bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biogeography and anthropogenic impact shape the success of invasive wasps on New Zealand's offshore islands
Authors: Schmack Julia M. , Schleuning Matthias , Ward Darren F. , Beggs Jacqueline R.
Published: January 2020

Aim

The theory of island biogeography predicts that the susceptibility of an island to invasion is determined by its isolation and size. However, many island ecosystems have been intensely modified by humans. Here, we investigated the biogeographic, biotic and anthropogenic drivers of invasive social wasps on 36 offshore islands.

Location

Islands off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.

Taxa

Vespula germanica(Fabricius, 1793),Vespula vulgaris(Linnaeus, 1758) andPolistes chinensis antennalis(Fabricius, 1793), Polistes humilis(Fabricius, 1781).

Methods

We used GIS software for in situ randomization of plots on each island (36 islands, 409 plots) and conducted 5‐min wasp counts to estimate wasp abundance. Wasp abundance and canopy cover were recorded at each plot. Island isolation was measured using GIS software. Data on island size, human settlement and the presence of introduced rats (Rattusspp.) were collated from the literature and island managers. The number of boat docks per island was counted from satellite images. A generalized linear mixed‐effect model (GLMM) was fitted to identify drivers ofVespulaandPolistesabundance on offshore islands.

Results

The abundance ofVespulawas negatively correlated with island isolation and canopy cover, yet positively correlated with island size.Vespulawere also more abundant on islands that have been settled by humans. The abundance ofPolisteswas negatively correlated with canopy cover. Finally, results did not support the notion that invasive wasps were associated with introduced rats on New Zealand's offshore islands.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of biogeographic factors, such as island size and isolation, for species invasions, and suggest that intact forest cover could contribute to biotic resistance to invasive wasps in island ecosystems. Studies of invasive species should consider the joint effects of biogeographic, biotic and anthropogenic factors to best inform conservation management.
Assessing participation of children with acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy: a systematic review of measurement properties
Authors: Resch Christine , Van Kruijsbergen Mette , Ketelaar Marjolijn , Hurks Petra , Adair Brooke , Imms Christine , De Kloet Arend , Piskur Barbara , Van Heugten Caroline
Published: January 2020

Aim

To examine which instruments used to assess participation of children with acquired brain injury (ABI) or cerebral palsy (CP) align with attendance and/or involvement constructs of participation; and to systematically review measurement properties of these instruments in children with ABI or CP, to guide instrument selection.

Method

Five databases were searched. Instruments that quantified ‘attendance’ and/or ‘involvement’ aspects of participation according to the family of participation‐related constructs were selected. Data on measurement properties were extracted and methodological quality of the studies assessed.

Results

Thirty‐seven instruments were used to assess participation in children with ABI or CP. Of those, 12 measured attendance and/or involvement. The reliability, validity, and responsiveness of eight of these instruments were examined in 14 studies with children with ABI or CP. Sufficient measurement properties were reported for most of the measures, but no instrument had been assessed on all relevant properties. Moreover, most psychometric studies have marked methodological limitations.

Interpretation

Instruments to assess participation of children with ABI or CP should be selected carefully, as many available measures do not align with attendance and/or involvement. Evidence for measurement properties is limited, mainly caused by low methodological study quality. Future studies should follow recommended methodological guidelines.

What this paper adds

Twelve instruments used to assess participation of children with acquired brain injury (ABI) or cerebral palsy (CP) aligned with attendance/involvement.

Seven instruments have some psychometric evidence supporting their use with children with CP.

For children with ABI, only the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation has shown preliminary evidence of measurement properties.
Thinking ecologically about clinical education in dentistry
Authors: Perez Arnaldo , Green Jacqueline L. , Compton Sharon M. , Patterson Steven , Senior Anthea
Published: January 2020

Traditional approaches to clinical education (CE) in dentistry have primarily focused on the needs and interests of students (student‐centred), patients (patient‐centred) or individuals receiving care (person‐centred). Research has shown that giving priority to the interests of one stakeholder (eg students) may negatively affect the interests of others (eg patients, instructors and administrators). In this commentary, we discuss some limitations of traditional approaches to CE and suggest an eco‐centred approach that assumes that the interests of all stakeholders must be considered when planning CE due to the interdependent relationships between stakeholders. A description of this new approach is provided, whilst research and innovation are encouraged to develop an ecologically informed system of CE.
Assessment of the immunocrit method to detect failure of passive immunity in newborn foals
Authors: Mortola Eduardo , Miceli Graciela , Alarcon Laura , Azcurra Mirian , Larsen Alejandra
Published: January 2020

Background

In newborn foals the absorption of colostrum immunoglobulins in the small intestine is maximal up to 8 hours after birth and then progressively decreases to become null after 24 hours post‐partum. Thus, equine practitioners need a simple, quick, inexpensive and reliable field test to identify foals affected by failure of passive transfer rather than an accurate method yielding quantitative results within the whole range of immunoglobulin concentrations.

Objective

As the validity of the immunocrit method to detect failure of passive transfer in foals had not been evaluated before, the objective of this study was to test the ability of this method to detect the concentration of immunoglobulins in a large number of foal serum samples.

Study design

Assay validation using samples collected for clinical purposes.

Methods

The immunocrit test, using a 40% ammonium sulphate solution, was used to measure the concentration of immunoglobulins in serum samples from 211 newborn Thoroughbred foals. The results were compared, by statistical analysis, with those of agarose gel electrophoresis, a reference quantitative method.

Results

The values obtained by the immunocrit method were significantly correlated (R = .871;P < .001) with those measured by agarose gel electrophoresis. A cut‐off value of 8 g/L of serum immunoglobulins by agarose gel electrophoresis and its equivalent of 9.5% for the immunocrit test was indicative of failure of passive transfer. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunocrit method at this cut‐off point were 94% (95% CI, 90‐97.3) and 82% (95% CI, 72.13‐91.8) respectively.

Main limitations

Variable times of sample extraction after colostrum suckling, over the study period.

Conclusions

The immunocrit test provides a quantitative, quick, inexpensive, reliable and objective method to detect failure of passive transfer of maternal immunity in newborn foals, which is easy to perform directly in horse farms, with minimum laboratory equipment.
Recovery quality following a single post‐anaesthetic dose of dexmedetomidine or romifidine in sevoflurane anaesthetised horses
Authors: Hector Rachel C. , Rezende Marlis L. , Mama Khursheed R. , Hess Ann M.
Published: January 2020

Background

Post‐anaesthetic sedation is administered to horses to improve recovery quality from inhalant anaesthesia and reduce the risk of catastrophic injury. A single dose of dexmedetomidine for this purpose has not been evaluated clinically.

Objectives

To determine whether dexmedetomidine improves recovery quality from sevoflurane anaesthesia compared to a previously studied dose of romifidine.

Study design

Prospective, randomised, masked clinical trial.

Methods

Ninety‐nine, adult, client‐owned horses anaesthetised for elective procedures completed the trial. Anaesthetic protocol was standardised. Horses were randomly assigned to receive either dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg bwt (D) or romifidine 20 mcg/kg bwt (R) intravenously at their first spontaneous breath in recovery. Recoveries were reviewed and independently assigned subjective visual analogue scale (VAS) scores (0‐100 mm, worst to best) for overall quality and standing ataxia scores (1‐4, none to severe) by two anaesthesiologists blinded to treatment group. Objective anaesthesia and recovery data were also recorded. Comparisons were made using the Chi‐square, Wilcoxon rank sum, linear models or Welch‐Satterthwaite two‐samplet‐test (P ≤ .05). Predictors of VAS score were analysed independent of treatment group.

Results

There were no significant differences between groups except end‐tidal sevoflurane (FE´Sevo) concentration and post‐induction extra ketamine dosing. Including FE´Sevo and additional ketamine in the analysis as covariates, VAS scores and time to standing were not significantly different between groups. Increased age, not receiving a nerve block, increased duration of hypotension, and having a nervous temperament were significant predictors of VAS score.

Main limitations

No universal recovery scale exists for inter‐study comparisons.

Conclusions

After sevoflurane anaesthesia, sedation with dexmedetomidine or romifidine provides clinically similar recovery time and quality.
CRISPR screening strategies for microRNA target identification
Authors: Yang Bing , McJunkin Katherine
Published: January 2020

Identifying microRNA (miRNA) target genes remains a major challenge in understanding the roles miRNAs play in gene regulation. Furthermore, understanding which miRNA–target interactions are the most biologically important is even more difficult. We present CRISPR‐based strategies to identify essential miRNA binding sites. First, CRISPR knockout screens can easily be adapted to identify genes whose inactivation suppresses miRNA mutant phenotypes. Second, a custom approach to target individual miRNA binding sites via CRISPR can identify sites whose mutation recapitulates miRNA mutant phenotypes. We emphasize that the latter approach requires a readout of mutational profile (rather than single guide RNA abundance) when applied in a negative selection setting. Overall, the advent of CRISPR technology alongside improving empirical means of miRNA target identification will accelerate our dissection of miRNA gene regulatory networks.
Meta‐analysis of global livestock urine‐derived nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils
Authors: López‐Aizpún Maria , Horrocks Claire A. , Charteris Alice F. , Marsden Karina A. , Ciganda Veronica S. , Evans Jess R. , Chadwick David R. , Cárdenas Laura M.
Published: January 2020

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an air pollutant of major environmental concern, with agriculture representing 60% of anthropogenic global N2O emissions. Much of the N2O emissions from livestock production systems result from transformation of N deposited to soil within animal excreta. There exists a substantial body of literature on urine patch N2O dynamics, we aimed to identify key controlling factors influencing N2O emissions and to aid understanding of knowledge gaps to improve GHG reporting and prioritize future research. We conducted an extensive literature review and random effect meta‐analysis (using REML) of results to identify key relationships between multiple potential independent factors and global N2O emissions factors (EFs) from urine patches. Mean air temperature, soil pH and ruminant animal species (sheep or cow) were significant factors influencing the EFs reviewed. However, several factors that are known to influence N2O emissions, such as animal diet and urine composition, could not be considered due to the lack of reported data. The review highlighted a widespread tendency for inadequate metadata and uncertainty reporting in the published studies, as well as the limited geographical extent of investigations, which are more often conducted in temperate regions thus far. Therefore, here we give recommendations for factors that are likely to affect the EFs and should be included in all future studies, these include the following: soil pH and texture; experimental set‐up; direct measurement of soil moisture and temperature during the study period; amount and composition of urine applied; animal type and diet; N2O emissions with a measure of uncertainty; data from a control with zero‐N application and meteorological data.
Beyond counts and averages: Relating geodiversity to dimensions of biodiversity
Authors: Read Quentin D. , Zarnetske Phoebe L. , Record Sydne , Dahlin Kyla M. , Costanza Jennifer K. , Finley Andrew O. , Gaddis Keith D. , Grady John M. , Hobi Martina L. , Latimer Andrew M. , Malone Sparkle L. , Ollinger Scott V. , Pau Stephanie , Wilson Adam M.
Published: January 2020

Aim

We may be able to buffer biodiversity against the effects of ongoing climate change by prioritizing the protection of habitat with diverse physical features (high geodiversity) associated with ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that maintain high biodiversity. Nonetheless, the relationships between biodiversity and habitat vary with spatial and biological context. In this study, we compare how well habitat geodiversity (spatial variation in abiotic processes and features) and climate explain biodiversity patterns of birds and trees. We also evaluate the consistency of biodiversity–geodiversity relationships across ecoregions.

Location

Contiguous USA.

Time period

2007–2016.

Taxa studied

Birds and trees.

Methods

We quantified geodiversity with remotely sensed data and generated biodiversity maps from the Forest Inventory and Analysis and Breeding Bird Survey datasets. We fitted multivariate regressions to alpha, beta and gamma diversity, accounting for spatial autocorrelation among Nature Conservancy ecoregions and relationships among taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional biodiversity. We fitted models including climate alone (temperature and precipitation), geodiversity alone (topography, soil and geology) and climate plus geodiversity.

Results

A combination of geodiversity and climate predictor variables fitted most forms of bird and tree biodiversity with < 10% relative error. Models using geodiversity and climate performed better for local (alpha) and regional (gamma) diversity than for turnover‐based (beta) diversity. Among geodiversity predictors, variability of elevation fitted biodiversity best; interestingly, topographically diverse places tended to have higher tree diversity but lower bird diversity.

Main conclusions

Although climatic predictors tended to have larger individual effects than geodiversity, adding geodiversity improved climate‐only models of biodiversity. Geodiversity was correlated with biodiversity more consistently than with climate across ecoregions, but models tended to have a poor fit in ecoregions held out of the training dataset. Patterns of geodiversity could help to prioritize conservation efforts within ecoregions. However, we need to understand the underlying mechanisms more fully before we can build models transferable across ecoregions.
Community geography as a model for improving efforts of environmental stewardship
Authors: Lopez Christina W.
Published: January 2020

Environmental stewardship (ES) is an established area of research in numerous fields of study, whereas community geography (CG) is a more recent and growing subfield of geography that aims to build capacity and affect change in communities through university–community partnerships. As such, CG demonstrates a shift in geographic research trends that provide benefits not only to the university but also to the students and community/ies as well. I argue that ES and CG research agendas are characterized by a meaningful overlap and attempts to synthesize them will add value to both bodies of knowledge. This paper overviews both of these research agendas, identifies major challenges and gaps in the extant literature in ES, and suggests how CG can help move the ES research agenda forward. I conclude with the notion that incorporating a CG research approach can (a) better develop the ES literature and (b) provide important benefits for universities, communities, and students who are looking for hands‐on civic engagement experiences.
An innovative method of immersion vacuum cooling for cooked meat products: immersion vacuum cooling with ultrasonic assistance
Authors: Liao Caihu , Yu Yigang
Published: January 2020

In this paper, immersion vacuum cooling with ultrasonic assistance (IVCUA) is compared with immersion vacuum cooling alone (IVC) and vacuum cooling (VC) for cooling time, mass loss, colour, texture profile and water mobility and compartmentalization for cooked meat products. The results reveal that IVCUA clearly enhances the boiling intensity of impregnation liquid compared to IVC. The total cooling time using IVC (126.56 min) for samples from 72 to 4 °C was significantly longer (P < 0.05) than that of IVCUA (96.89 min) and VC (80.48 min). The cooling time of samples from 10 to 4 °C by IVC (46.26 min) was higher (P < 0.05) than that by IVCUA (28.55 min). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in mass loss, colour and texture profile among all samples. However, IVCUA had a higher transverse relation time of bulk water (T24) and MRI proton densities (P < 0.05), as well as a more uniform water distribution compared to IVC.
The use of intracardiac echocardiography catheters in endocardial ablation of cardiac arrhythmia: Meta‐analysis of efficiency, effectiveness, and safety outcomes
Authors: Goya Masahiko , Frame Diana , Gache Larry , Ichishima Yoko , Tayar Daiane Oliveira , Goldstein Laura , Lee Stephanie Hsiao Yu
Published: January 2020

Aims

The optimal use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) may reduce fluoroscopy time and procedural complications during endocardial ablation of cardiac arrhythmias. Due to limited evidence in this area, we conducted the first systematic literature review and meta‐analysis to evaluate outcomes associated with the use of ICE.

Methods and Results

Studies reporting the use of ICE during ablation procedures vs without ICE were searched using PubMed/MEDLINE. A meta‐analysis was performed on the 19 studies (2186 patients) meeting inclusion criteria, collectively representing a broad range of arrhythmia mechanisms. Use of ICE was associated with significant reductions in fluoroscopy time (Hedges' g −1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.81 to −0.32; P < .01), fluoroscopy dose (Hedges' g −1.27; 95% CI −1.91 to −0.62; P < .01), and procedure time (Hedges' g −0.35; 95% CI −0.64 to −0.05; P = .02) vs ablation without ICE. A 6.95 minute reduction in fluoroscopy time and a 15.2 minute reduction in procedure time was observed between the ICE vs non‐ICE groups. These efficiency gains were not associated with any decreased effectiveness or safety. Sensitivity analyses limiting studies to an atrial fibrillation (AF) only population yielded similar results to the main analysis.

Conclusion

The use of ICE in the ablation of cardiac arrhythmias is associated with significantly lower fluoroscopy time, fluoroscopy dose, and shorter procedure time vs ablation without ICE. These efficiency improvements did not compromise the clinical effectiveness or safety of the procedure.
Ethics in contemporary health care management and medical education
Authors: Balak Naci , Broekman Marike L.D. , Mathiesen Tiit
Published: January 2020

Rationale

The health care landscape is changing: it has become the largest part of the economy and changes in public management systems will greatly affect how we practice medicine in the future. Medical education will be more important than ever to ensure patients get the best care with empathy. However, new public management systems implemented without thorough analysis might challenge medical education. An increasing number of public health care institutions provide services based on competitive market rules and express their goals in financial terms and have set financial gains as their main goal, which contradicts the fundamental nature of medical ethics and practice.

Aims and objectives

To explore new public management to identify potential problems and offer possible solutions for medical education and health care institutions.

Methods

A scoping review of the literature on public administration, hospital management, professionalism, ethics, and medical education was undertaken to map evidence on the topic and identify main concepts and knowledge gaps in the influence of management systems on the quality of medical educational practices.

Results

If the accelerating changes in public management are cursorily analysed, medical education may lose the esteem in which it has long been held globally. Without precautions, the so‐called new public management medical faculties will—at best—generate economic benefit, following a business model with strict quality rules, regulations, standardized products, and complex analysis and measurement systems. However, these faculties will function at a level far below the ideal of teaching institutions distinguished for their outstanding components, creativity, and ambience.

Conclusions

Patients and teaching values are not reducible to financial terms only and the acknowledgement of non‐financial values is fundamental to achieve quality in health care and education. The most essential step could be selecting managers who will implement public management principles while taking into account both business requirements and medical ethics.
Taming the Factor Zoo: A Test of New Factors
Authors: FENG GUANHAO , GIGLIO STEFANO , XIU DACHENG
Published: January 2020

We propose a model selection method to systematically evaluate the contribution to asset pricing of any new factor, above and beyond what a high‐dimensional set of existing factors explains. Our methodology accounts for model selection mistakes that produce a bias due to omitted variables, unlike standard approaches that assume perfect variable selection. We apply our procedure to a set of factors recently discovered in the literature. While most of these new factors are shown to be redundant relative to the existing factors, a few have statistically significant explanatory power beyond the hundreds of factors proposed in the past.
Efficacy of scaffold‐mediated localized chemotherapy in cancer: A systematic review of current research
Authors: Gupta Archana A , Kheur Supriya , Arakeri Gururaj , Thirumal Raj A , Badhe Ravindra V. , Patil Shankargouda , Rao US Vishal , Patil Shekhar , Gomez Ricardo S. , Thomson Peter , Brennan Peter A
Published: January 2020

Objective

To assess the efficacy of scaffold‐mediated localized chemotherapy in cancer.

Methods

Databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SCOPUS were searched for articles reporting the use of scaffold‐mediated localized drug delivery in cancer. Essential data including scaffold fabrication material and methods, drug dosage and release duration and its effect on the cancer cells were extracted.

Results

15 articles out of 60 screened, fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Among the 15 studies, 5 studies included only cell lines and 2 studies were on mouse models, while 8 studies involved a combination of cell lines and mouse models. Scaffold materials included both synthetic polymers such as poly‐lactide, polycaprolactone and natural materials including d‐periosteum and human micro‐fragmented adipose tissueA wide number of other variables included the fabrication procedure, drugs used, and the methods used to assess the effects on cancer. As a result, it was not possible to make any direct comparison of the efficacy of the therapeutic strategy used in each of these studies.

Conclusion

Irrespective of the many variables, a common consensus in all the included studies was that scaffold mediated localized drug delivery effectively reduced cancer cell viability by increasing drug bioavailability to the target tissue, while its localized effect reduced the risk of systemic toxicity.
Preparation, characterization and preliminary pharmacokinetic study of pH-sensitive Hydroxyapatite/Zein nano-drug delivery system for doxorubicin hydrochloride
Authors: Zha Liqiong , Wang Beilei , Qian Jiajia , Fletcher Brock , Zhang Caiyun , Dong Qiannian , Chen Weidong , Hong Lufeng
Published: January 2020

Objectives

Zein nanoparticles (Zein NPs) were used as a hydroxyapatite (HA) biomineralization template to generate HA/Zein NPs. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was loaded on HA/Zein NPs (HA/Zein-DOX NPs) to improve its pH-sensitive release, bioavailability and decrease cardiotoxicity.

Methods

HA/Zein-DOX NPs were prepared by phase separation and biomimetic mineralization method. Particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), Zeta potential, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of HA/Zein-DOX NPs were characterized. The nanoparticles were then evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

Key findings

The small PDI and high Zeta potential demonstrated that HA/Zein-DOX NPs were a stable and homogeneous dispersed system and that HA was mineralized on Zein-DOX NPs. HA/Zein-DOX NPs showed pH-sensitive release. Compared with free DOX, HA/Zein-DOX NPs increased cellular uptake which caused 7 times higher in-vitro cytotoxicity in 4T1 cells. Pharmacokinetic experiments indicated the t1/2β and AUC0–t of HA/Zein-DOX NPs were 2.73- and 3.12-fold higher than those of DOX solution, respectively. Tissue distribution exhibited HA/Zein-DOX NPs reduced heart toxicity with lower heart targeting efficiency (18.58%) than that of DOX solution (37.62%).

Conclusion

In this study, HA/Zein-DOX NPs represented an antitumour drug delivery system for DOX in clinical tumour therapy with improved bioavailability and decreased cardiotoxicity.
Belief in Supernatural Evil and Mental Health: Do Secure Attachment to God and Gender Matter?
Authors: Jung Jong Hyun
Published: January 2020

This study examines whether belief in supernatural evil is associated with mental health. In addition, it assesses how secure attachment to God moderates this association and how gender conditions the moderating effect of secure attachment to God. Among a variety of mental health outcomes, this study focuses on general mental health problems as well as anxiety‐related disorders (e.g., general anxiety, social anxiety, and paranoia). Using data from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey (N = 1,627), the analyses reveal that belief in supernatural evil is positively associated with general anxiety and paranoia. In addition, secure attachment to God buffers the positive associations between belief in supernatural evil and social anxiety and paranoia. Yet, when general mental health problems and general anxiety serve as the outcome measures, secure attachment to God attenuates the positive associations of belief in supernatural evil with mental health only for women, but not men. These results underscore the ways that religious beliefs have both positive and negative implications for mental health. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of gender in the complex relationships between religious beliefs and mental health.
On the Nature of Philosophy
Authors: Žanić Joško
Published: January 2020

This paper claims that what philosophy primarily does is interpret our notions, offer ways of understanding these notions that are not scientific in nature but not contrary to science either. The paper draws a distinction between conceptual analysis, a highly constrained enterprise that is supposed to bring to light what was in the concept all along, and the interpretation of notions, a creative enterprise that offers ways of understanding notions that were not already prefigured by the content of these notions—philosophy consists in the latter, not the former. It explains how these interpretations are justified and what the difference is between better and worse interpretations. The remainder of the paper is organized around three headings: philosophy and science, philosophy and language, and philosophy and progress. It claims that in philosophy there is no real progress, but that philosophy does move forward because the notions at issue are endlessly interpretable.
Emotional regulation training for intensive and critical care nurses
Authors: Kharatzadeh Hamid , Alavi Mousa , Mohammadi Abolfazl , Visentin Denis , Cleary Michelle
Published: January 2020

Professional quality of life is related to psychological well‐being for nurses with implications for quality patient care. This study evaluated the effectiveness of emotional regulation training on depression, anxiety and stress, and professional quality of life for intensive and critical care nurses. In this experimental comparison trial, 60 intensive and critical care nurses were randomly assigned to treatment and wait‐list control groups. The treatment group received six sessions of emotional regulation training, while the wait‐list control group received no treatment. Outcome measures were: the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; and the Professional Quality of Life Scale in a pre‐post design. The treatment group demonstrated greater improvements in burnout and compassion satisfaction compared with the wait‐list control group. No significant reduction in compassion fatigue was found compared with controls. Some cognitive coping strategies improved in the treatment group compared with controls, with greater reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress. This study indicates the benefits of implementing emotional regulation training programs to improve psychological well‐being and professional quality of life for intensive and critical care nurses.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation and intermittent theta‐burst stimulation improve deglutition and swallowing reproducibility in elderly patients with dysphagia
Authors: Cosentino Giuseppe , Tassorelli Cristina , Prunetti Paolo , Bertino Giulia , De Icco Roberto , Todisco Massimiliano , Di Marco Salvatore , Brighina Filippo , Schindler Antonio , Rondanelli Mariangela , Fresia Mauro , Mainardi Luca , Restivo Domenico A. , Priori Alberto , Sandrini Giorgio , Alfonsi Enrico
Published: January 2020

Background

Dysphagia in the elderly, known as presbydysphagia, has become a relevant public health problem in several countries. Swallowing disorders may be a consequence of different neurological disorders (secondary presbydysphagia) or the expression of the aging process itself (primary presbydysphagia). We aimed to test the therapeutic potential of two different non‐invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques in subjects with primary or secondary presbydysphagia.

Methods

A blinded randomized controlled trial with crossover design was carried out in 42 patients, randomly assigned to anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or intermittent theta‐burst stimulation (TBS) group. Both tDCS and TBS were applied for 5 consecutive days over the right swallowing motor cortex. The swallowing function was assessed before and 1 and 3 months after the stimulation using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS), scored based on clinical assessment and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. An electrophysiological method was also applied to evaluate changes in the reproducibility of the swallowing behavior.

Key Results

Both real tDCS and TBS had beneficial effects on the swallowing function in patients with primary and secondary presbydysphagia. Anodal tDCS resulted in an improvement of 0.5 points in DOSS at 1‐month follow‐up (P = .014), whereas intermittent TBS induced an increase of 0.7 and 0.6 points at 1‐ and 3‐month follow‐up evaluations, respectively (P = .0001 and P = .005, respectively). Reproducibility of both the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing significantly increased at 1‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions and Inferences

Our results suggest that non‐invasive cortical stimulation may be useful for dysphagia recovery in elderly patients.
Multiobjective record‐to‐record travel metaheuristic method for solving forest supply chain management problems with economic and environmental objectives
Authors: She Ji , Chung Woodam , Vergara Hector
Published: January 2020

Multiobjective optimization is increasingly used to assist decision‐making in forest management when multiple objectives are considered and conflict with each other. Since forest management problems may deal with combinatorial optimization, as the scale of a problem increases, the computation complexity increases exponentially beyond the practical use of exact methods. We propose a multiple‐objective metaheuristic method, referred to as multiobjective record‐to‐record travel (MRRT), to solve such challenging problems. We examined the performance of MRRT and compared it to a mixed integer programming (MIP) optimizer on a forest supply chain multiobjective optimization problem that simultaneously maximizes net revenues and greenhouse gas emission savings from salvage harvest and utilization of beetle‐killed forest stands. Testing on four cases of different problem sizes showed that MRRT performed satisfactorily in approximating the actual Pareto fronts in terms of convergence and coverage, and the distribution of solutions was approximately uniform. The gap between MRRT and MIP solutions increased as the problem size increased. But MRRT produced all solutions within a reasonable computation time, where the computational advantage over MIP was more apparent for large‐scale test cases.

Recommendations for Resource Managers

Multiobjective optimization shows trade‐offs among conflicting objectives and assists decision‐making to enhance sustainable forest management.

Multiobjective record‐to‐record travel (MRRT) has a simple algorithm structure and easy parameterization process so that it is adaptable to solve various multiobjective optimization problems.

MRRT produces high‐quality solutions for large‐scale multiobjective optimization problems within a reasonable computation time, which promotes its applicability in practice.
Breeding tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) for drought adaptation: A review
Authors: Mwale Saul Eric , Shimelis Hussein , Mafongoya Paramu , Mashilo Jacob
Published: January 2020

Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) is a relatively higher drought‐tolerant crop than common bean (P. vulgaris), serving as genetic resource for food and genetic enhancement of related legumes. Tepary bean production is hampered by cultivation of low yielding and abiotic stress‐susceptible cultivars. Targeted selection of agronomic, physiological and biochemical traits that maximizes yield gains using Phaseolus gene pool is useful to develop stress‐tolerant and high‐performing genotypes. The objective of this review is to provide breeding progress made regarding tepary bean improvement for drought adaptation. Agronomic, physiological and biochemical traits utilized for selection of drought‐tolerant genotypes are highlighted. Genetic and genomic resources developed for tepary bean or closely related species such as common bean useful for genetic analysis and breeding are discussed. Opportunities and challenges to facilitate breeding of tepary bean genotypes with improved abiotic stress adaptation are highlighted. This will enable development of drought‐tolerant tepary bean genotypes targeting selection of agronomic, physiological and biochemical traits. Use of genetically related and complementary Phaseolus species and marker‐assisted selection method is key to developing drought‐tolerant genotypes.
Stüve‐Wiedemann syndrome with multiple eruptive vellus hair cysts and clefted tongue
Authors: Lobato‐Berezo Alejandro , Tormo‐Mainar Sara , Pujol Ramon M.
Published: January 2020

Stüve‐Wiedemann syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive congenital primary skeletal dysplasia, characterized by small stature, bowed long bones, joint restrictions, hyperthermic episodes, dysautonomia, and respiratory and feeding difficulties, that usually leads to early mortality. Cutaneous manifestations have rarely been reported. We report the case of a girl with Stüve‐Wiedemann syndrome presenting with progressive development of multiple eruptive vellus hair cysts.
Reference values for salivary cortisol in healthy young infants by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Saito‐Abe Mayako , Yamamoto‐Hanada Kiwako , Nakayama Shoji F. , Hashimoto Yuki , Natsume Osamu , Fukami Maki , Hasegawa Tomonobu , Ohya Yukihiro
Published: January 2020

Background

Sampling of salivary cortisol is non‐invasive and important for the evaluation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function and stress levels. However, the reference values for salivary cortisol measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) in healthy infants are unclear. The aim of this study was to establish the reference values for salivary cortisol levels in healthy infants.

Methods

This study was a prospective observational cohort study following the participants until the age of 6 months. We analyzed 71 healthy, full‐term infants at age 1 month between December 2017 and March 2018. We repeated saliva sampling every month, measured the salivary cortisol levels in the early morning by LC‐MS/MS, and took the subjects’ medical history by questionnaire.

Results

The minimum, 25th, 50th, 75th percentile, and maximum salivary cortisol levels were 0.08, 1.11, 2.21, 5.18, and 30.35 nmol/L, respectively.

Conclusions

We established the reference values for salivary cortisol in young infants using LC‐MS/MS.
“Time's Up!”: Framing Collective Impatience for Radical Political Change
Authors: Basta Karlo
Published: January 2020

Grievance is a prominent feature of mobilization for radical political change. Existing scholarship, however, does not pay sufficient attention to the temporal texture of grievance narratives. Temporally “flat” narratives of grievance are ill equipped to provide either the cognitive or emotional stimulus for major political reorientation. In response to this issue, the article develops the concept of collective exhaustion master frames. These are frames that narrate the aggrieved community's arrival to a threshold of collective impatience. Such narratives have two functions—to legitimize radical departures from prevailing political habits (a cognitive task) and to stimulate collective impatience with the political status quo (an emotional management task). In addition to developing the concept of exhaustion frames, the article demonstrates its empirical relevance by outlining five distinctive framing episodes, starting with the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The conclusion outlines the future directions for the study of collective impatience and points to the range of implications for political psychology and adjacent disciplines.
Hesperetin as an adjuvant augments protective anti‐tumour immunity responses in B16F10 melanoma by stimulating cytotoxic CD8+ T cells
Authors: Jiang Shasha , Wang Shuang , Zhang Lina , Tian Le , Li Ling , Liu Zeyuan , Dong Qiwen , Lv Xue , Mu Haiyu , Zhang Qianwen , Wang Bin
Published: January 2020

Hesperetin (HES) is a dihydroflavone with the molecular formula of C16H14O6. It has been reported that Hesperetin has antioxidant and anticancer effects. Recent studies showed that it can also regulate immune responses. To assess its potential function as a vaccine adjuvant, we formulated HES with inactivated B16F10 melanoma cells and determined whether it would enhance the activation of antigen‐presenting cells by experiments in vivo and in vitro. We found that HES activated the PI3K‐Akt signalling pathway in antigen‐presenting cells (APCs), enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses and deactivated tolerogenic T cells. We also observed that inactivated B16F10 cells in combination with HES vaccine inhibited the growth of mice tumours, resulting in improved overall survival compared to the effects of inactivated B16F10 cell vaccine. To verify that CD8+T cells play a key role in inhibiting the development of melanoma, we transferred the sorted CD8+T cells from immunized mice to B16F10 challenged models and found that the survival rate of tumour‐bearing mice was significantly prolonged. Taken together, these results suggest that hesperetin can be used as a potential adjuvant to improve tumour immune responses and antigen immunogenicity.
Effect of exercise on key pharmacokinetic parameters related to metformin absorption in healthy humans: A pilot study
Authors: Nikolaidis Stefanos , Virgiliou Christina , Vekiou Magdalini , Skari Ariadni , Kechagidou Anna , Gika Helen , Theodoridis Georgios , Pappas Periklis , Leondaritis George , Mougios Vassilis
Published: January 2020

Exercise is widely accepted as having therapeutic effects; thus, it is important to know whether it interacts with medications. The aim of the present pilot study was to examine the effect of high‐intensity interval exercise (known to have antidiabetic action) on key pharmacokinetic parameters related to absorption of metformin (the first‐line medication against type 2 diabetes). Ten healthy men participated in two sessions, spaced one to two weeks apart in random, counterbalanced order. In both sessions, participants received 1000 mg of metformin orally, 1‐1.5 hours after breakfast. Then, they either ran for 60 minutes at alternating intensity, starting at 40 minutes after metformin administration, and rested without food consumption over the next 3 hours or they rested without food consumption during the entire testing period. Venous blood samples were collected before and at 0.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 hours after metformin administration for metformin determination by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Capillary blood samples were also collected for lactate and glucose measurements. Data from the two sessions were compared through Wilcoxon or Student's t test, as appropriate. Maximum plasma concentration of metformin (Cmax) was higher at exercise compared to rest (P = .059). Time to reach Cmax (Tmax) decreased with exercise (P = .009), and the area under the metformin concentration vs time curve was higher at exercise (P = .047). The addition of exercise to metformin administration did not cause hypoglycemia or lactic acidosis. In conclusion, our results provide the first evidence that pharmacokinetic values related to metformin absorption are affected by exercise.
The Ficus erecta genome aids Ceratocystis canker resistance breeding in common fig (F. carica)
Authors: Shirasawa Kenta , Yakushiji Hiroshi , Nishimura Ryotaro , Morita Takeshige , Jikumaru Shota , Ikegami Hidetoshi , Toyoda Atsushi , Hirakawa Hideki , Isobe Sachiko
Published: January 2020

Ficus erecta, a wild relative of the common fig (F. carica), is a donor of Ceratocystis canker resistance in fig breeding programmes. Interspecific hybridization followed by recurrent backcrossing is an effective method to transfer the resistance trait from wild to cultivated fig. However, this process is time consuming and labour intensive for trees, especially for gynodioecious plants such as fig. In this study, genome resources were developed for F. erecta to facilitate fig breeding programmes. The genome sequence of F. erecta was determined using single‐molecule real‐time sequencing technology. The resultant assembly spanned 331.6 Mb with 538 contigs and an N50 length of 1.9 Mb, from which 51 806 high‐confidence genes were predicted. Pseudomolecule sequences corresponding to the chromosomes of F. erecta were established with a genetic map based on single nucleotide polymorphisms from double‐digest restriction‐site‐associated DNA sequencing. Subsequent linkage analysis and whole‐genome resequencing identified a candidate gene for the Ceratocystis canker resistance trait. Genome‐wide genotyping analysis enabled the selection of female lines that possessed resistance and effective elimination of the donor genome from the progeny. The genome resources provided in this study will accelerate and enhance disease‐resistance breeding programmes in fig.
The nature of trade, global production fragmentation and inflationary dynamics: Cross‐country evidence
Authors: Saygılı Hülya
Published: January 2020

This study investigates under which circumstances trade has impact on inflation dynamics by examining the independent effects of trade intensity, intra‐industry trade and trade on value added. Trade in goods is decomposed into consumption (final) goods and intermediate inputs to deepen the assessment of the role of the globalisation of production activities on inflation dynamics. Open‐economy new Keynesian Phillips curve (NKPC) analyses suggest that inflation is sensitive to domestic factors and that the relevance of external factors changes with respect to the nature of trade, country groups and time. Vertical intra‐industry trade in intermediate inputs and value‐added trade play important role, whereas final goods trade has no statistically significant effect on inflation dynamics.
Treatment of phenobarbital intoxication using hemodialysis in two dogs
Authors: Basile Jessica Kielb , Vigani Alessio
Published: January 2020

Objective

To describe the use of hemodialysis in 2 dogs with severe clinical signs from phenobarbital intoxication.

Series Summary

Two dogs ingested a toxic dose of phenobarbital, leading to severe neurological dysfunction and a comatose state. Both dogs received a 3‐hour session of hemodialysis with complete resolution of clinical signs and returned to normal mentation by the end of the therapy. No negative side effects occurred and phenobarbital concentrations returned to therapeutic range during treatment.

New Information Provided

This is the first report on the utility and safety of using hemodialysis for phenobarbital intoxication in dogs.