bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Inhibition of O-glycan biosynthesis using the hexosamine analog Ac5GalNTGc
Authors: Wang Shuen-Shiuan , del Solar Virginia , Yu Xinheng , Antonopoulos Aristotelis , Friedman Alan E. , Agarwal Kavita , Garg Monika , Meheboob Ahmed Syed , Addhya Ahana , Nasirikenari Mehrab , Lau Joseph T. , Dell Anne , Haslam Stuart M. , Sampathkumar Srinivasa-Gopalan , Neelamegham Sriram
Published: December 2020

There is a critical need to develop small molecule inhibitors of mucin-type O-linked glycosylation. The best known reagent currently is peracetylated benzyl-GalNAc, but it is only effective at millimolar concentrations. This manuscript demonstrates that Ac5GalNTGc, a peracetylated C-2 sulfhydryl substituted GalNAc, fulfills this unmet need. When added to cultured leukocytes, breast and prostate cells, Ac5GalNTGc increased cell surface VVA-binding by ~10-fold, indicating truncation of O-glycan biosynthesis. Cytometry, mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis of HL-60 promyelocytes demonstrate that 50-80μM Ac5GalNTGc prevented elaboration of 30-60% of the O-glycans beyond the Tn-antigen (GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr) stage. The effect of the compound on N-glycans and glycosphingolipids was small. Glycan inhibition induced by Ac5GalNTGc resulted in 50-80% reduction in leukocyte sialyl-Lewis-X expression, and L-/P-selectin mediated rolling under flow. Ac5GalNTGc was pharmacologically active in mouse. It reduced neutrophil infiltration to sites of inflammation by ~60%. Overall, Ac5GalNTGc may find diverse applications as a potent inhibitor of O-glycosylation.
The Potential for SARS-CoV-2 to Evade Both Natural and Vaccine-induced Immunity
Authors: Shang Emily , Axelsen Paul H.
Published: December 2020

SARS-CoV-2 attaches to the surface of susceptible cells through extensive interactions between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of its spike protein and angiotensin converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) anchored in cell membranes. To investigate whether naturally occurring mutations in the spike protein are able to prevent antibody binding, yet while maintaining the ability to bind ACE2 and viral infectivity, mutations in the spike protein identified in cases of human infection were mapped to the crystallographically-determined interfaces between the spike protein and ACE2 (PDB entry 6M0J), antibody CC12.1 (PDB entry 6XC2), and antibody P2B-2F6 (PDB entry 7BWJ).

Both antibody binding interfaces partially overlap with the ACE2 binding interface. Among 16 mutations that map to the RBD:CC12.1 interface, 11 are likely to disrupt CC12.1 binding but not ACE2 binding. Among 12 mutations that map to the RBD:P2B-2F6 interface, 8 are likely to disrupt P2B-2F6 binding but not ACE2 binding. As expected, none of the mutations observed to date appear likely to disrupt the RBD:ACE2 interface.

We conclude that SARS-CoV-2 with mutated forms of the spike protein may retain the ability to bind ACE2 while evading recognition by antibodies that arise in response to the original wild-type form of the spike protein. It seems likely that immune evasion will be possible regardless of whether the spike protein was encountered in the form of infectious virus, or as the immunogen in a vaccine. Therefore, it also seems likely that reinfection with a variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 may occur among people who recover from Covid-19, and that vaccines with the ability to generate antibodies against multiple variant forms of the spike protein will be necessary to protect against variant forms of SARS-CoV-2 that are already circulating in the human population.
The comparative economics of financial access in gender economic inclusion
Authors: Asongu Simplice , Nting Rexon
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The study has investigated the comparative importance of financial access in promoting gender inclusion in African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Gender inclusion is proxied by the female labour participation rate while financial channels include: financial system deposits and private domestic credit. The empirical evidence is based on non-contemporary fixed effects regressions.

Findings

In order to provide more implications on comparative relevance, the dataset is categorised into income levels (middle income versus (vs.) low income); legal origins (French civil law vs. English common law); religious domination (Islam vs. Christianity); openness to sea (coastal vs. landlocked); resource-wealth (oil-poor vs. oil-rich) and political stability (stable vs. unstable). Six main hypotheses are tested, notably, that middle income, English common law, Christianity, coastal, oil-rich and stable countries enjoy better levels of “financial access”-induced gender inclusion compared to respectively, low income, French civil law, Islam, landlocked, oil-poor and unstable countries. All six tested hypotheses are validated.

Originality/value

This is the first study on the comparative importance of financial access in gender economic participation.
The impact of technological progress on employment in Egypt
Authors: Emara Amira Mohamed
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of technological progress on employment in Egypt in the period 1990–2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies a vector autoregressive (VAR) model and uses patents as a measure of innovation outputs.

Findings

The study concludes, as shown by impulse response functions, that a shock to patents affects employment negatively in Egypt throughout the period, as expected.

Originality/value

Since there is still no decisive answer about the impact of technological progress and innovation on employment, this study attempts to contribute to this debate. Most existing studies focus on how technological change affects workers with different job types and skill levels, covering manufacturing and service sectors, mainly in developed countries, but there is still little research on its effect on employment at the macrolevel and in developing countries.
Partial observer canonical form for multi-output nonlinear forced system: a new method
Authors: Xu Haotian , Wang Jingcheng , Wang Hongyuan , Brahmia Ibrahim , Zhao Shangwei
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the design method of partial observer canonical form (POCF), which is one of the important research tools for industrial plants.

Design/methodology/approach

Motivated by the two-steps method proposed in Xu et al. (2020), this paper extends this method to the case of Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) nonlinear system. It decomposes the original system into two subsystems by observable decomposition theorem first and then transforms the observable subsystem into OCF. Furthermore, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existing of POCF are proved.

Findings

The proposed method has a wide range of applications including completely observable nonlinear system, noncompletely observable nonlinear system, autonomous nonlinear system and forced nonlinear system. Besides, comparing to the existing results (Saadi et al., 2016), the method requires less verified conditions.

Originality/value

The new method concerning design POCF has better plants compatibility and less validation conditions.
Image formation in a destination threatened by terrorism: understanding the role of motivations
Authors: Lakhoua Cherifa , Temessek Azza , Baccouche Mona Khadija
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the formation of a destination image (DI) threatened by terrorism. The study sheds light mainly on the 2015 terrorist attacks targeting a beach resort. It allows us to understand the motives behind it, as well as the information stimuli and DI construction for tourists who visited the destination despite the threat of terrorism and those who changed their travel plan.

Design/methodology/approach

A Netnography and in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out. The two qualitative studies offer a methodological complementarity to capture the motivations, the impressions, the beliefs and the feelings of tourists who visited the destination hit by the terrorism and those who cancelled their visit or substitute the destination.

Findings

The results suggest that rational fatalism, compassion, curiosity and better offer value are the main motivations expressed by tourists who visited the destination during the summer of 2015. On the other hand, fatalism, solidarity with the European community, worse offer value and perceived insecurity seem to be the main causes behind the traveller’s reluctance to visiting Tunisia. The findings also uncover differences regarding information sources and reflections on media coverage of the events. Indeed, some tourists develop antagonistic feelings towards the destination alternatively positive and negative.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies investigating the responses of tourists visiting a destination threatened by terrorism in a real-time situation. It also elucidates the process of DI formation for both tourists visiting the destination and those who cancelled/ substituted it.
Communities of practice in the resettlement of children and young people
Authors: Olaitan Paul
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out the role Communities of Practice (CoPs) can play in empowering and enabling practitioners and managers to lead on improvements to the delivery of interventions to children and young people leaving custody.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a review of the relevant theories in the field and how these may be practically applied to the field of youth resettlement.

Findings

CoPs are a helpful way to engage, enable and, most importantly, empower, practitioners and managers, thus unlocking the wealth of knowledge and experience that exists across the workforce.

Originality/value

The originality of the piece is in its exploration of the theory and its application to the practice of youth resettlement and associated practices.
Value co-creation through social innovation in healthcare: a case of WE CARE Solar
Authors: Ahmed Jashim Uddin , Gazi Mohammad Asif , Iqbal Rifat , Islam Quazi Tafsirul , Talukder Niza
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Maternal mortality is an acute problem for many countries around the world, particularly those at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP). Most remote locations in these underdeveloped nations, for instance, in Africa, have to cope with the problem of interrupted electricity supply making healthcare practitioners often experience a helpless compulsion to compromise in providing quality medical attention, especially during childbirth. Along with many public, private and nongovernment initiatives, WE CARE Solar (hereafter WCS) – a social innovation venture comes with an idea of developing portable solar suitcases to respond to this intransigent problem.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces a social enterprise that established its operation in Africa and so far has served in more than 30 similarly impoverished economies. Data was collected, analyzed using documentary research method. The authors have also collected and correlated the statements from the founder of WCS to complement the authors’ findings. With this paper, the authors intend to establish the type of innovation tools that are needed to provide value with a social innovation initiative in the health sector in the least developed country perspective. To facilitate better social outcomes and to ensure greater good, innovation requires to be accompanied by stakeholders’ involvement.

Findings

The findings indicate that WE CARE Solar has a positive social contribution toward ensuring safe motherhood and childbirth in underdeveloped countries by providing access to reliable solar power sources. The six-step social innovation process can be adopted by other social ventures to propose innovative solutions to social needs. Analyzing WCS's service delivery from the perspective of the 4As framework and value co-creation model, it is suggested that sustainable social change can be established with value co-creation through community engagement with multiple stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

This research was solely focused on one organization alone. Future research could look into the model to ascertain its acceptability in similar social innovation in healthcare initiatives.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to address a gap in social innovation in healthcare and its adaptability using the 4As framework with the value co-creation model. The authors propose this model from the data accumulated throughout the research, which could also serve to assist organizations looking for scalable and sustainable change.
Food safety governance in Saudi Arabia: Challenges in control of imported food
Authors: Alrobaish Waeel Salih , Vlerick Peter , Luning Pieternel A. , Jacxsens Liesbeth
Published: December 2020

The operating environment for food safety interventions in nations such as Saudi Arabia, with limited local agricultural productivity, high reliance on foreign food imports and observance of Islamic laws, is remarkably challenging for the national control and regulatory institutions, since compliance to the mandatory food safety regulations and the local religious Halal standards must be ensured. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the recently restructured food safety governance in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of its food imports control. Specifically, the nature of the food imports, the organization of the food safety governance and the current control practices of imported food, in consideration of food safety and Halal requirements, are analyzed through a triangulation of data and information from secondary sources (academic literature review and gray literature search) and primary sources (direct consultation of field experts). Statistical trade data on imported food were also performed. Results revealed that the process of centralizing all the control and regulatory activities under a single agency, which the government started to strengthen the national food safety governance, has not been completed yet. The resulting overlap of legislative and monitoring tasks by multiple entities augments the challenge of ensuring the safety, quality, and authenticity of imported food and their compliance to Halal standards. The vulnerabilities and challenges still to be addressed by the local food industry and the public sector are discussed, with implications for national and international field practitioners and policymakers of countries facing similar challenges.
Does the invasive plague skink (Lampropholis delicata) compete with native skink species in New Zealand?
Authors: Harris Jaclyn , Smith Chelsea R. , van Winkel Dylan , Brunton Dianne H. , Goulet Celine T. , Chapple David G.
Published: December 2020

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity worldwide, causing many of the recent declines and extinctions of native species. Competition is a common mechanism through which invasive species impact the native biota. In particular, exploitative competition results when the invader outcompetes native species for essential resources, such as food and shelter sites. Despite being pervasive invaders, the ecological impacts of invasive lizards are understudied and it is often unknown whether these invaders have detrimental impacts. The plague skink (Lampropholis delicata), native to eastern Australia, has invaded several locations throughout the Pacific region (Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, Lord Howe Island). However, no studies have documented the plague skink as having a negative impact on native species anywhere throughout its introduced range. Here, we conducted a mark‐recapture study in northern New Zealand (Shakespear Regional Park) to investigate whether the plague skink competes with native skink species (Oligosoma aeneum,O. ornatum,O. moco). Though the plague skink has a broader distribution within the study region and occurred across a broader range of habitats, there was substantial range and niche overlap between the plague skink and the three native skink species. Both the absolute capture rates and estimated population size of the plague skink were significantly higher than the three native skink species. Although plague skinks have smaller body sizes well as shorter and narrower heads than the native skink species, there was still considerable scope for dietary overlap among the species. While our study does not provide definitive evidence for competition between the plague skink and native skink species in New Zealand, we clearly demonstrate the presence of the core components required for exploitative competition to occur. Further field‐ and laboratory‐based studies will be required to confirm the existence of exploitative or interference competition by the plague skink in its introduced range.
Red and blond Mangalitza pigs display a signature of divergent directional selection in theSLC45A2gene
Authors: Bâlteanu V. A. , Cardoso T. F. , Amills M. , Luigi‐Sierra M. G. , Egerszegi I. , Anton I. , Zsolnai A.
Published: December 2020

The Mangalitza lard‐type pig breed is well known for its fat appearance and curly hair, and it is mainly distributed in Eastern Europe. Four main lines were created in the nineteenth century by artificial selection: Blond Mangalitza, Black Mangalitza, Swallow‐Belly Mangalitza and Red Mangalitza. The Swallow‐Belly line has a black coat combined with yellow‐blond throat and underbelly. In the current work, we aimed to investigate if the colourations of Mangalitza pigs are genetically determined by one or a few loci whose frequencies have been modified by artificial selection. The results of selection scans, with HapFLK andBayeScan, and of a GWAS for coat colour highlighted the existence of one region on SSC16 (18–20 Mb) with potential effects on hair pigmentation (Redvs. Blond contrast). The analysis of the gene content of this region allowed us to detect the solute carrier family 45 member 2 (SLC45A2) locus as a candidate gene for this trait. The polymorphism of theSLC45A2locus has been associated with reduced levels or the absence of melanin in several mammalian species. The genotyping of four missense polymorphisms evidenced that rs341599992:G > A and rs693695020:G > A SNPs are strongly but not fully associated with the red and blond coat colours of Mangalitza pigs, a result that was confirmed by performing a haplotype association test. The near fixation of alternativeSLC45A2genotypes in Red and Blond Mangalitza pigs provides a compelling example of the consequences of a divergent directional selection for coat colour in a domestic species.
How does the email matter to the civic honesty? A comment on Cohn et al. (2019)
Authors: Huynh Toan Luu Duc , Wang Mei , Rieger Marc Oliver
Published: December 2020

Cohn et al. (2019) designed the field experiment about the lost wallets across 40 countries to examine whether people attempt to contact the owners to return the 17,000 wallets. We discussed the design flaw in their experimental settings by reanalyzing the relationship between the rates of wallet return, in the Cohn et al. (2019)’s data, and the percentage of the Internet penetration (over population) as an upper bound of proportion email users. We found that countries with limited access to email have a lower rate of wallets’ return after controlling other factors. Furthermore, we revisited the Abeler et al. (2019)’s aggregated data to study whether the dishonest behaviors in the laboratory could predict the actual honesty behavior or not. It turns out that what happens in the lab makes no sense to our reality. This comment contributes to the extant literature about an experimental designation for honesty studies.
Parents’ Paradoxicality and Adolescents’ Self‐Engendering Fantasy
Authors: Salaam Abdel‐Malek Hana
Published: December 2020

In this paper, I discuss psychotherapy sessions that I undertook with a female adolescent patient. As a psychoanalyst specialized in couple and family psychoanalysis, I was primed to focus on her representation of her parents’ and family's dysfunctional dynamics. She felt locked in perverse narcissistic relationships and vampirized by her internal ‘objects’, her attachments causing her to experience libidinal haemorrhage. Her links to her internal ‘objects’ seemed like chains that impeded her individuation. In my analysis, I build on Racamier's concepts of pregenital ‘incestual’ functioning, primal mourning, paradoxicality, and self‐engendering fantasy. However, while Racamier noted that the self‐engendering fantasy is part of an ‘incestual’ picture, which serves the death drive, I interpret this fantasy as a constructive effort to achieve psychic reorganization; it helped my patient disengage from her internalized incestual family dynamics and the violence of an incestuous primal scene. Through this fantasy, she seemed to end the narcissistic depletion that threatened to overwhelm the boundaries of her weak ego. The self‐engendering fantasy serves the life drive, albeit paradoxically, using this logic. With this thesis in mind, I accompanied my patient in her process of separation and individuation and interpreted transference and countertransference dynamics.
Theileria secretes proteins to subvert its host leukocyte
Authors: Tajeri Shahin , Langsley Gordon
Published: December 2020

Theileria parasites are classified in the phylum Apicomplexa that includes several genera of medical and veterinary importance such as Plasmodium, Babesia, Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium. These protozoans have evolved subtle ways to reshape their intracellular niche for their own benefit and Theileria is no exception. This tick transmitted microorganism is unique among all eukaryotes in that its intracellular schizont stage is able to transform its mammalian host leukocytes into an immortalised highly disseminating cell that phenocopies tumour cells. Here, we describe what is known about secreted Theileria‐encoded host cell manipulators.
Dominant variants in PRR12 result in unilateral or bilateral complex microphthalmia
Authors: Reis Linda M. , Costakos Deborah , Wheeler Patricia G. , Bardakjian Tanya , Schneider Adele , Fung Simon S. M. ,   University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics, Semina Elena V.
Published: December 2020

Complex microphthalmia is characterized by small eyes with additional abnormalities that may include anterior segment dysgenesis. While many genes are known, a genetic cause is identified in only 4–30% of microphthalmia, with the lowest rate in unilateral cases. We identified four novel pathogenic loss‐of‐function alleles in PRR12 in families affected by complex microphthalmia and/or Peters anomaly, including two de novo, the first dominantly transmitted allele, as well as the first splicing variant. The ocular phenotypes were isolated with no additional systemic features observed in two unrelated families. Remarkably, ocular phenotypes were asymmetric in all individuals and unilateral (with structurally normal contralateral eye) in three. There are only three previously reported PRR12 variants identified in probands with intellectual disability, neuropsychiatric disorders, and iris anomalies. While some overlap with previously reported cases is seen, nonsyndromic developmental ocular anomalies are a novel phenotype for this gene. Additional phenotypic expansions included short stature and normal development/cognition, each noted in two individuals in this cohort, as well as absence of neuropsychiatric disorders in all. This study identifies new associations for PRR12 disruption in humans and presents a genetic diagnosis resulting in unilateral ocular phenotypes in a significant proportion of cases.
Do Programmers Prefer Predictable Expressions in Code?
Authors: Casalnuovo Casey , Lee Kevin , Wang Hulin , Devanbu Prem , Morgan Emily
Published: December 2020

Source code is a form of human communication, albeit one where the information shared between the programmers reading and writing the code is constrained by the requirement that the code executes correctly. Programming languages are more syntactically constrained than natural languages, but they are also very expressive, allowing a great many different ways to express even very simple computations. Still, code written by developers is highly predictable, and many programming tools have taken advantage of this phenomenon, relying on language model surprisal as a guiding mechanism. While surprisal has been validated as a measure of cognitive load in natural language, its relation to human cognitive processes in code is still poorly understood. In this paper, we explore the relationship between surprisal and programmer preference at a small granularity—do programmers prefer more predictable expressions in code? Using meaning‐preserving transformations, we produce equivalent alternatives to developer‐written code expressions and run a corpus study on Java and Python projects. In general, language models rate the code expressions developers choose to write as more predictable than these transformed alternatives. Then, we perform two human subject studies asking participants to choose between two equivalent snippets of Java code with different surprisal scores (one original and transformed). We find that programmers do prefer more predictable variants, and that stronger language models like the transformer align more often and more consistently with these preferences.
Combined change of behavioral traits for domestication and gene‐networks in mice selectively bred for active tameness
Authors: Matsumoto Yuki , Nagayama Hiromichi , Nakaoka Hirofumi , Toyoda Atsushi , Goto Tatsuhiko , Koide Tsuyoshi
Published: December 2020

Tameness is a major element of animal domestication and involves two components: motivation to approach humans (active tameness) and reluctance to avoid humans (passive tameness). To understand the behavioral and genetic mechanisms of active tameness in mice, we had previously conducted selective breeding for long durations of contact and heading toward human hands in an active tameness test using a wild‐derived heterogeneous stock. Although the study showed a significant increase in contacting and heading with the 12th generation of breeding, the effect on other behavioral indices related to tameness and change of gene expression levels underlying selective breeding was unclear. Here, we analyzed nine tameness‐related traits at a later stage of selective breeding and analyzed how gene expression levels were changed by the selective breeding. We found that five traits, including contacting and heading, showed behavioral change in the selective groups comparing to the control through the generations. Furthermore, we conducted cluster analyses to evaluate the relationships among the nine traits and found that contacting and heading combined in an independent cluster in the selected groups, but not in the control groups. RNA‐Seq of hippocampal tissue revealed differential expression of 136 genes between the selection and control groups, while the pathway analysis identified the networks associated with these genes. These results suggest that active tameness was hidden in the control groups but became apparent in the selected populations by selective breeding, potentially driven by changes in gene expression networks.
Association between direct interpersonal involvement with a dying family member and discussions regarding advance care planning among Japanese older adults
Authors: Miyashita Jun , Hayashi Shinu , Yamamoto Yosuke
Published: December 2020

Aim

There is growing recognition of the need to hold advance care planning discussions. Older adults who have direct interpersonal involvement with dying family members might begin to consider their own end‐of‐life care. This study examined the associations between experiences of being with a dying family member and advance care planning discussions among Japanese older adults.

Methods

This study examined data from a previous self‐administered questionnaire survey carried out among outpatients aged ≥65 years. All participants were visitors of a community hospital in Japan, with data being collected over a 1‐week period in July 2016. The main exposure was experiences of being with dying family members, while the outcome was advance care planning discussions with the family members and/or their physician. We analyzed the associations between experiences of being with dying family members and advance care planning discussions through log‐binomial regression models adjusted for possible sociodemographic confounders.

Results

Of the 302 respondents included for analysis, 96 (32%) had experiences of being with dying family members, while 179 (59%) held advance care planning discussions. Respondents with said experiences were more likely to have discussions than those without experiences (fully adjusted prevalence ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.65). Subgroup analyses showed no significant interaction effects between experiences of being with dying family members and the covariates.

Conclusions

Direct interpersonal involvement with dying family members might facilitate advance care planning discussions among Japanese older adults. Our results should help healthcare providers recognize individuals who are unlikely to have discussions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 197–202.
Erenumab for headaches in idiopathic intracranial hypertension: A prospective open‐label evaluation
Authors: Yiangou Andreas , Mitchell James L. , Fisher Claire , Edwards Julie , Vijay Vivek , Alimajstorovic Zerin , Grech Olivia , Lavery Gareth G. , Mollan Susan P. , Sinclair Alexandra J.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of erenumab in treating headaches in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in whom papilledema had resolved.

Background

Disability in IIH is predominantly driven by debilitating headaches with no evidence for the use of preventative therapies. Headache therapy in IIH is an urgent unmet need.

Methods

A prospective, open‐label study in the United Kingdom was conducted. Adult females with confirmed diagnosis of IIH now in ocular remission (papilledema resolved) with chronic headaches (≥15 days a month) and failure of ≥3 preventative medications received erenumab 4‐weekly (assessments were 3‐monthly). The primary end point was change in monthly moderate/severe headache days (MmsHD) from baseline (30‐day pretreatment period) compared to 12 months.

Results

Fifty‐five patients, mean (SD) age 35.3 (9) years and mean duration of headaches 10.4 (8.4) years with 3.7 (0.9) preventative treatment failures, were enrolled. Mean baseline MmsHD was 16.1 (4.7) and total monthly headache days (MHD) was (29) 2.3. MmsHD reduced substantially at 12 months by mean (SD) [95% CI] 10.8 (4.0) [9.5, 11.9], p < 0.001 and MHD reduced by 13.0 (9.5) [10.2, 15.7], p < 0.001. Crystal clear days (days without any head pain) increased by 13.1 (9.5) [9.6, 15.3], p < 0.001, headache severity (scale 0–10) fell by 1.3 (1.7) [0.9, 1.9], p < 0.001, and monthly analgesic days reduced by 4.3 (9.2) [1.6, 6.9], p = 0.002. All these measures had improved significantly by 3 months, with a consistent significant response to 12 months. Headache impact test‐6 score and quality of life Short Form‐36 Health Survey significantly improved at 12 months. Sensitivity analysis revealed similar results for patients with and without a prior migraine diagnosis (28/55 (52%) patients) or those with or without medication overuse (27/55 (48%) patients).

Conclusions

This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of erenumab to treat headaches in IIH patients with resolution of papilledema. It provides mechanistic insights suggesting that calcitonin gene‐related peptide is likely a modulator driving headache and a useful therapeutic target.
Standing on the shoulders of giants: Shane Godbolt in the beginning and at the ending
Authors: Whitsed Nicky
Published: December 2020

This paper introduces Shane's early life up to the point of her joining St Bartholomew's Medical College, London, as an Assistant Librarian. It tracks her links with her professional association and concludes with a cameo of her social life and contribution to her church.
Effect of applied pressure on microstructure and properties of hot‐pressed Ca‐doped LaCrO3 ceramics
Authors: Cai Zhengkun , Jiang Minjin , Guo Qianqian , Jiang Xiaosong , Chen Song , Sun Hongliang
Published: December 2020

High‐density chromium deficient calcium‐doped lanthanum chromite‐based ceramics (La0.8Ca0.2Cr0.98O3) were prepared by hot pressing (HP) at different sintering pressures, and the highest density can reach 98.8%. The effects of sintering pressure on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of La0.8Ca0.2Cr0.98O3 materials were studied. The experimental results show that HP can increase the density of lanthanum chromite‐based ceramic materials and significantly inhibit the growth of grain size. As the sintering pressure increases, the strength and hardness gradually increase, but the fracture toughness decreases. When the sintering pressure is greater than 58 MPa, the presence of the second phase CaCr2O4 can be detected in the XRD results of the sintered ceramics. The SEM results showed that CaCr2O4 had two completely different morphologies in the sintered ceramics, and it was initially speculated that the possible causes were due to two different generation pathways. The electrical conductivity decreases with increasing sintering pressure, whereas the maximum electrical conductivity obtained is 18.61 S/cm in vacuum at 800°C for pressureless sintering ceramic.
Ichthyosis prematurity syndrome in two Omani siblings, caused by homozygous c.1A > G mutation in the FATP4 gene
Authors: Al Mandhari Hilal , Al‐Musalhi Buthaina , Al Mahroqi Nouh , Hilmarsen Hilde T. , Braathen Geir J. , Khnykin Denis
Published: December 2020

Ichthyosis prematurity syndrome (IPS) is a rare type of syndromic autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) caused by a mutation in the SLC27A4 gene that encodes the fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4), which is responsible for keratinocyte differentiation and skin barrier function. IPS is characterized by a triad of prematurity, perinatal respiratory asphyxia, and thick vernix caseosa‐like scales. In this report, we present the clinical and molecular characterization of IPS in two Omani siblings.
Performance analysis of batching decisions in waveless order release environments for e‐commerce stock‐to‐picker order fulfillment
Authors: Bansal Vishal , Roy Debjit , Pazour Jennifer A
Published: December 2020

Warehouse automation is increasingly adopted to manage throughput fluctuations in e‐commerce order fulfillment. This work develops queuing network models and solution methodologies for performance analysis of a stock‐to‐picker system that connects an upstream automated storage system to a downstream pick station. We focus on the pick station process, quantifying the throughput differences between a pick station that employs a static versus dynamic batching strategy. We consider a waveless order release environment where the item totes are requested from the storage system only when an order arrives. We capture throughput performance in this environment for single as well as multi‐line orders with/without item commonality by developing closed‐queuing network models. The consolidation of multiple product‐lines for a multi‐line order is modeled using fork–join synchronization stations within the closed queuing network. For analyzing such queuing networks, we develop a network‐decomposition based solution methodology. We validate the models using a simulation model of the upstream storage and downstream order‐picking system. We find that in waveless order release environment, dynamic batching always outperforms static batching in terms of system throughput. However, for single‐line orders, the percentage gain in the throughput (by implementing dynamic batching) decreases for smaller item tote inter‐arrival times. For multi‐line orders, dynamic batching increases the system throughput by 37–43%. We also analyze the effect of batch size on the throughput performance. The results indicate that the system throughput increases with an increase in the batch size under both batching policies. But, the marginal benefit reduces as we increase the batch size.
Registered Nurses’ experiences of psychological well‐being and ill‐being in their first year of practice: A qualitative meta‐synthesis
Authors: Jarden Rebecca J. , Jarden Aaron , Weiland Tracey J. , Taylor Glenn , Brockenshire Naomi , Gerdtz Marie
Published: December 2020

Aim

To synthesize Registered Nurses’ self‐reported perceptions and experiences of psychological well‐being and ill‐being during their first year of practice.

Design

Qualitative meta‐synthesis.

Data sources

Databases included Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica database, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and Psychological Information. Qualitative studies were considered for inclusion if published in English, from 2009–2019, reporting primary data analysis including psychological well‐being and ill‐being experiences of graduate nurses in first year of practice.

Review methods

Qualitative studies were systematically identified and critically appraised. A meta‐synthesis was applied using an open card sort technique to organize empirical data into a matrix of graduate nurses’ voices of psychological well‐being and ill‐being.

Results

Twenty‐two studies were included. Analysis revealed patterns of positive experiences and emotions. These included feeling valued and part of the team and learning from and feeling supported by other nurses. Negative experiences and emotions such as feeling overwhelmed, stressed, alone and inadequately prepared were also identified.

Conclusion

Graduate nurses’ perceptions and experiences of their psychological well‐being and ill‐being revealed both positive and negative dimensions during this transition period. Specific examples of strategies that may promote transition nurses’ well‐being and prevent ill‐being were identified such as social connection and support.

Impact

Increasing the numbers of new nursing graduates world‐wide is required to strengthen health systems. Developing strategies to retain these graduates in the workforce is paramount. This review found some graduate nurses experience the transition period as a time of personal growth and fulfilment, for others this period was a stressor. These findings were illustrated in a model of ‘ways to well‐being’. The potential for knowledge translation of this model extends from graduate nurses as individuals, to nurse entry to practice programs and graduate nurse programs, to organizational policy targeting future health workforce.

Systematic review registration number

CRD42020148812.
Understanding the lived experiences of short‐ and long‐term consequences on daily life after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest. A focus group study
Authors: Wagner Mette Kirstine , Berg Selina K. , Tang Lars H. , Stenbæk Dea S. , Hassager Christian , Missel Malene
Published: December 2020

Aim

To explore and gain in‐depth understanding of how out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest survivors experience the short‐ and long‐term consequences on daily life.

Design

A qualitative exploratory design.

Methods

A purposive sample of 32 survivors of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest. Data from six audiotaped focus group interviews were collected in either November 2018 or in March 2019. Analysis and interpretation of the transcribed texts was performed using a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach guided by Ricoeur for unfolding lived experiences.

Results

Three narratives were identified. The survivors narrated how they in the early phase after the cardiac arrest experienced: (a) ‘a fragmented memory at the mercy of the system’. The analysis further showed how the participants were: (b) ‘living in the shadow of anxiety and mixed feelings’ and with the: (c) ‘lost sense of self’ up to several years after survival.

Conclusion

The participants in our study experienced distinct bodily impairments, suffering, and the lost sense of self in the return to daily life from early on to several years after resuscitation. There seem to be an urgent need for an early initiated post‐arrest transitional care program led by an expert cardiac arrest nurse. In particular, the healthcare professionals need to pay attention to survivors in employment and with children living at home. Facilitated cardiac arrest peer support groups might minimize the long‐term suffering, heighten the self‐image, and install a new hope for the future.

Impact

To ease the post‐arrest return to daily life for out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest survivors it seems important that a transitional care program from the inhospital setting to the community consist of: (a) screening for and education on bodily losses at an early stage, (b) provision of support on the often prolonged emotional reactions, and (c) referring for further individual and targeted psychological and neurological follow‐up and rehabilitation if needed.
The evolution of age‐specific choosiness when mating
Authors: Cotto Olivier , Day Troy
Published: December 2020

Mate choice is a crucial element of many processes in evolutionary biology. Empirical research has shown that mating preference and choosiness often change with age. Understanding the evolutionary causes of patterns of age‐specific choosiness is challenging because different mechanisms can give rise to the same pattern. Instead of focusing on the optimal age‐specific choosiness strategy given fitness trade‐offs, we approach this question from a more general standpoint and ask how the strength of selection on choosiness changes with the age at which it is expressed. We show that the strength of selection on a modifier of choosiness at a given age depends on the relative contribution of this age class to the pool of offspring but does not depend directly on the strength of selection on fitness components at the age affected by the modifier. We illustrate our results by contrasting two life histories from the literature. We further show how mutation–selection balance at the choosiness locus can shape age‐specific choosiness. Our results provide new insights for understanding the evolution of choosiness throughout life, with implications for understanding the evolution of mate choice and reproductive isolation.
First documentation of the otoliths of the species of Gouania (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Charmpila Eleni A. , Wagner Maximilian , Reichenbacher Bettina
Published: December 2020

Otolith morphology is a widely accepted tool for species identification in teleost fish, but whether this holds true for very small species remains to be explored. Here, the saccular otoliths of the cryptobenthic Mediterranean clingfish Gouania (Gobiesocidae) are described for the first time. The new data, although preliminary, indicate that otolith morphology and morphometry support the recognition of the recently differentiated five species of Gouania in the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, otoliths of phylogenetically closely related Gouania species resemble each other more than do those of the more distantly related species.
Positive impacts of a dedicated General Paediatrics “home” ward in a tertiary paediatric Australian hospital
Authors: Venettacci Oliver , Skull Sue
Published: December 2020

Aims

Whilst a centralised model of care intuitively makes sense and is advocated in other subspecialty areas of medicine, there is a paucity of supportive evidence for General Paediatrics. Following ward restructuring at our tertiary paediatric centre in preparation for the COVID‐19 pandemic, a new dedicated General Paediatrics ward was established. We evaluated medical and nursing staff well‐being, morale and perceived impacts on care after the ward's establishment.

Methods

Experiences were sought from medical and nursing staff whom had worked across both previous wards caring for General Paediatrics patients, as well as the new dedicated General Paediatrics ward. Mandated responses used the format of much better, better, same, worse and much worse.

Results

A total of 73/82 (89%) medical and nursing staff completed the survey. A greater than 90% improved or neutral response was noted for 31/35 (89%) questions. About 80% of staff reported the new dedicated General Paediatrics ward provided a better or much better team‐based approach, time efficient approach and overall model of care. A much better or better response was reported for communication between medical and nursing staff in 68%, team comradery in 69%, supportive/helpful nursing staff in 74%, job stress level in 66% and staff morale in 60% of respondents.

Conclusions

Overwhelmingly positive responses from this study support a centralised or “home” ward model of care for General Paediatrics patients in a tertiary paediatric setting. Our findings may be relevant to General Paediatrics teams in other centres currently using multiple wards to manage their patients.
Use of C‐reactive protein concentration in evaluation of diskospondylitis in dogs
Authors: Trub Sarah A. , Bush William W. , Paek Matthew , Cuff Daniel E.
Published: December 2020

Background

C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a positive acute phase protein that increases in many inflammatory conditions of dogs. Serum CRP concentration has important diagnostic and prognostic utility in humans with vertebral osteomyelitis.

Hypothesis/objectives

To determine if a correlation exists between serum CRP concentration and clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs with diskospondylitis, and if CRP predicts prognosis.

Animals

Eighteen client‐owned dogs with MRI diagnosis of diskospondylitis.

Methods

Retrospective study evaluating signalment, clinical signs, neurologic examination findings, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, serum globulin concentration, serum CRP concentration, radiographic findings, MRI findings, bacterial culture results, and outcome in dogs with diskospondylitis.

Results

Serum CRP concentration was significantly more sensitive than were fever and leukocytosis for predicting the presence of diskospondylitis. Serum CRP concentration was more sensitive than neutrophilia and hyperglobulinemia. No difference in serum CRP concentration was found between dogs with single or multiple lesions, nor between dogs with or without empyema, muscular involvement or spinal cord compression. No association was found between serum CRP concentration and positive bacterial culture.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

C‐reactive protein is a sensitive, but nonspecific biomarker for diskospondylitis which may prove useful as an adjunctive diagnostic test in patients with suspicious clinical signs and may help predict prognosis.