bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of optic neuro‐ophthalmology imaging in latent meningeal metastases of lung cancer
Authors: Song Shuai , Chang Dong , Li Hao , Liu Chunquan , Li Hongyang , Cui Yong
Published: September 2021

Latent intracranial meningeal metastases (IMM) of lung cancer is difficult to determine, yet it is critical to do so given that it impacts the treatment agent. Studies on this disease are rare, thus necessitating further investigation. As a case study, we will explore the application of optic neuroimaging in IMM. A 62‐year‐old female patient was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, which had progressed to osseous metastasis. During the course of chemotherapy, the patient had bilateral vision loss and paralysis of extraocular muscles. Ophthalmologists ruled out disease of the retina and suspected intracranial metastasis; however, brain‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and magnetic resonance venography were normal. Given the patient's severe osteoarthropathy and poor physical condition, she refused to undergo a lumbar puncture examination. Optic neuro‐ophthalmology imaging was ultimately used. Utilizing optical coherence tomography, we found that the basement membrane layer in the papilledema was protruding up towards the vitreous cavity. To assist in visualization, the optic nerve sheath was enhanced with optic magnetic resonance imaging. With these methods, the dural metastasis was identified, the treatment agent was changed for the patient, and she had a successful recovery. Thus, optic neuro‐ophthalmology imaging should be recommended for patients who are in the latent course of dural metastasis, and it could also be used to evaluate therapeutic efficacy.
Next‐generation sequencing assisted diagnosis of cervical metastasis in EGFR‐mutated lung adenocarcinoma: A case report
Authors: Xu Li , Li Kang , Chen Xiaoyan , Chen Bolin , Li Jia , Wu Lin
Published: September 2021

EGFR mutation has been detected in more than half of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Asia. Lung cancer is the main cause of malignant tumor‐related death worldwide. Although distant metastases often occurs in patients with advanced NSCLC, uterine cervical metastasis is rare. Here, we report a case of EGFR‐mutated lung adenocarcinoma with cervical metastasis. A 63‐year‐old female with known lung adenocarcinoma was found to have abnormal vaginal bleeding during osimertinib follow‐up visits. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of the biopsy sample from the uterine cervical tumor confirmed metastatic dissemination from the primary lung malignancy. NGS assisted the diagnosis of uterine cervical metastasis from the primary lung. This is another major clinical application of NGS in addition to medication guidance and identification of drug resistance mechanisms.
Editorial: coeliac disease—it's a family affair
Authors: Therrien Amelie , Leffler Daniel A.
Published: September 2021

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Paavola et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16534 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16584
Editorial: only steps away from prime time? Hepatitis B virus RNA as routine marker to guide HBV treatment decisions
Authors: Wehmeyer Malte H. , Schulze zur Wiesch Julian
Published: September 2021

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Xia et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16538 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16570
Letter: universal screening for hepatitis C in pregnancy, children and adolescents—authors' reply
Authors: Indolfi Giuseppe , Lucenteforte Ersilia
Published: September 2021

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Indolfi et al and Garrido & Macedo papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16037 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16546
Editorial: coeliac disease—it's a family affair. Authors' reply
Authors: Paavola Saana , Kaukinen Katri , Kurppa Kalle
Published: September 2021

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Paavola et al and Therrien & Leffler papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16534 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16552
Bivariate small‐area estimation for binary and gaussian variables based on a conditionally specified model
Authors: Sun Hao , Berg Emily , Zhu Zhengyuan
Published: September 2021

Many large‐scale surveys collect both discrete and continuous variables. Small‐area estimates may be desired for means of continuous variables, proportions in each level of a categorical variable, or for domain means defined as the mean of the continuous variable for each level of the categorical variable. In this paper, we introduce a conditionally specified bivariate mixed‐effects model for small‐area estimation, and provide a necessary and sufficient condition under which the conditional distributions render a valid joint distribution. The conditional specification allows better model interpretation. We use the valid joint distribution to calculate empirical Bayes predictors and use the parametric bootstrap to estimate the mean squared error. Simulation studies demonstrate the superior performance of the bivariate mixed‐effects model relative to univariate model estimators. We apply the bivariate mixed‐effects model to construct estimates for small watersheds using data from the Conservation Effects Assessment Project, a survey developed to quantify the environmental impacts of conservation efforts. We construct predictors of mean sediment loss, the proportion of land where the soil loss tolerance is exceeded, and the average sediment loss on land where the soil loss tolerance is exceeded. In the data analysis, the bivariate mixed‐effects model leads to more scientifically interpretable estimates of domain means than those based on two independent univariate models.
Estimation of separable direct and indirect effects in continuous time
Authors: Martinussen Torben , Stensrud Mats Julius
Published: September 2021

Many research questions involve time‐to‐event outcomes that can be prevented from occurring due to competing events. In these settings, we must be careful about the causal interpretation of classical statistical estimands. In particular, estimands on the hazard scale, such as ratios of cause‐specific or subdistribution hazards, are fundamentally hard to interpret causally. Estimands on the risk scale, such as contrasts of cumulative incidence functions, do have a clear causal interpretation, but they only capture the total effect of the treatment on the event of interest; that is, effects both through and outside of the competing event. To disentangle causal treatment effects on the event of interest and competing events, the separable direct and indirect effects were recently introduced. Here we provide new results on the estimation of direct and indirect separable effects in continuous time. In particular, we derive the nonparametric influence function in continuous time and use it to construct an estimator that has certain robustness properties. We also propose a simple estimator based on semiparametric models for the two cause‐specific hazard functions. We describe the asymptotic properties of these estimators and present results from simulation studies, suggesting that the estimators behave satisfactorily in finite samples. Finally, we reanalyze the prostate cancer trial from Stensrud et al. (2020).
The landmark Escazú Agreement: An opportunity to integrate democracy, human rights, and transboundary conservation
Authors: López‐Cubillos Sofía , Muñoz‐Ávila Lina , Roberson Leslie A. , Suárez‐Castro Andrés F. , Ochoa‐Quintero Jose Manuel , Crouzeilles Renato , Gallo‐Cajiao Eduardo , Rhodes Jonathan , Dressler Wolfram , Martinez‐Harms María José , Runting Rebecca K.
Published: September 2021

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is one of the world's most biodiverse regions, but this diversity is threatened by the overexploitation of natural resources and internal social conflicts. In 2018, 33 LAC countries were invited to sign and ratify the landmark Escazú Agreement, which is the first legally binding environmental agreement to explicitly integrate human rights with environmental matters. The agreement outlines an approach to enhance the protection of environmental defenders, increase public participation in environmental decision‐making, and foster cooperation among countries for biodiversity conservation. However, clear mechanisms to implement the ideals of the Agreement are currently lacking. We identify the key provisions of the Agreement and link these to tangible mechanisms which aim to integrate human rights and nature conservation. These mechanisms include technological (e.g., free online data), human‐based (e.g., legal advice from multidisciplinary teams), and nature‐based solutions (e.g., transboundary species management). As environmental assets––and threats to them––span national boundaries, the collaborative and participatory provisions of the agreement could catalyze coordinated transboundary environmental management. Because of the importance of this Agreement for the LAC region, we added a Spanish version of this manuscript in the Supplementary Material (versión del artículo en español en el material suplementario).
Pityriasis rubra pilaris treatment options: A retrospective case series from a tertiary hospital
Authors: Ringin Sarah , Baker Christopher S. , Foley Peter , Daniel Benjamin S.
Published: September 2021

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a group of uncommon chronic inflammatory skin conditions with unclear pathophysiology and etiology. To date there is limited published literature and no clinical guidelines for the management of PRP. Infliximab, alone or in combination, is the most widely published successful treatment for adults and etanercept for pediatric populations. We present a case series of patients diagnosed with PRP. Retrospective data were collected from a tertiary Australian dermatology department between January 2010 and December 2019 on patients with PRP. Electronic medical records and pathology database were searched. A total of 13 patients were included. Twelve of the 13 patients used topical agents and three patients attempted narrow‐band ultraviolet B phototherapy. All patients received acitretin as first line systemic agent with the dose varying from 10 to 50 mg daily. Six patients treated with acitretin reported adverse events, requiring dose reduction or cessation. Of the nine patients who did not receive a biologic agent, complete clearance of PRP was achieved in five cases. At least one biologic agent was used in four cases with two experiencing a marked improvement. Overall, complete clearance was achieved in six patients. PRP continues to be a challenge to treat with many treatment options used with variable efficacy.
Echocardiographic characteristics of pediatric preexcitation cardiomyopathy
Authors: Sun Yan , Zhang Hongju , Xue Li , Yang Jiao , Li Jingya , Liu Guowen , Ma Ning
Published: September 2021

Preexcitation cardiomyopathy is a rare cardiac anomaly but it can be life threatening. It may occur in type B preexcitation syndrome. A patients with this condition typically has an enlarged left ventricle and reduced systolic function without tachycardia‐associated cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography plays an important role in diagnosis in identifying this condition by revealing the “rebounce” movement of the inter‐ventricular septum (IVS). We report echocardiographic findings of five pediatric patients with preexcitation cardiomyopathy. All of them had a radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) and recovered during the follow‐up.
Evolutionary origins of cooperative and communal breeding: Lessons from the crotophagine cuckoos
Authors: Riehl Christina
Published: September 2021

Most cooperatively breeding birds live in family groups, in which a breeding pair is assisted by genetically related “helpers” who do not reproduce. In some species, however, several breeding adults reproduce in a single nest and cooperatively provide parental care to the mixed brood of nestlings. Recent comparative analyses have convincingly argued that these two forms of sociality—family‐based helping and communal breeding—are distinct, since they differ in key respects and have apparently arisen along separate evolutionary trajectories. In this review, I first suggest that the similarities between these systems are also informative for understanding the evolution and persistence of cooperative societies. For example, many communal breeders also have non‐reproductive helpers, suggesting that similar selective pressures may help maintain both kin‐based helping and communal breeding despite their disparate origins. I next discuss hypotheses for the origins of communal breeding in the anis and allies (CrotophagaandGuira), a lineage of Neotropical cuckoos, focusing on the evolutionary and behavioral links between communal breeding and brood parasitism. Several traits that are ancestral to cuckoos, including rapid offspring development and the ability to lay large, indeterminate clutches, are implicated as evolutionary precursors of both strategies. Finally, I discuss recent research on alternative reproductive tactics in the greater ani (Crotophaga major), in which communal breeding, conspecific brood parasitism, and helping by both relatives and non‐relatives are common. The coexistence of all four behaviors within the same population provides a rare opportunity to dissect the costs and benefits of group living and parental care, and, ultimately, to examine the selective pressures favoring cooperation under varying degrees of genetic relatedness.
A positive feedback loop between sociality and social competence
Authors: Taborsky Barbara
Published: September 2021

The social environment of animals influences individual social decisions, which in turn feeds back on the social environment. The two halves of this feedback loop are rarely studied in conjunction. Here, I propose and review evidence for a positive feedback loop between sociality and social competence. Because social competence increases the performance during social encounters of all kinds, positive feedback between selection on social competence and sociality seems plausible. In the first part, I present evidence that social competence is an evolving trait: it exhibits consistent variation between individuals, has fitness consequences and is genetically or non‐genetically transmitted across generations. In the second part, I propose that the feedback loop between sociality and social competence may be mediated by a link to dispersal propensity. I review the available evidence for this possible mechanism: higher social competence and philopatry may be part of the same social phenotype, and in some social species dispersal propensity is heritable. Finally, I discuss the evolutionary consequences of the proposed mechanism for the scenarios that social phenotype is transmitted genetically or plastically across generations.
Collective defence and behavioural homogeneity during simulated territorial intrusions in banded mongooses (Mungos mungo)
Authors: Green P.A. , Preston E.F.R. , Nicholl M.H. , Croft D.P. , Thompson F.J. , Cant M.A.
Published: September 2021

Conflicts between stable social groups (“intergroup conflicts”) can be damaging and exert a strong influence on within‐group social behaviour. The success of groups during intergroup conflict may depend on the ability of individual group members to converge upon collective defence behaviour, such as approaching or attacking. In principle, collective defence can be achieved via a united front, in which each individual responds in the same way to an intergroup threat. We tested the impact of simulated intergroup conflicts on collective defence and individual behaviour in banded mongooses (Mungos mungo), a cooperatively breeding mammal in which intergroup conflict is particularly common and costly. We presented focal groups with scent markings, call playbacks and caged live animals from rival groups and compared their responses to these stimuli with their responses to own‐group control stimuli. A greater proportion of group members approached the stimulus and acted defensively in response to rival stimuli as compared to controls, consistent with a unified collective defence response. However, counter to our expectation, groups exhibited lower behavioural homogeneity when presented with rival stimuli as compared to controls. A closer examination of the behaviours competitors used revealed that lower homogeneity was driven by a greater use, and diversity, of defensive behaviours relevant to repelling simulated rivals. Finally, group size affected responses: as group size increased, the proportion of members approaching the stimulus and behavioural homogeneity decreased. Our results lend support to the hypothesis that intergroup conflict leads to coordinated collective defence behaviour during the immediate threat of an intergroup conflict. However, collective defence need not mean that all group members execute the same behaviours.
Reciprocal relationship between locomotive syndrome and social frailty in older adults
Authors: Ono Rei , Murata Shunsuke , Uchida Kazuaki , Endo Tatsuya , Otani Koji
Published: September 2021

Aim

States of vulnerability are multidimensional and become more prevalent with advancing age. These states and the causal relationships between them, merit thorough investigation. This study aimed to understand the reciprocal relationship between the constructs of the locomotive syndrome and social frailty among a community of older adults.

Methods

This 2‐year cohort study examined a community of older adults (≥75 years) consisting of 1177 members. Using Makizako's method, social frailty was deemed to be present if more than two out of five questions were answered negatively. Locomotive syndrome was measured with the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale‐25, which consists of 25 items measuring an individual's risk of developing locomotive syndrome; a total score of ≥16 identified the presence of locomotive syndrome. Possible reciprocal associations between locomotive syndrome and social frailty were assessed using Cox proportional hazards analyses.

Results

A total of 748 older adults were analyzed in the following subgroups. Among 574 participants without social frailty at the baseline, the presence of locomotive syndrome at the baseline was associated with new‐onset social frailty during the next 2 years, after adjusting for confounding factors (hazard ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.17–2.65). Conversely, the presence of social frailty among participants without locomotive syndrome in the baseline was not associated with new‐onset locomotive syndrome.

Conclusion

The presence of locomotive syndrome was determined to be a risk factor for the onset of social frailty. Therefore, interventions that address the negative impact of locomotive syndrome are a first step toward addressing these vulnerable conditions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 981–984.
IgG4‐related disease is characterised by the overexpression of immunomodulatory proteins
Authors: Arora Kshitij , Kulkarni Anupriya , Pankaj Amaya , Desai Niyati , Deshpande Vikram
Published: September 2021

Aims

Immunoglobulin 4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) is a multisystem disease, characterised by tumefactive lesions and a swift response to immunosuppressive therapy. Although elevated serum and tissue IgG4 are characteristic, T cells appear to be the primary driver of this immunologically mediated disease. The overarching goal was to examine the role of immunomodulatory cells in IgG4‐RD.

Methods and results

Biopsies from patients with IgG4‐RD (n = 39) and mimics of this disease (n = 78) were evaluated for IgG4, IgG, CD8, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) and a subset (n = 18) evaluated for CD4, purine rich box 1 (PU.1), forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3), PD‐L1, programmed cell death 1 (PD‐1), indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and lymphocyte‐activation gene 3 (LAG3). Data pertaining to demographics and laboratory findings at baseline evaluation was extracted from electronic medical records. When compared to mimics, IgG4‐RD showed increased numbers of PD‐L1‐ (P = 0.0001), PD‐1‐ (P = 0.001), IDO1‐ (P = 0.03), LAG3‐ (P = 0.04) and FoxP3‐ (P = 0.04)‐positive immune cells. The PD‐L1‐positive cells were enriched within aggregates of CD4 and CD8‐positive T cells. Thirty‐one of 39 (80%) IgG4‐RD cases showed greater than five PD‐L1‐positive cells per high‐power field (HPF), while four of 78 (5%) mimics of this disease exceeded this cut‐point. In IgG4‐RD, PD‐L1‐positive macrophages correlated with PD‐1‐ (P = 0.002), LAG3‐ (P = 0.001) and IDO1‐positive cells (P = 0.001); a‐positive correlation was also noted between IgG4/IgG ratio and PD‐L1‐, PD‐1‐ and IDO1‐positive cells.

Conclusions

IgG4‐RD shows expansion of mechanisms that maintain peripheral tolerance. The spatial and temporal relationship between T cells and the PD‐L1–PD‐1 axis and the up‐regulation of multiple immunomodulatory proteins suggests that these immunoregulatory mechanisms play a significant role in IgG4‐RD.
Defending ‘Co‐offending’ Women: Recognising Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control in ‘Joint Enterprise' Cases Involving Women and their Intimate Partners
Authors: HULLEY SUSIE
Published: September 2021

The role of coercive control in women's offending has been increasingly recognised in law. Yet, there remains a significant blind spot that leads to grossly unfair outcomes for women who are implicated in cases of serious violence with their abusive partners. This article outlines the role that abusive relationships play in women being ‘associated’ with an offence, being present at the scene and unable to withdraw and being implicated in the police investigation. It argues that such relationships must be recognised in legal practice and in the law, to avoid serious miscarriages of justice being enacted upon women who have already been repeatedly failed by the State.
Experiences of nursing care for patients who self‐harm and suggestions for future practices: The perspectives of emergency care nurses
Authors: Østervang Christina , Geisler Johansen Lærke , Friis‐Brixen Anne , Myhre Jensen Charlotte
Published: September 2021

Self‐harm is a major challenge in healthcare systems. Emergency department nurses provide care to numerous patients with self‐harm injuries. Accordingly, nurse–patient interactions are vital to improve the physical and psychological outcomes of this complex patient group. Previous studies have proposed the establishment of improved teaching programs to increase the competence of emergency department nurses within mental health care; however, few studies have comprehensively investigated the experiences and suggestions for future nursing practices. Therefore, we gathered in‐depth knowledge of Danish emergency department nurses' experiences caring for patients who self‐harm and obtained their suggestions on future nursing practices. Ten semi‐structured interviews were conducted to capture the nurses' individual perspectives. The scientific theory is based on phenomenology and hermeneutics. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used, and three themes were identified: (i) importance of having the competences to establish a relationship in the acute phase; (ii) acute care from a biomedical perspective; and (iii) highlighting ideas for improved future practices. The emergency department nurses were aware of the importance of mental health care but found their competence and motivation situated in medical care. The nurses felt that they lacked skills to undertake in‐depth mental care for patients who self‐harm and that the healthcare system failed to help this group of patients. Based on these findings, rather than aiming at improving nursing skills, we suggest a close collaboration between the emergency and psychiatric departments to improve the quality of care for patients who self‐harm. We also recommend organizational changes within the emergency department, such as the introduction of a so‐called ‘social track’.
IFRS 9 and its behavior in the cycle: The evidence on EU countries
Authors: Pastiranová Oľga , Witzany Jiří
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this paper is to analyze empirically the behavior of expected loan loss provisions during the economic cycle. The provisioning rules under IFRS 9 require the creation of reserves to cover expected credit losses, were anticipated to act countercyclically, and thus replaced the rules under IAS 39, which are widely presumed to have a procyclical impact. Observing the dynamics of the economic cycle during the economic downturn resulting from the COVID restrictions, a panel regression was performed to test the hypothesis that loan loss provisioning rules under IFRS 9 have a procyclical impact. The hypothesis was not rejected on the basis of a sample of the member countries of the European Union for the period of 1Q 2015 – 3Q 2020. Since the conclusions about procyclicality of loan loss provisions under IFRS 9 might be sensitive to the choice of models applied by the banks or to the assumptions applied to forward‐looking information used in the models, there are certain areas that supervisory and regulatory authorities might look into to increase the quality of ECL models and their predictive power and help to eliminate potential triggers of procyclicality.
The Demand for Assets: Evidence from the Markov Switching Normalized Quadratic Model
Authors: XU LIBO , SERLETIS APOSTOLOS
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we provide and illustrate a solution to the inter‐related problems of estimation of asset demand functions, instability of money demand relations, and monetary aggregation. We use an econometric framework that very flexibly allows for changes in the coefficients of the asset demand functions and then quantifying the implications that this asset demand instability has for monetary policy and monetary aggregation. Our approach allows the estimation of asset demand functions in a systems context, using a flexible functional form for the aggregator function, based on the dual approach to demand system generation. However, instead of assuming that consumer preferences are fixed as in the neoclassical demand theory, we assume Markov regime switching, thus allowing for complicated nonlinear dynamics and sudden changes in the parameters of the asset demand functions and the underlying aggregator function. We use the monthly time series data on monetary asset quantities and their user costs, recently produced for the United States and maintained within the Center of Financial Stability, and the Normalized Quadratic (NQ) flexible functional form with Markov regime switching, to generate inference in terms of a full set of elasticities, simultaneously achieving consistency with the data‐generating process and economic and econometric regularity. We find evidence that our five‐regime NQ model provides a better fit of the actual data than a single regime model, that the asset demand specifications exhibit instability between regimes, but are rather stable within regimes, and that the assets are in general Morishima substitutes with the Morishima elasticities of substitution always being below unity.
Taxes and tax‐exempt bonds: A literature review
Authors: Spreen Thomas Luke , Gerrish Ed
Published: September 2021

This article reviews and synthesizes the academic literature on income tax exemptions for interest income derived from state and local (municipal) bonds. It explores a large body of work that evaluates the impact of federal and state tax exemptions on the borrowing costs of state and local governments. It also considers how the tax exemption influences municipal financing decisions, its distributional impacts, and potential for tax arbitrage schemes. It concludes with a discussion of the viability of eliminating the tax exemption entirely or transitioning the preference to a tax credit mirroring municipal bonds sold under the Build America Bond (BAB) program.
Health outcomes in women attending with clinical guideline PROGYNE to a primary care center for cervical cancer prevention
Authors: Gomes Maria Luziene de Sousa , Vieira Neiva Francenely Cunha , Sousa Deise Maria do Nascimento , Moura Nádya dos Santos , Rodrigues Ivana Rios , Rodrigues Dafne Paiva , Silva Bárbara Gomes Santos , Oriá Mônica Oliveira Batista
Published: September 2021

Aim

The objective of the current study was to analyze the health outcomes of women attending with a clinical guideline to consultations for cervical cancer (CC) prevention in a primary care center.

Methods

A cross‐sectional design was used, and data were collected from March to July 2016 with a sample of 87 women in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Results

The following correlations were found: previous history of sexually transmitted infection (p = 0.025), women who used oral contraceptives (p = 0.035), and undergo the Papanicolaou test annually; having black skin color (p = 0.031) and attending to the first gynecological consultation; being single (p = 0.031), family history of cancer (p < 0.001), and undergoing the first Papanicolaou test within the first 3 years of sexual activity; age up to 30 years and positive colposcopy (p = 0.027); and being single and positive colposcopy (p = 0.021). CC was characterized by the presence of intraepithelial lesion detected on colposcopy (gold standard). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of visual inspection with Lugol's iodine, digital cervicography, and Papanicolaou test. The area under the curve values were as follows: digital cervicography: 0.558, p = 0.509; Lugol's iodine: 0.491, p = 0.919; and Papanicolaou test: 0.697, p = 0.024.

Conclusion

Colposcopy in primary care provided a faster diagnosis of pre‐cancerous lesions. Understanding the health outcomes of women who underwent consultations for CC prevention, as well as the screening and diagnosis methods used, is essential to the service and national health system of the less developed countries.
Training clinicians in a problem‐solving fatigue programme for patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis
Authors: Farragher Janine F. , Davis Jane A. , Polatajko Helene J. , Thomas Chandra , Ravani Pietro , Manns Braden , Elliott Meghan J. , Hemmelgarn Brenda R.
Published: September 2021

Background

Personal Energy Planning is a problem‐solving based programme that guides people receiving maintenance haemodialysis treatment to use energy management strategies to address life participation challenges. The feasibility of training dialysis clinicians to become Personal Energy Planning coaches (i.e., programme administrators) is currently unknown.

Objectives

To explore the feasibility of training dialysis clinicians to administer the Personal Energy Planning programme.

Design

Feasibility study involving an adherence evaluation of two trained dialysis clinician coaches' problem‐solving facilitation skills, and one qualitative interview with each coach.

Participants

Two Personal Energy Planning coaches with nursing backgrounds who administered the programme to 10 patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis treatment over a total of 34 sessions.

Approach

Audio recordings of one session per treatment recipient (n = 10) were evaluated using an established treatment adherence checklist. The proportion of treatment sessions where the item was observed by two adherence raters was calculated. In addition, coaches were interviewed about their experiences learning and administering the programme; interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

Some core facilitation skills (e.g., patient‐centred goal setting and analysis of performance breakdowns) were consistently used; however, other facilitation skills (e.g., guided discovery and global problem‐solving strategy) were not regularly implemented. The coaches discussed challenges (e.g., supporting patient problem‐solving and fluctuating patient health) with administering the intervention. Certain training resources (e.g., coaching handbook and expert consultation) were identified as valuable to their learning.

Conclusions

With modifications to training materials, it might be feasible to train dialysis clinicians to administer Personal Energy Planning with people receiving maintenance haemodialysis treatment.
The effectiveness of short text messages on nurses' arrhythmia interpretation skills
Authors: Kes Duygu , Ozduran Bahar , Celik Sevim , Cetin Erdem
Published: September 2021

Background

Intensive care nurses play an important role in the management of critically ill patients including identification of cardiac arrhythmias. Interventions to improve arrhythmia identification can be expensive, time‐consuming, and are not always successful.

Aims

This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of using short message service (SMS) messaging to improve intensive care nurses' cardiac arrhythmia interpretation skills.

Design

This study was a prospective, two‐group, assessor‐blinded, randomized controlled trial with a pretest‐posttest experimental design.

Methods

The study was conducted from February 2020 to February 2021 for the intervention as well as the control group, in a teaching hospital in northwest Turkey. The intervention group was sent the one‐way SMS messages on cardiac arrhythmias via WhatsApp during an 8‐week period, whereas the control group did not receive any intervention. The Cardiac arrhythmias assessment questionnaire (CAAQ) was used to measure outcomes. The data were analysed using ANCOVA and an independent t‐test.

Results

A total of 66 intensive care nurses were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control group. The ANCOVA analysis indicated that ICU nurses who received SMS messages about cardiac arrhythmias two times a week had significantly increased CAAQ scores (P < 0.001) with a large effect size (partial eta‐squared = 0.588).

Conclusion

This study concluded that using SMS messages as a training tool has a positive influence on cardiac arrhythmias interpretation skills among ICU nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice

Using SMS messages could be an alternative, effective, and innovative approach to improve nurses' clinical practice skills.
Translocation success in Iris atrofusca: importance of replicating sites and long‐term monitoring
Authors: Volis Sergei , Blecher Michael
Published: September 2021

Translocation gains importance as a conservation approach of choice for imperiled plant species whose habitat is rapidly disappearing. To be successful, translocation must be done into a location that has optimal conditions for the species, but determining these conditions can be difficult for species with poorly known historic distribution. Unfortunately, most endangered plant species, including those requiring immediate action, have poorly documented historic ranges. In this study, we show, using the threatened rhizomatous Iris atrofusca, that the determination of suitable locations should be done experimentally over multiple locations, and the evidence for the success of translocation comes not just from the establishment of the planted individuals or their reproduction, but, more importantly, from the appearance, establishment and reproduction of recruits. Although 12 years after introduction, 2 of the 22 populations went extinct and the number of survived plants was below 10% in 12 populations, 4 established recruits were detected outside the planted areas in that year and another 48 individuals 2 years later. We conclude that locations in the immediate vicinity of recruits should be used for actual translocation. We also report, after analyzing the effect of four environmental variables on I. atrofusca performance across experimental microsites, the most favorable set of topographic and soil parameters for this species, namely deep soil having few rock fragments and minor slope steepness. Microsites with these parameters should be the preferred locations for I. atrofusca introduction. Overall, our study demonstrates the importance of (1) experiments preceding actual translocation and (2) long‐term monitoring for translocation projects.
Eradication of feral goats Capra hircus from Kangaroo Island: estimating the probability of persistence from multiple lines of evidence
Authors: Southgate Richard , Lee Tamsin E. , Markopoulos Nick , Florance Brenton , Masters Pip
Published: September 2021

Ongoing support for an eradication program depends on clear information being provided to on‐ground operational and managerial personnel and funding agencies about the performance of control effort. This paper describes the methods used to track the success of control activities during goat eradication on Kangaroo Island, Australia, from 2006 to 2017. A range of techniques were used during the program to monitor the goat population, including helicopter surveys, Judas goats, walking transects, camera trapping, scat count transects, and opportunistic community observations. A Bayesian catch‐effort model contained within a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet enabled data from multiple monitoring techniques to be accommodated. The familiar spreadsheet format made it relatively easy for operational staff to add data and visualize the strength of individual or combined monitoring techniques to track population decline. This provided greater incentive to maintain accurate records of hunting and survey effort during the eradication program. Combined survey effort data indicated there was a 1% chance that feral goats remained extant at the beginning of 2017. This probability was reduced to 0.1% if in another 12 months no further feral goat activity was detected by hunting effort and landholder/manager monitoring.
Family involvement on nursing wards and the role conflicts experienced by surgical nurses: A multicentre cross‐sectional study
Authors: Smits Marte A.A. , Boezeman Edwin J. , Nieuwenhuijsen Karen , de Boer Angela G.E.M. , Nieveen van Dijkum Els J.M. , Eskes Anne M.
Published: September 2021

Objective

To examine among surgical nurses whether work–role conflict, work–role ambiguity, respect, distress and trust in collaboration due to interactions with family caregivers in the nursing ward are associated with the quality of contact with patients and their families.

Methods

A multicentre cross‐sectional study was conducted between January and March 2020. Surgical nurses completed a questionnaire recording work–role conflict, work–role ambiguity, sense of respect, distress, trust in collaboration and quality of contact with patients and their families. Data were analysed using correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and mediation regression analysis.

Results

A total of 135 nurses completed the questionnaire. The correlation analysis showed significant correlations between nurses’ impaired quality of contact with patients and their families and nurses’ work–role conflicts, work–role ambiguity, trust in collaboration and distress (p < 0.05). The multiple regression analyses corroborated that work–role conflict and distress were significantly and positively associated with impaired quality of contact. Furthermore, mediation regression analysis showed that work–role conflict was associated indirectly and significantly with quality of contact through distress.

Conclusion

Work–role conflict due to having family caregivers involved in the care of hospitalised patients is significantly associated with nurses’ distress and quality of contact with patients and their families.
Inside the pocket: Critical elements ofHLA‐mediated susceptibility to cervical precancerous lesions
Authors: Gonçalves Letícia Boslooper , de França Patrícia Pinho , Petry Natália Angelica , de Souza Xavier Marina Bárbara , de Carvalho Newton Sérgio , Bicalho Maria da Graça , Boldt Angelica Beate Winter , de Araujo‐Souza Patrícia Savio
Published: September 2021

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary cause for cervical cancer (CC), but it also depends on genetic factors, such as HLA polymorphism. However, few reports addressed the role of amino acids residues at the HLA peptide‐binding cleft in HPV‐related cervical disease. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association betweenHLA‐B, HLA‐C,andHLA‐DRB1polymorphism and amino acid residues composing the pockets of the peptide‐binding cleft of the respective polypeptide chains with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II/III). HLA typing was performed by PCR‐SSOP in 184 women with CIN II/III and 174 controls from South Brazil. Associations were estimated by multivariate logistic regression. FDR test was performed to correct thep‐value for multiple comparisons.HLA‐DRB1*13:01was associated with protection against CIN II/III, whileHLA‐C*03:04was associated with susceptibility. The amino acid residues isoleucine, tyrosine, and leucine at positions 95, 116, and 163 of HLA‐C, respectively, were associated with CIN II/III susceptibility. In contrast, serine at positions 11 and 13 of HLA‐DRB1 was associated with protection against the disease. Our results confirm previously reported associations between HLA and cervical diseases caused by HPV and suggest a role for amino acid residues at different positions of HLA‐C and HLA‐DRB1 in CIN II/III. This finding may be further explored to better understand the genetic risk and the influence of immune response to CC development.
Game and preferences analysis for virtual water strategy based on a Hotelling model
Authors: Zhi Yuan , Hamilton Paul B. , Yang Hao , Sun Yuanyuan , Wu Guoyong , Liang Longyue , Xiong Debin
Published: September 2021

The implementation of the virtual water strategy (VWS) transporting invisible water resources through product scheduling faces resistance due to limited reporting and understanding and the lack of motivation analysis for stakeholders. This study builds a semi‐quantitative Hotelling game model under different scenarios to analyse the influence of preference and material benefits on potential acceptance of VWS with policymakers and stakeholders. Equilibrium analyses of the game show that human preference can be as important as real benefits. With preference differences, it is hard to make all stakeholders accept or reject a VWS approach in achieving optimal results for environment and social welfare. To implement a sustainable VWS mode, modifying preferences through propaganda and education can be effective. The natural play of the game with modified preferences will ultimately favour a holistic VWS approach to responsible management. This model supports the effectiveness of game theory in the implementation of a VWS.
Peripheral impairments of oxidative metabolism after a 10‐day bed rest are upstream of mitochondrial respiration
Authors: Zuccarelli Lucrezia , Baldassarre Giovanni , Magnesa Benedetta , Degano Cristina , Comelli Marina , Gasparini Mladen , Manferdelli Giorgio , Marzorati Mauro , Mavelli Irene , Pilotto Andrea , Porcelli Simone , Rasica Letizia , Šimunič Boštjan , Pišot Rado , Narici Marco , Grassi Bruno
Published: September 2021

In order to identify peripheral biomarkers of impaired oxidative metabolism during exercise following a 10‐day bed rest, 10 males performed an incremental exercise (to determine peak pulmonary V̇O2 (V̇O2p)) and moderate‐intensity exercises, before (PRE) and after (POST) bed rest. Blood flow response was evaluated in the common femoral artery by Eco‐Doppler during 1 min of passive leg movements (PLM). The intramuscular matching between O2 delivery and O2 utilization was evaluated by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Mitochondrial respiration was evaluated ex vivo by high‐resolution respirometry in isolated muscle fibres, and in vivo by NIRS by the evaluation of skeletal muscle V̇O2 (V̇O2m) recovery kinetics. Resting V̇O2m was estimated by NIRS. Peak V̇O2p was lower in POST vs. PRE. The area under the blood flow vs. time curve during PLM was smaller (P = 0.03) in POST (274 ± 233 mL) vs. PRE (427 ± 291). An increased (P = 0.03) overshoot of muscle deoxygenation during a metabolic transition was identified in POST. Skeletal muscle citrate synthase activity was not different (P = 0.11) in POST (131 ± 16 nmol min–1 mg–1) vs. PRE (138 ± 19). Maximal ADP‐stimulated mitochondrial respiration (66 ± 18 pmol s–1 mg–1 (POST) vs. 72 ± 14 (PRE), P = 0.41) was not affected by bed rest. Apparent Km for ADP sensitivity of mitochondrial respiration was reduced in POST vs. PRE (P = 0.04). The V̇O2m recovery time constant was not different (P = 0.79) in POST (22 ± 6 s) vs. PRE (22 ± 6). Resting V̇O2m was reduced by 25% in POST vs. PRE (P = 0.006). Microvascular‐endothelial function was impaired following a 10‐day bed rest, whereas mitochondrial mass and function (both in vivo and ex vivo) were unaffected or slightly enhanced.

Key points

Ten days of horizontal bed rest impaired in vivo oxidative function during exercise.

Microvascular impairments were identified by different methods.

Mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial function (evaluated both in vivo and ex vivo) were unchanged or even improved (i.e. enhanced mitochondrial sensitivity to submaximal [ADP]).

Resting muscle oxygen uptake was significantly lower following bed rest, suggesting that muscle catabolic processes induced by bed rest/inactivity are less energy‐consuming than anabolic ones.
Deriving acoustic properties for perfluoropentane droplets with viscoelastic cellulose nanofiber shell via numerical simulations
Authors: Song Xue , Loskutova Ksenia , Chen Hongjian , Shen Guofeng , Grishenkov Dmitry
Published: September 2021

Perfluoropentane droplets with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) shells have demonstrated better stability and easier surface modification as ultrasound contrast agents and drug delivery vehicles. This paper presents a theoretical model assuming a four-phase state “inverse antibubble,” with the core filled with gas perfluoropentane surrounded by liquid perfluoropentane. A continuous, incompressible, and viscoelastic stabilizing layer separates the core from the surrounding water. A parametric study is performed to predict the frequency-dependent attenuation coefficient, the speed of sound, and the resonance frequency of the droplets which have a mean diameter of 2.47 ± 0.95 μm. Results reveal that the CNF-stabilized perfluoropentane droplets can be modeled in a Rayleigh-Plesset like equation. We conclude that the shell strongly influences the acoustic behavior of the droplets and the resonance frequency largely depends on the initial gas cavity radius. More specifically, the peak attenuation coefficient and peak-to-peak speed of sound decrease with increasing shear modulus, shear viscosity, and shell thickness, while they increase with increasing gas cavity radius and concentration. The resonance frequency increases as shear modulus and shell thickness increase, while it decreases as shear viscosity and gas cavity radius increase. It is worth mentioning that droplet concentration has no effect on the resonance frequency.
Switchable immune modulator for tumor-specific activation of anticancer immunity
Authors: Zhao Yu , Xie Yu-Qing , Van Herck Simon , Nassiri Sina , Gao Min , Guo Yugang , Tang Li
Published: September 2021

Chemically masked cytokines and antibodies turn active selectively in tumor as safer cancer immunotherapies.