bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti‐cancer therapy made easier: a 25‐year update
Authors: Davies Amy , Lum Caroline , Raju Rachel , Ansell Evan , Webber Kate , Segelov Eva
Published: May 2020

In 1993, the Internal Medicine Journal published ‘Chemotherapy made easier’, outlining developments in supportive care of patients undergoing chemotherapy. This described the contemporary state of anti‐emetics, colony stimulating factors, cardiac toxicity, neurotoxicity, development of drug analogues and venous access devices. Twenty‐five years later, we update the measures that improve the tolerability of the plethora of new anti‐cancer therapies, which have extended well beyond traditional chemotherapy agents to include immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Optimisation of supportive care is paramount to allow safe delivery with the least possible impact on quality of life of these new treatments, many of which have resulted dramatically improved outcomes across multiple cancer types. This state of the art update summarises advances in supportive care therapies relating to improving the patient experience during and after anti‐cancer treatment, including new anti‐emetics, hair preservation techniques, bone marrow support and improved venous access devices; the ongoing challenge of neurotoxicity; and the advent of multidisciplinary sub‐specialised fields such as cardio‐oncology and oncofertility. Supportive care medications for immuno‐oncology therapies is a new section; these highly effective (although not universally so) agents were a mere illusion in 1993.
Impact of Victoria's first dedicated endocrine hypertension service on the pattern of primary aldosteronism diagnoses
Authors: Lim Yin Yu , Libianto Renata , Shen Jimmy , Young Morag J. , Fuller Peter J. , Yang Jun
Published: May 2020

Background

Primary aldosteronism (PA) accounts for 3.2–12.7% of hypertension in primary care but is often diagnosed late, if at all. A delayed or missed diagnosis leads to poor blood pressure control and greater cardiovascular risk.

Aims

To analyse the impact of Victoria's first dedicated endocrine hypertension service (EHS) on the pattern of PA diagnosis.

Methods

Socio‐demographic and clinical data from all patients who attended the EHS since July 2016 (n = 267) was collected prospectively. Patients were divided into Year 1 (Y1), Year 2 (Y2) and Year 3 (Y3), based on their first visit.

Results

The proportion of primary care referrals increased (20% in Y1, 47% in Y2, 52% in Y3) with more referrals being made for treatment‐naive hypertension (3% in Y1, 14% in Y2, 19% in Y3). Among PA patients, the median duration of hypertension prior to their first visit decreased (11 years in Y1, 10 years in Y2, 7 years in Y3), and the prevalence of end‐organ damage decreased (44% in Y1, 42% in Y2, 33% in Y3). Targeted management of PA improved clinical and biochemical outcomes. The average blood pressure reduction following targeted management increased from 16/12 mmHg in Y1 to 23/12 mmHg in Y3.

Conclusion

The EHS, with its strong component of general practitioner engagement, led to increased primary care referrals and PA detection earlier in the course of hypertension. Referred patients were on fewer antihypertensives and had less end‐organ damage which simplified the diagnostic process, allowing targeted treatment to be commenced earlier and patient outcomes optimised.
Smaller distance between nest contents and cavity entrance increases risk of ectoparasitism in cavity‐nesting birds
Authors: Tomás Gustavo , Ruiz‐Castellano Cristina , Ruiz‐Rodríguez Magdalena , Soler Juan J.
Published: May 2020

Determining costs associated with nest‐building behaviour and nest characteristics is of prime importance to understand the evolution of such extended phenotypic traits. We explored a cost of nest building experimentally to determine whether large nests attracted more ectoparasites. This cost may be especially important to cavity‐nesting species where larger nests likely reduce the distance between nest contents and the cavity entrance, making the host nest more vulnerable to ectoparasite detection. We manipulated the amount of nest material and the distance between nest and cavity entrance and estimated the abundance of ectoparasites (Carnus hemapterusflies) before and after manipulation in nests of spotless starlingsSturnus unicolorbreeding in nest boxes. Nest size was enlarged and elevated in a first group of nests by adding nest material to the base of the nest (enlarged nests); a second group of nests was elevated with a piece of plastic but without adding nest material (elevated nests); a third group of nests was not manipulated (control nests). Number of flies per nest increased significantly in enlarged and elevated nests compared to control nests. Moreover, distance to cavity entrance after manipulation was negatively associated with the increase in the number of flies per nest (i.e. nests closer to the entrance had more parasites). Thus, nest size, through its effect on distance between nest and cavity entrance, affected fly abundance. Cues produced by nest contents located closer to the cavity entrance may be detected more readily by ectoparasitic flies searching for hosts. These results suggest a novel constraint for the evolution of nest size in cavity‐nesting birds.
Detection of runs of homozygosity in conserved and commercial pig breeds in Poland
Authors: Szmatoła Tomasz , Jasielczuk Igor , Semik‐Gurgul Ewelina , Szyndler‐Nędza Magdalena , Blicharski Tadeusz , Szulc Karolina , Skrzypczak Ewa , Gurgul Artur
Published: May 2020

Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are continuous segments of the genome that arose as a result of inbreeding, resulting in the inheritance of identical haplotypes from both parents who shared a common ancestor. In the present study, we performed a detailed characterization and comparison of ROH in four pig breeds, including intensively selected Polish Landrace as well as native unselected animals of Puławska and two Złotnicka breeds (White and Spotted). We used a medium‐density PorcineSNP60 BeadChip assay (Illumina) and cgaTOH software to detect ROH covering a minimum of 30 adjacent SNPs and maintaining a size over 1 Mb. By analysing ROH distribution and frequency across the genome, we also identified genomic regions with high ROH frequency (so‐called “ROH hotspots”). The obtained results showed that the analysed conserved breeds were characterized by a higher ROH span and higher ROH‐based inbreeding coefficients (FROH), which likely result from past population bottlenecks, increasing the overall inbreeding level within these populations. The analysis of ROH distribution across the genomes revealed the presence of both shared and breed‐specific ROH hotspots. These hotspots, presumably representing genome regions under selection, overlapped with a variety of genes associated with processes connected with immune system functioning, reproduction, glucose homeostasis and metabolism. The genome regions with ROH hotspots overlapping in all analysed populations, located on SSC4 (51.9–55.9 Mb) and 13 (92.6–97.8 Mb), covered thirty‐one different genes, including MMP16, SLC7A13, ATP6V0D2, CNGB3, WWiP1, RiMDN1 and CPNE3. These genes are primarily associated with biological regulation and metabolism, processes that could be responsible for the variety of the selected production and functional features.
Blood pressure target for hypertension in chronic kidney disease: One size does not fit all
Authors: Kollias Anastasios , Kyriakoulis Konstantinos G. , Stergiou George S.
Published: May 2020

There is disagreement between the American and the European guidelines for hypertension management in regard to the optimal blood pressure target in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Randomized clinical trials and meta‐analyses of individual patient data pooled from these trials do not clearly support an intensive blood pressure target for the entire population of CKD patients with hypertension. However, some evidence suggests that in CKD patients with proteinuria strict blood pressure control might confer benefit in terms of renal outcome. Tailored treatment strategy based on the individual’s proteinuric profile and tolerability along with standardization of blood pressure measurement methodology including out‐of‐office evaluation are of paramount importance in patients with CKD.
Genome‐wide DNA methylation patterns associated with sleep and mental health in children: a population‐based study
Authors: Koopman‐Verhoeff Maria Elisabeth , Mulder Rosa H. , Saletin Jared M. , Reiss Irwin , van der Horst Gijsbertus T.J. , Felix Janine F. , Carskadon Mary A. , Tiemeier Henning , Cecil Charlotte A.M.
Published: May 2020

Background

DNA methylation (DNAm) has been implicated in the biology of sleep. Yet, how DNAm patterns across the genome relate to different sleep outcomes, and whether these associations overlap with mental health is currently unknown. Here, we investigated associations of DNAm with sleep and mental health in a pediatric population.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 465 10‐year‐old children (51.3% female) from the Generation R Study. Genome‐wide DNAm levels were measured using the Illumina 450K array (peripheral blood). Sleep problems were assessed from self‐report and mental health outcomes from maternal questionnaires. Wrist actigraphy was used in 188 11‐year‐old children to calculate sleep duration and midpoint sleep. Weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was used to identify highly comethylated DNAm ‘modules’, which were tested for associations with sleep and mental health outcomes.

Results

We identified 64 DNAm modules, one of which associated with sleep duration after covariate and multiple testing adjustment. This module included CpG sites spanning 9 genes on chromosome 17, including MAPT – a key regulator of Tau proteins in the brain involved in neuronal function – as well as genes previously implicated in sleep duration. Follow‐up analyses suggested that DNAm variation in this region is under considerable genetic control and shows strong blood–brain concordance. DNAm modules associated with sleep did not overlap with those associated with mental health.

Conclusions

We identified one DNAm region associated with sleep duration, including genes previously reported by recent GWAS studies. Further research is warranted to examine the functional role of this region and its longitudinal association with sleep.
Trajectories of autistic social traits in childhood and adolescence and disordered eating behaviours at age 14 years: A UK general population cohort study
Authors: Solmi Francesca , Bentivegna Francesca , Bould Helen , Mandy William , Kothari Radha , Rai Dheeraj , Skuse David , Lewis Glyn
Published: May 2020

Background

Some people with eating disorders have difficulties with social communication. However, no longitudinal evidence regarding the direction of this association exists. We investigated trajectories of autistic social traits across childhood and adolescence in adolescents with and without disordered eating behaviours in early adolescence.

Methods

We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Our disordered eating measure indicated presence of any, monthly and weekly disordered eating (fasting, purging, dieting, binge eating) at age 14 years. Autistic social traits were reported by mothers using the Social and Communication Disorders Checklist (SCDC) at age seven, 11, 14 and 16 years. We modelled SCDC score trajectories using multilevel negative binomial models adjusting for a number of child‐ and maternal‐level confounders.

Results

Of the 5,381 adolescents included in our sample, 421 (7.8%) experienced one or more disordered eating behaviours, and 148 (2.8%) weekly episodes. Adolescents with disordered eating had a 20% increase in SCDC scores (relative risk (RR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.14, 1.32) compared to those without disordered eating. This association was particularly apparent for those reporting weekly (RR 1.43, 95%CI: 1.27, 1.61) as opposed to monthly disordered eating (RR 1.12, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.22).

Conclusions

Greater autistic social traits in childhood could represent a risk factor for the development of disordered eating in adolescence. Although mechanisms of this association need to be elucidated, clinicians should be aware that autistic social traits could have predated the eating disorder when managing people with these conditions.
Response to Dr Sulmasy
Authors: Merel Susan E. , Gaster Barak
Published: May 2020

This is a response to the article by Daniel Sulmasy
We Need More Wisdom, Not More Paper: A Reply to Merel and Gaster
Authors: Sulmasy Daniel P.
Published: May 2020

This is a response to the article by Merel et al.
Population pharmacokinetics of ethanamizuril in normal and coccidiosis‐infected chickens through ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Wang Xiaoyang , Zhang Keyu , Wang Mi , Zhang Lifang , Fei Chenzhong , Wang Chunmei , Liu Yingchun , Xue Feiqun , Hang Taijun
Published: May 2020

Ethanamizuril is a new triazine compound that shows potential for application in novel anticoccidial treatment. In this study, a pharmacokinetic model of ethanamizuril was established on the basis of the blood concentration of 81 experimental animals. The final model showed that ethanamizuril was distributed as a two‐compartment model with first‐order absorption after oral administration in chickens. Its clearance rate and volumn of central compartment distribution (Vc) were affected by age and body weight, and volumn of central compartment distribution (Vc) and volume of peripheral compartment distribution(Vp) were influenced by weight and infection. External verification revealed that the model had good prediction accuracy and stability.
Use of complementary and alternative medicine treatments by mothers of children with developmental disabilities: a cross sectional study
Authors: Konuk Sener Dilek , Karaca Aysel
Published: May 2020

This study aims to determine the rates of complementary and alternative medicine methods used by mothers of children with developmental disabilities, reasons for using methods, and comparison of methods according to diagnosis groups. The cohort in this cross‐sectional and correlational study consisted of the mothers of 390 students with developmental disabilities; 77.2% of the mothers reported using at least one complementary and alternative medicine treatment. The highest level of use was found in the groups of mothers of children with cerebral palsy (100%) and autism spectrum disorder (88.5%). The most commonly used treatments were biological therapies consisting of special diets and multivitamins, manipulative and body‐based methods including massage and exercise, and mind–body interventions such as prayer, wearing amulets, and seeking help from a Muslim preacher (hodja). However, mothers never used alternative medicine treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture, or Ayurveda, nor did they use energy‐based healing techniques such as reiki, tai chi, yoga, kinesiology, or neurofeedback exercises. Health care professionals, especially nurses as health care team members, should be knowledgeable and careful about the benefits, side effects, administration methods, and contraindications of complementary and alternative medicine treatments.
Trophic niche size and overlap decreases with increasing ecosystem productivity
Authors: Lesser Justin S. , James W. Ryan , Stallings Christopher D. , Wilson Rachel M. , Nelson James A.
Published: May 2020

The production and transfer of biomass through trophic relationships is a core ecosystem function. The movement of energy through the food web is mediated by organisms operating in their niche space. For generalists, the size of this niche space is inherently plastic and changes in response to available food sources. Therefore, this relationship between ecosystem productivity and niche size is an important determinant of ecosystem function. Competing theories about the nature of this relationship predict that as productivity increases niche size will either increase as species capitalize on a general increase in resource availability or decrease as it becomes viable to focus on preferred production channels. Here, we test these two competing theoretical frameworks using a novel approach to determine trophic niche size using stable isotope analysis and hypervolume metrics. Resource use is quantified in two generalist fish species at three productivity levels in a seagrass ecosystem. Niche size of both species was inversely related to seagrass productivity, consistent with the hypothesis that increasing productivity allows species to focus on a narrower diet. This pattern describes the relationship between ecosystem production and niche size and provides an empirical ecological explanation for the resource maximization behaviors commonly observed in nature.
Determinants of the difficulty of leadless pacemaker implantation
Authors: Garweg Christophe , Vandenberk Bert , Foulon Stefaan , Hermans Patrick , Poels Patricia , Haemers Peter , Ector Joris , Willems Rik
Published: May 2020

Background

The Micra Transcatheter Pacing System is implanted directly in the right ventricle (RV) through the femoral vein using a steerable transcatheter delivery system. The present study was done to identify determinants of difficult leadless pacemaker implant procedures including operator, patient, and RV anatomical characteristics.

Methods

All patients who underwent a Micra implant from July 2015 to December 2018 at our center were analyzed. From an RV angiogram acquired during implantation, RV geometry including systolic and diastolic volumes and ejection fraction was characterized. The presence of septomarginal trabeculation was noted.

Results

One hundred twenty‐six patients (mean age: 79 ± 11 years old, mostly male: 77%) were enrolled. Mean Micra RV implant procedure time was 24 ± 23 min, with 1.7 ± 1.3 deployments of the device. No significant change in implant procedure time was observed after the first 30 implants. Eleven patients had a prominent septal component of the septomarginal trabeculation in the RV. Univariate analysis showed that the procedure time was positively correlated with the presence of a prominent septal component of the septomarginal trabeculation (P < .001) or an episode of heart failure (P = .02) and negatively correlated with the number of procedures performed by the operator (P < .001). After multivariable analysis, only the presence of a prominent septal component of the septomarginal trabeculation (P < .001) and the number of procedures performed by the operator (P < .001) were associated with the implant procedure time.

Conclusions

In our experience, implant procedure time of a Micra leadless pacemaker depended on the presence of a prominent septal component of the septomarginal trabeculation and operator experience.
Metabolomic markers and physiological adaptations for high phosphate utilization efficiency in rice
Authors: Watanabe Mutsumi , Walther Dirk , Ueda Yoshiaki , Kondo Katsuhiko , Ishikawa Satoru , Tohge Takayuki , Burgos Asdrubal , Brotman Yariv , Fernie Alisdair R , Hoefgen Rainer , Wissuwa Matthias
Published: May 2020

Utilizing phosphate more efficiently is crucial for sustainable crop production. Highly efficient rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars have been identified and this study aims to identify metabolic markers associated with P utilization efficiency (PUE). P deficiency generally reduced leaf P concentrations and CO2 assimilation rates but efficient cultivars were reducing leaf P concentrations further than inefficient ones while maintaining similar CO2 assimilation rates. Adaptive changes in carbon metabolism were detected but equally in efficient and inefficient cultivar groups. Groups furthermore did not differ with respect to partial substitutions of phospholipids by sulfo‐ and galactolipids. Metabolites significantly more abundant in the efficient group, such as sinapate, benzoate and glucoronate, were related to antioxidant defence and may help alleviating oxidative stress caused by P deficiency. Sugar alcohols ribitol and threitol were another marker metabolite for higher phosphate efficiency as were several amino acids, especially threonine. Since these metabolites are not known to be associated with P deficiency, they may provide novel clues for the selection of more P efficient genotypes. In conclusion, metabolite signatures detected here were not related to phosphate metabolism but rather helped P efficient lines to keep vital processes functional under the adverse conditions of P starvation.
Chilblain‐like lesions in children following suspected COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Colonna Cristiana , Monzani Nicola Adriano , Rocchi Alessia , Gianotti Raffaele , Boggio Francesca , Gelmetti Carlo
Published: May 2020

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, chilblain‐like lesions have been reported in mildly symptomatic children and adolescents. We present four children investigated for suspected COVID‐19 infection who presented with acral skin findings and mild systemic symptoms. Histology from one case showed signs of vasculitis with evident fibrin thrombus.
The nature of perceptual constancies
Authors: Schulte Peter
Published: May 2020

Perceptual constancies have been studied by psychologists for decades, but in recent years, they have also become a major topic in the philosophy of mind. One reason for this surge of interest is Tyler Burge’s (2010) influential claim that constancy mechanisms mark the difference between perception and mere sensitivity, and thereby also the difference between organisms with genuine representational capacities and ‘mindless’ beings. Burge’s claim has been the subject of intense debate. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that we cannot hope to settle this debate (as well as related debates in the philosophy of mind) without a clear and substantive theoretical account of what perceptual constancies are. In the first part of this paper, I argue that the standard definitions in the literature fall short of providing such an account. Still, as I aim to show in the second part of the paper, by taking a closer look at some of the paradigm examples, it is possible to construct a plausible general account of perceptual constancies that is both clear and substantive, and that can serve as a firm foundation for settling debates like the dispute about Burge’s ‘constancy mechanism criterion’ for perception.
Installing chainsaw‐carved hollows in medium‐sized live trees increases rates of visitation by hollow‐dependent fauna
Authors: Griffiths Stephen R. , Semmens Kristin , Watson Simon J. , Jones Christopher S.
Published: May 2020

Anthropogenic disturbance has resulted in a global reduction in the abundance of mature, hollow‐bearing trees. Nest boxes have long been used to provide supplementary shelter sites in revegetated and regenerating landscapes, but limitations in their effectiveness when offsetting the loss of mature trees has led to increased interest in novel designs of artificial hollows. For example, mechanically excavating cavities into the trunk or branches of trees. However, the effectiveness of artificial hollows in attracting wildlife to visit small‐ or medium‐sized, growing trees in human‐disturbed landscapes has received little attention. In this study, we installed chainsaw hollows that were designed for small, hollow‐dependent mammals and birds into the trunks of live medium‐sized trees. We conducted a before‐after control‐impact experiment using passive camera traps to monitor changes in visitations by wildlife to (1) mature hollow‐bearing trees, (2) developing trees without hollows (i.e. control trees), and (3) developing trees with newly installed chainsaw hollows. We found that, compared to large hollow‐bearing trees and control trees, the developing trees that were selected for chainsaw hollow construction showed the greatest visitation rates by hollow‐dependent wildlife (i.e. number of visits) during the “post‐impact” surveys. Our results suggest that chainsaw hollows designed to replicate the external physical characteristics of natural tree hollows could be effective in attracting target hollow‐dependent fauna to developing trees in regenerating and revegetated landscapes. Further studies are required to compare the effectiveness of natural hollows, chainsaw hollows, and nest boxes when deployed in a range of human‐disturbed landscapes.
Passive restoration in Araucaria Forest: useful ecological indicators in monitoring successional advancement in exotic tree plantation landscapes
Authors: Stedille Lilian I. B. , Gomes Juliano P. , da Costa Newton C. F. , da Costa Bortoluzzi Roseli L. , Mantovani Adelar
Published: May 2020

Monitoring successional advancement is a complex field involving a constant search for applied ecological indicators which facilitate monitoring of secondary forests for both active and passive restoration. In this study, the authors investigate the successional advancement of floristics and tree structure within Araucaria Forest (AF) fragments under passive restoration in a context where exotic tree plantations (mainlyPinusL. genus) dominate the landscape. The ecological indicators used were floristic dissimilarity (β‐diversity inferences), indicator species, ecological groups of species, basal area, and species abundance distribution (SAD) models (α‐diversity inferences). A total of 182 tree species belonging to 91 genera and 43 botanical families were identified. A high β diversity was verified for which each site has indicator species (for the locations CD—Dicksonia sellowiana; CO—Cryptocarya aschersoniana; and PG—Pinus taeda), where pioneer species contributed to much of the abundance. Different SAD models are useful for describing passive restoration sites in exotic tree plantation landscapes, namely Lognormal, Mandelbrot, and Zipf. SAD models together with basal area, taxonomic group (e.g. Myrtaceae assemblage), and tree abundance in ecological groups are strategic ecological indicators for monitoring successional advancement in AF.
Inference for Two-Stage Sampling Designs
Authors: Chauvet Guillaume , Vallée Audrey-Anne
Published: May 2020

Two-stage sampling designs are commonly used for household and health surveys. To produce reliable estimators with associated confidence intervals, some basic statistical properties like consistency and asymptotic normality of the Horvitz–Thompson estimator are desirable, along with the consistency of associated variance estimators. These properties have been mainly studied for single-stage sampling designs. In this work, we prove the consistency of the Horvitz–Thompson estimator and of associated variance estimators for a general class of two-stage sampling designs, under mild assumptions. We also study two-stage sampling with a large entropy sampling design at the first stage and prove that the Horvitz–Thompson estimator is asymptotically normally distributed through a coupling argument. When the first-stage sampling fraction is negligible, simplified variance estimators which do not require estimating the variance within the primary sampling units are proposed and shown to be consistent. An application to a panel for urban policy, which is the initial motivation for this work, is also presented.
Generalized Partially Linear Models on Riemannian Manifolds
Authors: Simó Amelia , Victoria Ibáñez M. , Epifanio Irene , Gimeno Vicent
Published: May 2020

We introduce generalized partially linear models with covariates on Riemannian manifolds. These models, like ordinary generalized linear models, are a generalization of partially linear models on Riemannian manifolds that allow for scalar response variables with error distribution models other than a normal distribution. Partially linear models are particularly useful when some of the covariates of the model are elements of a Riemannian manifold, because the curvature of these spaces makes it difficult to define parametric models. The model was developed to address an interesting application: the prediction of children's garment fit based on three-dimensional scanning of their bodies. For this reason, we focus on logistic and ordinal models and on the important and difficult case where the Riemannian manifold is the three-dimensional case of Kendall's shape space. An experimental study with a well-known three-dimensional database is carried out to check the goodness of the procedure. Finally, it is applied to a three-dimensional database obtained from an anthropometric survey of the Spanish child population. A comparative study with related techniques is carried out.
Covid‐19 pandemic‐ response to challenges by blood transfusion services in India: a review report
Authors: Dhiman Yashaswi , Patidar Gopal K. , Arora Satyam
Published: May 2020

The role of blood transfusion services in a pandemic depends on the type, potential of community spread and risk of transfusion transmissibility. The COVID‐19 pandemic is the biggest pandemic of the 21st century, affecting over 3 million people across the globe as of late April 2020. In India, the count of infected persons and deaths are rising gradually, and to prevent the community spread of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, the Government of India announced national lockdown which affected the blood transfusion services also. There are more than 3000 decentralized blood centres all over the country. The major challenges to blood transfusion services are recruitment of healthy blood donors, follow‐up of donors and patients, inventory management, staff safety and adequacy for emergency work and consumable management. Blood transfusion services also participate in treatment of COVID‐19 patients by convalescent plasma collection from recovered patients. Blood transfusion services should have a strategic plan to respond to challenges generated during a pandemic which focuses on shortage, wastage and supply of blood and components in a cost‐effective manner. In this review article, we will discuss the challenges to blood transfusion services of India due to COVID‐19 pandemic and response to these challenges with experience to previous outbreaks.
Computed tomographic lymphangiography via intra‐metatarsal pad injection is feasible in dogs with chylothorax
Authors: Lin Lee‐Shuan , Chiu Hsien‐Chieh , Nishimura Ryohei , Fujiwara Reina , Chung Cheng‐Shu
Published: May 2020

Lymphangiography can be useful for preoperative planning in chylothorax. Conventional ultrasound‐guided intranodal injection can be difficult in some cases and is dependent upon operator skill. Alternative methods have been proposed to simplify the procedure, but their feasibility has not been sufficiently evaluated in clinical cases. The primary purpose of this multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study was to assess the feasibility and describe the clinical findings of CT lymphangiography by intrametatarsal pad injection in dogs with naturally occurring chylothorax. Twenty dogs were analyzed, and enhancement of thoracic ducts (TDs) was successful in 18 (90%) dogs within 5‐14 min after initiating the injection, while successful enhancement of the lymphatic vessels cranial to the popliteal lymph nodes was seen in all dogs within 5 min after injection. The dose with good success to achieve TD enhancement was 1 mL/kg (concentration 350 mg I/kg). Only two dogs had mild discomfort after recovery from general anesthesia. Computed tomography lymphangiography by intrametatarsal pad injection is a feasible, easy, and safe procedure, which could provide adequate TD and cisterna chyli enhancement, identify TD number and cisterna chyli location and structure, and contribute to surgical planning.
English in Nepal
Authors: Pandey Shyam B.
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a sociolinguistic profile of contemporary Nepal, with particular reference to the status and functions of English in Nepali society. Nepal has been said to belong to the Expanding Circle, as English has traditionally had no official status there, although the language has been playing significant economic, educational, and social roles in society, in similar fashion to an Outer Circle variety of English. The use of English has increasingly spread in various domains of society, including education. This paper begins by providing an overview of Nepal and its cultural, linguistic and social dynamics, and by discussing the history of English in Nepal from the 17th century to date. It then proceeds to discuss the users and uses of English in contemporary society, documenting how the interpersonal, instrumental, administrative, and creative/innovative functions, along with linguistic adaptation and innovation, are manifested in the society.
Impact of Language Ego, the Native Language Effect on Oral English Learning of High School Students
Authors: Xiashi Guo , Lin Yuewu
Published: May 2020

Language transfer, especially the native language effect on the process of second language acquisition, has always been a hot issue of various linguists. Language transfer is inevitable in the process of second language acquisition, which can be divided into positive transfer and negative transfer. The positive transfer will promote the foreign language learning while negative transfer of mother tongue will hinder the second language learning. In English learning, compared with reading and writing, oral English learning is more important and more complex. Chinese high school students are often disturbed by negative effect of their mother tongue in oral English communication. In China, experts and scholars have done a lot of researches on the negative native language effect in English learning, but most of the researches focus on writing and translation skills, while few of them emphasize on listening and speaking skills.At present, English teaching is undergoing a profound reform, and English teachers and learners are paying an increasing number of attention to the study of spoken English. In order to fill the gap and correctly understand the influences of oral English acquisition of high school students, through the analysis of the principle of native language effect, this paper finds that the vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and pragmatics of mother tongue all have negative transfer to foreign language learning. What’s more, language ego, as an important part of affective principles, has a profound impact on the process of oral English learning. There is a strong and negative correlation between language ego and oral English learning to some extent. The less students´language ego is, the more oral English output students will produce.
Contemporary stable isotope tracer approaches: Insights into skeletal muscle metabolism in health and disease
Authors: Brook Matthew S. , Wilkinson Daniel J.
Published: May 2020

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This review discusses the application of new stable isotope tracer techniques in understanding the control of skeletal muscle mass.

What advances does it highlight?

This review highlights current advances in stable isotope tracer techniques through their combination with high‐throughput proteomics technologies.

Beyond its primary locomotory and key structural functions, skeletal muscle provides additional vital roles for maintenance of metabolic health, acting as a storage point for glucose and intramuscular lipids for energy production, alongside being the largest reservoir for amino acids in the body. Therefore, maintenance of muscle mass is key to the promotion of health and well‐being across the lifespan and in several disease states. As such, when skeletal muscle is lost, in either clinical (cancer, organ failure etc.) or non‐clinical (ageing, inactivity) situations, there are potentially devastating consequences attached, with robust links existing between muscle mass loss and mortality. Great efforts are being made to reverse or slow muscle mass declines in health and disease, through combinations of lifestyle changes and nutritional and/or pharmaceutical intervention. However, despite this comprehensive research effort, the underlying metabolic and molecular mechanisms have yet to be defined properly. However, with the rapid acceleration of analytical developments over recent years, the application of stable isotope tracers to the study of human muscle metabolism is providing unique insights into the mechanisms controlling skeletal muscle loss and allowing more targeted therapeutic strategies to be developed. The aim of this review is to highlight the technical breakthroughs in our understanding of muscle wasting in health and disease and how future directions and developments incorporating ‘omics’ with stable isotope tracers will allow for a more personalized and stratified therapeutic approach.
Physiological basis of interval training for performance enhancement
Authors: Gibala Martin J.
Published: May 2020

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This review considers the physiological basis of interval training for performance enhancement, with an emphasis on the capacity for aerobic energy provision.

What advances does it highlight?

It highlights advances regarding the effect of interval training on primary physiological determinants of aerobic energy provision, which are associated with performance.

Interval training refers to an intermittent style of exercise, in which bouts of more intense effort are interspersed with recovery periods within a given training session. Physiological responses to interval training depend on numerous factors, including the specific nature of the intervention and the initial training state of the individual. Interval training improves performance in part by enhancing the capacity for aerobic energy provision, even in those who are already trained. Two primary mechanisms in this regard are an increased whole‐body maximal oxygen uptake and an enhanced capacity for oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle owing to an increase in mitochondria. In comparison to moderate‐intensity continuous exercise, interval training can elicit superior responses when total work is matched, and similar responses despite a reduced training volume and time commitment.
Prior viral illness increases heat stroke severity in mice
Authors: Dineen Shauna M. , Ward Jermaine A. , Leon Lisa R.
Published: May 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

We hypothesized that prior illness would increase the susceptibility to and severity of heat
stroke (HS).

What is the main finding and its importance?

We provide the first experimental evidence, using a mouse model of HS, that recent viral illness increases the severity of HS. Our data indicate that this effect is not attributable to the exacerbation of hyperthermia but is a consequence of ongoing coagulation and systemic inflammatory reactions. Our data suggest that measurement of platelets, cytokines and chemokines before heat exposure might be indicative of susceptibility to HS, with coagulation and inflammation being potential targets for intervention that could improve recovery.

It is hypothesized that prior illness exacerbates heat stroke (HS) in otherwise healthy organisms by augmenting hyperthermia during heat exposure or deactivating cellular pathways that protect against organ injury. To test these hypotheses, we injected telemetered male C57BL/6J mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 µg kg−1i.p.) or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PIC; 100 µg i.p.) as a bacterial or a viral mimic, respectively, with saline (SAL; equivalent volume) as a control. Mice recovered for 48 or 72 h before HS (maximal core temperature = 42.4°C). Platelet counts, cytokines, chemokines and organ injury were determined 48 or 72 h after injection (without heating) or at maximal core temperature and at 1 day of recovery from HS. In the absence of heat, PIC induced more robust signs of sickness and increased cytokines and chemokines (TNF‐α, RANTES, IP‐10 and MIP‐1β) at 48 h, which was not observed with LPS (P < 0.05). Responses of both groups recovered by 72 h, although low platelet counts persisted after PIC (P < 0.05). Heat‐induced hyperthermia was similar among mice injected with SAL, LPS and PIC; however, PIC‐injected mice displayed more severe responses during recovery from HS, with reduced survival (48 h, 70 versus 100%; P < 0.05), deeper and longer post‐HS hypothermia, greater reductions in platelets, elevated RANTES, IP‐10, IL‐6 and TNF‐α and greater duodenal injury (P < 0.05). By 72 h, survival from HS was no longer reduced in PIC‐injected mice, although hypothermia, the reduction in platelets and elevated cytokines persisted. Our data indicate that prior illness exacerbates the severity of HS in the absence of signs of illness at the time of heat exposure and suggest that this is attributable to persistent coagulation and inflammatory reactions that might be targets for intervention to improve recovery.
Augmented resting beat‐to‐beat blood pressure variability in young, healthy, non‐Hispanic black men
Authors: Young Benjamin E. , Kaur Jasdeep , Vranish Jennifer R. , Stephens Brandi Y. , Barbosa Thales C. , Cloud Jane N. , Wang Jing , Keller David M. , Fadel Paul J.
Published: May 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

The prevalence of hypertension in black individuals exceeds that in other racial groups. Despite this well‐known heightened risk, the underlying contributory factors remain incompletely understood. We hypothesized that young black men would exhibit augmented beat‐to‐beat blood pressure variability compared with white men and that black men would exhibit augmented total peripheral resistance variability.

What is the main finding and its importance?

We demonstrate that young, healthy black men exhibit greater resting beat‐to‐beat blood pressure variability compared with their white counterparts, which is accompanied by greater variability in total peripheral resistance. These swings in blood pressure over time might contribute to the enhanced cardiovascular risk profile in black individuals.

The prevalence of hypertension in black (BL) individuals exceeds that in other racial groups. Recently, resting beat‐to‐beat blood pressure (BP) variability has been shown to predict cardiovascular risk and detect target organ damage better than ambulatory BP monitoring. Given the heightened risk in BL individuals, we hypothesized young BL men would exhibit augmented beat‐to‐beat BP variability compared with white (WH) men. Furthermore, given studies reporting reduced vasodilatation and augmented vasoconstriction in BL individuals, we hypothesized that BL men would exhibit augmented variability in total peripheral resistance (TPR). In 45 normotensive men (24 BL), beat‐to‐beat BP (Finometer) was measured during 10–20 min of quiet rest. Cardiac output and TPR were estimated (Modelflow method). Despite similar resting BP, BL men exhibited greater BP standard deviation (e.g. systolic BP SD; BL, 7.1 ± 2.2 mmHg; WH, 5.4 ± 1.5 mmHg; P = 0.006) compared with WH men, which was accompanied by a greater TPR SD (P = 0.003), but not cardiac output SD (P = 0.390). Other traditional measures of variability provided similar results. Histogram analysis indicated that BL men exhibited a greater percentage of cardiac cycles with BPs higher (> +10 mmHg higher) and lower (< ‐8 mmHg lower) than mean systolic BP compared with WH men (interaction, P < 0.001), which was accompanied by a greater percentage of cardiac cycles with high/low TPR (P < 0.001). In a subset of subjects (n = 30), reduced sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity was associated with augmented BP variability (r = −0.638, P < 0.001), whereas cardiac baroreflex sensitivity had no relationship (P = 0.447). Herein, we document an augmented beat‐to‐beat BP variability in young BL men, which coincided with fluctuations in vascular resistance and reduced sympathetic BRS.
What Triplett Didn’t Find and What Lewin Never Said First
Authors: Martin Jeffrey J.
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this brief commentary is to correct some misinformation that appears in many sport psychology writings. As the title of this paper indicates, the author discusses two historical giants in social psychology, Norman Triplett and Kurt Lewin, who are often cited in sport psychology publications. The problem with the typical commentary on these two social scientists and the events they are linked to is that the discussions of them are typically inaccurate, as Strube, Stroebe, and Bedeian indicate and the author next elaborates on.
We Don’t Have to Lose STEM Students to Business
Authors: Wernick Naomi L. B. , Ledley Fred D.
Published: May 2020

Most undergraduate students who leave STEM majors before graduation choose careers in business. This article argues that better integrating business opportunities and context into the STEM curriculum could advance STEM learning, motivate students to remain in STEM as majors, and cultivate a constructive relationship between business, science, and society.
Near-Complete Genome Sequence of a 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Strain Causing a COVID-19 Case in Peru
Authors: Padilla-Rojas Carlos , Lope-Pari Priscila , Vega-Chozo Karolyn , Balbuena-Torres Johanna , Caceres-Rey Omar , Bailon-Calderon Henri , Huaringa-Nuñez Maribel , Rojas-Serrano Nancy
Published: May 2020

A near-complete genome sequence was obtained for a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) strain obtained from an oropharyngeal swab from a Peruvian patient with coronavirus syndrome (COVID-19) who had contact with an individual who had returned to Peru from travel to Italy.
Exclusive vector meson photoproduction at high energies using the discrete BFKL approach
Authors: Goncalves Victor P. , Krumreich Cesar E. , Sauter Werner K.
Published: May 2020

A phenomenological study of the exclusive vector meson photoproduction within the discrete BFKL approach is performed. We estimate the BFKL amplitude in terms of a discrete set of eigenfunctions and use the HERA [Formula: see text] data to constrain the free parameters of the model. As a consequence, we derive a parameter free prediction of the energy dependence of the exclusive vector meson cross section. We demonstrate that the HERA and LHCb data for the exclusive [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] photoproduction are quite well describe in a large energy range. However, the model overestimates the precise LHCb data for the smallest values of [Formula: see text], which can be interpreted as an indication of the onset of nonlinear (saturation) effects in the QCD dynamics.
Design of asymmetrical multiple open slot loaded microstrip antenna for WiBro/WiMAX/WLAN band application
Authors: Arya Ravindra , Raghuvanshi Deepak K.
Published: May 2020

In this communication, design of asymmetrical multiple open slot loaded microstrip antenna for WiBro/WiMAX/WLAN band operation is presented. The substrate material is chosen as FR4 ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and fed by coaxial feeding. This antenna is able to radiate at four resonating bands. The antenna is radiating between 2.29 and 2.39 GHz, which is suitable for Wireless Broadband, WiBro. In parallel to this design, this antenna is also radiating in (5.16–5.36 GHz and 5.725–5.825 GHz) range which cover Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN (5.2/5.8 GHz) bands. Moreover, this antenna is radiating in (3.28–3.65 GHz, 5.45–5.65 GHz) range which is suitable for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX (3.5/5.5) GHz bands. Measured results have proven that there is a good agreement with the simulated results of farfield patterns, reflection coefficient, peak gain of the proposed asymmetrical multiple open slot loaded microstrip antenna. The volume of this design is [Formula: see text]. Radiation pattern is noticed as stable at all obtained resonating frequencies. Maximum gain of 4.2 dBi is achieved between 3.28 and 3.65 GHz frequency band.