bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A genome wide association study of frozen shoulder identifies a common variant of WNT7B and diabetes as causal risk factors
Authors: Green Harry D , Jones Alistair , Evans Jonathan P , Wood Andrew R , Beaumont Robin N , Tyrrell Jessica , Frayling Timothy M , Smith Chris , Weedon Michael N
Published: November 2020

Frozen shoulder is a painful condition that often requires surgery and affects up to 5% of individuals aged 40-60 years. Little is known about the causes of the condition, but diabetes is a strong risk factor. To begin to understand the biological mechanisms involved, we aimed to identify genetic variants associated with frozen shoulder and to use Mendelian randomization to test the causal role of diabetes.

We performed a genome wide association study (GWAS) of frozen shoulder in the UK Biobank using data from 2064 cases identified from ICD-10 codes. We used data from FinnGen for replication. We used one-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomization approaches to test for a causal association of diabetes with frozen shoulder.

We identified a single genome-wide significant locus (lead SNP rs62228062; OR=1.34 [1.28-1.41], p=2×10−16) that contained WNT7B. A recent transcriptome study identified WNT7B as amongst the most enriched transcripts in anterior capsule tissue in patients undergoing arthroscopic capsulotomy surgery for frozen shoulder suggesting WNT7B as a potential causal gene at the locus. The lead SNP was also strongly associated with Dupuytren’s contracture (OR=2.61 [2.50, 2.72], p<1×10−100). The Mendelian randomization results provided evidence that type 1 diabetes is a causal risk factor for frozen shoulder (OR=1.04 [1.02-1.07], p=6×10−5). There was no evidence that obesity was causally associated with frozen shoulder, suggesting that diabetes influences risk of the condition through glycemic rather than mechanical effects.

We have identified the first genetic variant associated with frozen shoulder. WNT7B is a potential causal gene at the locus. Diabetes is a likely causal risk factor. Our results provide evidence of biological mechanisms involved in this common painful condition.
Evaluation of Hemorheological Parameters as Biomarkers of Calcium Metabolism and Insulin Resistance in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Farber Paulo L. , Dias Ana , Freitas Teresa , Pinho Ana C. , Viggiano Diego , Saldanha Carlota , Silva-Herdade Ana S.
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Calcium, vitamin D and insulin resistance are linked to osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in menopause.

OBJECTIVE

Determine if hemorheological parameters related to blood viscosity in microcirculation are linked to calcium metabolism and insulin resistance in menopause.

METHODS

25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D), Parathyroid Hormone, ionized calcium, Glucose, Insulin and Hemoglobin A1c were measured in blood from 43 volunteers. Red blood cells (RBC) aggregation, RBC deformability and Whole Blood Viscosity were also performed.

RESULTS

25(OH)D showed a positive correlation with RBC deformability 0.60 Pa. Subjects with 25(OH)D ≤ 29.00 ng/mL had lower RBC deformability 0.60 Pa. and higher RBC Aggregation and higher HOMA-IR. Ionized calcium showed a negative correlation with RBC Aggregation. Subjects with ionized calcium ≤1.24 mmol/L showed higher RBC Aggregation. There was a positive correlation between HOMA-IR and RBC Aggregation and HOMA-IR showed a negative correlation with RBC deformability 0.30 Pa. Subjects with HOMA-IR<1.80 showed lower RBC aggregation and higher RBC deformability at 0.30 Pa, 0.60 Pa, 1.20 Pa, 3.0 Pa and 6.0 Pa.

CONCLUSION

Low 25(OH)D, low ionized calcium and high HOMA-IR are related to impaired hemorheology in menopause. RBC aggregation and deformability can be used as biomarkers of calcium metabolism and insulin resistance in menopause.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: Correlates in a nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Australian population
Authors: Edwards Ben , Biddle Nicholas , Gray Matthew , Sollis Kate
Published: November 2020

Background

High levels of vaccination coverage in populations will be required even with vaccines that have high levels of effectiveness to prevent and stop outbreaks of coronavirus. The World Health Organisation has suggested that governments take a proactive response to vaccine hesitancy ‘hotspots’ based on social and behavioural insights.

Methods

Representative longitudinal online survey of over 3000 adults from Australia that examines the demographic, attitudinal, political and social attitudes and COVID-19 health behavior correlates of vaccine hesitance and resistance to a COVID-19 vaccine.

Results

Overall, 59% would definitely get the vaccine, 29% had low levels of hesitancy, 7% had high levels of hesitancy and 6% were resistant. Females, those living in disadvantaged areas, those who reported that risks of COVID-19 was overstated, those who had more populist views and higher levels of religiosity were more likely to be hesitant or resistant while those who had higher levels of household income, those who had higher levels of social distancing, who downloaded the COVID-Safe App, who had more confidence in their state or territory government or confidence in their hospitals, or were more supportive of migration were more likely to intend to get vaccinated.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that vaccine hesitancy, which accounts for a significant proportion of the population can be addressed by public health messaging but for a significant minority of the population with strongly held beliefs, alternative policy measures may well be needed to achieve sufficient vaccination coverage to end the pandemic.
Biotic homogenisation in bird communities leads to large-scale changes in species associations
Authors: Rigal Stanislas , Devictor Vincent , Gaüzère Pierre , Kéfi Sonia , Forsman Jukka T , Kajanus MIra H , Mönkkönen Mikko , Dakos Vasilis
Published: November 2020

Aim

The impact of global change on biodiversity is commonly assessed in terms of changes in species distributions, community richness and community composition. Whether and how much associations between species,i.e. the degree of correlation in their spatial co-occurrence, are also changing is much less documented and mostly limited to local studies of ecological networks. In this study, we quantify changes in large-scale patterns of species associations in bird communities in relation to changes in species composition.

Location

France.

Time period

2001-2017.

Major taxa studied

Common breeding birds.

Methods

We use network approaches to build three community-aggregated indices reflecting complementary aspects of species association networks. We characterise the spatio-temporal dynamics of these indices using a large-scale and high-resolution dataset of bird co-abundances of 109 species monitored for 17 years (2001-2017) from 1,969 sites across France. We finally test whether spatial and temporal changes in species association networks are related to species homogenisation estimated as the spatio-temporal dynamics of β-diversity and the proportion of habitat generalists. The consistency of these relationships is tested across three main habitats, namely woodland, grassland and human settlements.

Results

We document a directional change in association-based indices in response to modifications in β-diversity and in the proportion of generalists in space and time. Weaker associations and sparser networks were related to lower β-diversity and a higher proportion of generalists, suggesting an overlooked aspect of biotic homogenisation affecting species associations. We report that this overall pattern is not constant across habitats, with opposite relationships between biotic homogenisation and change in species association networks in urban versus forest communities suggesting distinct homogenisation processes.

Main Conclusions

Although species association contain only partial signatures of species interactions, our study highlights that biotic homogenisation translates to finer changes in community structure by affecting the number, strength and type of species associations.
Triplex and other DNA motifs show motif-specific associations with mitochondrial DNA deletions and species lifespan
Authors: Pabis Kamil
Published: November 2020

The “theory of resistant biomolecules” posits that long-lived species show resistance to molecular damage at the level of their biomolecules. Here, we test this hypothesis in the context of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as it implies that predicted mutagenic DNA motifs should be inversely correlated with species maximum lifespan (MLS).

First, we confirmed that guanine-quadruplex and direct repeat (DR) motifs are mutagenic, as they associate with mtDNA deletions in the human major arc of mtDNA, while also adding mirror repeat (MR) and intramolecular triplex motifs to a growing list of potentially mutagenic features. What is more, triplex motifs showed disease-specific associations with deletions and an apparent interaction with guanine-quadruplex motifs.

Surprisingly, even though DR, MR and guanine-quadruplex motifs were associated with mtDNA deletions, their correlation with MLS was explained by the biased base composition of mtDNA. Only triplex motifs negatively correlated with MLS even after adjusting for body mass, phylogeny, mtDNA base composition and effective number of codons.

Taken together, our work highlights the importance of base composition for the comparative biogerontology of mtDNA and suggests that future research on mitochondrial triplex motifs is warranted.
Augmented hip proprioception influences mediolateral foot placement during walking
Authors: Knapp Holly A. , Sobolewski Blaire A. , Dean Jesse C.
Published: November 2020

Hip abductor proprioception contributes to the control of mediolateral foot placement, which varies with step-by-step fluctuations in pelvis dynamics. While prior work has used hip abductor vibration as a sensory perturbation to investigate this role of hip proprioception, we here tested whether time-varying vibration can predictably manipulate the relationship between pelvis dynamics and foot placement. We compared participants’ (n=32; divided into two groups of 16 with slightly different vibration control) gait behavior across four treadmill walking conditions: 1) No feedback; 2) Random feedback, with vibration unrelated to pelvis motion; 3) Augmented feedback, with vibration designed to evoke proprioceptive feedback paralleling the actual pelvis motion; 4) Disrupted feedback, with vibration designed to evoke proprioceptive feedback inversely related to pelvis motion. We hypothesized that the relationship between pelvis dynamics and foot placement would be strengthened by Augmented feedback but weakened by Disrupted feedback. For both participant groups, the strength of the relationship between pelvis dynamics at the start of a step and foot placement at the end of a step was significantly (p≤0.0002) influenced by the feedback condition. This metric was highest with Augmented feedback, but not significantly reduced with Disrupted feedback, partially supporting our hypotheses. Our approach to augmenting proprioceptive feedback during gait may have implications for clinical populations with a weakened relationship between pelvis motion and foot placement.
Robust vestibular self-motion signals in macaque posterior cingulate region
Authors: Liu Bingyu , Tian Qingyang , Gu Yong
Published: November 2020

Self-motion signals, distributed ubiquitously across parietal-temporal lobes, propagate to limbic hippocampal system for vector-based navigation via hubs including posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and retrosplenial cortex (RSC). Although numerous studies have indicated that posterior cingulate areas are involved in spatial tasks, it is unclear about how their neurons represent self-motion signals. By providing translation and rotation stimuli to macaques on a 6-degree-of-freedom motion platform, we discovered robust vestibular responses in PCC. A combined 3-dimensional spatiotemporal model captured data well and revealed multiple temporal components including velocity, acceleration, jerk, and position. The former three signals, but not position, conveyed consistent spatial information. Compared to PCC, RSC contained moderate vestibular temporal modulations and lacked significant spatial tuning. Visual self-motion signals were much weaker in both regions compared to the vestibular signals. We conclude that macaque posterior cingulate region carries vestibular-dominant self-motion signals with plentiful temporal components that could be useful for path integration.
Rapid HIV-1 capsid interaction screening using fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy
Authors: Lau Derrick , Walsh James C. , Dickson Claire F. , Tuckwell Andrew , Stear Jeffrey H. , Hunter Dominic J. B. , Bhumkar Akshay , Shah Vaibhav , Turville Stuart G. , Sierecki Emma , Gambin Yann , Böcking Till , Jacques David A.
Published: November 2020

The HIV capsid is a multifunctional protein capsule for delivery of the viral genetic material into the nucleus of the target cell. Host cell proteins bind to a number of repeating binding sites on the capsid to regulate steps in the replication cycle. Here we develop a fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy method using self-assembled capsid particles as the bait to screen for fluorescence-labelled capsid-binding analytes (‘prey’ molecules) in solution. The assay capitalizes on the property of the HIV capsid as a multivalent interaction platform, facilitating high sensitivity detection of multiple prey molecules that have accumulated onto capsids as spikes in fluorescence intensity traces. By using a scanning stage, we reduced the measurement time to 10 s without compromising on sensitivity, providing a rapid binding assay for screening libraries of potential capsid interactors. The assay can also identify interfaces for host molecule binding by using capsids with defects in known interaction interfaces. Two-color coincidence detection using fluorescent capsid as bait further allows quantification of binding levels and determination of binding affinities. Overall, the assay provides new tools for discovery and characterization of molecules used by HIV capsid to orchestrate infection. The measurement principle can be extended for the development of sensitive interaction assays utilizing natural or synthetic multivalent scaffolds as analyte-binding platforms.
A Bayesian semi-parametric model for thermal proteome profiling
Authors: Fang Siqi , Kirk Paul D.W. , Bantscheff Marcus , Lilley Kathryn S. , Crook Oliver M.
Published: November 2020

The thermal stability of proteins can be altered when they interact with small molecules, other biomolecules or are subject to post-translation modifications. Thus monitoring the thermal stability of proteins under various cellular perturbations can provide insights into protein function, as well as potentially determine drug targets and off-targets. Thermal proteome profiling is a highly multiplexed mass-spectrommetry method for monitoring the melting behaviour of thousands of proteins in a single experiment. In essence, thermal proteome profiling assumes that proteins denature upon heating and hence become insoluble. Thus, by tracking the relative solubility of proteins at sequentially increasing temperatures, one can report on the thermal stability of a protein. Standard thermodynamics predicts a sigmoidal relationship between temperature and relative solubility and this is the basis of current robust statistical procedures. However, current methods do not model deviations from this behaviour and they do not quantify uncertainty in the melting profiles. To overcome these challenges, we propose the application of Bayesian functional data analysis tools which allow complex temperature-solubility behaviours. Our methods have improved sensitivity over the state-of-the art, identify new drug-protein associations and have less restrictive assumptions than current approaches. Our methods allows for comprehensive analysis of proteins that deviate from the predicted sigmoid behaviour and we uncover potentially biphasic phenomena with a series of published datasets.
Role of the Matrix-Capsid Cleavage Site Polymorphism S124V of HIV-1 Sub-subtype A2 in Gag Polyprotein Processing
Authors: Mavian Carla , Coman Roxana M , Dunn Ben M , Goodenow Maureen M
Published: November 2020

Subtype C and A HIV-1 strains dominate the epidemic in Africa and Asia, while sub-subtype A2 is found at low frequency only in West Africa. To relate Gag processingin vitrowith viral fitness, viral protease (PR) enzymatic activity andin vitroGag processing were evaluated. The rate of sub-subtype A2 Gag polyprotein processing, as production of the p24 protein, was reduced compared to subtype B or C independent of PR subtype, indicating that subtype A2 Gag qualitatively differed from other subtypes. Introduction of subtype B matrix-capsid cleavage site in sub-subtype A2 Gag only partially restored the processing rate. Unique amino acid polymorphism V124S at the matrix-capsid cleavage site, together with other polymorphisms at non-cleavage sites, are differentially influencing the processing of Gag polyproteins. This genetic polymorphisms landscape defining HIV-1 sub-subtypes, subtypes and recombinant forms are determinants of viral fitness and frequency in the HIV-1 infected population.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

The polymorphism at matrix-capsid cleavage site, together with non-cleavage sites polymorphisms, direct the processing rate of the substrate, not the intrinsic activity of the enzyme.

The less prevalent and less infectious sub-subtype A2 harbors the matrix-capsid cleavage site polymorphism that we report as a limiting factor for gag processing.

Sub-subtype A2 Gag polyprotein processing rate is independent of the PR subtype.
Learning, development and change in a community-based enterprise in Myanmar
Authors: Crocco Oliver S. , Cseh Maria
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the process of large-scale organizational change in a community-based enterprise in Myanmar.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study methodology was selected to understand the phenomenon of change in a community-based enterprise in Myanmar. Data were collected over a four-week period of fieldwork through individual interviews, focus groups, observations and document collection. Data were analyzed via a modified inductive analytic strategy using constant comparative analysis.

Findings

Findings revealed the processes used in this large-scale organizational change as impacted by the national cultural dimensions of Myanmar and the social learning experienced by the participants. Learning about organization development and change and sharing that learning in the organization by its members who participated in a certificate program in organizational development designed by Payap University (Thailand) and the International Rescue Committee had a major role in the change processes. Myanmar’s high power distance and collectivist culture facilitated social learning by highlighting authority figures as role models and providing high interaction environments conducive to learning.

Originality/value

This study illuminates the change process in a community-based organization in the emerging economy of Myanmar where no roadmaps for change in these types of organizations exist. The findings of this study are transferrable to community-based organizations in emerging economies with similar national cultural characteristics and call for future case studies to understand the complexities of change in these unique organizations and environments.
Disability, employment and wages: evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Caron Laura
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the labor market outcomes of people with disabilities (PwD) in Indonesia and compares them to people without disabilities. It first studies the labor force participation of PwD before examining the large and persistent wage gaps they face. It explores whether these wage gaps are explained by differences in productivity, a distinction which has important implications for policies addressing these gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on the Indonesian Family Life Survey Wave 5, which includes unique questions allowing for several definitions of disability. Multinomial logistic regression is used to study differences in type of employment for PwD. Wage gaps are estimated and corrected for selection using propensity score matching, supported by a Heckman selection model and Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition. Comparisons with other physically disadvantaged subgroups and the analysis of heterogeneity by job requirements and sector of work explore whether productivity gaps help explain wage gaps.

Findings

PwD generally have lower unconditional labor force participation, but disparities largely disappear when controlling for characteristics. Moreover, patterns vary depending on whether the measure of disability used depends on prior medical diagnosis. PwD that do not require prior diagnosis tend to work in more vulnerable employment. When they are employed for wages, people with these types of disabilities face lower wages, up to 22% lower. Meanwhile, (surprisingly) those with medically diagnosed conditions face no difference or a wage premium. This paper finds compelling evidence that, where a wage penalty exists, a substantial part is unexplained by observable characteristics.

Originality/value

Previous literature on disability has been mostly based on studies of high-income economies. This paper extends the literature to Indonesia, which differs from high-income contexts due to lack of mental healthcare resources and assistive technologies, as well as weaker rule of law. It provides unique insights based on types of disability and the salient dimensions of disability in the workplace. It also provides evidence that productivity differences do not explain the wage gap.
The role of subjective knowledge and perceived trustworthiness in fair trade consumption for fashion and food products
Authors: Eberhardt Tim , Hubert Marco , Lischka Helena Maria , Hubert Mirja , Lin Zhibin
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how subjective knowledge about fair trade products and the perceived trustworthiness of information about fair trade goods influence purchase intention and reported purchase behaviour across two product categories, namely, fashion and food.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from an online survey with a sample of 1,616 consumers in four European countries, namely, Germany, Italy, Austria and the UK.

Findings

The results show that subjective knowledge moderates the positive relationship between intentions to purchase and reported purchase behaviour of fair trade products, however, the moderating role of perceived information trustworthiness was not significant. Furthermore, both the intention to purchase and reported purchase behaviour are significantly lower for fair trade fashion products than for fair trade food products.

Practical implications

This paper shows how fair trade consumption behaviour is mainly influenced by subjective knowledge about fair trade products. It reveals existing differences in both the buying intentions and reported purchase behaviour in different European markets.

Originality/value

This research broadens the understanding of consumers’ fair trade consumption behaviour across two different product categories and four different countries, with a focus on the interaction effect of consumers’ subjective knowledge and information trustworthiness.
The circular economy and the implied terms of contract in English sales law
Authors: Beheshti Reza
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine the contractual framework for the sale of goods in order to gauge whether the English sales law regime can promote a circular business model.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical and doctrinal legal analysis.

Findings

Due to the absence of rules and regulations requiring manufacturers produce goods compliant with the circular economy (CE), English Sale of Goods Act has limited capacity in holding manufacturers accountable and liable in failing to manufacture goods compliant with the CE. The only currently practical solution for this gap is that the buyers should ensure that their particular intention of obtaining goods compliant with the CE is fully communicated to manufacturers.

Originality/value

This is the first examination of the implied terms of English sales law from the perspective of the CE.
Understanding the determinants of online pharmacy adoption: a two-staged SEM-neural network analysis approach
Authors: Sabbir Md. Mahiuddin , Islam Mazharul , Das Samir
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to understand the determinants of online pharmacy or epharmacy adoption among young consumers in Bangladesh using an extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured Google Docs questionnaire was sent out to 420 respondents using messenger service; 285 useable responses were finally extracted. Data were empirically validated using the two-staged structural equation model (SEM)-neural network analysis approach.

Findings

The robustness of the classical UTAUT model remains intact in the context of online pharmacy adoption. Among the integrated variables, while perceived trust and health literacy were found significant, perceived risk and personal innovativeness were found insignificant in determining consumers’ intention to adopt online pharmacy. The neural network analysis provided further verification of these findings derived from the SEM.

Practical implications

The findings of this study would facilitate in devising better strategies for entering or expanding online pharmacy business in developing countries such as Bangladesh.

Originality/value

The originality of the current study relates to the two-fold contributions of this study. First, while this study extended the classical UTAUT model by incorporating perceived risk, perceived trust, personal innovativeness and health literacy, the inclusion of the following two variables is fresh within the extant online pharmacy literature. Second, by using a two-staged SEM-neural network analysis approach, this study advances the past studies on e-commerce adoption in pharmaceutical settings and provides a general understanding of the customers of developing countries.
Neural responses to food cues in middle to older aged adults: a scoping review of fMRI studies
Authors: Bennett Christie , Burrows Tracy , Pursey Kirrilly , Poudel Govinda , Ng Ker Wei , Nguo Kay , Walker Karen , Porter Judi
Published: November 2020

Aim

Understanding neural responses through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to food and food cues in middle‐older adults may lead to better treatment options to address the growing issue of malnutrition. This scoping review aimed to determine the extent, range and nature of research using fMRI, related to reward‐based regions, in response to food cues in middle to older aged adults (50 years and over).

Methods

The following databases were systematically searched in July 2019: CINAHL, CENTRAL, Embase, Dissertations and Theses, Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, PsycEXTRA, Scopus and Web of Science. Studies were eligible for inclusion if participants had a mean or median age ≥50 years, utilised and reported outcomes of either a food cue task‐related fMRI methodology or resting‐state fMRI. Data from included studies were charted, and synthesised narratively.

Results

Twenty‐two studies were included. Eighteen studies utilised a task‐related design to measure neural activation, two studies measured resting state neural connectivity only and an additional two studies measured both. The fMRI scanning paradigms, food cue tools and procedure of presentation varied markedly. Four studies compared the neural responses to food between younger and older adults, providing no consensus on neural age‐related changes to food cues; two studies utilised longitudinal scans.

Conclusion

This review identified significant extent, range and nature in the approaches used to assess neuronal activity in response to food cues in adults aged 50 years and over. Future studies are needed to understand the age‐related appetite changes whilst considering personal preferences for food cues.
Association between poverty exposure during childhood and adolescence, and drug use disorders and drug‐related crimes later in life
Authors: Manhica Hélio , Straatmann Viviane S. , Lundin Andreas , Agardh Emilie , Danielsson Anna‐Karin
Published: November 2020

Aims

To examine whether poverty exposure in childhood/adolescence increases the risk of later drug use disorder and drug crime conviction.

Design, Setting and participants

A national cohort study encompassing 634 284 individuals born between 1985 and 1990, residing in Sweden between 5 and 18 years of age, followed‐up from January 2004 to December 2016, starting from the age of 19 years until the first visit to inpatient/outpatient care with a diagnosis of a drug use disorder or a drug crime offence.

Measurements

The exposure variable was ‘trajectories of poverty’ based on household income, assessed through group‐based trajectory analysis. Cox regression analysis was used to obtain hazard ratios for drug use disorders and drug crime convictions using age as the underlying time scale.

Findings

We identified five trajectories of childhood/adolescence poverty: (1) ‘moving out of poverty in childhood’ (8.7%); (2) ‘never poverty’ (68.9%); (3) ‘moving into poverty in adolescence’ (11.0%); (4) ‘moving out of poverty in adolescence’ (5.4%); and (5) ‘chronically poor’ (5.9%). Compared with the ‘never poor’ group, almost all trajectory groups had higher risks for drug use problems. Young males ‘moving into poverty in adolescence’ had the highest risks of drug use disorder [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.40–1.57] and drug crime conviction (HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.38–1.62), after adjusting for calendar year, domicile, origin, psychiatric diagnosis and parental psychiatric diagnosis. The results were similar in females moving into poverty in adolescence (HR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.52–1.76 and HR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.74–2.05 for drug use disorders and drug crime, respectively).

Conclusion

In Sweden, poverty exposure early in life seems to increase the risk of drug use problems in adulthood. These associations are not explained fully by domicile, origin or other psychiatric disorders. Young males and females moving into poverty in adolescence are at highest risk.
Coextinction of Pseudococcus markharveyi (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae): a case study in the modern insect extinction crisis
Authors: Moir Melinda L
Published: November 2020

The majority of modern insect extinctions are likely unrecorded, despite increasing concern for this hyperdiverse group. This is because they are either yet to be discovered and described, their distributions and host associations are poorly known, or data are too sparse to detect declines in populations. Here, I outline the likely extinction of an Australian mealybug, Pseudococcus markharveyi Gullan 2013, which was discovered and described less than 15 years ago but was highlighted recently as one of five most threatened invertebrates in Australia from recent bushfires. The synergistic threats of dieback disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, 1922) and inappropriate fire regime as a consequence of climate change, have decimated host plant populations of the critically endangered Banksia montana (George, 1996) (Mast & Thiele 2007) and the montane habitat of both organisms, thereby leading to the coextinction of the mealybug. Its loss occurred despite attempts at conservation management and illustrates the general insect extinction crisis that Australia, and the world, is facing. The majority of Australian mealybugs are not receiving the same attention as P. markharveyi. Many poorly known species either remain undetected, without formal names, or data on their distribution, abundance and critical habitat are too scant to assess their conservation status. I also discuss the diversity of Australian mealybugs more generally and their need for conservation.
Choroidal imaging in patients with Cushing syndrome
Authors: Eymard Pauline , Gerardy Melvin , Bouys Lucas , Mehanna Chadi , Bertherat Jérôme , Behar‐Cohen Francine , Bousquet Elodie
Published: November 2020

Aims

Glucocorticoid intake is a well‐established risk factor for central serous chorioretinopathy that belongs to the pachychoroid spectrum disease (PSD). The study aimed to assess the prevalence of PSD and analyse the choroidal phenotype in patients with Cushing syndrome.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was performed in Ophtalmopôle hôpital Cochin, Paris, France, with a systematic evaluation of hospitalized patients with Cushing syndrome, between November 2017 and July 2018. 56 eyes from 28 Cushing syndrome patients and 56 eyes of 28 age and gender‐matched, and close spherical equivalent healthy participants were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including Enhanced‐Depth Imaging (EDI)‐Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Measures of subfoveal, 1000 µm nasal and 1000 µm temporal choroidal thicknesses were realized, and the presence of choroidal pachyvessels was evaluated. Hormonal tests evaluated the corticotropic axis.

Results

The number of eyes with PSD was significantly higher in Cushing syndrome patients as compared to controls (21.4% versus 3.6%, p = 0.004). In Cushing patients’ eyes, 17.9% had a pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy (PPE) and 3.6% had a polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Pachyvessels were more common in Cushing syndrome patients than in healthy subjects (71.4% versus 42.9%, p = 0.002). Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 331 ± 110 µm in Cushing patients, with no statistical difference between the two groups. There was no correlation between choroidal thickness and urinary and salivary cortisol levels.

Conclusion

Patients with Cushing syndrome have a higher prevalence of PDS. An ophthalmologic specialized follow‐up of these patients with EDI‐OCT could detect chorioretinal abnormalities and adapt the surveillance of these patients.
A systematic literature review of LASA error interventions
Authors: Bryan Rachel , Aronson Jeffrey K. , Williams Alison J. , Jordan Sue
Published: November 2020

Aims

The aim of this systematic review was to explore and evaluate the efficacy of interventions to reduce the prevalence of look‐alike, sound‐alike (LASA) medication name errors.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the literature, searching PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science up to December 2016, and re‐ran the search in February 2020 for later results. We included studies of interventions to reduce LASA errors and included randomized controlled trials, controlled before‐and‐after studies, and interrupted time series. Details were registered in Prospero (ID: CRD42016048198).

Results

We identified six studies that fulfilled our inclusion criteria. All were conducted in laboratories. Given the diversity in the included studies, we did not conduct a meta‐analysis and instead report the findings narratively. The only intervention explored in RCTs was capitalization of selected letters (“Tall Man”), for which we found limited efficacy and no consensus.

Conclusions

Tall Man lettering is a marginally effective intervention to reduce LASA errors, with a number of caveats. We suggest that Tall Man gives rise to a “quasi‐placebo effect”, whereby a user derives more benefit from Tall Man lettering if they are aware of its purpose. Keywords: (on scholar one).
The antidepressant hoax: Conspiracy theories decrease health‐seeking intentions
Authors: Natoli Eleanor E. , Marques Mathew D.
Published: November 2020

Health‐related conspiracy theories can undermine the trustworthiness of actors and institutions and may impact an individual’s intention to seek help. Across three experimental studies, we investigated the consequences of exposure to an antidepressant conspiracy theory on general intentions to seek medical and psychological help. Study 1 participants (N = 299) were randomly allocated to read one of three articles (pro‐conspiracy, anti‐conspiracy, control) after which they completed measures of conspiracy endorsement, trust, powerlessness, and health‐seeking intentions. Results suggested that exposure to antidepressant conspiracy theories significantly reduced individual’s intention to seek help indirectly through decreased trust in health authorities, but not health‐industry‐related powerlessness. In two additional pre‐registered studies, we found some support for these findings. While Study 2 (N = 244) found no support for a direct or indirect relationship between conspiracy exposure and health‐seeking intentions, an exploratory analysis highlighted the importance of gender differences when investigating conspiracy exposure on intentions. Study 3 (N = 247) replicated Study 1 findings, highlighting that antidepressant conspiracy theories decrease health‐seeking intentions indirectly through decreased trust and increased powerlessness. Mere exposure to antidepressant conspiracy theories had significant indirect consequences on general health‐seeking intentions.
Focal adhesion kinase—An emerging viable target in cancer and development of focal adhesion kinase inhibitors
Authors: Chauhan Akshita , Khan Tabassum
Published: November 2020

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non‐receptor tyrosine kinase located at the extracellular matrix cell adhesion site. This kinase mediates downstream signalling cascades on the cell‐extracellular matrix of integrins, cytokine receptors, growth factor receptors and G‐protein‐coupled receptors. Several studies have suggested the importance of FAK in cancer cell adhesion, motility, proliferation and survival and is over‐expressed in cancer cells. There is a growing body of evidence indicating involvement of FAK‐mediated signalling and functions in development of tumour cells, making FAK an emerging viable therapeutic target. There is substantial research impetus on development of small molecule FAK inhibitors that impact and inhibit the downstream pathways of FAK, subsequently modulating cancer progression and survival. A variety of scaffolds including hybrid scaffolds have been designed and synthesized with some translating into clinical trials. In addition to the reduction of metastasis and angiogenesis, these inhibitors are effective in inducing tumour cell apoptosis. In this paper, we provide an overview of FAK and analysis of design, synthesis and structure–activity relationship of small molecule FAK inhibitors reported till date. We have discussed FAK inhibitors in clinical trials and highlighted future prospects in the development of FAK inhibitors to augment the armamentarium of cancer therapeutics.
Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic
Authors:   COVIDSurg Collaborative
Published: November 2020

Aim

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic.

Method

This was an international cohort study of patients undergoing elective resection of colon or rectal cancer without preoperative suspicion of SARS‐CoV‐2. Centres entered data from their first recorded case of COVID‐19 until 19 April 2020. The primary outcome was 30‐day mortality. Secondary outcomes included anastomotic leak, postoperative SARS‐CoV‐2 and a comparison with prepandemic European Society of Coloproctology cohort data.

Results

From 2073 patients in 40 countries, 1.3% (27/2073) had a defunctioning stoma and 3.0% (63/2073) had an end stoma instead of an anastomosis only. Thirty‐day mortality was 1.8% (38/2073), the incidence of postoperative SARS‐CoV‐2 was 3.8% (78/2073) and the anastomotic leak rate was 4.9% (86/1738). Mortality was lowest in patients without a leak or SARS‐CoV‐2 (14/1601, 0.9%) and highest in patients with both a leak and SARS‐CoV‐2 (5/13, 38.5%). Mortality was independently associated with anastomotic leak (adjusted odds ratio 6.01, 95% confidence interval 2.58–14.06), postoperative SARS‐CoV‐2 (16.90, 7.86–36.38), male sex (2.46, 1.01–5.93), age >70 years (2.87, 1.32–6.20) and advanced cancer stage (3.43, 1.16–10.21). Compared with prepandemic data, there were fewer anastomotic leaks (4.9% versus 7.7%) and an overall shorter length of stay (6 versus 7 days) but higher mortality (1.7% versus 1.1%).

Conclusion

Surgeons need to further mitigate against both SARS‐CoV‐2 and anastomotic leak when offering surgery during current and future COVID‐19 waves based on patient, operative and organizational risks.
Inferring insect feeding patterns from sugar profiles: a comparison of statistical methods
Authors: Luquet Martin , Parisey Nicolas , Hervé Maxime , Desouhant Emmanuel , Cortesero Anne‐Marie , Peñalver‐Cruz Ainara , Lavandero Blas , Anton Sylvia , Jaloux Bruno
Published: November 2020

Investigations in nutritional ecology often require the identification of animal feeding patterns in natural conditions (what, where, and when do animals eat). Thus, methods are needed to trace not only individual resource uptake but also the relative use of different resources in a population or community.

Recent biochemical developments allow predicting the use of sugar‐rich resources from insects in the field. Individual feeding status (feeding history, food sources) is inferred by comparing insect sugar profiles with those of individuals fed on controlled diets. Individual assignations are then used to predict the relative consumption of different resources at the population or community level. As both steps may generate error, accurate prediction rules are needed. However, research from other domains (e.g., protein‐marking studies) suggests that classical decision rules used for such tasks may sometimes induce bias.

This study evaluated the performance of these rules and compared them to alternative methods on simulated, realistic datasets. It tested different methods for individual classification but also introduced methods for prevalence estimation, whose specific purpose is to estimate the relative frequency of different classes.

Alternative methods substantially outperformed the traditional algorithms to predict insect individual feeding status and population class distribution (relative frequency of insects with different feeding status). This study provided a simple decision tool to choose a method according to dataset size, variance, and biochemical method used.

Alternative methods should increase prediction confidence in future studies. Such approaches should easily be generalized to a wider range of systems.
Divergent expression of hypoxia response systems under deoxygenation in reef‐forming corals aligns with bleaching susceptibility
Authors: Alderdice Rachel , Suggett David J. , Cárdenas Anny , Hughes David J. , Kühl Michael , Pernice Mathieu , Voolstra Christian R.
Published: November 2020

Exposure of marine life to low oxygen is accelerating worldwide via climate change and localized pollution. Mass coral bleaching and mortality have recently occurred where reefs have experienced chronic low oxygen events. However, the mechanistic basis of tolerance to oxygen levels inadequate to sustain normal functioning (i.e. hypoxia) and whether it contributes to bleaching susceptibility, remain unknown. We therefore experimentally exposed colonies of the environmentally resilient Acropora tenuis, a common reef‐building coral from the Great Barrier Reef, to deoxygenation–reoxygenation stress that was aligned to their natural night–day light cycle. Specifically, the treatment involved removing the ‘night‐time O2 buffer’ to challenge the inherent hypoxia thresholds. RNA‐Seq analysis revealed that coral possess a complete and active hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐mediated hypoxia response system (HRS) homologous to other metazoans. As expected, A. tenuis exhibited bleaching resistance and showed a strong inducibility of HIF target genes in response to deoxygenation stress. We applied this same approach in parallel to a colony of Acropora selago, known to be environmnetally susceptible, which conversely exhibited a bleaching phenotype response. This phenotypic divergence of A. selago was accompanied by contrasting gene expression profiles indicative of varied effectiveness of their HIF‐HRS. Based on our RNA‐Seq analysis, we propose (a) that the HIF‐HRS is central for corals to manage deoxygenation stress and (b) that key genes of this system (and the wider gene network) may contribute to variation in coral bleaching susceptibility. Our analysis suggests that heat shock protein (hsp) 70 and 90 are important for low oxygen stress tolerance and further highlights how hsp90 expression might also affect the inducibility of coral HIF‐HRS in overcoming a metabolic crisis under deoxygenation stress. We propose that differences in coral HIF‐HRS could be central in regulating sensitivity to other climate change stressors—notably thermal stress—that commonly drive bleaching.
A clinical librarian in a hospital critical care unit may generate a positive return on investment
Authors: Hartfiel Ned , Sadera Girendra , Treadway Victoria , Lawrence Catherine , Tudor Edwards Rhiannon
Published: November 2020

Background

Timely information provided by clinical librarians can contribute to outcomes such as improved patient care and time savings for hospital staff. What is unknown is the return on investment (ROI) of a clinical librarian on a critical care unit.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the ROI, from the employer perspective, of placing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit in a large UK acute hospital.

Methods

Using a mixed methods approach, ROI was estimated by comparing the total costs with the total monetised benefits of implementing the clinical librarian intervention. Total costs included salary and equipment costs. Total monetised benefits included time saving for hospital staff, support for professional development and improved patient care.

Results

When total monetised benefits were compared with total costs, the 15‐month clinical librarian intervention generated a positive ROI of £1.18–£3.03 for every £1 invested.

Discussion

Using outcome measures derived from previous research, this novel study generated promising results indicative for commissioners seeking to improve patient care and deliver value for money. To improve generalisability, multisite studies using standardised ROI tools are recommended.

Conclusion

Employing a clinical librarian in a critical care unit can generate a positive ROI.