bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment target achievement after myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke: cardiovascular risk factors, medication use, and lifestyle: the Tromsø Study 2015–16
Authors: Hopstock Laila A , Morseth Bente , Cook Sarah , Eggen Anne Elise , Grimsgaard Sameline , Lundblad Marie W , Løchen Maja-Lisa , Mathiesen Ellisiv , Nilsen Amalie , Njølstad Inger
Published: March 2021

Aims

To investigate European guideline treatment target achievement in cardiovascular risk factors, medication use, and lifestyle, after myocardial infarction (MI) or ischaemic stroke, in women and men living in Norway.

Methods and results

In the population-based Tromsø Study 2015–16 (attendance 65%), 904 participants had previous validated MI and/or stroke. Cross-sectionally, we investigated target achievement for blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg, <130/80 mmHg if diabetes), LDL cholesterol (<1.8 mmol/L), HbA1c (<7.0% if diabetes), overweight (body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, waist circumference women <80 cm, men <94 cm), smoking (non-smoking), physical activity (self-reported >sedentary, accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous ≥150 min/week), diet (intake of fruits ≥200 g/day, vegetables ≥200 g/day, fish ≥200 g/week, saturated fat <10E%, fibre ≥30 g/day, alcohol women ≤10 g/day, men ≤20 g/day), and medication use (antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs, antithrombotics, and antidiabetics), using regression models. Proportion of target achievement was for blood pressure 55.2%, LDL cholesterol 9.0%, HbA1c 42.5%, BMI 21.1%, waist circumference 15.7%, non-smoking 86.7%, self-reported physical activity 79%, objectively measured physical activity 11.8%, intake of fruit 64.4%, vegetables 40.7%, fish 96.7%, saturated fat 24.3%, fibre 29.9%, and alcohol 78.5%, use of antidiabetics 83.6%, lipid-lowering drugs 81.0%, antihypertensives 75.9%, and antithrombotics 74.6%. Only 0.7% achieved all cardiovascular risk factor targets combined. Largely, there was little difference between the sexes, and in characteristics, medication use, and lifestyle among target achievers compared to non-achievers.

Conclusion 

Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease was suboptimal. A negligible proportion achieved the treatment target for all risk factors. Improvement in follow-up care and treatment after MI and stroke is needed.
Photoperiod-dependent developmental reprogramming of the transcriptional response to seawater entry in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Iversen Marianne , Mulugeta Teshome , West Alexander C , Jørgensen Even H , Martin Samuel A M , Sandve Simen Rød , Hazlerigg David
Published: March 2021

The developmental transition of juvenile salmon from a freshwater resident morph (parr) to a seawater (SW) migratory morph (smolt), known as smoltification, entails a reorganization of gill function to cope with the altered water environment. Recently, we used RNAseq to characterize the breadth of transcriptional change which takes place in the gill in the FW phase of smoltification. This highlighted the importance of extended exposure to short, winter-like photoperiods (SP) followed by a subsequent increase in photoperiod for completion of transcriptional reprogramming in FW and efficient growth following transfer to SW. Here, we extend this analysis to examine the consequences of this photoperiodic history-dependent reprogramming for subsequent gill responses upon exposure to SW. We use RNAseq to analyze gill samples taken from fish raised on the photoperiod regimes we used previously and then challenged by SW exposure for 24 hours. While fish held on constant light (LL) throughout were able to hypo-osmoregulate during a 24 hours SW challenge, the associated gill transcriptional response was highly distinctive from that in fish which had experienced a 7-week period of exposure to SP followed by a return to LL (SPLL) and had consequently acquired the characteristics of fully developed smolts. Fish transferred from LL to SP, and then held on SP for the remainder of the study was unable to hypo-osmoregulate, and the associated gill transcriptional response to SW exposure featured many transcripts apparently regulated by the glucocorticoid stress axis and by the osmo-sensing transcription factor NFAT5. The importance of these pathways for the gill transcriptional response to SW exposure appears to diminish as a consequence of photoperiod mediated induction of the smolt phenotype, presumably reflecting preparatory developmental changes taking place during this process.
Some theoretical aspects of reprogramming the standard genetic code
Authors: Nowak Kuba , Błażej Paweł , Wnetrzak Małgorzata , Mackiewicz Dorota , Mackiewicz Paweł
Published: March 2021

Reprogramming of the standard genetic code to include non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) opens new prospects for medicine, industry, and biotechnology. There are several methods of code engineering, which allow us for storing new genetic information in DNA sequences and producing proteins with new properties. Here, we provided a theoretical background for the optimal genetic code expansion, which may find application in the experimental design of the genetic code. We assumed that the expanded genetic code includes both canonical and non-canonical information stored in 64 classical codons. What is more, the new coding system is robust to point mutations and minimizes the possibility of reversion from the new to old information. In order to find such codes, we applied graph theory to analyze the properties of optimal codon sets. We presented the formal procedure in finding the optimal codes with various number of vacant codons that could be assigned to new amino acids. Finally, we discussed the optimal number of the newly incorporated ncAAs and also the optimal size of codon groups that can be assigned to ncAAs.
Impairment in Activities of Daily Living and Unmet Need for Care Among Older Adults: A Population-Based Study From Burkina Faso
Authors: Brinkmann Ben , Davies Justine I , Witham Miles D , Harling Guy , Bärnighausen Till , Bountogo Mamadou , Siedner Mark J , Ouermi Lucienne , Junghanns Jana , Coulibaly Boubacar , Sié Ali , Payne Collin F , Kohler Iliana V
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The importance of impairment in performing activities of daily living (ADL) is likely to increase in sub-Saharan Africa because few care options for affected people exist. This study investigated the prevalence of ADL impairment, the extent to which care need was met, and described characteristics of people with ADL impairment and unmet need in Burkina Faso.

Methods

This study used data from the Centre de Recherche en Santé de Nouna Heidelberg Aging Study, a population-based study among 3,026 adults aged older than 40 years conducted in rural Burkina Faso. Information on 6 basic ADL items was sought, with a follow-up question asking whether care need was not met, partially met, or met. Bivariable correlations and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with ADL impairment and unmet need.

Results

ADL impairment of any kind was reported by 1,202 (39.7%) respondents and was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio: 1.05 [95% CI: 1.04–1.06]), being a woman (1.33 [1.06–1.60]), and reporting depressive symptoms (1.90 [1.65–2.18]). Among those with ADL impairment, 67.8% had at least one unmet need. Severe ADL impairment was found in 202 (6.7%) respondents, who reported a lower prevalence of unmet need (43.1%). Severe ADL impairment was associated with depressive symptoms (2.55 [2.11–3.07]) to a stronger degree than any ADL impairment.

Discussion

Prevalence of ADL impairment and unmet need was high in this setting. Variation in impairment across the population highlighted key groups for future interventions. Unmet need for care was highest in middle-aged adults, indicating a gap in care provision.
Are Older Adults More Optimistic? Evidence From China, Israel, and the United States
Authors: Lin Hongmei , Chang Yuanqing , Chen Chao , Ho Yuen Wan , Xi Wanyu , Zhang Xin , Fung Helene H , Ayalon Liat
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Optimistic bias refers to the phenomenon that individuals believe bad things are less likely to happen to themselves than to others. However, whether optimistic bias could vary across age and culture is unknown. The present study aims to investigate (a) whether individuals exhibit optimistic bias in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and (b) whether age and culture would moderate such bias.

Method

1,051 participants recruited from China, Israel, and the United States took the online survey. Risk perceptions consist of 3 questions: estimating the infected probability of different social distance groups (i.e., self, close others, and nonclose others), the days that it would take for the number of new infections to decrease to zero and the trend of infections in regions of different geographical distances (i.e., local place, other places inside participants’ country, and other countries). Participants in China and the United States also reported their personal communal values measured by Schwartz’s Value Survey.

Results

Results from Hierarchical Linear Modeling generally confirmed that (a) all participants exhibited optimistic bias to some extent, and (b) with age, Chinese participants had a higher level of optimistic bias than the Israeli and U.S. participants. Compared to their younger counterparts, older Chinese are more likely to believe that local communities are at lower risk of COVID-19 than other countries.

Discussion

These findings support the hypothesis that age differences in risk perceptions might be influenced by cultural context. Further analysis indicated that such cultural and age variations in optimistic bias were likely to be driven by age-related increase in internalized cultural values.
Comparative analysis of 7 short-read sequencing platforms using the Korean Reference Genome: MGI and Illumina sequencing benchmark for whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Kim Hak-Min , Jeon Sungwon , Chung Oksung , Jun Je Hoon , Kim Hui-Su , Blazyte Asta , Lee Hwang-Yeol , Yu Youngseok , Cho Yun Sung , Bolser Dan M , Bhak Jong
Published: March 2021

Background

DNBSEQ-T7 is a new whole-genome sequencer developed by Complete Genomics and MGI using DNA nanoball and combinatorial probe anchor synthesis technologies to generate short reads at a very large scale—up to 60 human genomes per day. However, it has not been objectively and systematically compared against Illumina short-read sequencers.

Findings

By using the same KOREF sample, the Korean Reference Genome, we have compared 7 sequencing platforms including BGISEQ-500, DNBSEQ-T7, HiSeq2000, HiSeq2500, HiSeq4000, HiSeqX10, and NovaSeq6000. We measured sequencing quality by comparing sequencing statistics (base quality, duplication rate, and random error rate), mapping statistics (mapping rate, depth distribution, and percent GC coverage), and variant statistics (transition/transversion ratio, dbSNP annotation rate, and concordance rate with single-nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] genotyping chip) across the 7 sequencing platforms. We found that MGI platforms showed a higher concordance rate for SNP genotyping than HiSeq2000 and HiSeq4000. The similarity matrix of variant calls confirmed that the 2 MGI platforms have the most similar characteristics to the HiSeq2500 platform.

Conclusions

Overall, MGI and Illumina sequencing platforms showed comparable levels of sequencing quality, uniformity of coverage, percent GC coverage, and variant accuracy; thus we conclude that the MGI platforms can be used for a wide range of genomics research fields at a lower cost than the Illumina platforms.
Direct and Ambient Light Pollution Alters Recruitment for a Diurnal Plant–Pollinator System
Authors: Wilson Ashley A , Seymoure Brett M , Jaeger Sierra , Milstead Briana , Payne Helen , Peria Lindsay , Vosbigian Ryan A , Francis Clinton D
Published: March 2021

Synopsis

Artificial light at night (ALAN) functions as a novel environmental stimulus that has the potential to disrupt interactions among species. Despite recent efforts to explain nocturnal pollinators’ responses to this stimulus, the likelihood and associated mechanisms of attraction toward artificial light and potential consequences on fitness for diurnal pollinators are still largely unclear. Here, we took advantage of the obligate mutualism between yucca moths (Tegeticula maculata maculata) and yucca plants (Hesperoyucca whipplei) to understand how direct light exposure and skyglow can influence a pairwise plant–pollinator interaction. To surmise whether adult moths exhibit positive phototaxis, we deployed a set of field-placed light towers during the peak of yucca flowering and compared the number of moths caught in traps between dark-controlled and light-treated trials. Adult moth abundance was much higher when light was present, which suggests that ALAN may alter this diurnal moth’s activity patterns to expand their temporal niche into the night. To evaluate ALAN effects on yucca fruit set and moth larva recruitment, we measured skyglow exposure above yucca plants and direct light intensity from a second set of light towers. Both larva and fruit recruitment increased with skyglow, and fruit set also increased with direct lighting, but the relationship was weaker. Contrarily, larva recruitment did not change when exposed to a gradient of direct light, which may instead reflect effects of ALAN on moth physiology, such as disrupted female oviposition, or misdirecting behaviors essential to oviposition activity. Our results suggest that ALAN can positively influence the fitness of both plants and moths in this tightly co-evolved mutualism, but the benefits to each species may depend on whether night lighting is direct or indirect. Whether such effects and mechanisms could relate to susceptibility to the presence of ALAN on this or other plant–pollinator relationships will remain an important focus of future research.
Approximate controllability of semilinear retarded stochastic differential system with non-instantaneous impulses: Fredholm theory approach
Authors: Anukiruthika K , Durga N , Muthukumar P
Published: March 2021

This article deals with the approximate controllability of semilinear retarded integrodifferential equations with non-instantaneous impulses governed by Poisson jumps in Hilbert space. The existence of a mild solution is established by using stochastic calculus and a suitable fixed point technique. The approximate controllability of the proposed non-linear stochastic differential system is obtained by employing the theory of interpolation spaces and Fredholm theory. Finally, applications to the stochastic heat equation and retarded type stochastic Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation are provided to illustrate the developed theoretical results.
Pretrained Convolutional Neural Networks Perform Well in a Challenging Test Case: Identification of Plant Bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) Using a Small Number of Training Images
Authors: Knyshov Alexander , Hoang Samantha , Weirauch Christiane
Published: March 2021

Automated insect identification systems have been explored for more than two decades but have only recently started to take advantage of powerful and versatile convolutional neural networks (CNNs). While typical CNN applications still require large training image datasets with hundreds of images per taxon, pretrained CNNs recently have been shown to be highly accurate, while being trained on much smaller datasets. We here evaluate the performance of CNN-based machine learning approaches in identifying three curated species-level dorsal habitus datasets for Miridae, the plant bugs. Miridae are of economic importance, but species-level identifications are challenging and typically rely on information other than dorsal habitus (e.g., host plants, locality, genitalic structures). Each dataset contained 2–6 species and 126–246 images in total, with a mean of only 32 images per species for the most difficult dataset. We find that closely related species of plant bugs can be identified with 80–90% accuracy based on their dorsal habitus alone. The pretrained CNN performed 10–20% better than a taxon expert who had access to the same dorsal habitus images. We find that feature extraction protocols (selection and combination of blocks of CNN layers) impact identification accuracy much more than the classifying mechanism (support vector machine and deep neural network classifiers). While our network has much lower accuracy on photographs of live insects (62%), overall results confirm that a pretrained CNN can be straightforwardly adapted to collection-based images for a new taxonomic group and successfully extract relevant features to classify insect species.
SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Associated Factors at Different Hospitalization Time Points in 192 COVID-19 Cases
Authors: Ou Jingyi , Tan Mingkai , He Haolan , Tan Haiyan , Mai Jiewen , Long Yaoxiang , Jiang Xiaowen , He Qing , Huang Ying , Li Yan , Chen Renshen , Li Liya , Shi Yaling , Li Fang
Published: March 2021

Background

We launched a retrospective analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 192 patients with COVID-19, aiming to depict the kinetic profile of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and explore the factors related to SARS-CoV-2 antibody expression.

Methods

Data on 192 confirmed patients with COVID-19 between January and February 2020 was collected from the designated hospital that received patients with COVID-19 in Guangzhou, China. Moreover, a cohort of 130 suspected patients with COVID-19 and 209 healthy people were also enrolled in this study. IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected by the chemiluminescence immunoassay kits in different groups.

Results

A total of 192 COVID-19 cases were analyzed, of which had 81.8% anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM detected and 93.2% anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG detected, respectively, at the time of sampling. The kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG showed that, the confirmed cases had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM seroconversion occurred 5–10 days after the onset of the symptoms, and then IgM rose rapidly to reach a peak within around 2–3 weeks, maintaining at its peak for 1 week before its decline. While they had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroconversion simultaneously or sequentially with IgM, reaching its peak within around 3 to 4 weeks and began to decline after the fifth week. Besides, correlation analysis showed that in patients with COVID-19 the level of IgM was related to gender and disease severity (P < 0.01), and the level of IgG was related to age and disease severity (P < 0.001). The univariate analysis of relevant factors indicated that the level of IgG had a weak correlation with age (r = 0.374, P < 0.01). The level of IgM in male patients was higher than that in female patients (P < 0.001). The expression level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG were positively correlated with the severity of COVID-19 and the duration of the virus in the patients.

Conclusion

The findings of this study show that anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG can be important assisting COVID-19 diagnosis, especially in the early phase of infection. Furthermore, antibody expression in patients with COVID-19 is also correlated with disease severity, age, gender, and virus clearance or continuous replication.
Machine learning–based prediction of health outcomes in pediatric organ transplantation recipients
Authors: Killian Michael O , Payrovnaziri Seyedeh Neelufar , Gupta Dipankar , Desai Dev , He Zhe
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Prediction of post-transplant health outcomes and identification of key factors remain important issues for pediatric transplant teams and researchers. Outcomes research has generally relied on general linear modeling or similar techniques offering limited predictive validity. Thus far, data-driven modeling and machine learning (ML) approaches have had limited application and success in pediatric transplant outcomes research. The purpose of the current study was to examine ML models predicting post-transplant hospitalization in a sample of pediatric kidney, liver, and heart transplant recipients from a large solid organ transplant program.

Materials and Methods

Various logistic regression, naive Bayes, support vector machine, and deep learning (DL) methods were used to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year post-transplant hospitalization using patient and administrative data from a large pediatric organ transplant center.

Results

DL models did not outperform traditional ML models across organ types and prediction windows with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values ranging from 0.50 to 0.593. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) were used to increase the interpretability of DL model results. Various medical, patient, and social variables were identified as salient predictors across organ types.

Discussion

Results showed that deep learning models did not yield superior performance in comparison to models using traditional machine learning methods. However, the potential utility of deep learning modeling for health outcome prediction with pediatric patients in the presence of large number of samples warrants further examination.

Conclusion

Results point to DL models as potentially useful tools in decision-support systems assisting physicians and transplant teams in identifying patients at a greater risk for poor post-transplant outcomes.
Standardized Shiga-Toxin Encoding Genes Real-Time PCR Screening Methods Comparison and Development of an Internally Controlled Assay for Pan-stx2 Detection
Authors: Hu Ying , Bai Li , Zhao Linna , Wu Lingling , Lv Hong , Li Qiongqiong , Li Xinpeng , Xie Qingchao , Wang Lili , Liu Chengwei , Liu Na , Cui Shenghui
Published: March 2021

Background

Various primer and probe sets have been developed and standardized, but certain sets may have low efficiency or miss some stx-subtypes.

Objective

To compare the efficiency of the recommended stx screening primers and probe sets in four standardized methods and develop a new primers and probe system with an internal amplification control (IAC) for all known stx2 subtypes.

Method

The inclusivity and specificity of recommended screening primers and probe sets in four standardized methods were compared. A new pan-stx2 primer and probe set was adapted from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) method for all known stx2 subtypes. The robustness of the new method was assessed in seven laboratories and also assessed in ground beef and bean sprout samples.

Results

None of the recommended screening primers and probe sets in the four standardized methods could efficiently amplify all the stx2 subtypes because of various mismatches in the primers or the probe sequences. A new primers and probe system adapted from the ISO method, through introducing degenerate bases in primers and probe sequences with an IAC, showed high amplification efficiency and specificity for all known stx2 subtypes in ground beef and bean sprouts samples. The specificity of the new method was assessed in seven laboratories and showed robust and consistent results.

Conclusions

This study provided evidence for Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) screening method development, and the newly developed primers and probes system should be considered in the revision of the standardized methods.

Highlights

None of the recommended screening primer and probe set in the four official methods could efficiently amplify all the stx2 subtypes. A new developed primer and probe set showed high amplification efficiency and specificity for all known stx2 subtypes in fresh ground beef and bean sprouts samples. The newly developed stx2 screening system showed robustness and consistency during interlaboratory study.
Novel hybrid endoscopy-assisted larynx-preserving esophagectomy for cervical esophageal cancer (with video)
Authors: Abe Seiichiro , Oguma Junya , Nonaka Satoru , Suzuki Haruhisa , Yoshinaga Shigetaka , Oda Ichiro , Saito Yutaka , Daiko Hiroyuki
Published: March 2021

Hybrid endoscopy-assisted larynx-preserving esophagectomy is developed for cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma encroaching or extending above the upper esophageal sphincter. First, a cervical incision was surgically performed followed by cervical lymph node dissection. Second, the margin of cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was endoscopically identified with iodine staining and marked endoscopically followed by semi-circumferential or circumferential endoscopic full-thickness excision around the lumen of the esophagus. The distal margin was surgically resected and reconstruction was performed. Among six consecutive patients with cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing hybrid endoscopy-assisted larynx-preserving esophagectomy, proximal surgical margin was histologically negative in five patients. During a median follow-up period of 15.5 months, all patients tolerated oral intake and were alive without evidence of recurrence. None of the patients experienced aspiration pneumonia, vocal disorder or postoperative anastomotic stricture. Hybrid endoscopy-assisted larynx-preserving esophagectomy could be a clinically feasible treatment for cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma providing accurate proximal resection margin with the benefit of laryngeal function preservation.
Metabolic Regulation of Hippocampal Neuronal Development and Its Inhibition After Irradiation
Authors: Li Yu-Qing , Wong C Shun
Published: March 2021

5′-Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator of cellular energy homeostasis, plays a role in cell fate determination. Whether AMPK regulates hippocampal neuronal development remains unclear. Hippocampal neurogenesis is abrogated after DNA damage. Here, we asked whether AMPK regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis and its inhibition following irradiation. Adult Cre-lox mice deficient in AMPK in brain, and wild-type mice were used in a birth-dating study using bromodeoxyuridine to evaluate hippocampal neurogenesis. There was no evidence of AMPK or phospho-AMPK immunoreactivity in hippocampus. Increase in p-AMPK but not AMPK expression was observed in granule neurons and subgranular neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs) in the dentate gyrus within 24 hours and persisted up to 9 weeks after irradiation. AMPK deficiency in Cre-lox mice did not alter neuroblast and newborn neuron numbers but resulted in decreased newborn and proliferating NPCs. Inhibition of neurogenesis was observed after irradiation regardless of genotypes. In Cre-lox mice, there was further loss of newborn early NPCs and neuroblasts but not newborn neurons after irradiation compared with wild-type mice. These results are consistent with differential negative effect of AMPK on hippocampal neuronal development and its inhibition after irradiation.
“In de Affica Soil”: Slavery, Ethnography, and Recovery in Zora Neale Hurston’sBarracoon: The Story of the “Last Black Cargo”
Authors: Kennon Raquel
Published: March 2021

I explore the relationship between Hurston as ethnographer and Kossola as subject in Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” posthumously published in 2018 but extant since 1931. Barracoon reveals how Hurston wrestles with her dual identity as fiction writer and cultural anthropologist as it crafts a narrative of slavery and liberation around conjured memory and the ethnographic relationship. The essay considers how Hurston harnesses her rhetorical powers to convince Kossola to share recollections of his life “in Affica soil,” and examines how the themes of loss and recovery emerge in Hurston’s recording of Kossola’s narrative of capture, enslavement, and free life in Africatown, the construction of an archive of transatlantic slavery, and the extraliterary narrative of Alice Walker’s reclamation of Hurston’s own voice into the canon.
Critical decay index for eruptions of ‘short’ filaments
Authors: Filippov B
Published: March 2021

Model of a partial current-carrying torus loop anchored to the photosphere is analysed. Conditions of the catastrophic loss of equilibrium are considered and corresponding value of the critical decay index of external magnetic field is found. Taking into account line-tying conditions leads to non-monotonous dependence of the critical decay index on the height of the apex and length of the flux rope (its endpoints separation). For relatively short flux ropes, the critical decay index is significantly lower than unity, which is in contrast to widespread models with the typical critical decay index above unity. The steep decrease of the critical index with height at low heights is due to the sharp increase of the curvature of the flux-rope axis that transforms from a nearly straight line to a crescent.
Shaping public opinion through the lens of agenda setting in rolling out COVID-19 vaccination program
Authors: Medina Leslie M , Rodriguez Janette R , Sarmiento Philip Joseph D
Published: March 2021

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination hesitancy is a concern that the world faces. The government and private sectors are initiating measures to address this problem. Media plays a crucial role in information and extensive dissemination. This paper highlights the role of the agenda setting platform in shaping public opinion on COVID-19 vaccination program. Massive information dissemination through media can be an effective tool in educating the public regarding the efficacy of anti-COVID 19 vaccines both for self-preservation and promotion of the common good.
High nocturnal sleep fragmentation is associated with low T lymphocyte P2Y11 protein levels in narcolepsy type 1
Authors: Viste Rannveig , Viken Marte K , Lie Benedicte A , Juvodden Hilde T , Nordstrand Sebjørg E H , Thorsby Per M , Rootwelt Terje , Kornum Birgitte R , Knudsen-Heier Stine
Published: March 2021

Study Objectives

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is associated with hypocretin neuron loss. However, there are still unexplained phenotypic NT1 features. We investigated the associations between clinical and sleep phenotypic characteristics, the NT1-associated P2RY11 polymorphism rs2305795, and P2Y11 protein levels in T lymphocytes in patients with NT1, their first-degree relatives and unrelated controls.

Methods

The P2RY11 SNP was genotyped in 100 patients (90/100 H1N1-(Pandemrix)-vaccinated), 119 related and 123 non-related controls. CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte P2Y11 protein levels were quantified using flow cytometry in 167 patients and relatives. Symptoms and sleep recording parameters were also collected.

Results

We found an association between NT1 and the rs2305795 A allele (OR = 2, 95% CI (1.3, 3.0), p = 0.001). T lymphocyte P2Y11 protein levels were significantly lower in patients and relatives homozygous for the rs2305795 risk A allele (CD4: p = 0.012; CD8: p = 0.007). The nocturnal sleep fragmentation index was significantly negatively correlated with patients’ P2Y11 protein levels (CD4: p = 0.004; CD8: p = 0.006). Mean MSLT sleep latency, REM-sleep latency, and core clinical symptoms were not associated with P2Y11 protein levels.

Conclusions

We confirmed that the P2RY11 polymorphism rs2305795 is associated with NT1 also in a mainly H1N1-(Pandemrix)-vaccinated cohort. We demonstrated that homozygosity for the A risk allele is associated with lower P2Y11 protein levels. A high level of nocturnal sleep fragmentation was associated with low P2Y11 levels in patients. This suggests that P2Y11 has a previously unknown function in sleep-wake stabilization that affects the severity of NT1.
Risk of in-hospital falls among medications commonly used for insomnia in hospitalized patients
Authors: Herzig Shoshana J , Rothberg Michael B , Moss Caitlyn R , Maddaleni Geeda , Bertisch Suzanne M , Wong Jenna , Zhou Wenxiao , Ngo Long , Anderson Timothy S , Gurwitz Jerry H , Marcantonio Edward R
Published: March 2021

Study Objectives

To investigate the risk of in-hospital falls among patients receiving medications commonly used for insomnia in the hospital setting.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of all adult hospitalizations to a large academic medical center from January, 2007 to July, 2013. We excluded patients admitted for a primary psychiatric disorder. Medication exposures of interest, defined by pharmacy charges, included benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists, trazodone, atypical antipsychotics, and diphenhydramine. In-hospital falls were ascertained from an online patient safety reporting system.

Results

Among the 225,498 hospitalizations (median age = 57 years; 57.9% female) in our cohort, 84,911 (37.7%) had exposure to at least one of the five medication classes of interest; benzodiazepines were the most commonly used (23.5%), followed by diphenhydramine (8.3%), trazodone (6.6%), benzodiazepine receptor agonists (6.4%), and atypical antipsychotics (6.3%). A fall occurred in 2,427 hospitalizations (1.1%). The rate of falls per 1,000 hospital days was greater among hospitalizations with exposure to each of the medications of interest, compared to unexposed: 3.6 versus 1.7 for benzodiazepines (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.8, 95%CI 1.6–1.9); 5.4 versus 1.8 for atypical antipsychotics (aHR 1.6, 95%CI 1.4–1.8); 3.0 versus 2.0 for benzodiazepine receptor agonists (aHR 1.5, 95%CI 1.3–1.8); 3.3 versus 2.0 for trazodone (aHR 1.2, 95%CI 1.1–1.5); and 2.5 versus 2.0 for diphenhydramine (aHR 1.2, 95%CI 1.03–1.5).

Conclusions

In this large cohort of hospitalizations at an academic medical center, we found an association between each of the sedating medications examined and in-hospital falls. Benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine receptor agonists, and atypical antipsychotics had the strongest associations.
K-complexes are a sensitive marker of noise-related sensory processing during sleep: a pilot study
Authors: Lechat Bastien , Hansen Kristy , Micic Gorica , Decup Felix , Dunbar Claire , Liebich Tessa , Catcheside Peter , Zajamsek Branko
Published: March 2021

Study Objectives

The primary aim of this study was to examine dose–response relationships between sound pressure levels (SPLs) and K-complex occurrence probability for wind farm and road traffic noise. A secondary aim was to compare K-complex dose–responses to manually scored electroencephalography arousals and awakenings.

Methods

Twenty-five participants underwent polysomnography recordings and noise exposure during sleep in a laboratory. Wind farm and road traffic noise recordings of 20-sec duration were played in random order at 6 SPLs between 33 and 48 dBA during established N2 or deeper sleep. Noise periods were separated with periods of 23 dBA background noise. K-complexes were scored using a validated algorithm. K-complex occurrence probability was compared between noise types controlling for noise SPL, subjective noise sensitivity, and measured hearing acuity.

Results

Noise-induced K-complexes were observed in N2 sleep at SPLs as low as 33 dBA (Odds ratio, 33 dBA vs 23 dBA, mean (95% confidence interval); 1.75 (1.16, 2.66)) and increased with SPL. EEG arousals and awakenings were only associated with noise above 39 dBA in N2 sleep. K-complexes were 2 times more likely to occur in response to noise than EEG arousals or awakenings. Subjective noise sensitivity and hearing acuity were associated with the K-complex occurrence, but not arousal or awakening. Noise type did not detectably influence K-complexes, EEG arousals, or awakening responses.

Conclusion

These findings support that K-complexes are a sensitive marker of sensory processing of environmental noise during sleep and that increased hearing acuity and decreased self-reported noise sensitivity increase K-complex probability.
Social Stratification Theory and Population Aging Reconsidered
Authors: SHIRAHASE Sawako
Published: March 2021

Japan has the world’s most aged population. To examine this aging population from a theoretical perspective of social stratification, we focused on household structure, income structure, and economic well-being, including both disposable income and savings. Two main topics are discussed in this paper: first, the relationship between the aging population and income inequality, focusing on changes in household structure and income structure; and second, the level of economic well-being in old age (when the relationship to the labor market becomes blurred) considering individuals’ previous work life. I analyzed two survey datasets: the Comprehensive Survey of People’s Living Conditions, conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare since the mid-1980s, and the 2015 National Survey of Social Stratification and Social Mobility. These analyses confirmed that the change in household structure (more elderly heads of household) explains the growth of income inequality since the mid-1980s. While income inequality among households with working-age heads increased, its impact was limited to an overall increase in income inequality due to declining household size. On the other hand, income inequality among households with older heads was largely explained by market income, and this scenario has not changed for the past 30 years. The level of economic well-being among older adults was determined by age, marital status, educational credentials, and work situation at age 50 for both genders.
Evolutionary Sample Size and Consilience in Phylogenetic Comparative Analysis
Authors: Gardner Jacob D , Organ Chris L
Published: March 2021

Phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) are commonly used to study evolution and adaptation. However, frequently used PCMs for discrete traits mishandle single evolutionary transitions. They erroneously detect correlated evolution in these situations. For example, hair and mammary glands cannot be said to have evolved in a correlated fashion because each evolved only once in mammals, but a commonly used model (Pagel’s Discrete) statistically supports correlated (dependent) evolution. Using simulations, we find that rate parameter estimation, which is central for model selection, is poor in these scenarios due to small effective (evolutionary) sample sizes of independent character state change. Pagel’s Discrete model also tends to favor dependent evolution in these scenarios, in part, because it forces evolution through state combinations unobserved in the tip data. This model prohibits simultaneous dual transitions along branches. Models with underlying continuous data distributions (e.g., Threshold and GLMM) are less prone to favor correlated evolution but are still susceptible when evolutionary sample sizes are small. We provide three general recommendations for researchers who encounter these common situations: i) create study designs that evaluate a priori hypotheses and maximize evolutionary sample sizes; ii) assess the suitability of evolutionary models—for discrete traits, we introduce the phylogenetic imbalance ratio; and iii) evaluate evolutionary hypotheses with a consilience of evidence from disparate fields, like biogeography and developmental biology. Consilience plays a central role in hypothesis testing within the historical sciences where experiments are difficult or impossible to conduct, such as many hypotheses about correlated evolution. These recommendations are useful for investigations that employ any type of PCM. [Class imbalance; consilience; correlated evolution; evolutionary sample size; phylogenetic comparative methods.]
Further Mathematics, student choice and transition to university: part 2—non-mathematics STEM degrees
Authors: Lyakhova Sofya , Neate Andrew
Published: March 2021

This is the second paper reporting the results of a study investigating student choices of optional post-16 advanced-level (A-level) Mathematics and Further Mathematics qualifications in the UK and their impact on the transition from school to university mathematics. Here, the opinions of non-mathematics Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) undergraduate students (all of whom had previously studied A-level Mathematics) were accessed via a survey and individual interviews. The study found that Further Mathematics qualifications are perceived as advantageous for non-mathematics STEM degrees by students once they are at university but not when making A-level choices. While the students often perceived mathematics positively, this appears to influence the choice of A-level Mathematics but not Further Mathematics. The lack of support from teachers and parents, the lack of perceived utility of Further Mathematics qualifications and a perception that Further Mathematics is only useful for studying a mathematics degree could all be factors affecting the uptake of Further Mathematics. The identified perceived impact of Further Mathematics on the university transition is linked to studying more pure mathematics which may give students a better understanding of how to apply mathematics in the context of their degree.

Some comparisons between the findings in Parts 1 and 2 of the study are included which suggests that the Further Mathematics qualification is better serving students intending to study a non-mathematics STEM degree rather than mathematics itself.
Mitochondrial bioenergetic pathways in blood leukocyte transcriptome decrease after intensive weight loss but are rescued following weight regain in female physique athletes
Authors: Sarin Heikki V. , Pirinen Eija , Pietiläinen Kirsi H. , Isola Ville , Häkkinen Keijo , Perola Markus , Hulmi Juha J.
Published: March 2021

Prolonged periods of energy deficit leading to weight loss induce metabolic adaptations resulting in reduced energy expenditure, but the mechanisms for energy conservation are incompletely understood. We examined 42 healthy athletic females (age 27.5 ± 4.0 years, body mass index 23.4 ± 1.7 kg/m2) who volunteered into either a group dieting for physique competition (n = 25) or a control group (n = 17). The diet group substantially reduced their energy intake and moderately increased exercise levels to induce loss of fat mass that was regained during a voluntary weight regain period. The control group maintained their typical lifestyle habits and body mass as instructed. From the diet group, fasting blood samples were drawn at baseline (PRE), after 4‐ to 5‐month weight loss (PRE‐MID), and after 4‐ to 5‐month weight regain (MID‐POST) as well as from the control group at similar intervals. Blood was analyzed to determine leukocyte transcriptome by RNA‐Sequencing and serum metabolome by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platform. The intensive weight loss period induced several metabolic adaptations, including a prominent suppression of transcriptomic signature for mitochondrial OXPHOS and ribosome biogenesis. The upstream regulator analysis suggested that this reprogramming of cellular energy metabolism may be mediated via AMPK/PGC1‐α signaling and mTOR/eIF2 signaling‐dependent pathways. Our findings show for the first time that prolonged energy deprivation induced modulation of mitochondrial metabolism can be observed through minimally invasive measures of leukocyte transcriptome and serum metabolome at systemic level, suggesting that adaptation to energy deficit is broader in humans than previously thought.
Ethylene glycol butyl ether deteriorates oocyte quality via impairing mitochondrial function
Authors: Shi Xiaoyan , Miao Yilong , Zhang Kemei , Gong Shuai , Xiong Bo
Published: March 2021

Ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant that is commonly used in maquillage, industrial, and household products. EGBE has been shown to cause blood toxicity, carcinogenicity, and organ malformations. However, little is known about the impact of EGBE on the female reproductive system, especially oocyte quality. Here, we reported that EGBE influenced oocyte quality by showing the disturbed oocyte meiotic capacity, fertilization potential, and early embryonic development competency. Specifically, EGBE exposure impaired spindle/chromosome structure, microtubule stability, and actin polymerization to result in the oocyte maturation arrest and aneuploidy. In addition, EGBE exposure compromised the dynamics of cortical granules and their component ovastacin, leading to the failure of sperm binding and fertilization. Last, single‐cell transcriptome analysis revealed that EGBE‐induced oocyte deterioration was caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, which led to the accumulation of ROS and occurrence of apoptosis. Altogether, our study illustrates that mitochondrial dysfunction and redox perturbation is the major cause of the poor quality of oocytes exposed to EGBE.
Synthetic Cast Material Versus Plaster of Paris for the Treatment of Idiopathic Clubfoot by the Ponseti Protocol: A Comparative Analysis of 136 Feet
Authors: Monforte Sergio , Alberghina Flavia , Paonessa Matteo , Canavese Federico , Andreacchio Antonio
Published: March 2021

Background:

Synthetic casting materials have been used as alternatives to plaster of Paris (POP) in the treatment of clubfoot using the Ponseti method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of children with idiopathic clubfoot managed by the Ponseti method using POP versus semirigid fiberglass (SRF).

Methods:

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all newborns with idiopathic clubfoot who underwent manipulation and casting by the Ponseti technique between January 2013 and December 2016 at 2 different institutions. In all, 136 consecutive clubfeet were included, of which 68 underwent casting with POP (Group A), and 68 were casted using SRF (Group B). Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test for categorical variables, and the unpaired t test for quantitative parameters.

Results:

Mean age at time of first cast was 10 days (range, 3 to 21 d). Mean Pirani score at start of treatment was 4.6 and 4.5 in Groups A and B, respectively. Mean number of casts for each patient in Group A was 5.2 against 4.2 in patients in Group B. Mean follow-up was 63.8 months (range, 42 to 88 mo). In each group, 4 cases of relapse were reported (2.9%). No complications related to cast phase or brace phase were recorded. Shorter duration of cast treatment was recorded in Group B.

Conclusions:

Despite its higher cost and slightly lower moldability, the use of SRF in experienced hands showed comparable results in idiopathic clubfeet treated by the Ponseti technique.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Research Participant Recruitment Strategies Among Individuals with Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Their Caregivers
Authors: Watson Jack D. , Perrin Paul B. , McDonald Scott D. , Tyler Carmen M. , Burke Julian , Pierce Bradford S. , Hugeback Hannah , Mickens Melody N.
Published: March 2021

Study Design.

Pre-post study.

Objective.

To evaluate the efficiency of a series of recruitment strategies in a longitudinal study of individuals with SCI and their informal caregivers. Primary strategies included (a) rapport building in advance, (b) warm handoffs from another healthcare provider who already had a relationship with the potential participant, (c) ensuring the potential participant had information about the study prior to the initial contact by the research coordinator (RC), (d) attempting informed consent only when both the patient and informal caregiver were present, and (e) ensuring the RC had at least 30 minutes to explain the study when attempting recruitment.

Summary of Background Data.

While a fairly large body of research has been conducted on general recruitment strategies for clinical trials, very little has examined the efficacy of these strategies within neurological conditions and almost none within SCI.

Methods.

Individuals with an acute SCI and their informal caregivers were recruited from acute spinal cord rehabilitation units with a Veteran's Affairs medical center and an academic medical center in the same urban area. Of 49 eligible dyads, 41 were approached for consent, with 27 consenting to join the study (9 from the academic medical center; 18 from the VA).

Results.

There was a significant difference in enrollment rates after implementing the recruitment strategies, χ
2(1) = 7.572, P = 0.006, with the per month participant enrollment rate nearly doubling after implementation.

Conclusion.

Using a multiteam and multidisciplinary approach to recruitment may increase the likelihood that individuals with an acute SCI and their caregivers enroll in research.

Level of Evidence: 3