (MA)/formamidinium (FA) mixed‐cation perovskite is used as the active layer in PSCs and Pb2+ is partially substituted with Ba2+. Compared with the pure MA system, the best device efficiency can be achieved using higher Ba2+ replacement ratio. In addition, while introducing the appropriate polymer additive, the replacement ratio can be further increased without compromise of device efficiency. Using polyethylene glycol as polymer additive, 10.0 mol% Ba‐doped MA/FA mixed‐cation PSC with an efficiency of 16.1% can be realized. It is believed that this report provides an effective strategy to fabricate high‐performance lead‐reduced PSCs.
A Study on the reserve margin and 10‐minute spinning reserve for wide‐area supply and demand control
Authors: Tsujii Yuki , Oyama Tsutomu
Published: March 2020

As a countermeasure for supply and demand imbalance in case of high penetration of photovoltaic systems, wide‐area supply and demand control is considered. This is performed by adjusting the supply and demand balance by power exchange from areas with surplus reserve capacity to areas with insufficient reserve capacity using cross‐regional interconnection lines. By using our supply and demand control model considering the adjustable range that can respond to a fluctuation after 10 min (10‐min spinning reserve, SR10), we quantitatively evaluate the margin of SR10 (SR10_margin) by subtracting the 10‐min residual load fluctuation from SR10 in the local area. By calculating SR10_margin for each time period (month and time of day) and for different targets for reserve capacity (reserve margin and SR10), we investigate the possibility of wide‐area supply and demand control. We find that SR10_margin can be secured by changing the reserve capacity within the local area, which demonstrates the feasibility of wide‐area supply and demand control in terms of supply and demand balance. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Genome‐wide association study of multiple yield traits in a diversity panel of polyploid sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)
Authors: Yang Xiping , Luo Ziliang , Todd James , Sood Sushma , Wang Jianping
Published: March 2020

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important economic crop, contributing up to 80% of sugar and approximately 60% of biofuel globally. To meet the increased demand for sugar and biofuel supplies, it is critical to breed sugarcane cultivars with robust performance in yield traits. Therefore, dissection of causal DNA sequence variants is of great importance, as it provides genetic resources and fundamental information for crop improvement. In this study, we analyzed nine yield traits in a sugarcane diversity panel consisting of 308 accessions primarily selected from the World Collection of Sugarcane and Related Grasses. By genotyping the diversity panel via target enrichment sequencing, we identified a large number of sequence variants. Genome‐wide association studies between the markers and traits were conducted, taking dosages and gene actions into consideration. In total, 217 nonredundant markers and 225 candidate genes were identified to be significantly associated with the yield traits, which can serve as a comprehensive genetic resource database for future gene identification, characterization, and selection for sugarcane improvement. We further investigated runs of homozygosity (ROH) in the sugarcane diversity panel. We characterized 282 ROHs and found that the occurrence of ROHs in the genome were nonrandom and probably under selection. The ROHs were associated with total weight and dry weight, and high ROHs resulted in a decrease in the two traits. This study suggests that genomic inbreeding has led to negative impacts on sugarcane yield.
Constraints on the parameter space in an inert doublet model with two active doublets
Authors: Merchand Marco , Sher Marc
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We study a three Higgs doublet model where one doublet is inert and the other two doublets are active. Flavor changing neutral currents are avoided at tree-level by imposing a softly broken $$ {Z}_2^{\prime } $$

Z
2
′

symmetry and we consider type I and type II Yukawa structures. The lightest inert scalar is a viable Dark Matter (DM) candidate. A numerical scan of the free parameters is performed taking into account theoretical constraints such as positivity of the scalar potential and unitarity of 2 → 2 scattering amplitudes. The model is further constrained by experimental results such as B physics lower limits on charged Higgs masses, Electroweak Precision Observables, LEP II, LHC Higgs measurements, Planck measurement of the DM relic abundance and WIMP direct searches by the LUX and XENON1T experiments. The model predictions for mono-jet, mono Z and mono Higgs final states are studied and tested against current LHC data and we find the model to be allowed. We also discuss the effects of abandoning the “dark democracy” assumption common in studies of inert models. Projected sensitivities of direct detection experiments will leave only a tiny window in the DM mass versus coupling plane that is compliant with relic density bounds.
Majorization of the Temljakov Operators for the Bavrin Families in $${\mathbb {C}}^n$$
Authors: Długosz Renata , Liczberski Piotr , Trybucka Edyta
Published: March 2020

The paper concerns holomorphic functions in complete bounded n-circular domains $${{\mathcal {G}}}$$G of the space $${\mathbb {C}}^n$$Cn. The object of the present investigation is to solve majorization problem of Temljakov operator. This type of problem has been studied earlier in Liczberski and Żywień (Folia Sci Univ Tech Res 33:37–42, 1986), Liczberski (Bull Technol Sci Univ Łódź 20:29–37, 1988) and Leś-Bomba and Liczberski (Demonstratio Math 42(3):491–503, 2009). In this paper we considered the family $${{\mathcal {M}}}_{{{\mathcal {G}}}}\cap {{\mathcal {F}}}_{0,k}({{\mathcal {G}}})$$MG∩F0,k(G), i.e. the functions of the Bavrin family $${{\mathcal {M}}}_{{{\mathcal {G}}}}$$MG, which are (0, k)-symmetrical.
What lies beneath: Hydra provides cnidarian perspectives into the evolution of FGFR docking proteins
Authors: Suryawanshi Ashwini , Schaefer Karolin , Holz Oliver , Apel David , Lange Ellen , Hayward David C. , Miller David J. , Hassel Monika
Published: March 2020

Across the Bilateria, FGF/FGFR signaling is critical for normal development, and in bothDrosophilaand vertebrates, docking proteins are required to connect activated FGFRs with downstream pathways. While vertebrates use Frs2 to dock FGFR to the RAS/MAPK or PI3K pathways, the unrelated protein, downstream of FGFR (Dof/stumps/heartbroken), fulfills the corresponding function inDrosophila. To better understand the evolution of the signaling pathway downstream of FGFR, the available sequence databases were screened to identify Frs2, Dof, and other key pathway components in phyla that diverged early in animal evolution. While Frs2 homologues were detected only in members of the Bilateria, canonical Dof sequences (containing Dof, ankyrin, and SH2/SH3 domains) were present in cnidarians as well as bilaterians (but not in other animals or holozoans), correlating with the appearance of FGFR. Although these data suggested that Dof coupling might be ancestral, gene expression analysis in the cnidarianHydrarevealed thatDofis not upregulated in the zone of strongFGFRaandFGFRbexpression at the bud base, where FGFR signaling controls detachment. In contrast, transcripts encoding other, known elements of FGFR signaling in Bilateria, namely the FGFR adaptors Grb2 and Crkl, which are acting downstream of Dof (and Frs2), as well as the guanyl nucleotide exchange factor Sos, and the tyrosine phosphatase Csw/Shp2, were strongly upregulated at the bud base. Our expression analysis, thus, identified transcriptional upregulation of known elements of FGFR signaling at theHydrabud base indicating a highly conserved toolkit. Lack of transcriptionalDofupregulation raises the interesting question, whetherHydraFGFR signaling requires either of the docking proteins known from Bilateria.
Investigation of the reversibility of freeze/thaw stress-induced protein instability using heat cycling as a function of different cryoprotectants
Authors: Wöll Anna K. , Hubbuch Jürgen
Published: March 2020

Formulation conditions have a significant influence on the degree of freeze/thaw (FT) stress-induced protein instabilities. Adding cryoprotectants might stabilize the induced FT stress instabilities. However, a simple preservation of protein stability might be insufficient and further methods are necessary. This study aims to evaluate the addition of a heat cycle following FT application as a function of different cryoprotectants with lysozyme as exemplary protein. Sucrose and glycerol were shown to be the most effective cryoprotectants when compared to PEG200 and Tween20. In terms of heat-induced reversibility of aggregates, glycerol showed the best performance followed by sucrose, NaCl and Tween20 systems. The analysis was performed using a novel approach to visualize complex interplays by a clustering and data reduction scheme. In addition, solubility and structural integrity were measured and confirmed the obtained results.

Graphic abstract
A critical examination of the main premises of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Eigenschink Michael , Dearing Lukas , Dablander Tom E. , Maier Julian , Sitte Harald H.
Published: March 2020

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consists of a plethora of therapeutic approaches aiming to both characterize and treat diseases. Its utilization has gained significant popularity in the western world and is even backed by the World Health Organization’s decision to include TCM diagnostic patterns into the new revision of the International Classification of Diseases code, the global standard for diagnostic health information. As these developments and potentially far-reaching decisions can affect modern healthcare systems and daily clinical work as well as wildlife conservation, its underlying factual basis must be critically examined. This article therefore provides an overview of the evidence underlying the basic TCM concepts, such as Qi, meridians, acupuncture, pulse and tongue diagnostics as well as traditional herbal treatments. Moreover, it discusses whether scientific literature on TCM reflects the current standard for evidence-based research, as described in good scientific practice and good clinical practice guidelines. Importantly, misinformation regarding the therapeutic efficacy of animal-derived substances has lead and currently leads to problems with wildlife preservation and animal ethics. Nevertheless, the (re-)discovery of artemisinin more than 50 years ago introduced a novel development in TCM: the commingling of Eastern and Western medicine, the appreciation of both systems. The need for more rigorous approaches, fulfilment of and agreement to current guidelines to achieve high-quality research are of utmost relevance. Thereby, ancient knowledge of herbal species and concoctions may serve as a possible treasure box rather than Pandora’s box.
Crowdsourcing sensitive data using public displays—opportunities, challenges, and considerations
Authors: Alorwu Andy , van Berkel Niels , Goncalves Jorge , Oppenlaender Jonas , López Miguel Bordallo , Seetharaman Mahalakshmy , Hosio Simo
Published: March 2020

Interactive public displays are versatile two-way interfaces between the digital world and passersby. They can convey information and harvest purposeful data from their users. Surprisingly little work has exploited public displays for collecting tagged data that might be useful beyond a single application. In this work, we set to fill this gap and present two studies: (1) a field study where we investigated collecting biometrically tagged video-selfies using public kiosk-sized screens, and (2) an online narrative transportation study that further elicited rich qualitative insights on key emerging aspects from the first study. In the first study, a 61-day deployment resulted in 199 video-selfies with consent to leverage the videos in any non-profit research. The field study indicates that people are willing to donate even highly sensitive data about themselves in public. The subsequent online narrative transportation study provides a deeper understanding of a variety of issues arising from the first study that can be leveraged in the future design of such systems. The two studies combined in this article pave the way forward towards a vision where volunteers can, should they so choose, ethically and serendipitously help unleash advances in data-driven areas such as computer vision and machine learning in health care.
Children’s Capacities and Paternalism
Authors: Godwin Samantha
Published: March 2020

Paternalism is widely viewed as presumptively justifiable for children but morally problematic for adults. The standard explanation for this distinction is that children lack capacities relevant to the justifiability of paternalism. I argue that this explanation is more difficult to defend than typically assumed. If paternalism is often justified when needed to keep children safe from the negative consequences of their poor choices, then when adults make choices leading to the same negative consequences, what makes paternalism less justified? It seems true that ordinary adults have capacities enabling them to promote their interests in ways most children lack. This can explain why paternalism is more often justified towards children than adults. What is not explained, however, is why paternalism would be justifiable for children, but not adults, when neither possess the relevant interest-promoting capacities—exactly the cases when paternalism towards adults might be considered. I argue that this dilemma undercuts capacities-based explanations for the belief that childhood is distinctively relevant for the permissibility of paternalism. I then address defenses of both consequentialist and deontological versions of the capacities-based explanation. Absent this capacities-based explanation, I argue that the intuition that less demanding justificatory standards apply to paternalism when directed at children than when directed towards adults presents unresolved problems for egalitarians.
Global vs Sectoral Factors and the Impact of the Financialization in Commodity Price Changes
Authors: Poncela Pilar , Senra Eva , Sierra Lya Paola
Published: March 2020

Commodity prices influence price levels of a broad range of goods and, in the case of some developing economies, production and export activity. Therefore, information about future commodity inflation is useful for central banks, forward-looking policy-makers, and economic agents whose decisions depend on their expectations about it. After 2004, we have witnessed the so-called financialization of the commodity markets, which might induce greater communalities among commodity prices. This paper reports evidence on the relevance of the forecasting content of co-movement after 2004. With the use of large and small scale factor models we find that for the short run, in addition to dynamics, sectoral communality has relevant predictive content. For 12 months ahead, dynamics lose relevance while communality remains relevant.
Simulated microgravity significantly altered metabolism in epidermal stem cells
Authors: Li Bin-Bin , Chen Zheng-Yang , Jiang Nan , Guo Song , Yang Jia-Qi , Chai Shao-Bin , Yan Hong-Feng , Sun Pei-Ming , Hu Gang , Zhang Tao , Xu Bing-Xin , Sun Hong-Wei , Zhou Jin-Lian , Yang He-Ming , Cui Yan
Published: March 2020

Simulated microgravity can significantly affect various cell types and multiple systems of the human body, such as cardiovascular system, skeletal muscle system, and immune system, and is known to cause anemia and loss of electrolyte and fluids. Epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) were cultured in a rotary cell culture system (RCCS) bioreactor to simulate microgravity. The metabolites of EpSCs were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Compared with normal gravity (NG) group, a total of 57 different metabolites of EpSCs were identified (P < 0.05, VIP > 1), including lipids and lipid-like molecules (51 molecules), amino acids (5 molecules), nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues (1 molecule). According to the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) score plot, a VIP > 1 and P < 0.05 were obtained for the 57 different metabolites, of which 23 molecules were significantly downregulated and 34 were significantly upregulated in simulated microgravity (SMG) group. These results showed that SMG has a significant impact on different pathways, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that multiple pathways were involved, mainly the amino acid metabolism pathway, lipid metabolism pathway, membrane transport pathway, and cell growth and death pathways. Thus, the metabolic profile of EpSCs was changed under SMG. Exploring the metabolic profile of EpSCs would be helpful to further understand the growth characteristics of EpSCs under SMG, which will provide a new approach to explore the metabolomics mechanism of stress injury and repair trauma under SMG.
Does quality of care in hip fracture vary by day of admission?
Authors: Farrow Luke , Hall Andrew , Aucott Lorna , Holt Graeme , Myint Phyo K.
Published: March 2020

This study investigates if the day of the week a person is admitted with a hip fracture influences the quality of care they receive. We found those admitted Thursday and Friday were likely to obtain poorer postoperative care, indicating a need to optimize services ensuring equality for all.

Purpose

We sought to investigate how the day of admission affects the quality of care provided to hip fracture patients according to national standards (The Scottish Standards of Care for Hip Fracture Patients [SSCHFP]).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of national cohort data. Data were collected by the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit (SHFA) local audit co-ordinators (LACs) at participating Scottish hospitals on behalf of NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government. Adherence to the SSCHFP included assessment of both individual and cumulative standard attainment as a marker for quality of patient care.

Results

From January 2014 to April 2018, 15,351 admissions for hip fracture were recorded. Compared with Monday admission (reference day), patients admitted on a Thursday or Friday had a significantly lower likelihood of achieving the postoperative standards of prompt mobilization (OR 1.77; p < 0.001 & OR 1.48; p < 0.001, respectively); prompt physiotherapy assessment (OR 8.61; p < 0.001 & OR 3.47; p < 0.001, respectively); and prompt comprehensive geriatric assessment (OR 1.88; p < 0.001 & OR 1.41; p < 0.001, respectively). Patients admitted on a Friday or Saturday were less likely to receive the preoperative standards of no delay prior to theatre (OR 1.24; p = 0.001 & OR 1.23; p = 0.002, respectively) and avoidance of repeat fasting (OR 1.22; p = 0.009 & OR 1.22; p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients admitted on Thursday or Friday were significantly more likely to not receive postoperative care standards than patients admitted on the reference day (Monday). This appears to be related to inequalities in service provision for Saturday and Sunday compared with the rest of the week.
Delirium Screening in Neurocritical Care and Stroke Unit Patients: A Pilot Study on the Influence of Neurological Deficits on CAM-ICU and ICDSC Outcome
Authors: von Hofen-Hohloch Judith , Awissus Carolin , Fischer Marie Michèle , Michalski Dominik , Rumpf Jost-Julian , Classen Joseph
Published: March 2020

Background/Objective

Delirium is a common complication in critically ill patients with a negative impact on hospital length of stay, morbidity, and mortality. Little is known on how neurological deficits affect the outcome of commonly used delirium screening tools such as the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) in neurocritical care patients.

Methods

Over a period of 1 month, all patients admitted to a neurocritical care and stroke unit at a single academic center were prospectively screened for delirium using both CAM-ICU and ICDSC. Tool-based delirium screening was compared with delirium evaluation by the treating clinical team. Additionally, ICD-10 delirium criteria were assessed.

Results

One hundred twenty-three patients with a total of 644 daily screenings were included. Twenty-three patients (18.7%) were diagnosed with delirium according to the clinical evaluation. Delirium incidence amounted to 23.6% (CAM-ICU) and 26.8% (ICDSC). Sensitivity and specificity of both screening tools were 66.9% and 93.3% for CAM-ICU and 69.9% and 93.9% for ICDSC, respectively. Patients identified with delirium by either CAM-ICU or ICDSC presented a higher proportion of neurological deficits such as impaired consciousness, expressive aphasia, impaired language comprehension, and hemineglect. Subsequently, generalized estimating equations identified a significant association between impaired consciousness (as indexed by Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale) and a positive delirium assessment with both CAM-ICU and ICDSC, while impaired language comprehension and hemineglect were only associated with a positive CAM-ICU result.

Conclusions

A positive delirium screening with both CAM-ICU and ICDSC in neurocritical care and stroke unit patients was found to be significantly associated with the presence of neurological deficits. These findings underline the need for a more specific delirium screening tool in neurocritical care patients.
Clinical management of ageing people living with HIV in Europe: the view of the care providers
Authors: Boffito Marta , Ryom Lene , Spinner Christoph , Martinez Esteban , Behrens Georg , Rockstroh Jürgen , Hohenauer Johannes , Lacombe Karine , Psichogyiou Mina , Voith Norbert , Mallon Patrick , Branco Teresa , Svedhem Veronica , dÁrminio Monforte Antonella
Published: March 2020

Background

Although guidelines for the management of HIV infection include recommendations for aging people living with HIV (PLWH), clinical practice of European HIV care providers may vary.

Method

We performed a study using a 3-phase Delphi methodology by involving a panel of clinicians with expertise in HIV infection clinical management. The main aim of the study was to assess the care provider prospective on how HIV clinical care should be delivered to ageing PLWH. The first phase involved ten clinicians to identify HIV comorbidities of interest. The second and third phases recruited clinicians virtually via a web-based questionnaire that included 137 questions focussed on 11 comorbidities (e.g. cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, etc.).

Results

Results were analysed thematically and consensus (or not) among European physicians reported. Ninety-seven and 85 responses were collected in phase 2 and 3, respectively. High levels of agreement were found among clinical care providers across Europe and with the European AIDS Conference Society guidelines regarding key items of clinical management of comorbidities in ageing PLWH.

Conclusion

However, we identified some important gaps, such as the lack of standardisation or implementation of the assessment of frailty or menopause, which are emerging as important factors to optimise ageing PLWH clinical care. Further studies are warranted to confirm whether intensified screening translates into HIV morbidity advances.
The Effect of Different Surgical Methods on Female and Male Sexual Activity and Marital Quality in Patients With Early-Stage Cervical Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yunqiang , Sun Shugen , Ding Jingxin , Hua Keqin
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Sexual activity is important for marital quality, especially in cervical cancer survivors. Vagina extension following laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with bilateral ovarian preservation (VEOP), vagina extension following laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy (VEBO), radical hysterectomy with bilateral ovarian preservation (RHOP), and radical hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy (RHBO) are the common surgeries for young cervical cancer patients.

Aim

To investigate the effect of the 4 surgical methods on female/male sexual activity and marital quality in early-stage cervical cancer survivors.

Methods

Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted in 205 patients with stage Ia1–IIa2 cervical cancer to evaluate the factors that affected male/female sexual function and marital quality.

Main Outcome Measure

Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), modified Kupperman Index (KI), modified Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (mSLQQ-QoL), and ENRICH marital inventory were used to reflect changes in female/male sexual function and marital quality in the 4 groups.

Results

Female/male sexual function and marital quality were both highest in the VEOP group and lowest in the RHBO group. The regression results showed that ovarian preservation and vaginal extension were associated with female/male sexual function and marital quality. Furthermore, when vaginal extension and ovarian preservation were replaced by vaginal length, sexual psychological change, and hormone level index (KI), respectively; male sexual function was associated with vaginal length and sexual psychological change, whereas female sexual function and marital quality were only associated with hormone level and sexual psychological change. Clinical statistics found that four-fifths of the recurrent patients had vaginal extension (P = .042), and 3-quarters of these patients had large tumors.

Conclusion

Ovarian preservation and vaginal extension are both important for male/female sexual activity and marital quality. Vaginal extension may play a positive role in female sexual life via psychology and in male sexual life via vaginal length. Vaginal extension may not be suitable for patients with large masses.
Investigation of the Social Determinants of Sexual Satisfaction in Iranian Women
Authors: Afzali Mansoureh , Khani Soghra , Hamzehgardeshi Zeinab , Mohammadpour Reza-Ali , Elyasi Forouzan
Published: March 2020

Introduction

A person’s sexual satisfaction reflects their judgment and analysis of their own sexual behavior. Factors that affect sexual satisfaction vary in different societies and cultures.

Aim

This study investigated the determinants of sexual satisfaction in women referred to health centers in Sari, north of Iran, in 2016.

Methods

This cross-sectional study investigated 490 women who had been referred to health centers in 2016 and who were qualified for the study; the population was selected using convenient sampling method.

Main Outcome Measure

The main outcome of this study was sexual satisfaction that assessed by the Larson’s sexual satisfaction questionnaire. Other Data were 2 questionnaires: the general health questionnaire–28 and a researcher-made questionnaire developed on factors related to sexual satisfaction. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS software using the one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and t-test. To determine the predictors of sexual satisfaction, all the significant independent variables were incorporated into a linear regression model.

Results

The average age of the women in this study was 33.6 years, and average sexual satisfaction score was 99.26. The results of the linear regression model showed that the spouse’s job as a laborer (P = .003), a low income (P < .002), insufficient income of the spouse (P < .001), and dissatisfaction with being a woman (P < .001) were the main social determinants of sexual satisfaction (r2 = 0.54).

Conclusion

It can be concluded from the findings of this study that several factors influence women’s sexual satisfaction. The main social determinants of women’s sexual satisfaction were dissatisfaction with their gender, the spouse’s job as a laborer, low income, and insufficient income. Sexual healthcare providers can play a prominent role in increasing women’s sexual satisfaction, thereby, improving the quality of their sexual life by identifying and discussing ways to control them.
Early Medieval Place-Names and Riverine Flood Histories: A New Approach and New Chronostratigraphic Records for Three English Rivers
Authors: Pears B. , Brown A.G. , Carroll J. , Toms P. , Wood J. , Jones R.
Published: March 2020

Environmental information from place-names has largely been overlooked by geoarchaeologists and fluvial geomorphologists in analyses of the depositional histories of rivers and floodplains. Here, new flood chronologies for the rivers Teme, Severn, and Wye are presented, modelled from stable river sections excavated at Broadwas, Buildwas, and Rotherwas. These are connected by the Old English term *wæsse, interpreted as ‘land by a meandering river which floods and drains quickly’. The results reveal that, in all three places, flooding during the early medieval period occurred more frequently between AD 350–700 than between AD 700–1100, but that over time each river's flooding regime became more complex including high magnitude single events. In the sampled locations, the fluvial dynamics of localized flood events had much in common, and almost certainly differed in nature from other sections of their rivers, refining our understanding of the precise nature of flooding which their names sought to communicate. This study shows how the toponymic record can be helpful in the long-term reconstruction of historic river activity and for our understanding of past human perceptions of riverine environments.
The ‘brutal fecundity of violence’: Feminist methodologies of International Relations
Authors: Kinsella Helen M. , Shepherd Laura J.
Published: March 2020

This article highlights Marysia Zalewski's scholarship as reflective and generative of the multifarious sources and contributions of feminist IR and its ‘scavenger methodologies’, which seek to centre subjects, processes, and practices historically excluded, ignored, and minimised. The productive depth of her scholarship is evident in the uniqueness of each article in this collection, all of which distinctly document the uses to which Zalewski's writings can be uniquely put. Each of the articles performs a ‘turning operation’ of sorts on the elementals of feminist IR (gender/women/power/difference) and brings further elaborations of masculinities, sexualities, silences as well as screams, that shift and change what is taken to be feminist research/method – at each point disordering our sensibilities and our assumptions as to what we do when we do feminist work.
Jail diversion: the Miami model
Authors: Leifman Steve , Coffey Tim
Published: March 2020

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Criminal Mental Health Project (CMHP), located in Miami-Dade County, FL, was established in 2000 to divert individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI; eg, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression) or co-occurring SMI and substance use disorders away from the criminal justice system and into comprehensive community-based treatment and support services. The program operates two primary components: prebooking jail diversion consisting of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement officers and postbooking jail diversion serving individuals booked into the county jail and awaiting adjudication. In addition, the CMHP offers a variety of overlay services intended to: streamline screening and identification of program participants; develop evidence-based community reentry plans to ensure appropriate linkages to community-based treatment and support services; improve outcomes among individuals with histories of noncompliance with treatment; and expedite access to federal and state entitlement benefits. The CMHP provides an effective, cost-efficient solution to a community problem and works by eliminating gaps in services, and by forging productive and innovative relationships among all stakeholders who have an interest in the welfare and safety of one of our community’s most vulnerable populations.
Carbonating the household diet: a Pakistani tale
Authors: Datta Biplab K , Husain Muhammad Jami
Published: March 2020

Objective:

Carbonated beverage consumption is associated with various adverse health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and CVD. Pakistan has a high burden of these health conditions. At the same time, the carbonated beverage industry is rapidly growing in Pakistan. In this context, we analyse the trends and socioeconomic factors associated with carbonated beverage consumption in Pakistan.

Design:

We use six waves of the cross-sectional household surveys from 2005–2006 to 2015–2016 to analyse carbonated beverage consumption. We examine the trends in carbonated beverage consumption-prevalence for different economic groups categorised by per capita household consumption quintiles. We estimate the expenditure elasticity of carbonated beverages for these groups using a two-stage budgeting system framework. We also construct concentration curves of carbonated beverage expenditure share to analyse the burden of expenditure across households of different economic status.

Setting:

Pakistan.

Participants:

Nationally representative sample of households in respective survey waves.

Results:

We find that the wealthier the household, the higher is the prevalence of carbonated beverage consumption, and the prevalence has increased for all household groups over time. From the expenditure elasticity analysis, we observe that carbonated beverages are becoming an essential part of food consumption particularly for wealthier households. And, lastly, poorer households are bearing a larger share of carbonated beverage expenditure in 2014–2016 than that in 2006–2008.

Conclusion:

Carbonated beverages are becoming an increasingly essential part of household food consumption in Pakistan. Concerns about added sugar intake can prompt consideration of public health approaches to reduce dietary causes of the disease burden in Pakistan.
Variation of Hydraulic Properties Due to Dynamic Fracture Damage: Implications for Fault Zones
Authors: Aben Franciscus M. , Doan Mai‐Linh , Mitchell Thomas M.
Published: March 2020

High strain rate loading causes pervasive dynamic microfracturing in crystalline materials, with dynamic pulverization being the extreme end‐member. Hydraulic properties (permeability, porosity, and storage capacity) are primarily controlled by fracture damage and will therefore change significantly by intense dynamic fracturing—by how much is currently unknown. Dynamic fracture damage observed in the damage zones of seismic faults is thought to originate from dynamic stresses near the earthquake rupture tip. This implies that during an earthquake, hydraulic properties in the damage zone change early. The immediate effect this has on fluid‐driven coseismic slip processes following the rupture, and on postseismic and interseismic fault zone processes, is not yet clear. Here, we present hydraulic properties measured on the full range of dynamic fracture damage up to dynamic pulverization. Dynamic damage was induced in quartz‐monzonite samples by performing uniaxial high strain rate (>100 s−1) experiments in compression using a split‐Hopkinson pressure bar. Hydraulic properties were measured on samples subjected to single and successive loadings, the latter to simulate cumulative damage from repeated rupture events. We show that permeability increases by 6 orders of magnitude and porosity by 15% with dissipated energy up to dynamic pulverization, for both single and successive loadings. We present damage zone permeability profiles induced by earthquake rupture and how it evolves with repeated ruptures. We propose that the enhanced hydraulic properties measured for pulverized rock decrease the efficiency of thermal pressurization, when emplaced adjacent to the principal slip zone.