bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure-function analysis of interallelic complementation inROOTYtransheterozygotes
Authors: Brumos Javier , Bobay Benjamin G. , Clark Cierra A. , Alonso Jose M. , Stepanova Anna N.
Published: January 2020

Auxin is a crucial plant growth regulator. Forward genetic screens for auxin-related mutants have led to the identification of key genes involved in auxin biosynthesis, transport, and signaling. Loss-of-function mutations in the genes involved in indole glucosinolate biosynthesis, a metabolically-related route that produces defense compounds from indolic precursors shared with the auxin pathway, result in auxin overproduction. We identified an allelic series of fertile, hypomorphic mutants for an essential indole glucosinolate route geneROOTY(RTY)that show a range of high-auxin defects. Genetic characterization of these lines uncovered phenotypic suppression bycyp79b2 b3,wei2, andwei7mutants and revealed the phenomenon of interallelic complementation in severalRTYtransheterozygotes. Structural modeling of RTY shed light on the structure-to-function relations in the RTY homo- and heterodimers and unveiled the likely structural basis of interallelic complementation. This work underscores the importance of employing true null mutants in genetic complementation studies.
A Point Mutation in the RNA Recognition Motif of CSTF2 Associated with Intellectual Disability in Humans Causes Defects in 3′ End Processing
Authors: Grozdanov Petar N. , Masoumzadeh Elahe , Kalscheuer Vera M. , Bienvenu Thierry , Billuart Pierre , Delrue Marie-Ange , Latham Michael P. , MacDonald Clinton C.
Published: January 2020

CSTF2 encodes an RNA-binding protein that is essential for mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation (C/P). No disease-associated mutations have been described for this gene. Here, we report a mutation in the RNA recognition motif (RRM) of CSTF2 that changes an aspartic acid at position 50 to alanine (p.D50A), resulting in intellectual disability in male patients. In mice, this mutation was sufficient to alter polyadenylation sites in over 1,000 genes critical for brain development. Using a reporter gene assay, we demonstrated that C/P efficiency of CSTF2D50A was lower than wild type. To account for this, we determined that p.D50A changed locations of amino acid side chains altering RNA binding sites in the RRM. The changes modified the electrostatic potential of the RRM leading to a greater affinity for RNA. These results highlight the importance of 3′ end mRNA processing in correct expression of genes important for brain plasticity and neuronal development.
Differential reinforcement encoding along the hippocampal long axis helps resolve the explore/exploit dilemma
Authors: Dombrovski Alexandre Y. , Luna Beatriz , Hallquist Michael N.
Published: January 2020

When making decisions, should one exploit known good options or explore potentially better alternatives? Exploration of spatially unstructured options depends on the neocortex, striatum, and amygdala. In natural environments, however, better options often cluster together, forming structured value distributions. The hippocampus binds reward information into allocentric cognitive maps to support navigation and foraging in such spaces. Using a reinforcement learning task with a spatially structured reward function, we show that human posterior hippocampus (PH) invigorates exploration while anterior hippocampus (AH) supports the transition to exploitation. These dynamics depend on differential reinforcement representations in the PH and AH. Whereas local reward prediction error signals are early and phasic in the PH tail, global value maximum signals are delayed and sustained in the AH body. AH compresses reinforcement information across episodes, updating the location and prominence of the value maximum and displaying goal cell-like ramping activity when navigating toward it.
Aging dampens the intestinal innate immune response duringClostridioides difficileinfection and is associated with altered intestinal eosinophil mobilization
Authors: Abernathy-Close Lisa , Dieterle Michael G. , Vendrov Kimberly C. , Bergin Ingrid L. , Young Vincent B.
Published: January 2020

Clostridioides(formerlyClostridium)difficileis the most common cause of hospital-acquired infection, and advanced age is a risk factor forC. difficileinfection. Disruption of the intestinal microbiota and immune responses contribute to host susceptibility and severity ofC. difficileinfection. However, the impact of aging on the cellular immune response associated withC. difficileinfection in the setting of advanced age remains to be well described. This study explores the effect of age on cellular immune responses inC. difficileinfection as well as disease severity. Young adult mice (2-3 months old) and aged mice (22-28 months old) were rendered susceptible toC. difficileinfection with cefoperazone and then infected withC. difficilestrains of varying disease-causing potential. Aged mice infected withC. difficiledevelop more severe clinical disease, compared to young mice. Tissue-specific CD45+ immune cell responses occurred at the time of peak disease severity in the cecum and colon of all mice infected with a high-virulence strain ofC. difficile; however, significant deficits in intestinal neutrophils and eosinophils were detected in aged mice. Interestingly, whileC. difficileinfection in young mice was associated with a robust increase in cecal and colonic eosinophils, there was a complete lack of an intestinal eosinophil response in aged counterparts accompanied by a simultaneous increase in blood eosinophils with severe disease. These findings demonstrate that age-related alterations in immune responses are associated with significantly worseC. difficileinfection and support a key role for intestinal eosinophils in mitigatingC. difficile-mediated disease severity.
Inferring transmission bottleneck size from viral sequence data using a novel haplotype reconstruction method
Authors: Ghafari Mahan , Lumby Casper K. , Weissman Daniel B. , Illingworth Christopher J. R.
Published: January 2020

The transmission bottleneck is defined as the number of viral particles transmitted from one host to another. Genome sequence data has been used to evaluate the size of the transmission bottleneck between humans infected with the influenza virus, however, the methods used to make these estimates have some limitations. Specifically, approaches using viral allele frequency data may not fully capture a process which involves the transmission of entire viral genomes. Here we set out a novel approach for inferring viral transmission bottlenecks; our method combines haplotype reconstruction, a method for inferring the composition of genomes in a viral population, with two maximum likelihood methods for bottleneck inference, tailored for small and large bottleneck sizes respectively. Our method allows for rapid calculation, and performs well when applied to data from simulated transmission events, being robust to errors in the haplotype reconstruction process. Applied to data from a previous household transmission study of influenza A infection we confirm the result that the majority of transmission events involve a small number of viruses, albeit with slightly looser bottlenecks being inferred, with between 1 and 13 particles transmitted in the majority of cases. While influenza A transmission involves a tight population bottleneck, the bottleneck is not so tight as to universally prevent the transmission of within-host viral diversity.
Impact of culture on organizational readiness to change: context of bank M&A
Authors: Samal Arbind , Patra Sabyasachi , Chatterjee Devjani
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of culture on organizational readiness to change (ORC) within the context of merger and acquisition (M&A) in the banking sector in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A multisource approach is used to collect data from a public-sector bank in India for testing our hypothesis. A hierarchical approach based on higher-order modelling has been deployed for confirming the path model. The foundation of the study is based on power distance (PD) and uncertainty avoidance (UA) cultural dimensions of Hofstede (1984).

Findings

Employees in organizations with large PD and high UA index exhibit low readiness to change. Findings support a negative relationship of culture (large PD and high UA) with organizational readiness to change at the individual level.

Research limitations/implications

The study has three major implications. First, measures and importance of change readiness at the individual level during corporate events such as M&A is elucidated in the study. Second, a paradigm for assessing higher-order models grounded in theoretical and methodological rigour for testing our hypothesis is presented in the paper. Last, the role of culture in M&A processes is highlightedvis-à-visfactors related to PD and UA on ORC.

Practical implications

The findings of the research answer to the call for a study on factors that help in creating a synergy for successful M&A across all sectors especially in the banking sector. People representing high UA and large PD often look forward to direction and guidelines for guiding employee actions. Leaders therefore need to set clear agenda and effectively communicate the appropriateness of change to their employees for developing positive behaviour towards desirable organizational outcomes. This study touches upon this important perspective for its practical utilization.

Originality/value

The study adds to the limited literature on change which addresses the need for studying socio-cultural factors in the M&A process, especially in an emerging economies context.
Impact of employer branding on employee engagement in business process outsourcing (BPO) sector in India: mediating effect of person–organization fit
Authors: Chawla Poonam
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of employer branding strategy (a mechanism used by organisations to hire and retain competent talent) on employee engagement whilst simultaneously measuring the mediating effect of person-organisation (P-O) fit.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyses a sample of 296 employees working in the BPO sector in India. The proposed model is tested with the help of structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings of the research highlight that employer branding has an affirmative relationship with P-O fit and employee engagement. The findings also reveal that P-O effect has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between employer branding and employee engagement.

Practical implications

Understanding and implementing employer branding strategies provides the organisation with a tool for not only harnessing good employees but also facilitates them to engage and retain them. Employer branding strategies ensure an increase in employee’s sense of belongingness and alignment of goals. Value congruence in the form of person organisation fit also ensures that employees believe that they are valued across the organisation and may go an “extra mile” to achieve organisational objectives.

Originality/value

Employer branding is a comprehensive strategy which can be used by employers to attract and retain talented employees. In a global economy where a talented workforce is scarce and has plenty of choices available to them, firms can use employer branding as a strategic opportunity to enhance employee engagement.
A review and recommendations for the integration of forensic expertise within police cold case reviews
Authors: Chapman Brendan , Keatley David , Oatley Giles , Coumbaros John , Maker Garth
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Cold case review teams and the processes that they adopt in their endeavour to solve historic crimes are varied and largely underreported. Of the limited literature surrounding the topic of cold case reviews, the focus is on clearance rates and the selection of cases for review. While multiple reports and reviews have been undertaken and recommend that the interface between investigators and forensic scientists be improved, there is little evidence of cold case teams comprised of a mixture of investigators and scientists or experts. With the growing reliance on forensic science as an aide to solvability, the authors propose that the inclusion of forensic scientists to the central cold case investigation may be a critical factor in future success. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

To support the proposed approach, the authors conducted a review of the current literature seeking insight into the reported make-up of cold case teams. In conjunction with this, the authors reviewed a number of commissioned reports intended to improve cold case reviews and forensic services.

Findings

While many of the reviewed reports and recommendations suggested better integration with scientists and external expertise, little evidence of this in practice was reported within published literature. Open dialogue and cross pollination between police investigators and forensic scientists are likely to mitigate biases, inform case file triage and better equip investigations with contemporary and cutting-edge scientific solutions to the evidence analysis for cold cases. Furthermore, with respect to scientists within academia, large pools of resources by way of student interns or researchers may be available to assist resource-sparse policing jurisdictions.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first peer-reviewed recommendation for the consideration of integrated forensic scientists within a cold case review team. Multiple reports suggest the need for closer ties, but it is the anecdotal experience of the authors that the benefits of a blended task force approach may yield greater success.
Telephone triage performed by nurses reduces non‐urgent ambulance missions: A prospective observational pilot study in Finland
Authors: Roivainen Petri , Hoikka Marko J. , Raatiniemi Lasse , Silfvast Tom , Ala‐Kokko Tero , Kääriäinen Maria
Published: January 2020

Background

The increased workload in emergency medical services (EMS) is a global phenomenon in welfare states. It has been suggested that telephone triage by nurses may reduce the increasing use of EMS services, by directing patient flow to appropriate care. This study aimed to investigate whether, after an emergency medical communication centre (EMCC) provider assessed risk, a telephone nurse could assess the patient’s needs and guide patients to social and health care services in non‐urgent cases.

Methods

This prospective observational study was performed in the Kainuu Hospital District in northern Finland from March to April 2018. All EMS requests classified as non‐urgent by the EMCC were transferred to a telephone triage nurse. Subsequent patient guidance was recorded. The International Classifications of Primary Care categories were recorded.

Results

We studied phone calls of 700 patients with non‐urgent needs. Of these, the nurse transferred 63.7% to EMS and 17.3% were guided to other social and health care services. Nineteen per cent of the calls were handled over the phone by the nurse, who provided health advice and instructions. The most common needs for care were general and unspecified symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms, mental health problems and substance abuse.

Conclusion

By providing telephone counseling, care instructions and patient guidance to other social and health services than EMS, the telephone triage reduced non‐urgent EMS missions by one third. The results imply that telephone triage could be a viable model for managing non‐urgent missions. Patient safety issues should be monitored when developing new service concepts.
Counseling alone or in combination with nicotine replacement therapy for treatment of black non‐daily smokers: a randomized trial
Authors: Nollen Nicole L. , Cox Lisa Sanderson , Mayo Matthew S. , Ellerbeck Edward F. , Ahluwalia Jasjit S.
Published: January 2020

Background and aims

One‐third of US tobacco users are non‐daily smokers (NDS). Black NDS have strikingly high levels of nicotine and carcinogen exposure. No smoking cessation studies have been conducted with this high‐risk group. This study compared the effectiveness in black NDS of smoking cessation counseling alone or in combination with the participant's choice of nicotine replacement therapy.

Design

Two‐arm parallel‐group individually randomized clinical trial (allocation ratio of 2 : 1 intervention to control)

Setting

Academic medical and federally qualified health centers in three US cities.

Participants

Non‐Hispanic black adult NDS receiving counseling with nicotine replacement therapy (C + NRT, n = 185) or counseling alone (C, n = 93).

Interventions

Twelve weeks of in‐person and telephone smoking cessation counseling in combination with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT; C + NRT) or counseling alone (C). All participants received five sessions of counseling; those randomized to C + NRT received their choice of nicotine gum, patch and/or lozenge after a 9‐day product trial period. The target quit day was set at 2 weeks post‐baseline for both groups.

Measurements

Primary outcome was biochemically verified 30‐day abstinence at week 12. Secondary outcomes were change in nicotine and carcinogen exposure [4‐(methynitrosamino)‐1‐(3) pyridyle‐1‐butanol; NNAL] and tobacco consumption patterns.

Findings

Abstinence was 11.4% in C + NRT and 8.6% in C [odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.6, 3.2, P = 0.48]. Both groups experienced significant reduction in NNAL (C + NRT: 53% reduction, C: 50% reduction, within‐group P < 0.0001) but non‐significant changes in cotinine (P = 0.69). C + NRT reported more days abstinent (P < 0.001) and fewer total cigarettes (P = 0.002) compared with C. There was no evidence of compensation with other tobacco products.

Conclusions

Among black non‐daily smokers in the United States, there was no difference in abstinence between nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and counseling alone. NRT led to greater increase in days abstinent and reduction in cigarettes, with no evidence of compensation from other sources of nicotine.
Multiorgan involvement and management in children with Down syndrome
Authors: Lagan Niamh , Huggard Dean , Mc Grane Fiona , Leahy Timothy Ronan , Franklin Orla , Roche Edna , Webb David , O’ Marcaigh Aengus , Cox Des , El-Khuffash Afif , Greally Peter , Balfe Joanne , Molloy Eleanor J.
Published: January 2020

Aim

To review multiorgan involvement and management in children with Down syndrome (DS).

Methods

A literature review of articles from 1980 to 2019 using the MEDLINE interface of PubMed was performed using the following search terms‐ [Down syndrome] or [Trisomy 21] AND [Cardiology] or [Respiratory] or [neurodevelopment] or [epilepsy] or [musculoskeletal] or [immune system] or [haematological] or [endocrine] or [gastrointestinal] or [ophthalmological] or [Ear Nose Throat] or [dermatology] or [renal].

Results

Congenital heart disease particularly septal defects occur in over 60% of infants with DS and 5%‐34% of infants develop persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn irrespective of a diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Early recognition and management of aspiration, obstructive sleep apnoea and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) could reduce risk of developing pulmonary hypertension in later childhood. Children with DS have an increased risk of autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder and epilepsy particularly infantile spasms, which are associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal and renal system as well as autoimmune diseases, coeliac disease, arthropathy, thyroid dysfunction fold diabetes mellitus and dermatological conditions are more common. Hearing and visual anomalies are also well recognised association with DS (Table 1).

Conclusion

Children with DS are at an increased risk of multiorgan comorbidities. Organ‐specific health surveillance may provide holistic care for the children and families with DS throughout childhood.
The rarest blue: An exceptional find of lapis lazuli in the polychromy of a funerary portrait from ancient Palmyra
Authors: Brøns C. , Hedegaard S. B. , Bredal‐Jørgensen J. , Buti D. , Pastorelli G.
Published: January 2020

The current interdisciplinary study of a funerary portrait has provided the first identification of a blue pigment on Palmyrene sculpture. The exceptional attestation of lapis lazuli on the examined portrait confirms the use of this highly valuable semiprecious stone in ancient polychromy, which was previously thought to be a later addition to the painter's palette. Considering that the archaeological record contains numerous minor objects carved from lapis lazuli, there are astonishingly few known instances of its use as a pigment. This Palmyrene discovery is only the third known example from Antiquity.
The Autonomy‒Alignment Trade‐Off: Japan’s Evolving Defense Posture
Authors: Richardson Lauren
Published: January 2020

Tokyo’s defense doctrine and behavior have undergone a number of significant shifts under the Abe administration. These have occurred against the backdrop of declining U.S. power in Asia and, more recently, the Trump administration’s idiosyncratic “America First” policy. These developments thus raise questions about Tokyo’s strategic orientation and the continued durability of the U.S.‐Japan alliance. Is Tokyo hedging against possible U.S. strategic abandonment of Japan and shifting toward a more independent defense posture? Drawing on interviews with government officials in 2019, it is argued here that the recent evolution of Japan’s defense policy has instead been premised on the continuation of the alliance as the core of its national security strategy. The U.S.‐Japan security relationship has therefore been conducted primarily under the framework of traditional alliance management.
Ubrogepant Is Not Associated With Clinically Meaningful Elevations of Alanine Aminotransferase in Healthy Adult Males
Authors: Ankrom Wendy , Bondiskey Phung , Li Chi‐Chung , Palcza John , Liu Wen , Dockendorf Marissa F. , Matthews Catherine , Panebianco Deborah , Reynders Tom , Wagner John A. , Jakate Abhijeet , Mesens Sofie , Kraft Walter K. , Marcantonio Eugene E.
Published: January 2020

Ubrogepant is a novel, oral calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist intended for the acute treatment of migraine attacks. Ubrogepant has a chemical structure distinct from previous small‐molecule CGRP receptor antagonists that were associated with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in clinical trials. Here, we report overall and hepatic safety data from two placebo‐controlled phase I trials of ubrogepant, spray‐dried oral compressed tablet (SD‐OCT) in healthy male volunteers. Trial A was a pharmacokinetic (PK) trial of single (100–400 mg) and multiple (40–400 mg) ascending doses. Trial B was a dedicated hepatic safety trial assessing daily use of ubrogepant 150 mg for 28 days. Serum ALT (as hepatotoxicity biomarker) and PK data are reported. Ubrogepant was well‐tolerated in both trials, with a low incidence of adverse events that did not differ greatly from placebo. Changes in mean ALT levels were minimal and similar to placebo. Over 28 days of treatment, the mean percentage change in ALT from baseline was < 5% at all time points. No participant in either trial demonstrated ALT ≥ 3× upper limit of normal at any time. Ubrogepant SD‐OCT demonstrated linear PK appropriate for acute treatment of migraine, with rapid uptake (time of maximum plasma concentration (tmax): 2–3 hours) and no accumulation with daily use. Overall, there was no evidence of ubrogepant‐associated hepatotoxicity with daily doses up to 400 mg for 10 days or with daily ubrogepant 150 mg for 28 days. Supratherapeutic dosing is a useful strategy for characterizing hepatic safety in early drug development.
Endovascular clot retrieval for acute ischaemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion in childhood
Authors: Macdonald‐Laurs Emma , Wenderoth Jason , Cardamone Michael , Sampaio Hugo , Andrews P Ian
Published: January 2020

Endovascular clot retrieval (ECR) is an emerging therapy for treatment of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) in adults, including basilar artery occlusion (BAO). Its role in children is not well established. We report four consecutive children with AIS due to BAO treated with ECR in Sydney, Australia. We reviewed the literature to characterize the ‘natural course’ of AIS due to BAO in children not treated with thrombolysis or ECR, and compared their outcome with our patients and reported children with BAO treated with ECR. Despite delays in diagnosis, ECR achieved recanalization in our four children. Three children had a good outcome (Paediatric Modified Rankin Score [PedmRS] 0–2). One child with acute leukaemia suffered recurrent basilar occlusion and died of brainstem dysfunction. Literature review identified 111 children exhibiting the natural course of AIS due to BAO, among whom 42% had good outcomes (PedmRS 0–2), 48% had significant residual disability (PedmRS 3–5), and 10% died. Of 34 children treated with ECR, 28 (82%) had good outcomes (PedmRS 0–2), five (15%) had significant residual disability (PedmRS 3–5), and one (3%) died. Complications of ECR were uncommon. These observations suggest ECR may be beneficial for children with AIS due to BAO.

What this paper adds

Children with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) experience significant morbidity and mortality.

Endovascular clot retrieval may be beneficial in children with AIS due to BAO.
Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 mediates fear behavior in mice
Authors: Branco Rachel C. , Burkett James P. , Black Carlie A. , Winokur Emily , Ellsworth William , Dhamsania Rohan K. , Lohr Kelly M. , Schroeder Jason P. , Weinshenker David , Jovanovic Tanja , Miller Gary W.
Published: January 2020

A subset of people exposed to a traumatic event develops post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is associated with dysregulated fear behavior. Genetic variation in SLC18A2, the gene that encodes vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), has been reported to affect risk for the development of PTSD in humans. Here, we use transgenic mice that express either 5% (VMAT2‐LO mice) or 200% (VMAT2‐HI mice) of wild‐type levels of VMAT2 protein. We report that VMAT2‐LO mice have reduced VMAT2 protein in the hippocampus and amygdala, impaired monoaminergic vesicular storage capacity in both the striatum and frontal cortex, decreased monoamine metabolite abundance and a greatly reduced capacity to release dopamine upon stimulation. Furthermore, VMAT2‐LO mice showed exaggerated cued and contextual fear expression, altered fear habituation, inability to discriminate threat from safety cues, altered startle response compared with wild‐type mice and an anxiogenic‐like phenotype, but displayed no deficits in social function. By contrast, VMAT2‐HI mice exhibited increased VMAT2 protein throughout the brain, higher vesicular storage capacity and greater dopamine release upon stimulation compared with wild‐type controls. Behaviorally, VMAT2‐HI mice were similar to wild‐type mice in most assays, with some evidence of a reduced anxiety‐like responses. Together, these data show that presynaptic monoamine function mediates PTSD‐like outcomes in our mouse model, and suggest a causal link between reduced VMAT2 expression and fear behavior, consistent with the correlational relationship between VMAT2 genotype and PTSD risk in humans. Targeting this system is a potential strategy for the development of pharmacotherapies for disorders like PTSD.
Evidence‐based policy: nursing now and the importance of research synthesis
Authors: Benton D.C. , Watkins M.J. , Beasley C.J. , Ferguson S.L. , Holloway A.
Published: January 2020

Aim

This study explores how scholarship relating to meta‐analytical studies and systematic and integrative reviews can inform nursing’s contribution to universal health coverage.

Introduction

As nursing globally embraces the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the Nursing Now social movement has called for the profession to improve universal health coverage through increasing nursing’s policy voice.

Methods

In determining how the Nursing Now social movement could pursue the aim of this study, researchers undertook a comparative bibliometric analysis of scholarship relating to the systematic curation of evidence. This study uses a mixed‐method analysis of the bibliometric data available through extracting and synthesizing information from one of the commercially produced indexing and citation databases.

Results

Generally, medicine has contributed far more synthesized contributions than nursing, except in the case of integrative reviews. Co‐occurrence analysis of nursing literature through examination of key terms yielded a complex visualization of 11 specific clusters of scholarship (Care of the Older Person, Nurse Education, Emergency and Critical Care, Occupational Health and Safety, Rural Services, Anxiety and Depression, Measurement, Newborn and Post‐natal Health, Cardiovascular Disease, Preventative Health and Cancer Care).

Discussion and conclusions

Bibliometric analysis of curated evidence demonstrates that there is ample nursing‐relevant material to inform evidence‐based policy change directed towards the attainment of universal health coverage and several of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Implications for policy

Nursing literature is available to support policy change directed towards the pursuit of universal health coverage and sustainable development goals. Leveraging existing networks of research collaboration to increase research capacity through communities of scholarship or by twinning experienced and neophyte contributors is possible. Further work is needed to equip nurses with the competencies to navigate the policy environment and develop and deliver impactful policy messaging.
Parental experience of hope in pediatric palliative care: Critical reflections on an exemplar of parents of a child with trisomy 18
Authors: Szabat Marta
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the experience of hope that appears in a parent's blog presenting everyday life while caring for a child with Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome). The author, Rebekah Peterson, began her blog on 17 March 2011 and continues to post information on her son Aaron's care. The analysis of hope in the blog is carried out using a mixed methodology: initial and focused coding using Charmaz's constructed grounded theory and elements of Colaizzi's method. Each aspect of hope is coded through the blog author's statements, from which three main aspects of hope emerge: hope for the longest possible presence of Aaron with his family, hope for control over situations, pain, and symptoms, and existential facets of hope. These various aspects reveal to what extent the experience of hope is unique. Additionally, analyzing the experience of parental hope uncovers the additional problem of inappropriate communication by health care professionals (HCPs) in intensive care units, particularly when discussing the termination of causal treatment. The problem may be solved through proper education for HCPs and serious consideration of parental involvement in order to properly elaborate guidelines on this issue. The three main aspects of parental hope discussed in this paper might expand knowledge on the issue, helping HCPs to better understand the parents' experience of care and to help sustain parental hope in pediatric palliative care.
Personal and organizational factors related to initiative behavior among psychiatric nurses
Authors: Hendel Tova , Chor Razya , Kigli‐Shemesh Ronit , Kagan Ilya
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To identify the degree of personal initiative (PI) among psychiatric nurses and to examine the influence of personal and organizational characteristics on their PI.

Design and Methods

Ninety‐seven nurses completed a questionnaire on PI, work climate, self‐efficacy toward initiatives and innovations, nursing work environment, and actual initiative at work.

Findings

Differences in actual initiative at work according to the level of education, and negative association between PI and age were found. Self‐efficacy and work climate explained 56% of PI; self‐efficacy, work climate, and age explained 30% of initiative behavior.

Practice Implications

Investing in young nurses, fostering higher education, and creating supportive work environment can help in conversion of innovative vision into actual initiatives.
Reduced P300 in depression: Evidence from a flanker task and impact on ERN, CRN, and Pe
Authors: Klawohn Julia , Santopetro Nicholas J. , Meyer Alexandria , Hajcak Greg
Published: January 2020

Individuals with current depression show reduced amplitude of the P300 component of the stimulus‐locked event‐related potential (ERP)—an effect most often examined in oddball tasks. Although imperative stimuli in response‐monitoring paradigms (e.g., the flanker task), also elicit a P300, it is unclear whether a blunted P300 can be observed in depression in these tasks. Moreover, the P300 overlaps with the correct‐response negativity (CRN) and error‐related negativity (ERN), and is similar to the error positivity (Pe)—response‐locked ERPs frequently examined in flanker tasks. The current study examined the stimulus‐locked P300 and response‐monitoring ERPs on error (i.e., ERN, Pe) and correct responses (i.e., CRN) during an arrowhead flanker task in 72 individuals with a current depressive disorder and 42 never depressed healthy individuals. Consistent with findings from oddball tasks, P300 amplitude was reduced among participants with depression. Further, results indicated increased ERN and CRN, and decreased Pe, in depression. However, when the blunted P300 was included in analyses, group differences in response‐monitoring ERPs were no longer evident. Accordingly, P300 amplitudes were correlated negatively with the ERN/CRN and positively with Pe in both groups. A blunted P300 in depression can be observed in speeded response tasks, and can produce apparent increases in ERN and CRN due to ERP component overlap. Further, reduced Pe in participants with depression may reflect a reduced P300 to error commission. These data highlight the central role of reduced P300 in clinical depression, and demonstrate that this effect can be observed across both stimulus‐ and response‐locked ERPs in speeded response tasks.
Effect of diphenhydramine and cetirizine on immediate and late‐phase cutaneous allergic reactions in healthy dogs: a randomized, double‐blinded crossover study
Authors: Banovic Frane , Denley Tara , Blubaugh Amanda , Scheibe Ileia , Lemo Niksa , Papich Mark G.
Published: January 2020

Background

Currently, there is insufficient evidence to confirm oral diphenhydramine (DPH) efficacy to prevent mast cell degranulation and histamine release in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objective

To determine and compare the effects oral of DPH and cetirizine on the immediate‐ and late‐phase cutaneous allergic reactions in healthy dogs.

Animals

Twelve healthy laboratory beagle dogs.

Methods and materials

The study was designed as a randomized, double‐blinded crossover study in which each dog served as its own control; twice‐daily oral DPH (2.2 mg/kg) or cetirizine (2 mg/kg) were given for six days with a two week washout period. Intradermal injections of histamine, compound 48/80 (positive control) and saline (negative control) were performed on the right thorax 10 days before drug administration (baseline), during oral antihistamine administration on Day 6 and 10 days after last medication dosage. Global wheal scores (GWS) at 20 min and late‐phase reactions (LPR) at 6 h post‐injection were evaluated by an investigator blinded to the drug and the interventions.

Results

Treatment with cetirizine significantly reduced histamine and compound 48/80 GWS and LPR compared to baseline; there was no significant difference for DPH. In all dogs, oral DPH and cetirizine reached plasma concentrations considered therapeutic in people. No adverse effect or behavioural changes were observed during the study.

Conclusion and clinical significance

In conclusion, oral cetirizine was effective in preventing cutaneous allergic reactions without any obvious adverse effects in dogs. Oral DPH failed to show an inhibitory effect despite attaining plasma drug concentrations that are considered effective in people.
Biodegradation of Ephedrine Isomers by
Arthrobacter
sp. Strain TS-15: Discovery of Novel Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Dehydrogenases
Authors: Shanati Tarek , Ansorge-Schumacher Marion B.
Published: January 2020

Arthrobacter
sp. TS-15 is a newly isolated bacterium with the unique ability to degrade ephedrine isomers. The initiating steps of the novel metabolic pathway are described.
Arthrobacter
sp. TS-15 and its isolated ephedrine-oxidizing enzymes have potential for use in decontamination and synthetic applications.
Function of the Reticuloendothelial System IV. Evidence for Two Types of Particle-Induced Reticuloendothelial Paralysis
Authors: Normann Sigurd J.
Published: January 2020

Reticuloendothelial system (RES) phagocytosis has been quantitated after intravenous injection of two different sets of particles by determining the clearance rate of subsequently injected identical or nonidentical particles. Injection of carbon produced a biphasic RES paralysis consisting of an early transient phase followed by a delayed sustained phase. The two phases were separated by a distinct interval of greatly augmented clearance rates. The injection of aggregated albumin was followed only by a single period of depressed clearance, which corresponded to the first phase of carbon-induced inhibition. This first phase, designated immediate RES paralysis, was initiated by particle injection and its duration was related to the rate of particle removal, to the dose of particles injected, and to the presence of the particles in the circulation. The second phase, designated delayed RES paralysis, began sometime after the particles had been engulfed by the cells, was independent of the rate of particle removal, and persisted without the presence of measurable particles in the circulation. The evidence indicates that the immediate paralysis arises from a competition between the particles in the circulation, whereas the delayed paralysis arises from a cellular derangement inhibitory to further phagocytosis. In contrast to the usual description of RES blockade as a single sustained period of depression, the present experiments indicate that the phenomenon has two phases which can be dissociated in time and mechanism.
Biochemistry of
Vibrio cholerae
Virulence I. Purification and Biochemical Properties of PF/Cholera Enterotoxin
Authors: Richardson Stephen H. , Evans Dolores G. , Feeley John C.
Published: January 2020

A simple method for concentrating, isolating, and purifying PF/cholera enterotoxin from culture supernatant fluids is presented. Precipitation with dextran sulfate and ammonium sulfate, followed by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography, yielded PF/enterotoxin of high biological potency. Although not completely free from traces of vibriocidal antibody-stimulating activity, the resultant purified toxic immunogen appeared homogeneous as judged by immunoelectrophoresis, immunodiffusion, and disc electrophoresis. Advantages and disadvantages of this purification method are discussed in comparison with those of previously published techniques.
Comparison of leukocyte count and function in smoking and nonsmoking young men
Authors: Noble R C , Penny B B
Published: January 2020

Leukocyte function and other hematological measurements were tested in 14 smoking and 13 nonsmoking young men free of intercurrent or chronic diseases. Leukocyte chemotaxis was depressed in smoking subjects when compared to the same subjects abstaining from cigarettes or to the nonsmokers. Smoking did not affect the whole blood bactericidal capacity of leukocytes and serum for Staphyloccus aureus or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Total leukocyte counts, hematocritis, and monocyte counts were higher in the smoking subjects when compared to the nonsmokers.
Effect of cyclophosphamide on the growth of Rickettsia sennetsu in experimentally infected mice
Authors: Tachibana N , Kobayashi V
Published: January 2020

The growth rate of Rickettsia sennetsu, the etiological agent of sennetsu rickettsiosis, a special type of infectious mononucleosis found in western Japan, is very low when the ordinary experimental methods used for other members of the rickettsiae are employed. Attempts have been made to increase its growth the rickettsiae are employed. Attempts have been made to increase its growth rate in cells and animals. By treating mice with cyclophosphamide, considerable enhancement of growth of the rickettsia was observed. In the drug-treated mice, infective titers expressed as mean lethal dose in the spleens reached 10(8,5) in animals treated by the intraperitoneal route three times at 5-day intervals with 0.33 mg/g (body weight). Infective titers in drug-treated mice were more than 100-fold above those of the infected non-drug-treated mice. In peritoneal cells of drug-treated mice rickettsial particles were observed in great abundance. The numbers of cells containing rickettsiae almost paralleled the infective titers of the spleens in each group in mice. Lymph nodes and spleens of the drug-treated mice diminished in size during infection.
Plasmid-controlled colonization factor associated with virulence in Esherichia coli enterotoxigenic for humans
Authors: Evans D G , Silver R P , Evans D J , Chase D G , Gorbach S L
Published: January 2020

An enterotoxin-producing strain of Escherichia coli isolated from a case of cholera-like diarrhea (E. coli strain H-10407) was found to possess a surface-associated colonization factor. Colonization was manifested as the ability of small inocula (10(5) bacteria) to attain large (10(9)) populations in the infant rabbit intestine with a concomitant diarrheal response. A laboratory-passed derivative of E. coli H-10407, designated H-10407-P, failed to exhibit an increase in population in the infant rabbit and also failed to induce diarrhea. Cell-free culture supernatant fluids of E. coli H-10407 and H-10407-P produced equivalent enterotoxic responses in infant and in adult rabbits. Specific anti-colonization factor antiserum was produced by adsorbing hyperimmune anti-H-10407 serum with both heat-killed and living cells E. coli H-10407-P. This specific adsorbed serum protected infant rabbits from challenge with living E. coli H-10407 although the serum did not possess bactericidal activity. The anti-colonization factor serum did not agglutinate a strain of E. coli K-12 possessing the K88 colonization factor peculiar to E. coli enterotoxigenic for swine. By electron microscopy it was demonstrated that E. coli H-10407, but not H10407-, possessed pilus-like surface structures which agglutinated with the specific adsorbed (anti-colonization factor) antiserum. E. coli H-10407 possessed three species of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid, measuring 60 X 10(6), 42 X 10(6), and 3.7 X 10(6) daltons, respectively. E. coli H-10407-P possessed only the 42 X 10(6)- and the 3.7 X 10(6)-dalton plasmid species. Spontaneous loss of the specific H-10407 surface-associated antigen was accompanied by loss of the 60 X 10(6)-dalton species of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid and loss of colonizing ability. Thus, it is concluded that the E. coli colonization factor described here is a virulence factor which may play an important and possibly essential role in naturally occurring E. coli enterotoxic diarrhea in man.
Pneumococcal type-associated variability in alternate complement pathway activation
Authors: Fine D P
Published: January 2020

Opsonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae may be mediated by the alternate complement pathway. To study the importance of this interaction to human disease, complement consumption by pneumococci of various serotypes was measured in humwn serum chelated with ethyleneglycoltraacetic acid, a substance that blocks the classic but not the alternate complement pathwway. Serotype I, in contrast to all other types studied, lacked ability to consume complement in this system. The ability for serotypes III, IV, and VIII to activate the alternate pathway could be eliminated by prior serum absorption at O C with they type in question, a condition that would remove antibody but not complement. Types VII, XII, XIV, and XXV readily activated the alternate pathway in unabsorbed and absorbed sera. Differences could not be related to properties of the capsules. It was concluded that types I, III, IV, and VIII lack intrinsic ability to activate and thus be opsonized by the alternate complement pathway, although types III, IV, and VIII can do so in concert with specific antibody. The fact that these same types are especially prominent in human disease suggests that the ability to evade opsonization by the alternate complement pathway in pre-antibody phases of infection may be a virulence factor in pneumococci.
Biological activity of fragments derived from the extracellular slime glycolipoprotein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Sensakovic J W , Bartell P F
Published: January 2020

Glycolipoprotein, obtained from the extracellular slime layer of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was purfied and subjected to chemical and enzymatic treatment in an attempt to assign certain of its biological activities to chemical moieties comprising the glycolipoprotein molecule. Treatment of the glycolipoprotein with phenol, although removing all detectable protein, yielded a fragment capable to exerting the biological activities associated with the untreated glycolipoprotein (leucopenia, lethality, inhibition of phagocytosis, antigenic specificity). Acetic acid treatment resulted in a fragment composed mainly of carbohydrate and a small amount of protein, but no detectable lipid. This fragment was devoid of leucopenic and lethal activity, but retained antigenic specificity and the ability to inhibit phagocytosis. The fragments release from the glycolipoprotein after treatment with phage 2-depolymerase were low-molecular-weight products and were devoid of the biological activities associate with the glycolipoprotein.
Macrophage migration inhibitory activity of mycobacterial growth inhibitory factor and the effect of a number of factors on mycobacterial growth inhibitory factor activity
Authors: Cahall D L , Youmans G P
Published: January 2020

Mycobacterial growth inhibitory factor (MycoIF), which inhibits the intracellular multiplication of virulent tubercle bacilli within normal peritoneal macrophages in vitro, was tested for its ability to inhibit the migration of normal peritoneal exudate cells. The migration of peritoneal exudate cells was not inhibited by MycoIF. It was also shown that normal peritoneal macrophages infected with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, strain H37Rv, required 72 h of incubation with spleen cell culture supernatant fluids containing MycoIF in order to inhibit intracellular bacillary multiplication. Treatment of infected macrophages with trypsin before their exposure to MycoIF abolished the ability of MycoIF to inhibit intracellular mutiplication of tubercle bacilli. Incubation of infected macrophages with goat anti-mouse globulin before their exposure to MycoIF also blocked the action of MycoIF.