bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A randomized controlled trial of the Effects of a telehealth educational intervention on medication adherence and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Song Yuqing , Reifsnider Elizabeth , Zhao Shangping , Xie Xia , Chen Hong
Published: February 2020

Aims

To examine the effects of a tailored telehealth educational intervention on medication adherence and disease activity in discharged patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Design

An un‐blinded randomized controlled trial.

Methods

A total of 92 eligible patients were recruited from January 2015–December 2015. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention (N = 46) or control group (N = 46). The intervention group received four educational sessions delivered through a telephone across a 12‐week intervention. The content of the education mainly included: subject's knowledge about disease; treatment goals; the importance of taking medication correctly; side effect management; remembering to take medication. The control group received only standard care including discharge instructions. Outcome measures included medication adherence and disease activity.

Results

The intervention group had significantly higher medication adherence compared with the control group at 12th and 24th week. There was no significant difference between two groups in disease activity at 12th and 24th week.

Conclusions

The telephone‐delivered tailored educational intervention effectively improved medication adherence among discharged patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, no significant benefits of the intervention on disease activity were detected.

Impact

Good medication adherence in rheumatoid arthritis patients contributes to controlling symptom and inflammation, preventing the progressive structural damage. This study demonstrated that the telehealth educational intervention could improve patients' medication adherence but did not have a direct impact on clinical condition in the short‐term. The intervention for discharged patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be integrated into the clinical setting by the nursing staff as follow‐up care.

Trial registration number: ChiCTR‐IPR‐14005722.
Bibliometric analysis of qualitative research on patients’ experiences of intestinal stoma published between 2002 ‐ 2018
Authors: Capilla‐Díaz Concepción , Durán‐López Maria I. , Martínez‐Guerrero Juan M. , Reina‐Leal Liliana M. , Gómez‐Urquiza José L. , Gálvez‐González María , Hueso‐Montoro César
Published: February 2020

Aims

The purpose of this paper was to perform a bibliometric analysis of the production of qualitative research in scientific journals through aggregation by levels and to identify factors of diversity, such as types of designs, in qualitative research on the experience of having an intestinal stoma between 2002 and 2018.

Design

Descriptive bibliometric study focused on the production of qualitative research on the subject of study, on three levels: micro, meso and macro.

Methods

Databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, SciELO, CUIDEN, Lilacs and Google Scholar were used to collect the data, between August ‐ November 2018.

Results

Nursing was the main area of knowledge. Brazil was the predominant country of origin. The most productive journal was the Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing. English and Portuguese were the main languages of scientific communication. The number of authors was typically between 2 and 6. Authors conducted descriptive and phenomenological studies.

Conclusion

The present bibliometric study helps us to map the qualitative research on the experiences of individuals with an intestinal stoma and to understand patterns in the designs, methods, disciplines and journals involved in this area of research. This will allow nurses to have a leading contribution to stoma care at their disposal.
Immunological changes in nestlings growing under predation risk
Authors: Roncalli Gianluca , Soler Manuel , Tieleman B. Irene , Versteegh Maaike A. , Ruiz‐Raya Francisco , Colombo Elisa , Sambla Mercedes Gómez , Ibáñez‐Álamo Juan Diego
Published: February 2020

Predation is one of the most relevant selective forces in nature. However, the physiological mechanisms behind anti‐predator strategies have been overlooked, despite their importance to understand predator–prey interactions. In this context, the immune system could be especially revealing due to its relationship with other critical functions and its ability to enhance prey's probabilities of survival to a predator's attack. Developing organisms (e.g. nestlings) are excellent models to study this topic because they suffer a high predation pressure while undergoing the majority of their development, which maximizes potential trade‐offs between immunity and other biological functions. Using common blackbirdsTurdus merulaas model species, we experimentally investigated whether an elevated nest predation risk during the nestling period affects nestlings’ immunity and its possible interactions with developmental conditions (i.e. body condition and growth). Experimental nestlings modified some components of their immunity, but only when considering body condition and growth rate, indicating a multifaceted immunological response to predation risk and an important mediator role of nestlings’ developmental conditions. Predation risk induced a suppression of IgY but an increase in lymphocytes in nestlings with poor body condition. In addition, experimental but not control nestlings showed a negative correlation between growth and heterophils, demonstrating that nest predation risk can affect the interaction between growth and immunity. This study highlights the importance of immunity in anti‐predator response in nestlings and shows the relevance of including physiological components to the study of predation risk.
CircPRMT5 circular RNA promotes proliferation of colorectal cancer through sponging miR‐377 to induce E2F3 expression
Authors: Yang Bairen , Du Ke , Yang Chuanhua , Xiang Lili , Xu Ying , Cao Chen , Zhang Junhui , Liu Wenneng
Published: February 2020

CircPRTM5 is associated with cell proliferation and migration in many kinds of malignancies. However, the functions and mechanisms of CircPRTM5 in CRC progression remain unclear. We explored the role and the mechanisms of CircPRTM5 in the development of CRC. Tissues of CRC patients and matched adjacent non‐tumour tissues were collected to evaluate the expression of CircPRTM5. The expression of CircPRTM5 in CRC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. The biological functions of CircPRTM5 in CRC were determined by overexpression and down‐regulation of CircPRTM5 in CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. The results indicate that knockdown of CircPRTM5 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of CRC cells. The potential mechanisms of CircPRTM5 in CRC development were identified by RT‐qPCR, Western blotting analysis and luciferase reporter assay. CircPRTM5 competitively regulates the expression of E2F3 by capillary adsorption of miR‐377. CircPRMT5 regulates CRC proliferation by regulating the expression of E2F3, which affects the expression of the cell cycle‐associated proteins cyclinD1 and CDK2. CircPRTM5 exerts critical regulatory role in CRC progression by sponging miR‐377 to induce E2F3 expression.
A multicomponent herbal feed additive improves somatic cell counts in dairy cows ‐ a two stage, multicentre, placebo‐controlled long‐term on‐farm trial
Authors: Walkenhorst Michael , Leiber Florian , Maeschli Ariane , Kapp Alexandra N. , Spengler‐Neff Anet , Faleschini Maria Teresa , Garo Eliane , Hamburger Matthias , Potterat Olivier , Mayer Philipp , Graf‐Schiller Sandra , Bieber Anna
Published: February 2020

In contrast to natural and historical diets of wild and domesticated ruminants, the diversity of plant species is limited in diets of modern dairy cows. Are “production diseases” linked to this? We conducted a trial to test the effects of a multicomponent herbal feed additive (HFA) on health, performance and fertility traits. A dose‐finding study (DF) with 62 cows on 11 commercial farms compared a low (50 g) and a high (100 g) dose of HFA (HFA‐50, HFA‐100) with a placebo (PL). In a subsequent field trial (FT) with 280 cows on 30 commercial farms, HFA‐100 was compared to PL. Cows were randomly assigned to HFA and PL groups and received HFA or PL individually daily from 14 days pre‐ to 300 days post‐calving. Data were analysed with mixed effects models. No differences between HFA and PL were found regarding performance, body condition score and overall culling rates. A tendency towards lower milk urea for HFA‐100 compared to PL (p = .06) was found in DF. HFA significantly reduced elevated milk acetone observations (≥10 mg/L) in the first 10 lactation weeks (HFA‐100: 4%; HFA‐50: 4%; PL: 12%) in DF. HFA‐50 significantly reduced lameness incidence (HFA‐100: 11%; HFA‐50: 2%; PL: 14%) in DF. Calving intervals were 15 days shorter in HFA compared to PL in both trials, which could be confirmed by tendency (p = .07) in FT. In both trials, the proportion of test days with elevated somatic cell score (≥3.0) was significantly lower in HFA compared to PL (DF: HFA‐100: 40%, HFA‐50: 45% and PL: 55%; FT: HFA‐100: 38% and PL: 55%) which is also reflected by tendency (p = .08) in lower culling rates due to udder diseases in FT. HFA showed no negative impact on any of the measured parameters. The effects of HFA indicate a potential of phytochemically rich and diverse feed additives for dairy cows' nutrition and physiology.
Effect of nephrology follow‐up on long‐term outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ye Nan , Xu Ying , Bellomo Rinaldo , Gallagher Martin , Wang Amanda Y.
Published: February 2020

Aim

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor short‐term and long‐term clinical outcomes. The role of nephrology follow‐up in post‐AKI management remains uncertain.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis were performed examining all randomized controlled trials and observational studies assessing the effect of nephrology follow‐up on patients' clinical outcomes. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were renal outcomes, which were defined as a composite of requirement of permanent dialysis and recurrent AKI. Pooled analysis was performed using a random‐effect model.

Results

We identified six studies (8972 patients, mean follow‐up of 49 months). Five were retrospective cohort studies and one was a prospective cohort study. Risk of bias was a concern with all studied. Only four studies reported primary and/or secondary outcomes and were included. Compared with patients without nephrology follow‐up, patients with nephrology follow‐up had significantly reduced mortality by 22% (three studies, 3240 patients, relative risk [RR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70‐0.88, I2 = 0.0%). Nephrology follow‐up did not improve composite renal outcomes with high heterogeneity due to significant differences in reported renal outcomes and follow‐up period (two studies, 2537 patients, RR = 1.72, 95% CI = 0.49‐6.05, I2 = 90.1%).

Conclusion

Current evidence from observational studies is biased. It suggests long‐term survival benefits with post‐discharge nephrology follow‐up in AKI patients. However, due to its low quality, such evidence is only hypothesis‐generating. Nonetheless, it provides a rationale for future randomized controlled trials of nephrology follow‐up in AKI patients.

SUMMARY AT A GLANCE

The present meta‐analysis assessed the effect of nephrology follow‐up on patients' clinical outcomes, and suggested long‐term survival benefits in acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors. Although the study inherently comprises potential risks of bias due to paucity of available data, the results provide a rationale for future randomized controlled trials.
Community structure of vascular epiphytes: a neutral perspective
Authors: Janzen Thijs , Zotz Gerhard , Etienne Rampal S.
Published: February 2020

Vascular epiphytes form a diverse group of almost 30 000 species, yet theory concerning their community structure is still largely lacking. We therefore employed the simplest models of biodiversity, (near‐)neutral models, to generate hypotheses concerning their community structure. With recently developed tools for (near‐)neutral models we analyzed species abundance data from many samples in Central and South America which we divided into four metacommunities (Mesoamerica, Central America, Amazonia and Paraná), where for each metacommunity we considered two subsets differing in dispersal syndrome: an animal‐dispersed guild and a wind‐dispersed guild. We considered three models differing in the underlying speciation mode. Across all metacommunities, we found observed patterns to be indistinguishable from patterns generated by neutral or near‐neutral processes. Furthermore, we found that subdivision in different dispersal guilds was often supported, with recruitment limitation being stronger for animal‐dispersed species than for wind‐dispersed species. This is the first time that (near‐)neutral theory has been applied to epiphyte communities. Future efforts with additional data sets and more refined models are expected to further improve our understanding of community structure in epiphytes and will have to test the generality of our findings.
Evaluation of the minimal erythema dose for UVB and UVA in context of skin phototype and nature of photodermatosis
Authors: Welti Michèle , Ramelyte Egle , Dummer Reinhard , Imhof Laurence
Published: February 2020

Background

Phototesting is part of the standard procedure for the evaluation of patients with photosensitivity disorders. The response of patients to targeted UVB or UVA radiation helps to find out more about the nature of photodermatosis. Nevertheless, there are no default values of the minimal erythema dose (MED).

Methods

This study evaluated data of 203 patients (131 female, 72 male, mean age 52 years) who were referred for phototesting to the University Hospital Zurich between 2012 and 2017. We retrospectively analyzed the demographic data, medical history, skin phototype, reaction to UVB and UVA radiation, and, if present, the diagnosis of photodermatosis. In patients who did not develop erythema at the highest tested UV doses, the next logical increment was taken for analysis. In case of UVA, the two periphery doses could not be evaluated due to technical issues, so the closest reliable UVA doses were used.

Results

The MED‐UVB correlated with the skin type and increased with a higher phototype. No such correlation could be seen for MED‐UVA. However, the MED‐UVA was significantly reduced in patients with photodermatosis without significant differences between the subgroups of photodermatosis. More than half of the patients did not show a reduced MED despite a diagnosed photodermatosis.

Conclusion

We showed, how different skin types with and without photodermatosis react to UV radiation. Based on the results, we suggested threshold doses that can be chosen for phototesting, presented which doses can be considered pathologic and showed the probability of a pathologic MED in correlation with a diagnosed photodermatosis.
Maternal exposure to violence and offspring neurodevelopment: A systematic review
Authors: Toso Kristin , de Cock Paul , Leavey Gerard
Published: February 2020

Background

Stress during pregnancy is known to affect fetal neurodevelopment. It seems likely therefore that intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence (DV) as extreme stressors will have a similarly adverse effect.

Objectives

A systematic review was conducted to assess the association between prenatal exposure to violence for mothers and developmental difficulties in their children.

Data sources

PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, ERIC, Science Direct, SCOPUS, PsyARTICLES, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, Women's Studies International and Gender Studies Database were all searched using the agreed search terms.

Study selection and data extraction

We include studies of women who have experienced any violence, fear of violence or aggression while pregnant, including emotional, psychological, physical or sexual violence in the context of IPV or DV. Studies were excluded if the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring were not assessed. Studies from all countries were included, in English or translated to English, and search dates were not restricted. We included all years from inception of the database until the search date.

Synthesis

Study design and biases, assessment tools, management of confounding, results and overall quality were assessed.

Results

We identified 11 papers reporting on observational studies. Almost three quarters of the studies found a relationship between prenatal exposure to violence and developmental difficulties in the offspring. Differing assessment tools were used with a range of data collected and not all adjusted their findings for the same confounders.

Conclusions

Current evidence on the relationship between prenatal violence exposure, as IPV or DV, and consequent child developmental disorders remains limited. Future research using comprehensive study designs, larger samples and longitudinal follow‐up of the offspring could clarify this association. While maternal trauma resulting from exposure to violence may play an important role in childhood development disorders, additional intervening factors on the pathway need further explored.
Risk of febrile seizures among children conceived following fertility treatment: A cohort study
Authors: Guleria Sonia , Kjær Susanne K. , Duun‐Henriksen Anne Katrine , Christensen Jakob , Soylu Lív í , Hargreave Marie , Jensen Allan
Published: February 2020

Background

Studies have shown that fertility treatment in mothers is associated with neurological problems in children. However, knowledge about any association between maternal use of fertility treatment and febrile seizures in children is lacking.

Objective

To determine whether maternal use of fertility treatment is associated with febrile seizures in children.

Methods

All liveborn children in Denmark during 1996‐2012 (n = 1 065 901) were linked with the Danish Infertility Cohort and the Danish national registers and were followed from one year of age until the first episode of a febrile seizure, death, emigration, loss to follow‐up, or end of follow‐up (December 2015). Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Approximately 16% children (n = 172 140) were conceived by infertile women, and approximately 3% (n = 34 082) were diagnosed with febrile seizures during follow‐up. Compared with children conceived by fertile women, children conceived following any fertility treatment (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06, 1.16), following specific fertility treatment, for example IVF (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05, 1.25), ICSI (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.10, 1.32), and following fertility drugs (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00, 1.11) had slight increase in risk of febrile seizures, after adjusting for calendar year of birth, parental age, education, parity status, and maternal smoking during pregnancy. The associations were unchanged when children conceived naturally by infertile women were used as the reference group.

Conclusions

Children conceived following fertility treatment had slightly increased relative risk for febrile seizures.
Ventilation heterogeneity and oscillometry predict asthma control improvement following step‐up inhaled therapy in uncontrolled asthma
Authors: Tang Francesca S.M. , Rutting Sandra , Farrow Catherine E. , Tonga Katrina O. , Watts Joanna , Dame‐Carrol Jessica R. , Bertolin Amy , King Gregory G. , Thamrin Cindy , Chapman David G.
Published: February 2020

Background and objective

Abnormal peripheral airway function is an important feature of asthma and relates to asthma symptoms and poor asthma control. We aimed to determine whether peripheral airway function, as measured by forced oscillatory impedance and multiple‐breath nitrogen washout (MBNW), relates to symptom improvement in asthmatic participants with uncontrolled asthma, after stepping up to high‐dose ICS/LABA treatment.

Methods

A total of 19 subjects (14 females, mean age: 29.9 ± 13.6 years) with uncontrolled asthma, as defined by an ACQ5 > 1.5, taking 500 μg/day fluticasone equivalent or less, underwent spirometry, plethysmography, fractional exhaled FeNO, forced oscillatory resistance (Rrs5Hz) and reactance (Xrs5Hz), and indices of MBNW ventilation heterogeneity (lung clearance index (LCI), diffusion‐convection‐dependent (Sacin) and convection‐dependent (Scond)). Measurements were made before and after 8 weeks of treatment with fluticasone/formoterol combination inhaler 250/10 μg, 2 puffs twice daily.

Results

Treatment improved ACQ5 (P = 0.0002), FEV1 (P = 0.02), FVC (P = 0.04), FeNO (P = 0.0008), Xrs5Hz (P = 0.01), LCI (P = 0.0002), Sacin (P = 0.006) and Scond (P = 0.01). At baseline, ACQ5 correlated with Xrs5Hz (rs = 0.52, P = 0.03) and Rrs5Hz (rs = 0.55, P = 0.02). The improvement in ACQ5 was predicted by more abnormal baseline LCI (P = 0.03), Scond (P = 0.02) and Rrs5Hz (P = 0.006). Baseline Scond was the best predictor of a clinically meaningful improvement in asthma control (ΔACQ > 0.5, ROC‐AUC = 0.91, P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Step‐up to high‐dose combination treatment in uncontrolled asthma is associated with improved peripheral airway function as measured by Xrs5Hz and MBNW. Baseline MBNW and FOT parameters correlated with the improvement in symptoms and may predict a positive response to up‐titration in uncontrolled asthmatic patients.
Long Run Canadian Wealth Inequality in International Context
Authors: Davies James B. , Di Matteo Livio
Published: February 2020

A gap in estimates of the personal distribution of Canadian wealth between 1902 and 1970 is partly filled, using estate multiplier estimates for 1945–1968. The historical record is extended by adjusting the upper tail in survey results since 1970 to make it consistent with respected journalists’ “rich lists.” Top wealth shares decline from 1892 to 1902 and from 1945 to the late 1960s, consistent with the downward trend in most advanced western countries over much of the 20th century. Since 1984 there has been a clear upward trend in wealth inequality in Canada, as in many other countries, and in the United States. Currently, wealth inequality is higher in Canada than in the U.K. and much of continental Europe, somewhat lower than Austria or Germany, and distinctly lower than the U.S. Contrasts between Canada and the U.S. in wealth inequality trends are discussed.
Controls on channel deposits of highly variable rivers: Comparing hydrology and event deposits in the Burdekin River, Australia
Authors: Alexander Jan , Herbert Christopher M. , Fielding Christopher R. , Amos Kathryn J.
Published: February 2020

Discharge event frequency, magnitude and duration all control river channel morphology and sedimentary architecture. Uncertainty persists as to whether alluvial deposits in the rock record are a time‐averaged amalgam from all discharge events, or a biased record of larger events. This paper investigates the controls on channel deposit character and subsurface stratigraphic architecture in a river with seasonal discharge and very high inter‐annual variability, the Burdekin River of north‐east Australia. In such rivers, most sediment movement is restricted to a few days each year and at other times little sediment moves. However, the maximum discharge magnitude does not directly correlate with the amount of morphological change and some big events do not produce large deposits. The Burdekin channel deposits consist of five main depositional elements: (i) unit bars; (ii) vegetation‐generated bars; (iii) gravel sheets and lags; (iv) antidune trains; and (v) sand sheets. The proportions of each depositional element preserved in the deposits depend on the history of successive large discharge events, their duration and the rate at which they wane. Events with similar peak magnitude but different rate of decline preserve different event deposits. The high intra‐annual and inter‐annual discharge variability and rapid rate of stage change make it likely that small to moderate‐scale bed morphology will be in disequilibrium with flow conditions most of the time. Consequently, dune and unit bar size and cross‐bed set thickness are not good indicators of event or channel size. Antidunes may be more useful as indicators of flow conditions at the time they formed. Rivers with very high coefficient of variance of maximum discharge, such as the Burdekin, form distinctive channel sediment bodies. However, the component parts are such that, if they are examined in isolation, they could lead to misleading interpretation of the nature of the depositional environment if conventional interpretations are used.
A longitudinal study: Affective wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, self‐efficacy and academic performance among first‐year undergraduate students
Authors: Cobo‐Rendón Rubia , Pérez‐Villalobos María V. , Páez‐Rovira Darío , Gracia‐Leiva Marcela
Published: February 2020

Students’ mental health have a greatest impact on wellbeing and academic performance, also is often affected adaptation to the university life. This study examines the proportion of students with a positive and negative affect balance, and the relationship between affective wellbeing and academic self‐efficacy and performance. It also analyzes how psychological wellbeing and academic self‐efficacy predict affective wellbeing and academic performance. In a sample of 200 undergraduate students (M = 19.07 years), it was found that positive affect decreased and negative affect increased during the second academic year. The majority had a positive affect balance (AB). Psychological wellbeing predicts positive emotions and its achievement dimension predicts academic performance. 53% of participating students maintained a positive AB, 14% maintained a negative AB and 21% went from a negative to a positive AB one. The change from a positive to a negative AB (10%) is associated with an increase in psychological wellbeing, suggesting a process of post‐stress growth in relation to the challenges of university life.
Examining Public Opinion about Abortion: A Mixed‐Methods Systematic Review of Research over the Last 15 Years
Authors: Adamczyk Amy , Kim Chunrye , Dillon Leevia
Published: February 2020

Although abortion became legal four decades ago, Americans remain staunchly divided over its acceptability. While researchers have been interested in the factors shaping abortion attitudes, there are almost no reviews of this work. We examine the factors shaping Americans’ abortion attitudes and assess the state of published peer‐reviewed articles in this area over the last 15 years. Using a mixed‐methods systematic review, we analyze and critique the findings from 116 journal articles that have examined attitudes about abortion between 2001 and 2016. Among the many predictors and outcomes examined, we show that religion is by far the most utilized statistically significant independent variable, followed by education and income/employment. In addition to examining the factors that shape attitudes, we provide insight into the characteristics of this published work. We offer several suggestions for improving research on this important topic, including a better utilization of social science theory, examining the attitudes of teens, increasing the use of mixed‐methods studies, and drawing on longitudinal data and analyses that consider the influence of the larger context for shaping attitudes.
A multigene phylogeny and timeline for Trichoptera (Insecta)
Authors: Thomas Jessica A. , Frandsen Paul B. , Prendini Elizabeth , Zhou Xin , Holzenthal Ralph W.
Published: February 2020

The Trichoptera, or caddisflies, are traditionally split into two taxonomic subdivisions: the ‘retreat‐making’ Annulipalpia and the ‘case‐making’ Integripalpia (sensu Ross). The monophyly of these groups is well documented; however, the establishment of a third subdivision, ‘Spicipalpia’, and the positions of the five ‘spicipalpian’ families is much debated. In contrast to previous molecular studies using nuclear ribosomal RNA, a recent trichopteran study (using nuclear protein‐coding genes) placed one of these ‘spicipalpian’ families, the free‐living predatory Rhyacophilidae, as the sister taxon to the rest of Trichoptera, a result that has significant implications for both the understanding of trichopteran evolution and its timing. This paper sets out to investigate the relationships of Trichoptera using several newly sequenced genes, together with previously published gene sequences. This dataset is the largest trichopteran dataset to date, covering six independent genes and > 10 000 nucleotides, and containing 185 species representing 49 families. With all data included, likelihood and Bayesian analyses support a monophyletic Annulipalpia and a monophyletic Integripalpia, which includes the ‘spicipalpians’ as a paraphyletic grade at the base of this clade. However, an analysis of the protein‐coding data alone using similar analytical methods recovers Rhyacophilidae as the most basal taxon in Trichoptera, with low support. A reanalysis correcting for nucleotide composition bias provides support for the placement of the ‘spicipalpian’ taxa as sister to the Integripalpia, consistent with the total data analysis, suggesting that the basal position of Rhyacophilidae in the uncorrected analysis could be (or is probably) an artefact of base composition. We find it likely that ancestral trichopterans made incipient cases and retreats, and these had independent origins as precocious pupal chambers. Molecular dating analysis in beast, using the birth‐death model of speciation, with a relaxed‐clock model of sequence evolution informed by 37 fossil constraints, suggests that the most recent common ancestor of Trichoptera appeared in the Permian (c. 275 Ma) in line with the first appearance of Trichoptera in the fossil record, and that vicariance explains the distribution of most trichopteran taxa. A new infraordinal name, Phryganides, is introduced for the tube‐case‐making families of Integripalpia.
Museomics reveals extensive cryptic diversity of Australian prionine longhorn beetles with implications for their classification and conservation
Authors: Jin Mengjie , Zwick Andreas , Ślipiński Adam , de Keyzer Roger , Pang Hong
Published: February 2020

We combined museum collection genomics and morphology to identify new genera and species, and to otherwise revise the taxonomy of the poorly understood Australian longhorn beetles in the subfamily Prioninae. Moreover, we produced a comprehensive DNA reference library for molecular species identification and a first comprehensive molecular phylogeny for all Australian Prioninae, using mitogenomic data. The Prioninae include some of the world's largest beetles, and their long‐lived larvae are major recyclers of solid dead timber, yet these longhorn beetles are rarely seen in nature due to their concealed habits, short adult lifespans and nocturnal habits. Furthermore, many species are difficult to identify using morphological characters. We applied Whole Genome Shotgun (WGS) sequencing to 213 historical museum specimens, representing all morphological types of Australian Prioninae. Complete mitochondrial genomes were obtained for all genera, and at least one mitochondrial protein‐coding gene (PCG) was acquired for an additional 141 specimens of Australian Prioninae. Using molecular species delimitation tools, we identified 48 new species of Australian Prioninae, nearly doubling the number of currently recognized Australian species of Prioninae. We assign generic status toCatypnesPascoe, 1864stat.r.andHermeriusNewman, 1844stat.r., propose a new synonymy forCnemoplitesNewman, 1842 (=ParoplitesLameere, 1903syn.n.), describe six new genera, includingPaulhutchinsoniaJin, de Keyzer & Ślipińskigen.n.,PapunyaJin, de Keyzer & Ślipińskigen.n.,DunmoriumJin, de Keyzer & Ślipińskigen.n.,HagridesJin, de Keyzer & Ślipińskigen.n.,CryptipusJin, de Keyzer & Ślipińskigen.n.,GeoffmonteithiaJin, de Keyzer & Ślipińskigen.n., and revise the tribal composition of the Australian Macrotomini. Moreover, our phylogeny of Prioninae provides valuable new insights into the evolutionary origins and nearest relatives of several Australian endemic taxa. Our results emphasize the importance of natural history museums as a repository for information about biodiversity, and highlight the opportunities associated with using museum specimens as a source for molecular data in phylogenetic studies.
Impact of oxidative stress on the function, abundance, and turnover of the Arabidopsis 80S cytosolic ribosome
Authors: Salih Karzan J. , Duncan Owen , Li Lei , O’Leary Brendan , Fenske Ricarda , Trösch Josua , Millar A. Harvey
Published: February 2020

Abiotic stress in plants causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to the need for new protein synthesis to defend against ROS and to replace existing proteins that are damaged by oxidation. Functional plant ribosomes are critical for these activities, however we know little about the impact of oxidative stress on plant ribosome abundance, turnover, and function. Using Arabidopsis cell culture as a model system, we induced oxidative stress using 1 µm of H2O2 or 5 µm menadione to more than halve cell growth rate and limit total protein content. We show that ribosome content on a total cell protein basis decreased in oxidatively stressed cells. However, overall protein synthesis rates on a ribosome abundance basis showed the resident ribosomes retained their function in oxidatively stressed cells. 15N progressive labelling was used to calculate the rate of ribosome synthesis and degradation to track the fate of 62 r‐proteins. The degradation rates and the synthesis rates of most r‐proteins slowed following oxidative stress leading to an ageing population of ribosomes in stressed cells. However, there were exceptions to this trend; r‐protein RPS14C doubled its degradation rate in both oxidative treatments. Overall, we show that ribosome abundance decreases and their age increases with oxidative stress in line with loss of cell growth rate and total cellular protein amount, but ribosome function of the ageing ribosomes appeared to be maintained concomittently with differences in the turnover rate and abundance of specific ribosomal proteins. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD012840.
Blood donation amongst people who inject drugs in Australia: research supporting policy change
Authors: Quinn Brendan , Pearson Ruth , Cutts Julia , Seed Clive , Scott Nick , Hoad Veronica , Dietze Paul , Wilson David , Maher Lisa , Thompson Alexander , Farrell Michael , Harrod Mary , Caris Sharon , Pink Joanne , Kotsiou George , Hellard Margaret
Published: February 2020

Background and objectives

Until recently, people in Australia with a history of injection drug use (IDU) were deferred indefinitely from donating blood. Knowledge gaps regarding policy non‐compliance and the prevalence of blood donation practices amongst people who inject drugs (PWID) precluded changes to this policy. We sought to address these gaps and to estimate the additional risk to Australia’s blood supply associated with changing the indefinite deferral policy to 1 or 5 years since last injecting episode.

Materials and methods

Data on blood donation amongst PWID were collected from 1853 interviews across two Australian studies of PWID conducted during 2015/16. Mathematical modelling was used to estimate the additional risk of hepatitis C (HCV)‐infected window period collections as a result of changing the deferral policy.

Results

A very few (2–4%) study participants reported ever donating blood after ≥1 IDU episode. Changing the deferral policy from indefinite to 1 or 5 years was estimated to result in an additional 0·00000070 (95%CI: 0·00000033–0·00000165) or 0·00000020 (95%CI: 0·00000008–0·00000041) HCV‐positive window period collections per year, respectively.

Conclusion

Changing Australia’s indefinite deferral period to 1 or 5 years since last injecting episode poses a negligible increase in the risk of HCV‐infected window period collections from blood donors with a history of IDU. Our results informed a successful submission to the Australian regulator to change the deferral period from indefinite to 5 years since last injecting episode, a policy which came into effect in September 2018.
Complete resection of the alar folds in eight standing horses with a bipolar dividing and vessel‐sealing device
Authors: Kallmyr Airina , Giving Ellen M. , Moen Lars O. , Øverlie Marianne , Holm Therese , David Florent
Published: February 2020

Objective

To describe a resection technique of the alar folds in the standing horse.

Study design

Retrospective case study.

Animals

Eight Standardbred racing trotters.

Methods

Horses in which alar fold collapse had been diagnosed between 2017 and 2018 were included in this study. All horses underwent alar fold resection under standing sedation and regional anesthesia with a bipolar electrosurgical open sealer/divider device (LigaSure). Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. A Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used to compare differences in median prize money earning pre‐surgery and post‐surgery (P < .05).

Results

The surgical procedure was short (20‐30 min), with minimal (1/8) to no (7/8) bleeding and was well tolerated in all cases. Complete resection of the alar folds along with 3 to 5 cm of the ventral conchal cartilage was achieved. No complications were observed post‐surgery with satisfactory second intention healing, allowing return to training/racing within 3 to 6 weeks post‐surgery in all cases. Median earnings post‐surgery increased (P= .03) compared with pre‐surgery.

Conclusion

Alar fold resection with bipolar electrosurgical energy offered a good alternative to the traditional surgical approaches performed under general anesthesia. The surgery significantly improved race earnings and performance while avoiding the risk associated with general anesthesia and offered a short and complication‐free rehabilitation period.

Clinical impact

This study describes a surgical technique offering a novel approach to resection of the alar folds in the standing horse.
Influence of orthopedic examination on lameness scores and interobserver and intraobserver agreement in dogs with naturally occurring elbow osteoarthritis
Authors: Aulakh Karanvir S. , Dongaonkar Kaustubh R. , Barnes Katherine , Gines Alberto J. , Bordelon Jude T. , Hulse Don , Aulakh Harmeet K. , Liu Chin‐Chi
Published: February 2020

Objective

To determine the influence of orthopedic examination on numerical rating score (NRS) and visual analog score (VAS) when scoring lameness in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis (OA) and to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver agreement in NRS and VAS on the basis of video‐graphic gait analysis.

Design

Prospective blinded study.

Animals

Eighteen client‐owned dogs with radiographically confirmed elbow OA.

Methods

Videos were obtained for all dogs at a walk and at a trot both prior to and immediately after orthopedic examination. All videos were randomly sequenced. Six observers, unaware of the timing of the video, independently assigned both NRS and VAS twice, with at least a 2‐week interval. Scores were evaluated with mixed analysis of variance, and the agreement among observers was accessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

No difference was detected between NRS and VAS at walk or at trot before and after orthopedic examination. Numeric rating score and VAS at walk were lower than those at trot before an orthopedic examination by scores of 0.17 (P= .0018) and 3.54 (P= .0019), respectively. The ICC for both scores for all observers was >0.9.

Conclusion

An orthopedic examination did not exacerbate the NRS and the VAS for dogs with elbow OA. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement was high for both lameness scores.

Clinical significance

Lameness may be scored after gait evaluation in dogs with elbow OA irrespective of the timing of a comprehensive orthopedic examination.
Loss of presynaptic inhibition for step initiation in parkinsonian individuals with freezing of gait
Authors: Lira Jumes Leopoldino Oliveira , Ugrinowitsch Carlos , Coelho Daniel Boari , Teixeira Luis Augusto , de Lima‐Pardini Andrea Cristina , Magalhães Fernando Henrique , Barbosa Egberto Reis , Horak Fay B. , Silva‐Batista Carla
Published: February 2020

Key points

Individuals with freezing of gait (FoG) due to Parkinson's disease (PD) have small and long anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) associated with delayed step initiation.

Individuals with FoG (‘freezers’) may require functional reorganization of spinal mechanisms to perform APAs due to supraspinal dysfunction. As presynaptic inhibition (PSI) is centrally modulated to allow execution of supraspinal motor commands, it may be deficient in freezers during APAs.

We show that freezers presented PSI in quiet stance (control task), but they presented loss of PSI (i.e. higher ratio of the conditioned H‐reflex relative to the test H‐reflex) during APAs before step initiation (functional task), whereas non‐freezers and healthy control individuals presented PSI in both the tasks.

The loss of PSI in freezers was associated with both small APA amplitudes and FoG severity.

We hypothesize that loss of PSI during APAs for step initiation in freezers may be due to FoG.

Freezing of gait (FoG) in Parkinson's disease involves deficient anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs), resulting in a cessation of step initiation due to supraspinal dysfunction. Individuals with FoG (‘freezers’) may require functional reorganization of spinal mechanisms to perform APAs. As presynaptic inhibition (PSI) is centrally modulated to allow execution of supraspinal motor commands, here we hypothesized a loss of PSI in freezers during APA for step initiation, which would be associated with FoG severity. Seventy individuals [27 freezers, 22 non‐freezers, and 21 age‐matched healthy controls (HC)] performed a ‘GO’‐commanded step initiation task on a force platform under three conditions: (1) without electrical stimulation, (2) test Hoffman reflex (H‐reflex) and (3) conditioned H‐reflex. They also performed a control task (quiet stance). In the step initiation task, the H‐reflexes were evoked on the soleus muscle when the amplitude of the APA exceeded 10–20% of the mean baseline mediolateral force. PSI was quantified by the ratio of the conditioned H‐reflex relative to the test H‐reflex in both the tasks. Objective assessment of FoG severity (FoG‐ratio) was performed. Freezers presented lower PSI levels during quiet stance than non‐freezers and HC (P < 0.05). During step initiation, freezers presented loss of PSI and lower APA amplitudes than non‐freezers and HC (P < 0.05). Significant correlations were only found for freezers between loss of PSI and FoG‐ratio (r = 0.59, P = 0.0005) and loss of PSI and APA amplitude (r = −0.35, P < 0.036). Our findings suggest that loss of PSI for step initiation in freezers may be due to FoG.
Experimental and Numerical Study on the Flat-Plate Film Cooling Enhancement Using the Vortex Generator Downstream for the Fan-Shaped Hole Configuration
Authors: Zhang Chao , Wang Jie , Liu Xuebin , Song Liming , Li Jun , Feng Zhenping
Published: February 2020

The shaped hole is the significant advancement for improving film cooling that has been practically achieved. This present study puts forward a new design combining the vortex generator (VG) with the shaped hole (FV). To investigate the effect of the new design, experiments were carried out to measure the film cooling performance of the four different configurations including the baseline cylindrical hole (CH) model, the model combing the cylindrical hole with VG (CV), shaped hole model (FAN), and FV model, at the blowing ratio varying at M = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 by the infrared camera. Experimental results show that the FV model performs the best among the four models at each blowing ratio. The FV model could improve the area-averaged film effectiveness at most 25.5% than that of the CH model at M = 2.0. Moreover, the FV model could improve the area-averaged film cooling effectiveness at most 431% than that of the CH model at M = 3.0. Besides, the aerodynamic analysis of the four models at different blowing ratios was carried out by the numerical study. The simulation results show that the introduction of VG causes slightly more aerodynamic loss while the fan-shaped hole improves it. The aerodynamic performance of the FV model is almost the same as the CH model when M < 2 and smaller than that of the CH model when M > 2.
Plasma atomic layer etching of SiO2 and Si3N4 with heptafluoropropyl methyl ether (C3F7OCH3)
Authors: Kim Yongjae , Lee Sangin , Cho Yegeun , Kim Seoeun , Chae Heeyeop
Published: February 2020

In this work, atomic layer etching (ALE) with heptafluoropropyl methyl ether (C3F7OCH3) plasma was developed for SiO2 and Si3N4 and compared with the results of C4F8 or CHF3 plasmas. C3F7OCH3 has a shorter life time and lower global warming potential (GWP) than CHF3 and C4F8. SiO2 and Si3N4 surfaces were fluorinated with fluorocarbons generated from C4F8 or CHF3 or C3F7OCH3 plasmas, and the fluorinated surface was then removed by ions or radicals generated from Ar or O2 plasma in the following step. Atomic scale etch rates were achieved with cyclic etch rates of 5.8 Å/cycle for C4F8/Ar, 4.1 Å/cycle for CHF3/Ar, and 2.1 Å/cycle for C3F7OCH3/Ar. In case of etching with oxygen, atomic scale etch rates were achieved with cyclic etch rates of 2.9 Å/cycle for C4F8/O2, 1.7 Å/cycle for CHF3/O2, and 1.1 Å/cycle for C3F7OCH3/O2. The etch rate was correlated with the F1s/C1s ratio of the fluorocarbon layers; C3F7OCH3 plasmas generated fluorocarbon layers having the lowest F1s/C1s ratio, and C4F8 plasmas produced the highest F1s/C1s ratio. Constant etch rates were observed in the bias voltage range of 55–60 V, which is identified as the ALE window. In the etching step, Ar and O2 plasmas were applied to remove the fluorocarbon layers. A saturated etch rate with etching time, i.e., a self-limited etching rate, was obtained for all the fluorocarbon gases with both Ar and O2 plasmas. The high etch selectivity of 17.5 was achieved for SiO2/Si and 26.6 for Si3N4/Si with C3F7OCH3/Ar. These high selectivities are attributed to Si–C bonds that act as inhibitors during Si etching.
Microcontroller design for solution-phase molecular deposition in vacuum via a pulsed-solenoid valve
Authors: Wolf Margaret , Hayes Veronica , Gerber Cynthia R. , Quardokus Philip G. , Ortiz-Garcia Jose J. , Plummer Casey , Quardokus Rebecca C.
Published: February 2020

A microcontroller was used to operate a pulsed-solenoid valve connected directly to a vacuum chamber (10−8mbar) to deposit microliters of solution resulting in monolayer and submonolayer coverage of the substrate. This technique is particularly suited for preparing samples to be characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy or atomic force microscopy. The microcontroller can be programed to open the valve at the millisecond timescale. The valve is particularly suited to deliver air and temperature sensitive molecules to the substrate without the need to remove the substrate from vacuum for deposition.