bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Declared funding and authorship by alcohol industry actors in the scientific literature: a bibliometric study
Authors: Golder Su , Garry Jack , McCambridge Jim
Published: August 2020

Background

Alcohol industry actors are known to be involved in scientific research. Despite concerns regarding bias, the extent of involvement and coverage of this research are unknown.

Methods

We aimed to investigate the extent and type of scientific research 1918–2019 which was supported by the alcohol industry, including alcohol companies themselves and other organizations, such as trade associations. We identified bibliographic records from the Web of Science suite of databases which have named alcohol companies or organizations in the fields relating to author affiliations and support declarations. We then ascertained trends in publications over time, type of support, funding, outlets (such as journal titles), subject areas covered (such as health) and named companies (such as Carlsberg) and organizations (such as Drinkaware).

Results

The analysis included 13 481 unique records, 11 014 (82%) were authored or funded by alcohol companies and 2488 (18%) were authored or funded by other organizations. The majority of the records (90%, 12 157/13 481) were journal publications. The most common subject areas covered by the publications were biology (5415/13 481, 40%), chemistry (3937/13 481, 29%) and health (3707/13 481, 27%). In line with general publishing trends, there has been an overall increase in research funded or supported by alcohol companies and organizations since records began. The main exception is the steady decline in company author affiliations, particularly in health-related topics since the mid-1990s.

Conclusions

Alcohol companies and related organizations are extensively involved in or supporting scientific research according to data in Web of Science. This does not, however, necessarily reflect the totality of scientific research produced by alcohol companies and related organizations.
Examining gender differentials in the association of low control work with cognitive performance in older workers
Authors: Ford Katherine J , Batty G David , Leist Anja K
Published: August 2020

Background

Limited workplace control, an important dimension of job strain, can reduce occupational opportunities for problem solving and learning. Women may have fewer professional resources to mitigate effects of low control, while conversely, gender-role norms may moderate the influence of occupational psychosocial risk factors. We therefore examined whether the links between control and cognitive function were similarly gendered.

Methods

This observational, longitudinal study included respondents of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe who were aged 50–64 years at entry, employed and provided at least two measurements of control and cognition (n = 6697). Relationships between control and cognition, quantified with standardized scores from verbal fluency, immediate and delayed word recall tests, were explored using linear fixed-effect and random-effect models with gender interactions.

Results

Consistent trends of improved verbal fluency performance with high control were evident across analyses, equal to producing around three-quarters of a word more under high control conditions, with an effect size ∼0.1 SD units (fully adjusted models, range 0.077–0.104 SD), although associations with recall tests were inconsistent. We did not find evidence of clear gender differences in control–cognition relationships for any of the cognitive domains.

Conclusions

The cognitive health of older European workers may benefit from improved workplace control irrespective of gender. Possible sources of bias that could explain the lack of gender differences are discussed, particularly gender differences in labour force participation, response behaviour in job control ratings and implications of gender-role norms on the importance of occupational risk factors.
Association of Mitochondrial Function, Substrate Utilization, and Anaerobic Metabolism With Age-Related Perceived Fatigability
Authors: Liu Fangyu , Wanigatunga Amal A , Zampino Marta , Knuth Nicolas D , Simonsick Eleanor M , Schrack Jennifer A , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: August 2020

Previous work has shown that poorer mitochondrial function is associated with age-related perceived fatigability. However, whether glucose oxidation and anaerobic metabolism are intermediate factors underlying this association remains unclear. We examined the total cross-sectional association between mitochondrial function and perceived fatigability in 554 adults aged 22–99 years. Mitochondrial function was assessed by skeletal muscle oxidative capacity (kPCr) using 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Perceived fatigability was measured by rating of perceived exertion after a 5-minute (0.67 m/s) treadmill walk. The intermediate role of glucose oxidation (measured by the rate of change of respiratory exchange ratio [RER change rate] during the 5-minute treadmill walk) and anaerobic metabolism (measured by ventilatory threshold [VeT] during a maximal treadmill test) was evaluated by examining their cross-sectional associations with kPCr and perceived exertion. For each 0.01/s lower kPCr, perceived fatigability was 0.47 points higher (p = .002). A 0.01/s lower kPCr was also associated with 8.3 L/min lower VeT (p < .001). Lower VeT was associated with higher fatigability at lower levels of kPCr but not at higher kPCr levels (β for interaction = 0.017, p = .002). kPCr and RER change rate were not significantly associated (p = .341), but a 0.01/min higher RER change rate was associated with 0.12-point higher fatigability (p = .001). Poorer mitochondrial function potentially contributes to higher perceived fatigability through higher glucose oxidation and higher anaerobic metabolism. Future studies to further explore the longitudinal mechanisms between these metabolic changes and fatigability are warranted.
Scientometric trends for coronaviruses and other emerging viral infections
Authors: Kagan Dima , Moran-Gilad Jacob , Fire Michael
Published: August 2020

Background

COVID-19 is the most rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak in the past 2 decades. To provide a swift response to a novel outbreak, prior knowledge from similar outbreaks is essential.

Results

Here, we study the volume of research conducted on previous coronavirus outbreaks, specifically SARS and MERS, relative to other infectious diseases by analyzing >35 million articles from the past 20 years. Our results demonstrate that previous coronavirus outbreaks have been understudied compared with other viruses. We also show that the research volume of emerging infectious diseases is very high after an outbreak and decreases drastically upon the containment of the disease. This can yield inadequate research and limited investment in gaining a full understanding of novel coronavirus management and prevention.

Conclusions

Independent of the outcome of the current COVID-19 outbreak, we believe that measures should be taken to encourage sustained research in the field.
The amino acid transporter Slc7a5 regulates the mTOR pathway and is required for granule cell development
Authors: Sokolov Aidan M , Holmberg Jennie C , Feliciano David M
Published: August 2020

Pathogenic mutations in the solute carrier family 7 member 5 (SLC7A5) gene, which encodes an amino acid transporter cause microcephaly and seizures, yet the mechanisms responsible for these phenotypes are unclear. Models have demonstrated that Slc7a5 deletion is embryonic lethal and that these embryos lack a fully formed telencephalon. This phenotype is similar to that of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein kinase deletion or mTOR inhibition. Notably, in many cells, Slc7a5 import of amino acids is required to maintain mTOR activity. Slc7a5 is present within neurogenic regions during embryogenesis, is found in cultured neurons and can modulate neuronal electrophysiological properties. However, Slc7a5 is also highly expressed within endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier where removal in conditional mice leads to severe behavioral defects and non-cell autonomous changes in neurons. Therefore, the extent that neural Slc7a5 is required for development is unclear. Here, subventricular zone neural stem cells that generate olfactory bulb granule cell neurons were electroporated with SLC7A5 or Slc7a5 short hairpin RNA encoding plasmids. Although early phases of neural development were unaltered, Slc7a5 knockdown effected late phases of GC dendrite maturation and survival. Slc7a5 knockdown also decreased mTOR pathway activity. Ras homolog enriched in brain, an mTOR activator, rescued the effect of Slc7a5 knockdown on mTOR pathway activity and dendrite arbors. The data presented here demonstrate that Slc7a5 is required for GC mTOR pathway activity, maturation and survival, which may help explain why Slc7a5 mutations prevent normal brain development and function.
Methodological Considerations for Assessing Immune Defense in Reproductive Females
Authors: Josefson Chloe C , Zohdy Sarah , Hood Wendy R
Published: August 2020

Synopsis

One of the key foci of ecoimmunology is understanding the physiological interactions between reproduction and immune defense. To assess an immune challenge, investigators typically measure an immune response at a predetermined time point that was selected to represent a peak response. These time points often are based on the immunological responses of nonreproductive males. Problematically, these peaks have been applied to studies quantifying immune responses of females during reproduction, despite the fact that nonreproductive males and reproductive females display fundamentally different patterns of energy expenditure. Previous work within pharmacological research has reported that the response to the commonly-used antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) varies among individuals and between females and males. In this heuristic analysis, we characterize antibody responses to KLH in females with varying reproductive demands (nonreproductive, lactating, concurrently lactating, and pregnant). Serum was taken from one animal per day per group and assessed for general and specific Immunoglobulins (Igs) G and M. We then used regression analysis to characterize the antibody response curves across groups. Our results demonstrate that the antibody response curve is asynchronous among females with varying maternal demands and temporally differs from the anticipated peak responses reflected in standardized protocols. These findings highlight the importance of multiple sampling points across treatment groups for a more integrative assessment of how reproductive demand alters antibody responses in females beyond a single measurement.
Optimizing pricing and packing of variable-sized cargo
Authors: Martinez-Sykora A , So M C , Currie C S M , Bayliss C , Bennell J A
Published: August 2020

Organizations have successfully used dynamic pricing to optimize revenues for many years, where research and practice have mainly focused on applications with independent, discrete commodities; for example, an airline ticket. In this research we consider applications where the commodity is continuous and the value of the commodity available to sell depends on the combination of previously accepted demand. We focus on vehicle ferries, where the accepted vehicle bookings are packed in lanes in the ferry to leave a usable space for future bookings. Certain combinations of vehicles may result in areas of unusable space, which will affect future revenue. While this application is the focus of the paper, there are numerous industries that face similar challenges including freight and the sale of advertising on television and radio. In this paper, we simultaneously solve the pricing and resource utilization problem to optimality for a discrete set of product types and stochastic demand. Our approach combines a dynamic pricing model with a mixed-integer linear program to optimize the packing. We present results for real-world examples from the ferry industry and discuss extensions to the method to improve the selection of vehicle configurations.
Classification of Stable Solutions to a Non-Local Gelfand–Liouville Equation
Authors: Hyder Ali , Yang Wen
Published: August 2020

We study finite Morse index solutions to the non-local Gelfand–Liouville problem $$\begin{align*}& (-\Delta)^su=e^u\quad\textrm{in}\quad{{\mathbb{R}}^n}, \end{align*}$$for every $s\in (0,1)$ and $n>2s$. Precisely, we prove non-existence of finite Morse index solutions whenever the singular solution $$\begin{align*} &u_{n,s}(x)=-2s\log|x|+\log \left(2^{2s}\frac{\Gamma(\frac{n}{2})\Gamma(1+s)}{\Gamma(\frac{n-2s}{2})}\right)\end{align*}$$is unstable.
From Shame to New Name: How Naming and Shaming Creates Pro-Government Militias
Authors: DiBlasi Lora
Published: August 2020

Researchers have identified naming and shaming as a strategy used by the international community to reprimand state leaders for their repressive actions. Previous research indicates that there is variation in the success of this tactic. One reason for the heterogeneity in success is that leaders with an interest in repressing opposition but avoiding international condemnation have adapted their behavior, at least partially, to avoid naming and shaming. For instance, some states choose to create and utilize alternative security apparatuses, such as pro-government militias (PGMs), to carry out these repressive acts. Creating or aligning with PGMs allows leaders to distance themselves from the execution of violence while reaping the rewards of repression. This analysis explores this dynamic. In particular, I examine how naming and shaming by Amnesty International and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights influences the creation of PGMs to skirt future international condemnation by the offending state for all states from 1986 to 2000. I find that countries are more likely to create PGMs, especially informal PGMs, after their human rights abuses have been put in the spotlight by the international community.
Shaking Hands with the Internal Enemy: Democracy and Civil Conflict Settlement
Authors: Zarpli Omer
Published: August 2020

How does regime type affect the likelihood of negotiated settlements that end civil conflicts? A limited number of previous studies have offered divergent theories and mixed findings about whether democracy is an asset or a liability. I draw these disparate findings together and present a novel theory on why leaders under fully democratic and autocratic regimes may have a particularly difficult time in peacemaking, and how leaders in anocratic (hybrid) regimes are more likely to be successful in reaching negotiated settlements. Thus, I hypothesize that the relationship between regime type and the likelihood of conflict-resolution is inverted U-shaped. I test this hypothesis using data on all internal conflicts between 1946 and 2014, and find empirical support. The findings suggest that even if anocracies are more prone to the outbreak of civil wars as has been proposed by previous studies, they are also better at settling these conflicts.
Quantitative Determination of Ethyl Glucuronide and Ethyl Sulfate in Postmortem and Antemortem Whole Blood Using Phospholipid Removal 96-Well Plate and UHPLC–MS-MS
Authors: Sidqey Delvin , Liane Veronica Horpestad , Kristoffersen Lena
Published: August 2020

Postmortem ethanol formation is a well-known problem in forensic toxicology. Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are ethanol metabolites that can be used to distinguish antemortem alcohol intake from postmortem formation of ethanol and in addition can be a helpful tool in assessment of the hip-flask defense. To an aliquot of 100 µL whole blood, internal standard (IS) and water was added before protein precipitation treatment (PPT) with ice-cold acetonitrile (ACN). The supernatants were filtered through a 96-well phospholipid removal plate, evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in 150 µL water/ACN/formic acid (FA). Identification of compounds was performed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in negative mode. Gradient elution was performed on a C18 column with methanol (MeOH) and 0.1% FA. The run time was 4.5 min, and 0.5 µL was injected on an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS-MS) instrument. Linearity was achieved (coefficient of determination (R2) ≥ 0.999) for EtG in the range of 0.089 to 22 mg/L (0.40–100 µM) and EtS 0.025 to 6.3 mg/L (0.20–50 µM). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.067 mg/L (0.30 µM) for EtG and 0.019 mg/L (0.15 µM) for EtS. Between assay accuracy was –15% to 8% and precision reported as relative standard deviation (RSD) was ≤ 4.5%. Precision, estimated as the RSD of the concentration difference between results from two independent analyses of authentic whole blood samples, was ≤ 6.7%. Recovery was ≥ 61% for EtG and ≥ 77% for EtS and matrix effects (ME) were 99% to 103%. Method comparison was carried out with a previously used UHPLC–MS-MS method, and satisfactory agreement was achieved, and external proficiency testing control samples had z-score < ± 1. The method has been used in routine work for more than 4 years analyzing about 6,000 antemortem and postmortem whole blood samples and has proven to be robust and reliable.
Improvement of Burn Scars Treated With Fractional Ablative CO2 Lasers—A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Using the Vancouver Scar Scale
Authors: Mahar Patrick D , Spinks Anneliese B , Cleland Heather , Bekhor Philip , Waibel Jill S , Lo Cheng , Goodman Gregory
Published: August 2020

Fractional ablative CO2 laser is being used increasingly to treat burn scars; however, objective measures of outcome success vary widely. This systematic review and meta-analysis extracts and pools available data to assess the outcomes of patients with burn scars treated with fractional ablative CO2 laser. A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the gray literature was performed. The review included studies that reported patients with a confirmed diagnosis of scarring as a result of a burn injury, who were treated with fractional ablative CO2 laser and whose progress was recorded using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Eight studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Treatment regimens varied amongst studies, as did patient outcomes. Pooled data revealed an average VSS improvement of 29% across 282 patients following fractional CO2 ablative laser treatment. Although the heterogeneity of treatment regimens across studies limits this systematic review’s ability to provide specific treatment recommendations, the overall trend towards improvement of burns scars treated with fractional CO2 laser based on the VSS encourages further exploration of this modality as a therapeutic tool.
Genomic Features of Parthenogenetic Animals
Authors: Jaron Kamil S , Bast Jens , Nowell Reuben W , Ranallo-Benavidez T Rhyker , Robinson-Rechavi Marc , Schwander Tanja
Published: August 2020

Evolution without sex is predicted to impact genomes in numerous ways. Case studies of individual parthenogenetic animals have reported peculiar genomic features that were suggested to be caused by their mode of reproduction, including high heterozygosity, a high abundance of horizontally acquired genes, a low transposable element load, or the presence of palindromes. We systematically characterized these genomic features in published genomes of 26 parthenogenetic animals representing at least 18 independent transitions to asexuality. Surprisingly, not a single feature was systematically replicated across a majority of these transitions, suggesting that previously reported patterns were lineage-specific rather than illustrating the general consequences of parthenogenesis. We found that only parthenogens of hybrid origin were characterized by high heterozygosity levels. Parthenogens that were not of hybrid origin appeared to be largely homozygous, independent of the cellular mechanism underlying parthenogenesis. Overall, despite the importance of recombination rate variation for the evolution of sexual animal genomes, the genome-wide absence of recombination does not appear to have had the dramatic effects which are expected from classical theoretical models. The reasons for this are probably a combination of lineage-specific patterns, the impact of the origin of parthenogenesis, and a survivorship bias of parthenogenetic lineages.
From diet to hair and blood: empirical estimation of discrimination factors for C and N stable isotopes in five terrestrial mammals
Authors: Rioux Ève , Pelletier Fanie , St-Laurent Martin-Hugues
Published: August 2020

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios are used widely to describe wildlife animal diet composition and trophic interactions. To reconstruct consumer diet, the isotopic differences between consumers and their diet items—called the trophic discrimination factor (TDF)—must be known. Proxies of diet composition are sensitive to the accuracy of TDFs. However, specific TDFs are still missing for many species and tissues because only a few controlled studies have been carried out on captive animals. The aim of this study was to estimate TDFs for hair and blood for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes for caribou, moose, white-tailed deer, eastern coyote, and black bear. We obtained stable isotope ratios for diet items, hair, and blood samples, of 21 captive adult mammals. Diet–tissue discrimination factors for carbon in hair (∆ 13CLE) ranged from 0.96‰ to 3.72‰ for cervids, 3.01‰ to 3.76‰ for coyote, and 5.15‰ to 6.35‰ for black bear, while nitrogen discrimination factors (∆ 15N) ranged from 2.58‰ to 5.95‰ for cervids, 2.90‰ to 3.13‰ for coyote, and 4.48‰ to 5.44‰ for black bear. The ∆ 13CLE values in coyote blood components ranged from 2.20‰ to 2.69‰ while ∆ 15N ranged from 3.30‰ to 4.41‰. In caribou serum, ∆ 13CLE reached 3.34 ± 1.28‰ while ∆ 15N reached 5.02 ± 0.07‰. The TDFs calculated in this study will allow the evaluation of diet composition and trophic relationships between these five mammal species and will have important implications for the study of endangered caribou populations for which the use of noninvasive tissue sampling is highly relevant.
Low Abundance of Three Tick Species in the Piedmont of North Carolina
Authors: Seagle Madeline P , Vierling Maximilian R , Almeida Ryan J , Clary D Jacob , Hidell Will , Scott Erin V , Vargas Carlos , Smith Kevin G
Published: August 2020

Multiple species of ticks, including Ixodes scapularis (Say, Ixodida:Ixodidae), Amblyomma americanum (L., Ixodida:Ixodidae), and Dermacentor variabilis (Say, Ixodida:Ixodidae), occur in high and increasing abundance in both the northeast and southeast United States. North Carolina is at the nexus of spread of these species, with high occurrence and abundance of I. scapularis to the north and A. americanum to the south. Despite this, there are few records of these species in the Piedmont of North Carolina, including the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. Here, we update the known occurrence and abundance of these species in the North Carolina Piedmont. We surveyed for ticks using cloth drags, CO2 traps, and leaf litter samples at a total of 79 sites within five locations: Mecklenburg County, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Duke Forest, and Morrow Mountain State Park, all in North Carolina, during the late spring, summer, and fall seasons of 2019. From these surveys, we had only 20 tick captures, illuminating the surprisingly low abundance of ticks in this region of North Carolina. Our results indicate the possibility of underlying habitat and host factors limiting tick distribution and abundance in the North Carolina Piedmont.
Determination of reproducibility of end-exhaled breath-holding in stereotactic body radiation therapy
Authors: Sasaki Motoharu , Ikushima Hitoshi , Sakuragawa Kanako , Yokoishi Michihiro , Tsuzuki Akira , Sugimoto Wataru
Published: August 2020

Methods to evaluate the positional reproducibility of breath-hold irradiation mostly require manual operation. The purpose of this study is to propose a method to determine the reproducibility of breath-hold irradiation of lung tumors between fractions using non-artificial methods. This study included 13 patients who underwent terminal exhaled breath-hold irradiation for primary and metastatic lung cancer. All subjects received a prescribed dose of 60 Gy/8 fractions. The contours of the gross tumor volume (GTV) were extracted by threshold processing using treatment-planning computed tomography (CT) and cone-beam CT (CBCT), which was done just before the beginning of the treatment. The method proposed in this study evaluates the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance (HD) by comparing two volumes, the GTVCTS (GTV obtained from treatment-planning CT) and GTVCBCT (GTV obtained from CBCT). The reference contours for DSC and HD are represented by GTVCTS. The results demonstrated good visual agreement for cases with a DSC of ~0.7. However, apparent misalignment occurred when the DSC was <0.5. HD was >2 mm in 3 out of 13 cases, and when the DSC was ~0.7, the HD was ~1 mm. In addition, cases with greater HD also demonstrated more significant variability. It was found that the DSC and HD evaluation methods for the positional reproducibility of breath-hold irradiation proposed in this study are straightforward and can be performed without the involvement of humans. Our study is of extreme significance in the field of radiation studies.
Suppressed ABA signal transduction in the spike promotes sucrose use in the stem and reduces grain number in wheat under water stress
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Huang Jing , Gao Yanmei , Liu Yang , Li Jinpeng , Zhou Xiaonan , Yao Chunsheng , Wang Zhimin , Sun Zhencai , Zhang Yinghua
Published: August 2020

Water stress is a primary trigger for reducing grain number per spike in wheat during the reproductive period. However, under stress conditions, the responses of plant organs and the interactions between them at the molecular and physiological levels remain unclear. In this study, when water stress occurred at the young microspore stage, RNA-seq data indicated that the spike had 970 differentially expressed genes, while the stem, comprising the two internodes below the spike (TIS), had 382. Abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction genes were down-regulated by water stress in both these tissues, although to a greater extent in the TIS than in the spike. A reduction in sucrose was observed, and was accompanied by increases in cell wall invertase (CWIN) and sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyl-transferase (1-SST) activities. Hexose and fructan were increased in the TIS but decreased in the spike. ABA was increased in the spike and TIS, and showed significant positive correlation with CWIN and 1-SST activities in the TIS. Overall, our results suggest that water stress induces the conversion of sucrose to hexose by CWIN, and to fructan by 1-SST, due to increased down-regulation of ABA signal transduction related-genes in the TIS; this leads to deficient sucrose supply to the spike and a decrease in grain number.
Ancestral function of the phytochelatin synthase C-terminal domain in inhibition of heavy metal-mediated enzyme overactivation
Authors: Li Mingai , Barbaro Enrico , Bellini Erika , Saba Alessandro , Sanità di Toppi Luigi , Varotto Claudio
Published: August 2020

Phytochelatin synthases (PCSs) play essential roles in detoxification of a broad range of heavy metals in plants and other organisms. Until now, however, no PCS gene from liverworts, the earliest branch of land plants and possibly the first one to acquire a PCS with a C-terminal domain, has been characterized. In this study, we isolated and functionally characterized the first PCS gene from a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha (MpPCS). MpPCS is constitutively expressed in all organs examined, with stronger expression in thallus midrib. The gene expression is repressed by Cd2+ and Zn2+. The ability of MpPCS to increase heavy metal resistance in yeast and to complement cad1-3 (the null mutant of the Arabidopsis ortholog AtPCS1) proves its function as the only PCS from M. polymorpha. Site-directed mutagenesis of the most conserved cysteines of the C-terminus of the enzyme further uncovered that two twin-cysteine motifs repress, to different extents, enzyme activation by heavy metal exposure. These results highlight an ancestral function of the PCS elusive C-terminus as a regulatory domain inhibiting enzyme overactivation by essential and non-essential heavy metals. The latter finding may be relevant for obtaining crops with decreased root to shoot mobility of cadmium, thus preventing its accumulation in the food chain.
A Bariatric Curveball: A Rare Case of Recurrent Lactobezoars after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
Authors: Kravitz Shena A , Song Kaoru H , Cioffi Joseph H , Vega Colon Karla M , Lu Myro A
Published: August 2020

Bariatric surgery is a major risk factor for bezoar formation secondary to decreased gastric motility, gastric acidity, and pyloric function.1 This case is about a 49-year-old female veteran, 3 weeks status-post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, who presented with acute abdominal pain and oral intolerance. After being diagnosed with a bezoar and esophagogastroduodenoscopic removal, the patient had immediate relief of symptoms. Unfortunately, over the course of 4 months, this patient experienced three recurrent episodes of bezoar formation (with a possible fourth episode that could not be confirmed secondary to resolution of symptoms after administration of oral contrast load). Based on her dietary history and gross appearance of the bezoar, the patient was determined to have developed recurrent lactobezoars. Lactobezoars are composed of milk and mucous proteins and are commonly found in neonates with immature gastrointestinal tracts.7 This unusual complication demonstrates how current dietary recommendations encouraging dairy consumption to meet daily protein requirements may have increased this patient’s risk for lactobezoar formation. This case illustrates the importance of balancing the risks and benefits of macronutrient requirements after bariatric surgery with postsurgical bezoar complications.
Detection of a possible multiphase ultra-fast outflow in IRAS 13349+2438 with NuSTAR and XMM–Newton
Authors: Parker M L , Matzeu G A , Alston W N , Fabian A C , Lobban A , Miniutti G , Pinto C , Santos-Lleó M , Schartel N
Published: August 2020

We present joint NuSTAR and XMM–Newton observations of the bright, variable quasar IRAS 13349+2438. This combined data set shows two clear iron absorption lines at 8 and 9 keV, which are most likely associated with two layers of mildly relativistic blueshifted absorption, with velocities of ∼0.14c and ∼0.27c. We also find strong evidence for a series of Ly α absorption lines at intermediate energies in a stacked XMM–Newton EPIC-pn spectrum, at the same blueshift as the lower velocity iron feature. This is consistent with a scenario where an outflowing wind is radially stratified, so faster, higher ionization material is observed closer to the black hole, and cooler, slower material is seen from streamlines at larger radii.
Impact of traumatic perinatal events on burnout rates among midwives
Authors: Amir Z , Reid A J
Published: August 2020

Background

Little is known about the prevalence of burnout among Irish midwives and how traumatic perinatal events in work contributes to this.

Aims

To establish the prevalence of burnout among midwives in Ireland and whether exposure to traumatic perinatal events in work contributes to this.

Methods

A cross-sectional study utilizing a designed questionnaire was carried out in a tertiary-referral maternity hospital involving all clinical midwives (n = 248). Demographic details and frequency of perinatal events deemed traumatic were recorded. The extent of distress was documented on two visual analogues read in combination to reflect the impact of the distressing events. Burnout severity was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.

Results

The response rate was 55% (n = 137). Mean scores for personal, work-related and patient-related burnout were 56.0, 55.9 and 34.3, respectively. Over 90% of respondents experienced exposure to a traumatic event in work in the previous year, with 58% reporting a frequency of monthly or greater. No significant relationship was demonstrated between frequency of trauma and burnout; however, the extent of distress experienced was positively related to burnout in each domain (R2 = 0.18, 0.15 and 0.09, respectively, P < 0.01). A modest negative linear relationship exists between personal and work-related burnout and increasing age (ρ = −0.25 and −0.27, P < 0.01). A significant difference in work-related burnout score was evident between midwives with less experience and more experienced colleagues (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Burnout is common among midwives. Exposure to discrete traumatic perinatal events experienced by women under their care contributes to this.
An Analysis of Clostridium difficile Environmental Contamination During and After Treatment for C difficile Infection
Authors: Davies Kerrie , Mawer Damian , Walker A Sarah , Berry Claire , Planche Timothy , Stanley Phil , Goldenberg Simon , Sandoe Jonathan , Wilcox Mark H
Published: August 2020

Background

Lower Clostridium difficile spore counts in feces from C difficile infection (CDI) patients treated with fidaxomicin versus vancomycin have been observed. We aimed to determine whether environmental contamination is lower in patients treated with fidaxomicin compared with those treated with vancomycin/metronidazole.

Methods

The CDI cases were recruited at 4 UK hospitals (Leeds, Bradford, and London [2 centers]). Environmental samples (5 room sites) were taken pretreatment and at 2–3, 4–5, 6–8, and 9–12 days of treatment, end of treatment (EOT), and post-EOT. Fecal samples were collected at diagnosis and as often as produced thereafter. Swabs/feces were cultured for C difficile; percentage of C difficile-positive samples and C difficile bioburden were compared between different treatment arms at each time point.

Results

Pre-EOT (n = 244), there was a significant reduction in environmental contamination (≥1 site positive) around fidaxomicin versus vancomycin/metronidazole recipients at days 4–5 (30% vs 50% recipients, P = .04) and at days 9–12 (22% vs 49%, P = .005). This trend was consistently seen at all other timepoints, but it was not statistically significant. No differences were seen between treatment groups post-EOT (n = 76). Fidaxomicin-associated fecal positivity rates and colony counts were consistently lower than those for vancomycin/metronidazole from days 4 to 5 of treatment (including post-EOT); however, the only significant difference was in positivity rate at days 9–12 (15% vs 55%, P = .03).

Conclusions

There were significant reductions in C difficile recovery from both feces and the environment around fidaxomicin versus vancomycin/metronidazole recipients. Therefore, fidaxomicin treatment may lower the C difficile transmission risk by reducing excretion and environmental contamination.
Minimally Invasive Microbiopsies as an Improved Sampling Method for the Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Authors: Churiso Gemechu , van Henten Saskia , Cnops Lieselotte , Pollmann Julia , Melkamu Roma , Lemma Mulualem , Kiflie Amare , Fikre Helina , van Griensven Johan , Adriaensen Wim
Published: August 2020

Current sampling methods to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis are invasive and painful. An alternative and minimally invasive microbiopsy device was evaluated in a diverse range of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in Ethiopia. Using polymerase chain reaction–based diagnosis, the microbiopsy outperformed the routine skin slit sample by detecting more patients while pain scores were significantly lower.
Men’s Economic Status and Marriage Timing in Rural and Semi-Urban Malawi
Authors: Pike Isabel
Published: August 2020

In recent decades, qualitative research from across sub-Saharan Africa has shown how young men are often unable to marry because they lack wealth and a stable livelihood. With survey data, researchers have begun to study how men’s economic circumstances are related to when they marry in the continent’s capitals and larger urban centers. However, our understanding of these dynamics outside of large cities remains limited. Drawing on longitudinal survey data, this paper examines how men’s economic standing, both at the individual and household level, relates to their marriage timing in rural and semi-urban communities in the Salima district of Malawi. The findings show that men who have higher earnings, work in agriculture, and come from a household that sold cash crops were more likely to marry. In contrast, students as well as men from households owning a large amount of land were substantially less likely to marry. Additionally, men living in the semi-urban communities were around half as likely to marry as their rural counterparts. This negative association is largely explained by the greater proportion of men who are students in towns and trading centers and also the relatively less agricultural nature of these communities. These findings show the value of considering both individual and family characteristics in studies of marriage timing and also suggest that as sub-Saharan Africa urbanizes, the age of marriage for men will likely rise.
Stamping Out the ‘Nation-Ruining Disease’: Anti-Tuberculosis Campaigns in US-Occupied Okinawa
Authors: Masubuchi Asako
Published: August 2020

This article examines tuberculosis prevention campaigns in US-occupied Okinawa in the 1950s and 60s. The number of tuberculosis patients in Okinawa increased after World War II due to the influx of repatriates and construction workers. This article highlights both the social and cultural aspects of the Okinawan fight against tuberculosis by focusing on key figures in anti-tuberculosis projects: public health nurses and Kabira Chōshin (1909–98), the chief of the Ryukyu Anti-Tuberculosis Association.1 While the public health nurses promoted tuberculosis prevention by closely supporting tuberculosis patients and educating the population, Kabira tried to connect anti-tuberculosis campaigns with the restoration of Ryukyuan culture. By analysing their anti-tuberculosis efforts, this article argues that the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis under the US occupation constituted a site where people’s calls for a better life became intimately interconnected with US Cold War militarism, on one hand, and with ‘pro-reversion’ sentiment, on the other.
Inference of causal relationships between sleep-related traits and 1,527 phenotypes using genetic data
Authors: García-Marín Luis M , Campos Adrián I , Martin Nicholas G , Cuéllar-Partida Gabriel , Rentería Miguel E
Published: August 2020

Study Objective

Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health, and there is a growing interest in understanding how different factors shape individual variation in sleep duration, quality and patterns, or confer risk for sleep disorders. The present study aimed to identify novel inferred causal relationships between sleep-related traits and other phenotypes, using a genetics-driven hypothesis-free approach not requiring longitudinal data.

Methods

We used summary-level statistics from genome-wide association studies and the latent causal variable (LCV) method to screen the phenome and infer causal relationships between seven sleep-related traits (insomnia, daytime dozing, easiness of getting up in the morning, snoring, sleep duration, napping, and morningness) and 1,527 other phenotypes.

Results

We identify 84 inferred causal relationships. Among other findings, connective tissue disorders increase insomnia risk and reduce sleep duration; depression-related traits increase insomnia and daytime dozing; insomnia, napping, and snoring are affected by obesity and cardiometabolic traits and diseases; and working with asbestos, thinner, or glues may increase insomnia risk, possibly through an increased risk of respiratory disease or socio-economic related factors.

Conclusion

Overall, our results indicate that changes in sleep variables are predominantly the consequence, rather than the cause, of other underlying phenotypes and diseases. These insights could inform the design of future epidemiological and interventional studies in sleep medicine and research.
Appraising the Interpretation of the Word ‘Scientist’ under the Special Residence Requirements for Australian Citizenship
Authors: Owoeye Olasupo
Published: August 2020

The article examines the interpretation of the word ‘scientist’ under Instrument IMMI 13/056 made pursuant to section 22B(1) of the Citizenship Act. The article considers the literal interpretation of the word scientist and the objective of the Instrument. The article provides a critique of the cases that have gone to the Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal and argues that the interpretation favoured by the Tribunal is misconceived. The article contends that the Tribunal seems to be giving undue support to an arbitrary or haphazardly serendipitous exercise of ministerial power under the special residence framework in a manner that runs afoul of the tenour of section 22B(1) of the Citizenship Act.
Demographic and climatic factors associated with dengue prevalence in a hyperendemic zone in Mexico: an empirical approach
Authors: Espinoza-Gomez Francisco , Newton-Sanchez Oscar Alberto , Nava-Zavala Arnulfo Hernan , Zavala-Cerna Maria G , Rojas-Larios Fabian , Delgado-Enciso Ivan , Martinez-Rizo Abril B , Lozano-Kasten Felipe
Published: August 2020

Background

Many models for predicting dengue epidemics use incidence and short-term changes in climate variables, however, studies in real-life scenarios for correlations of seroprevalence (SP) with long-term climate variables and with integration of socio-economic factors are scarce. Our objective was to analyse the combined correlation between socio-economic and climate variables with the SP of dengue in Mexico.

Methods

We performed a seroepidemiological ecological study on the Mexican Pacific coast. Dengue SP was estimated by the presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies in 1278 inhabitants. We implemented multiple correlations with socio-economic, climatic and topographic characteristics using logistic regression, generalized linear models and non-linear regressions.

Results

Dengue SP was 58%. The age-adjusted correlation was positive with the male sex, while a negative correlation was seen with socio-economic status (SES) and scholl level (SL). The annual temperature showed a positive correlation, while the altitude was negative. It should be noted that these correlations showed a marked ‘S’ shape in the non-linear model, suggesting three clearly defined scenarios for dengue risk.

Conclusion

Low SES and SL showed an unexpected paradoxical protective effect. Altitude above sea level and annual temperature are the main determinants for dengue in the long term. The identification of three clearly delineated scenarios for transmission could improve the accuracy of predictive models.
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Valine-Glutamine Motif-Containing Gene Family inBrassica napusand Functional Characterization ofBnMKS1in Response toLeptosphaeria maculans
Authors: Zou Zhongwei , Liu Fei , Huang Shuanglong , Fernando W. G. Dilantha
Published: August 2020

Proteins containing valine-glutamine (VQ) motifs play important roles in plant growth and development as well as in defense responses to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Blackleg disease, which is caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, is the most important disease in canola (Brassica napus) worldwide; however, the identification of Brassica napus VQs and their functions in response to blackleg disease have not yet been reported. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification and characterization of the VQ gene family in Brassica napus, including chromosome location, phylogenetic relations, gene structure, motif domain, synteny analysis, and cis-elements categorization of their promoter regions. To understand Brassica napus VQ gene function in response to blackleg disease, we overexpressed BnVQ7 (BnaA01g36880D, also known as the mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 substrate 1 [MKS1] gene) in a blackleg-susceptible canola variety, Westar. Overexpression of BnMKS1 in canola did not improve its resistance to blackleg disease at the seedling stage; however, transgenic canola plants overexpressing BnMKS1 displayed an enhanced resistance to L. maculans infection at the adult plant stage. Expression levels of downstream and defense marker genes in cotyledons increased significantly at the necrotrophic stage of L. maculans infection in the overexpression line of BnMKS1, suggesting that the salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-mediated signaling pathways were both involved in the defense responses. Together, these results suggest that BnMKS1 might play an important role in defense against L. maculans.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Putting the 2019 Nutrition Recommendations for Pressure Injury Prevention and Treatment into Practice
Authors: Litchford Mary Demarest
Published: August 2020

Healthy diets provide essential nutrients needed to maintain healthy skin and prevent or manage pressure injuries. The 2019 Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries published by the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance includes specific nutrition recommendations for patients with pressure injuries. The purpose of this CE/CME article is to explore the changes in the nutrition recommendations and strategies for implementation.

GENERAL PURPOSE

To explore the changes in the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries (CPG) nutrition recommendations and strategies for implementation.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES

After participating in this educational activity, the participant will:

1. Synthesize the current evidence regarding nutrition approaches to medical conditions, including pressure injury prevention and treatment.

2. Summarize the changes and recommendations in the 2019 edition of the CPG.
The Promise of Smartphone Applications in the Remote Monitoring of Postsurgical Wounds: A Literature Review
Authors: Wang Sheila C. , Au Yunghan , Ramirez-GarciaLuna Jose L. , Lee Lawrence , Berry Gregory K.
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVE

To review the clinical and scientific literature on remote monitoring and management of postsurgical wounds using smartphone applications (apps).

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries were searched for relevant articles on patients who received surgery and were monitored postdischarge via an app.

STUDY SELECTION

Articles were selected with the terms “mobile phones,” “smartphones,” “wounds,” “monitor,” and “patient preference.”

DATA EXTRACTION

The authors found 276 review articles related to telemedicine in wound care. Investigators reviewed the titles and abstracts of the search results and selected 83 articles that were relevant to the remote monitoring of wounds using smartphone apps.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The topics explored in selected literature included smartphone app importance to telemedicine, benefits (medical and financial), app examples, and challenges in the context of wound monitoring and management. The authors identified several challenges and limitations that future studies in the field need to address.

CONCLUSIONS

Remote monitoring and management of wounds using smartphone apps is a valuable technique to enhance the quality of and access to healthcare. However, although some patients may prefer this technology, some lack technological competence, limiting telemedicine’s applicability. In addition, issues remain with the reliable interpretation of data collected through apps.