bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex‐specific incidences and risk profiles of suicide mortality in people with alcohol dependence in Taiwan
Authors: Chung An‐Nie , Su Sheng‐Siang , Tsai Shang‐Ying , Chen Chiao‐Chicy , Chen Ying‐Yeh , Kuo Chian‐Jue
Published: August 2022

Background and aims

Alcohol‐related mental health burden and suicidality impose heavy burdens on global public health. This study measured the sex‐specific incidence and risk profiles of suicide mortality in individuals with alcohol dependence in a non‐western context.

Design

In this prospective cohort study, individuals with alcohol dependence who were enrollees in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research database were followed‐up over an almost 15‐year period. Their data were linked to the national mortality registration database.

Setting

Taiwan.

Participants

In total, 278 345 patients with alcohol dependence were enrolled and followed‐up from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2016.

Measurements

We calculated the incidence and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of suicide in the cohort and stratified the suicide methods by sex. Sex‐specific risk profiles (based on demographic characteristics and physical and psychiatric comorbidities) were generated through Cox proportional hazards regression.

Findings

The suicide rates of men and women were 173.5 and 158.9 per 100 000 person‐years, respectively (P = 0.097). The SMR of suicide mortality was more than two times higher in women than in men (6.6 versus 15.0). Women and men adopted different suicide methods. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression with a time‐varying model revealed that depressive disorder was a common risk factor for suicide in both men and women [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.77‐3.31 versus aHR = 5.46, 95% CI = 4.65‐6.40]. For men, receiving a diagnosis of alcohol dependence between the ages of 25 and 44 years, being unemployed and having schizophrenia, drug‐induced mental disorder or sleep disorder were risk factors for suicide.

Conclusion

In Taiwan, the incidence of suicide in patients with alcohol dependence is substantially higher than that of the general population. The standardized mortality ratio of suicide in women with alcohol dependence is more than twice that of men with alcohol dependence.
Implementation of a policy of universal cystoscopy at the time of hysterectomy for benign indications: A retrospective comparative study
Authors: Foo Xin Yu , Nugent Rachael
Published: August 2022

Background

Lower urinary tract injury (LUTI) is a serious complication of major gynaecologic surgery. Although intra‐operative cystoscopy can facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment of LUTI, the optimal approach to cystoscopy at the time of benign hysterectomy remains debatable.

Aims

To assess whether implementation of a policy of universal cystoscopy at the time of benign hysterectomy was associated with a difference in intra‐operative detection and rates of LUTI.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective cohort study at a large regional teaching hospital where a policy of universal cystoscopy at the time of benign hysterectomy was implemented on 30 September 2019. Hysterectomies performed from 1 November 2016 to 31 March 2021 were included and categorised into the ‘pre‐policy’ and ‘post‐policy’ groups. Primary outcomes included the intra‐operative detection and overall rates of LUTI. Secondary outcome was the policy adherence rate. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the effect of this policy on the outcomes.

Results

There were 584 hysterectomies identified, including 325 in the pre‐policy group and 259 in the post‐policy group. Cystoscopy was performed in 55.1% in the pre‐policy group and 97.7% in the post‐policy group (P < 0.01). Adjusted for age, indication and route of hysterectomy, there were no significant differences in the intra‐operative cystoscopic detection of LUTI (42.9% vs 25.0%, P = 0.55) or the rate of LUTI (2.2% vs 1.5%, P = 0.25) after implementation of the policy.

Conclusions

The practice of universal cystoscopy at the time of benign hysterectomy has not been associated with a significant change in the intra‐operative detection and rates of LUTI at our institution.
The microeconomics of new trade models
Authors: Alfaro Martin
Published: August 2022

International trade can increase product market competition and hence be pro‐competitive. Is this feature captured in new trade models? I study this question in a setting with firm heterogeneity à la Melitz, under any productivity distribution and standard demands (e.g., demands from an additively separable utility, linear, translog, logit). My results indicate that better export opportunities are pro‐competitive: they reduce the domestic firms' markups and induce the exit of the least productive domestic firms. But, surprisingly, tougher import competition is completely offset by a reduction in the mass of domestic incumbents, leaving the competitive environment unaffected. Thus, it does not impact the prices, quantities, or survival productivity cut‐off of domestic firms. Consistent with previous studies, I also find that a reduction in import trade costs under two large countries and two‐way trade always decreases competition. I show that this outcome can be rationalized as capturing worse export conditions exclusively.
Creating Middle Ground: Transforming Outdoor Informal Learning Landscapes
Authors: Gutwill Joshua P. , Chien Hsin‐Yi , Lani Shawn , Winterheld Heike , Miller Lena , Garibay Cecilia
Published: August 2022

In this article, we offer a model for shifting museums away from elitism and exclusion towards inclusion and community engagement. Rather than require all learners to come to the museum, we propose installing science exhibitions and pop‐ups in urban neighborhoods. The Transforming Informal Learning Landscapes (TILL) model integrates three key components—contextually‐relevant science, learning‐centered placemaking, and content‐humanizing facilitation—to change outdoor public spaces from hallways to living rooms, places people would want to spend time, socialize and learn science. We briefly present the model and then describe our partnership that used TILL to produce and facilitate Middle Ground, a free exhibition on the social science of biases, stereotyping and prosocial behavior in a diverse outdoor urban setting. The article presents evidence of the success of Middle Ground in support of the effectiveness of the TILL model. A companion research article describes a quasi‐experimental study of the effect of facilitation on visitor learning at Middle Ground.
Amazonian Activism for European Museum Audiences: Critical Reflections on the Development of an “Amazonia” Exhibition at the National Museum of World Cultures, the Netherlands
Authors: Osorio Sunnucks Laura , Martínez Milantchi María Mercedes , Berger Martin , Scholz Andrea , Françozo Mariana
Published: August 2022

This paper describes and expands on the discussions held at a symposium at the Research Center for Material Culture in the Netherlands in February 2020, which was held as part of the planning of an upcoming “Amazonia” exhibition to be curated at that institution by some of the authors. The symposium invited curators and museum directors who had recently carried out projects with Amazonian communities to share their experiences with co‐production and co‐curation. The discussion and this paper aim to be a reflexive critical first step before reaching out to potential partners in South America. This paper supplements discussions on participative museology by examining the underlying frameworks of an exhibition project at its outset, in addition to contributing, as happens more commonly, post‐rationalizations in a final written evaluation. The discussion furthermore contributes to exhibition co‐curation by focusing on Amazonian‐European collaborations, which are under‐represented in Anglophone museological literature.
Spanish‐English bilingual toddlers’ vocabulary skills: The role of caregiver language input and warmth
Authors: Gámez Perla B. , Palermo Francisco , Perry Jordan S. , Galindo Maily
Published: August 2022

There is a well‐documented link between bilingual language development and the relative amounts of exposure to each language. Less is known about the role of quality indicators of caregiver‐child interactions in bilingual homes, including caregiver input diversity, warmth and sensitivity. This longitudinal study examines the relation between caregiver input (lexical diversity, amount), warmth and sensitivity and bilingual toddlers’ subsequent vocabulary outcomes. We video‐recorded caregiver‐child interactions in Spanish‐English Latino homes when toddlers (n = 47) were 18 months of age (M = 18.32 months; SD = 1.02 months). At the 24‐month follow‐up, we measured children's vocabulary as total vocabulary (English, Spanish combined) as well as within language (Spanish, English). Results revealed that Spanish lexical diversity exposure at 18 months from caregivers was positively associated with children's Spanish and total vocabulary scores at 24 months, while English lexical diversity was positively associated with children's English scores; lexical diversity and amount were highly correlated. Additionally, caregivers’ warmth was positively associated with children's Spanish, English and total vocabulary scores. Together, these factors accounted for substantial variance (30–40%) in vocabulary outcomes. Notably, caregiver input accounted for more variance in single language outcomes than did caregiver warmth, whereas caregiver warmth uniquely accounted for more variance in total vocabulary scores. Our findings extend prior research findings by suggesting that children's dual language development may depend on their exposure to a diverse set of words, not only amount of language exposure, as well as warm interactions with caregivers. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/q1V_7fz5wog

Highlights

Video‐recorded observations of caregiver‐child interactions revealed warmth and high sensitivity from Latino caregivers.

Linguistically‐detailed analyses of caregiver input revealed wide variation in the diversity of Spanish and English directed at 18‐month‐old bilingual toddlers.

Bilingual toddlers’ vocabulary (single language, total) was positively associated with caregivers’ diverse input and warmth, thus extending prior findings on bilinguals’ amount of language exposure.

Findings suggest that caregivers’ lexical diversity explains more variance in bilingual toddlers’ single language outcomes, whereas warmth explains more variance in total vocabulary scores.
Enhancing the resilience and well‐being of rural poor to climate risks: are the economic functions of social protection enough?
Authors: Kundo Hare Krisna , Brueckner Martin , Spencer Rochelle , Davis John K.
Published: August 2022

As climate change accelerates, adaptive social protection programmes are becoming increasingly more popular than conventional social assistance programmes, since they are seen to enhance people's resilience and well‐being outcomes. Despite this upsurge, little is known about the impacts of adaptive programmes on resilience and well‐being outcomes as compared to conventional programmes. This paper examines the economic functions that both types of social protection programmes offer through empirical studies in two climate‐vulnerable zones in Bangladesh. By operationalising a simplified analytical framework to comprehend subjective resilience, the qualitative data reveal that the adaptive programme is more effective in enhancing beneficiaries' perceived resilience to climate risks. Regrettably, neither programme is found to contribute much significantly in terms of enabling beneficiaries to achieve the desired well‐being outcomes that one might expect to see. The paper offers rich insights into the design components of the programmes, affording an on‐the‐ground understanding of their implications for resilience and well‐being.
Three cases of olecranon fracture repair in the standing horse
Authors: Jimenez‐Rihuete Pablo , O'Meara Bryan
Published: August 2022

Ulnar fractures in three horses were repaired using plate fixation whilst sedated and restrained in stocks in the standing position. In each horse, the triceps muscle attachment was intact. All horses recovered well from surgery and were stable for 3 months. The plate was removed 3 months after surgery in one of the horses because of a surgical site infection. In all three cases, the fracture was adequately reduced, and the horses returned to showjumping, pleasure riding and pasture turnout with a view to begin training. The surgical technique, local anaesthesia and sedation protocols are described. This is a novel technique that may be suitable in selected cases of ulnar fracture in the horse where triceps muscle engagement is present with mild fracture displacement.
Fantastic Consumption and the Utopia of Self‐Cannibalism in Ludwig Tieck's Des Lebens Überfluß
Authors: Phillips Alexander Robert
Published: August 2022

Consumption is a central problem in Ludwig Tieck's 1838 novella Des Lebens Überfluß. This essay argues that autosarcophagy stands at the imaginary core of a utopian project of secession from nineteenth century social and material relations. Beginning with the tale of the self‐devouring criminal that Heinrich relates at the beginning of the novella, eating as a bodily act structures the novella's confrontation with the legacies of German Romanticism and Idealism and the problem of living a decommodified life in an emerging global capitalist order. By exploring the text's utopianism, this essay illuminates the story's more radical political stakes while also situating the novella relative to nineteenth century concerns on the philosophical dimensions of eating.
Disenchantment as Reenchantment and the Genesis of the Pöbel in Gottfried Keller's Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe
Authors: Yigit Emir
Published: August 2022

This article reads Gottfried Keller's Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe (1856) alongside Hegel's Philosophie des Rechts in order to explore the novella's account of the origin of the dispossessed Pöbel and demonstrates that Keller's novella ultimately anticipates Marx's critique of Hegel's account of civil society. In the first part of the article, I show that the farmers, driven by an ideal of bourgeois individuality, make a bid for legally substantiated recognition of ownership that eventually results in a process of property liquidation. In the second part, I argue that the fathers' failure is mirrored in the children's failed effort to legitimate their sexual difference in a marital institution. Ultimately, their suicide pact is not contrary to the ethical code they struggle to satisfy throughout the novella but fulfills the capitalistic logic of exchange in the form of asset liquidation. I conclude by reflecting on the status of myth in Keller's realism, arguing that the artwork reveals the contradictions of the social world that it belongs to, not by constructing a vantage point beyond myth, but rather by representing its own appropriation of myth.
Orphans with Parents: Robert Walser's Jakob von Gunten and the Modernist Novel
Authors: Pfeifer Annie
Published: August 2022

Most scholarship has treated Robert Walser's Jakob von Gunten (1909) as a variation of the Bildungsroman. By contrast, this article examines Jakob von Gunten in order to theorize the genre of the orphan novel. The orphan emerges in the nineteenth‐century European novel as a self‐referential literary figure, a metaphor for the lone individual facing a modernizing industrial society. Unlike his fictional predecessors, Walser's Jakob is a self‐proclaimed orphan, who voluntarily abandons his living parents and aristocratic home to join a servant training school. Jakob von Gunten transforms the orphan from a vulnerable Victorian protagonist into a self‐determined modern character. This trajectory reflects the modernist novel's own “familial” rebellion against its epic inheritance. The orphan novel provides a new perspective on György Lukács's theory of the novel as a homeless genre, cut off from the familiarity and totality of the epic world. This Walserian analysis of Lukács grants the novel more agency and creativity than a Lukácsian reading of Walser's novella.
Determination of Ultra‐Trace Au, Ag, As, Pt and Re Mass Fractions in Volcanic Glasses and Rock Powders by LA‐ICP‐MS
Authors: Belgrano Thomas M. , Milton James A. , Teagle Damon A.H.
Published: August 2022

Practical methods for determining the ultra‐trace abundances of precious metals in geological materials are needed for research into magmatic and hydrothermal processes and to expand the geochemical footprints of concealed ore deposits. This study presents a new protocol for determining Au, Ag, As, Pt and Re mass fractions in both volcanic glasses and in rock powders prepared as nano‐powder pellets, through the synthesis and refinement of published LA‐ICP‐MS methods. This matrix flexibility allows the method and its limitations to be rigorously assessed for the first time using different volcanic materials. High‐yield laser parameters, interference corrections and low oxide production rates facilitated by laser ablation sampling enabled accurate measurements without chemical pre‐separation. A key finding is that ablation‐remobilised system contamination must be quantified and corrected to make accurate ng g−1‐level Au determinations by LA‐ICP‐MS, resulting in a mean + 2s quantification limit for Au of 0.38 ng g−1. This approach is likely necessary for other ultra‐trace LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of certain elements. Following this correction, the protocol can be usefully applied to both in situ analysis of volcanic materials and efficiently integrated into methods for the determination of major and trace elements in nano‐powder pellets.
Electron Probe Microanalysis measurement of F‐Cl‐Nb‐P for Geological Glasses
Authors: Zhang Hui‐Li , Zeng Gang , Zhang Chao , Zhang Wen‐Lan , Chen Li‐Hui , Yu Jin‐Hai
Published: August 2022

Quantitative in situ electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) was applied to determine the F, Cl, Nb and P contents of glass materials. Using reference glasses with low FeOT (< 10% m/m) mass fractions to construct a F calibration line to correct the Fe interference on the F peaks, is unsuitable for analysing natural Fe‐rich melt inclusions with up to 21% m/m FeOT, which commonly occur in picritic, nephelinitic and basanitic samples. For this reason, this study presents a series of seven F‐free glasses, which show a wider range of FeOT (1–20% m/m) that were synthesised to improve the overlap correction of Fe on F. Using this improved method, reference glasses of USGS and glasses synthesised from powders of other rock RMs were analysed to evaluate well‐known reference materials (RMs) as quality control materials for EPMA measurement of F, Cl, Nb and P mass fractions. The results show that amongst the tested RMs, USGS BHVO‐2G is the most appropriate RM for F‐Cl determination because different pieces of this glass RM analysed by different laboratories yielded results that agree within uncertainty.
Triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) may have increased risk of primary field outbreaks of infectious salmon anaemia
Authors: Aunsmo Arnfinn , Martinsen Lisbeth , Bruheim Torkjel , Sekkelsten‐Kindt Mats Martin , Sandtrø Ane , Gaasø Solveig , Braaen Stine , Rimstad Espen
Published: August 2022

The impact that escaped farmed fish may have on wild populations is of major concern for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farming. Triploid fish, being infertile, were originally introduced to mitigate the genetic impact of escaped fish. In the recent years, an increase in the number of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) outbreaks in Norway has been observed, mainly in the northern parts, which is also where farming of triploid fish has been licensed. The present study investigated the susceptibility of triploid Atlantic salmon to ISA both by field observations and experimental infections. Based on field observations, we found an increased susceptibility, with 9.4 increased odds to primary ISA outbreaks in triploid fish versus diploid fish at production‐site level, and a tendency of increased odds (3.4) of ISA in triploid fish at individual cage level at sited with primary outbreaks. At some sites, ISA outbreaks were only diagnosed in cages with triploid fish and not in cages with diploid fish. Primary ISA outbreaks are the source for further spread of the disease, and it is noteworthy that in an experimental trial we found significantly more viral RNA in non‐ISA‐vaccinated triploid than in non‐ISA‐vaccinated diploid fish at the peak of the infection. Interestingly, the notable differences of susceptibility to ISA for non‐ISA vaccinated diploid and triploid fish observed in field were not repeated experimentally. The possible increased risk of ISA should be considered when evaluating the costs and benefits of triploid salmon in farming. It is recommended to keep triploid and diploid fish in biosecure separated sites, or that triploid fish are not farmed at all.
Antibioprophylaxis in endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration in pancreatic cysts: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Khoury Tawfik , Gincul Rodica , Mohammedi Ismael , Sbeit Wisam , Napoléon Bertrand
Published: August 2022

Antibioprohylaxis (ABP) for pancreatic cystic lesion is still a debated clinical indication. Although professional societies guidelines still recommend ABP in endoscopic ultrasound‐fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) for pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL), this standard of care recommendation was based on old and weakly planned studies with a small number of patients. Herein, in this work, we provide a critical review with pooled data analysis of the available literature. Overall, the studies reported are weak and limited with small number of patients, the absence of exact definition of infection and the heterogenicity of the type and the duration of the ABP used. Pooled data analysis showed that the effect of ABP on the rate of cyst infection was not significant (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.17–1.2), with no significant heterogenicity between the results of the studies reviewed and reported (as assessed by Breslow Day test for homogeneity of OR's [P = 0.15]). The pooled infection rate without ABP was 0.89% and 0.36% in the ABP group. Moreover, according to the pooled data infection rate, sample size calculation demonstrated that 6954 patients are needed to show superiority of ABP, with a number needed to treat of 179 patients to prevent single infection. However, through the literature only six studies (1660 patients) reported the cyst infection rate among ABP versus control, making these results scarce and biased by a small number of patients. Therefore, we suggest the need to revise the guidelines, until performing well organized large international study to solve this controversy.
Assessment of tissue E‐cadherin and its proteolytic serum fragment in pemphigus vulgaris before and after remission: A case–control study
Authors: Youssef Randa Mohammed , Saleh Marwah Adly , Korany Mona Mostafa , Nour Zeinab A. , El‐Kalioby Mona
Published: August 2022

Background

E‐cadherin is a classic cadherin that mediates keratinocyte adhesion.

Aims

To assess the tissue expression of E‐cadherin and its proteolytic serum fragment (soluble E‐cadherin) in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) before and after clinical remission compared with controls.

Patients

Thirty‐seven PV patients and thirty controls were enrolled. Pemphigus disease area index (PDAI) was calculated for patients at baseline and after remission. Punch biopsy specimens were taken from patients before, and after remission, and from controls for assessment of tissue E‐cadherin by immunofluorescence. Similarly, serum samples were collected for assessment of serum soluble E‐cadherin by ELISA.

Results

Presence, intensity, and mean intensity of tissue E‐cadherin were significantly reduced in PV patients before treatment compared with controls (p < 0.001). Detected E‐cadherin showed mainly a basal and suprabasal distribution with cell surface and a cytoplasmic expression. Serum E‐cadherin was significantly higher in patients before treatment compared with controls (p = 0.006). With remission, tissue E‐cadherin presence, intensity, mean intensity, and serum E‐cadherin showed statistically significant improvement (p = 0.003, <0.001, <0.001, and 0.003 respectively). Tissue E‐cadherin presence and serum E‐cadherin level reached values equivalent to the controls (p = 0.49 and 0.44, respectively).

Conclusions

Disruption of tissue E‐cadherin and upregulation of serum soluble E‐cadherin can contribute to the pathogenesis of PV. Clinical remission of PV is associated with normalization of tissue and serum E‐cadherin.
Impacts of polyphenols on laying hens' productivity and egg quality: A review
Authors: Abd El‐Hack Mohamed E. , Salem Heba M. , Khafaga Asmaa F. , Soliman Soliman M. , El‐Saadony Mohamed T.
Published: August 2022

There has been a rapid increase in the world's output of main poultry products (meat and eggs). This reflects customer desire for these high‐quality and safe products and the comparatively low price. Recently, natural feed additives, plants and products have been increasingly popular in the poultry and livestock industries to maintain and improve their health and production. Polyphenols are a type of micronutrient that is plentiful in our diet. They are phytochemicals that have health benefits, notably cardiovascular, cognitive function, antioxidant, anti‐mutagenic, anti‐inflammatory, antistress, anti‐tumour, anti‐pathogen, detoxification, growth‐promoting and immunomodulating activities. On the other hand, excessive polyphenol levels have an unclear and sometimes negative impact on gastrointestinal tract health, nutrient digestion, digestive enzyme activity, vitamin, mineral absorption, laying hens performance and egg quality. As a result, this review illuminated polyphenols' various sources, classifications, biological activities, potential usage restrictions and effects on poultry, layer productivity and egg external and internal quality.
How can medical educators be good ancestors?
Authors: McKivett Andrea , Paul David
Published: August 2022

McKivett and Paul reflect upon the important role to be played by structure of the medical academy in decolonising medical education.
Listeria monocytogenes two component system PieRS regulates secretion chaperones PrsA1 and PrsA2 and enhances bacterial translocation across the intestine
Authors: Cahoon Laty A. , Alejandro‐Navarreto Xiomarie , Gururaja Avinash N. , Light Sam H. , Alonzo Francis , Anderson Wayne F. , Freitag Nancy E.
Published: August 2022

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a widespread environmental Gram‐positive bacterium that can transition into a pathogen following ingestion by a susceptible host. To cross host barriers and establish infection, Lm is dependent upon the regulated secretion and activity of many proteins including PrsA2, a peptidyl‐prolyl cis‐trans isomerase with foldase activity. PrsA2 contributes to the stability and activity of a number of secreted virulence factors that are required for Lm invasion, replication, and cell‐to‐cell spread within the infected host. In contrast, a second related secretion chaperone, PrsA1, has thus far no identified contributions to Lm pathogenesis. Here we describe the characterization of a two‐component signal transduction system PieRS that regulates the expression of a regulon that includes the secretion chaperones PrsA1 and PrsA2. PieRS regulated gene products are required for bacterial resistance to ethanol exposure and are important for bacterial survival during transit through the gastrointestinal tract. PrsA1 was also found to make a unique contribution to Lm survival in the GI tract, revealing for the first time a non‐overlapping requirement for both secretion chaperones PrsA1 and PrsA2 during the process of intra‐gastric infection.
Re‐imagining the ‘Taiwanese’ nation in the interpretation of the Chinese‐oriented heritage
Authors: Yao Ming‐li
Published: August 2022

This study aims to discuss how Chinese‐oriented heritage from Ming and Qing dynasties has been incorporated in the discourse of ‘Taiwanese’ culture to bolster the identity of Taiwan. Drawing upon the interconnected theoretical concepts of ‘imagined communities’ and ‘nationalising the past’, this study focuses on the ‘selective’ presentation of the Chinese‐oriented monuments in historic Tainan City, where the documented history of Taiwan began. This study concludes that these Chinese‐oriented monuments are represented as containing a wealth of transposable imagery, as one embodiment in the context of Taiwanese culture, and the mark of political distinction between ‘Taiwan’ and ‘China’, in the process of heritagisation. In the interpretation of heritage, this research result also suggests that the state of Republic of China (ROC) re‐invented ‘Taiwanese’ nationhood and that the state's goals of cultural establishment could be reinforced through social agents.
Double DJ‐1 domain containing Arabidopsis DJ‐1D is a robust macromolecule deglycase
Authors: Prasad Melvin , Kataria Priyanka , Ningaraju Sunayana , Buddidathi Radhika , Bankapalli Kondalarao , Swetha Chenna , Susarla Gautam , Venkatesan Radhika , D'Silva Patrick , Shivaprasad Padubidri V.
Published: August 2022

Plants, being sessile, are prone to genotoxin‐induced macromolecule damage. Among the inevitable damaging agents are reactive carbonyls that induce glycation of DNA, RNA and proteins to result in the build‐up of advanced glycated end‐products. However, it is unclear how plants repair glycated macromolecules. DJ‐1/PARK7 members are a highly conserved family of moonlighting proteins having double domains in higher plants and single domains in other phyla.

Here we show that Arabidopsis DJ‐1D offers robust tolerance to endogenous and exogenous stresses through its ability to repair glycated DNA, RNA and proteins. DJ‐1D also reduced the formation of reactive carbonyls through its efficient methylglyoxalase activity. Strikingly, full‐length double domain‐containing DJ‐1D suppressed the formation of advanced glycated end‐products in yeast and plants.

DJ‐1D also efficiently repaired glycated nucleic acids and nucleotides in vitro and mitochondrial DNA in vivo under stress, indicating the existence of a new DNA repair pathway in plants.

We propose that multi‐stress responding plant DJ‐1 members, often present in multiple copies among plants, probably contributed to the adaptation to a variety of endogenous and exogenous stresses.
Current Occupational Perspective of Total Hip Joint Surgeons in China: A Survey of Members of the Chinese Orthopedic Association
Authors: Kong Ning , Tian Run , Cao Li , Zhou Yonggang , Wang Kunzheng , Yang Pei
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To explore the basic occupational information and the preferences of surgical techniques in Chinese joint surgeons.

Methods

A survey study was conducted during the Chinese Hip Society (CHS) conference of 2020. Participants from hospitals all over the country were included as the potential respondents. The questions were asked for respondents' basic information, overviews of total hip arthroplasty (THA), surgical techniques, and prosthesis selection. After data collection and filtration, analysis was conducted using chi‐square test or Fisher's exact test.

Results

Only 8.31% of joint surgeons used robotics or navigation systems to assisted their total hip arthroplasty. For the approach preference, posterolateral approaches were generally favored, being used commonly by 75.36% of respondents while the direct anterior approach was considered the preferred choice by 8.31% of Chinese joint surgeons. 24.36% of the respondents choose to use domestic prosthesis in over 80% of their patients.

Conclusions

The intelligent THA is in the early stage at present but developing rapidly in China. The composition of surgical approach is simple at present and the continuing education should aim at increasing the diversity of approach selection in the following years. Domestic prosthesis is playing significant role in the prosthesis market. Joint registration system is urgently needed for Chinese joint surgery.
The Biochemical Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy†
Authors: Sabino Caetano P. , Ribeiro Martha S. , Wainwright Mark , dos Anjos Carolina , Sellera Fábio P. , Dropa Milena , Nunes Nathalia B. , Brancini Guilherme T. P. , Braga Gilberto U. L. , Arana‐Chavez Victor E. , Freitas Raul O. , Lincopan Nilton , Baptista Maurício S.
Published: August 2022

The unbridled dissemination of multidrug‐resistant pathogens is a major threat to global health and urgently demands novel therapeutic alternatives. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been developed as a promising approach to treat localized infections regardless of drug resistance profile or taxonomy. Even though this technique has been known for more than a century, discussions and speculations regarding the biochemical mechanisms of microbial inactivation have never reached a consensus on what is the primary cause of cell death. Since photochemically generated oxidants promote ubiquitous reactions with various biomolecules, researchers simply assumed that all cellular structures are equally damaged. In this study, biochemical, molecular, biological and advanced microscopy techniques were employed to investigate whether protein, membrane or DNA damage correlates better with dose‐dependent microbial inactivation kinetics. We showed that although mild membrane permeabilization and late DNA damage occur, no correlation with inactivation kinetics was found. On the other hand, protein degradation was analyzed by three different methods and showed a dose‐dependent trend that matches microbial inactivation kinetics. Our results provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of aPDT that can guide the scientific community toward the development of optimized photosensitizing drugs and also rationally propose synergistic combinations with antimicrobial chemotherapy.
Minimal invasiveness in the transcrestal elevation of the maxillary sinus floor: A systematic review
Authors: Farina Roberto , Franzini Chiara , Trombelli Leonardo , Simonelli Anna
Published: August 2022

In the attempt to reduce the invasiveness of a transcrestal sinus floor elevation procedure, different aspects must be considered; that is, the minimization of intra‑ and postsurgery morbidity, the reduction of treatment time, and the simplification/elimination of the reconstructive technology. Within this context, a systematic literature search was performed for controlled clinical trials evaluating the impact of one or more of these aspects on transcrestal sinus floor elevation invasiveness. Nineteen articles (15 studies) were included. Overall, the results confirmed that transcrestal sinus floor elevation is a minimally invasive and effective option for bone augmentation in the edentulous, atrophic posterior maxilla. By using powered instruments rather than manual osteotomes and hand mallet, the invasiveness of transcrestal sinus floor elevation can be further reduced without affecting its clinical effectiveness. To impact effectively on morbidity, the key elements to consider when selecting instruments for transcrestal sinus floor elevation are (a) their availability as a standardized sequence, to be adapted on predetermined residual bone height, and (b) the possibility to control pressure (eg, with screwable osteotomes) and/or instrument excursion (eg, with stop devices) to fracture the maxillary sinus floor. Among powered instruments, a standardized sequence of drills incorporating a trephine drill seem to be particularly indicated, due to reduced chair time, high tolerability for the patient, and the possibility to isolate a bone core to implement histomorphometric outcomes. At molar extraction sites with an interradicular septum characterized by a height of at least 4 mm, immediate transcrestal sinus floor elevation and implant placement can be considered a valid option to shorten treatment time.
Oral alterations in children with microcephaly associated to congenital Zika syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analyses
Authors: Silva Leni Verônica de Oliveira , Hermont Ana Paula , Magnani Isabela Queiroz , Martins Carolina Castro , Borges‐Oliveira Ana Cristina
Published: August 2022

AIMS

To synthesize the oral alterations observed in children with microcephaly associated with congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS), and to compare the oral alterations of these children to a normotypic healthy controls.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A search was performed in six electronic databases. Observational studies published that reported oral alterations in children with CZS were selected. Two authors independently extracted data, assessed study quality, using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist tools, and the certainty of evidence, using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Twenty‐one studies were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. The pooled crude occurrence showed 88% of increased salivation (95%CI: 82%–94%), 83% of biofilm (95%CI: 75%–91%), and 73% of bruxism (95%CI: 52%–95%). Compared to normotypic controls, children with CZS‐associated microcephaly had a higher chance to have difficulty in lip sealing (OR: 18.28; 95%CI: 1.42–235.91), inadequate lingual posture at rest (OR: 13.57; 95%CI: 4.24–43.44), and delayed eruption (OR: 12.92; 95%CI: 3.42–48.78), with very low certainty.

CONCLUSION

There are several oral alterations found among children with CZS‐associated microcephaly. They are more prone to present some of these alterations, such as difficulty in lip sealing, although with very low certainty of evidence.
Spectral transmittance of animal intraocular lenses in comparison with the spectral properties of their biological lenses
Authors: Giannikaki Stamatina , Douglas Ronald H.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To determine the spectral transmittance of artificial intraocular lenses (IOLs) designed for various species (dog, cat, chinchilla, eagle, tiger) and compare them to the spectral properties of the biological lenses of these species.

Methods

Twenty‐seven IOLs were scanned with a spectrophotometer fitted with an integrating sphere.

Results

All IOLs transmitted long wavelengths well before cutting off sharply at short wavelengths, with insignificant transmission below ca. 340 nm. In comparison with the IOLs, the biological lenses of the cat, dog, and probably the chinchilla transmitted significantly more short wavelengths. The spectral properties of the biological lenses of eagles and tigers, while uncertain, may be a closer match to the IOLs made for these species.

Conclusion

It is not known if there are any visual or behavioral consequences for animals caused by a mismatch between the spectral properties of their biological lenses and IOLs. However, following IOL implantation there might be a change in the perceived hue of objects due to the removal of UV wavelengths which form a normal part of the visible spectrum for these species and/or a decrease in sensitivity.
Developing Self-Assessment Skills in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
Authors: Iv Edward Hilton , Aldosari Muath A. , Kakadia Rahen P. , Lopez Luis , Kim Aram , Park Sang E.
Published: August 2022

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to describe the integration of self-assessments into the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a part of reflective practice in clinical education. An emphasis was placed on the process of student learning to complement the existing comprehensive patient care assessment model.Methods: Student self-assessment data was captured three times throughout patient care experiences during the clinical education period and measured against corresponding faculty assessments of students at these times in the predoctoral dental program.Results: Analysis revealed that there were some disciplines in which faculty and student assessments were moderately reliable; however, as students progressed through the clinical program, their overall self-assessments did not have a higher correlation with faculty assessments.Conclusion: The OSCE can be designed as a useful tool in measuring non-traditional competencies and provide an opportunity for students to self-assess their learning. However, further emphasis on self-assessment skills for students needs to be incorporated as they progress through clinical programs.
Effect of adrenaline on serum mid‐regional pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide and central blood volume
Authors: Sejersen Casper , Bjerre‐Bastos Jonathan J. , Goetze Jens P. , Nielsen Henning B. , Bihlet Asger R. , Secher Niels H.
Published: August 2022

New Findings

What is the central question in this study?

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is secreted in response to atrial wall distension and thus allows for evaluation, albeit indirect, of the central blood volume. Adrenaline has chronotropic and inotropic effects. We evaluated whether the chronotropic and inotropic effects of adrenaline were reflected in mid‐regional proANP.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Central blood volume remained stable with infusion of adrenaline and yet mid‐regional proANP increased. Thus, the chronotropic and inotropic state of the heart or adrenaline directly induces release of ANP variants from the myocytes.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has vasodilatory, natriuretic and diuretic properties. It is secreted in response to atrial wall distension and thereby provides an indirect evaluation of central blood volume (CBV). Adrenaline has chronotropic and inotropic effects that increase cardiac output. In the present study, we evaluated whether these effects were influenced by an increase in CBV and reflected in mid‐regional proANP (MR‐proANP) concentrations in the circulation, a stable proxy marker of bioactive ANP. Changes in CBV were evaluated by thoracic electrical admittance and haemodynamic variables monitored by pulse‐contour analysis during two intervals with graded infusion of adrenaline. Adrenaline infusion increased heart rate (by 33 ± 18%) and stroke volume (by 6 ± 13%), hence cardiac output (by 42 ± 23%; all P < 0.05). The increase in cardiac output did not result from an increase in CBV, because thoracic electrical admittance remained stable (−3 ± 17%; P = 0.230). Serum MR‐proANP concentrations were increased (by 26 ± 25%; P < 0.001) by adrenaline infusion and remained elevated 60 min postinfusion. We conclude that MR‐proANP in the circulation is affected not only by CBV, but also by increased chronotropy/inotropy of the heart, or that adrenaline directly induces release of ANP variants from the myocytes.
A Rattle Noise Severity Index for Multi-Mesh Gear Trains Subjected to Torque Fluctuations
Authors: Donmez Ata , Kahraman Ahmet
Published: August 2022

External fluctuation torques acting on gear trains having clearances often cause vibro-impact motions with resultant rattle noise issues. In this study, an impact velocity-based rattle severity parameter that correlates with the resultant rattling noise is proposed for multimesh gear trains. An experimental setup is employed to measure torsional vibro-impact motions and the corresponding sound pressure levels of a three-axis gear train under various torque fluctuation conditions. A discrete torsional model of the experimental setup is developed and validated through comparisons to the vibration measurements. An impact velocity-based rattle severity index defined from the predicted response is proposed and shown to correlate well with the measured rattle noise sound pressure levels within a wide range of operating conditions. The demonstrated ability of the proposed rattle severity index in tracking rattle noise allows for the assessment of rattle consequences of a multimesh drivetrain solely from its predicted torsional response.
To Feed or to Stick? Genomic Analysis Offers Clues for the Role of a Molecular Machine in Endospore Formers
Authors: Stragier Patrick
Published: August 2022

Sporulation inFirmicutesstarts with the formation of two adjacent cells and proceeds with the engulfment of the smaller one, the forespore, by the larger one, the mother cell. This critical step involves a core set of conserved genes, some transcribed in the forespore, such asspoIIQ, and others transcribed in the mother cell, such as the eight-genespoIIIAoperon.
Methylothon: a Versatile Course-Based High School Research Experience in Microbiology and Bioinformatics with Pink Bacteria
Authors: Jones Peyton A. , Frischer David , Mueller Shannon , Le Thomas , Schwanes Anya , Govindaraju Alekhya , Shalvarjian Katie , Leducq Jean-Baptiste , Marx Christopher J. , Martinez-Gomez N. Cecilia , Lee Jessica A.
Published: August 2022

Methylothon is an inquiry-based high school learning module in microbial ecology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics that centers around pink-pigmented plant-associated methylotrophic bacteria. Here, we present an overview of the module’s learning goals, describe course resources (available for public use at
http://methylothon.com
), and relate lessons learned from adapting Methylothon for remote learning during the pandemic in spring of 2021.
Development and Validation of a Sensitive and Robust Multiplex Antigen Capture Assay to Quantify Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype-Specific Capsular Polysaccharides in Urine
Authors: Rajam Gowrisankar , Zhang Yuhua , Antonello Joseph M. , Grant-Klein Rebecca J. , Cook Lauren , Panemangalore Reshma , Pham Huy , Cooper Stephanie , Steinmetz Thomas D. , Nguyen Jennifer , Pletz Mathias W. , Barten-Neiner Grit , Murphy Rocio D. , Rubinstein Leonard J. , Nolan Katrina M.
Published: August 2022

Streptococcus pneumoniae
has more than 90 serotypes capable of causing a range of disease manifestations, including otitis media, pneumonia, and invasive diseases, such as bacteremia or meningitis. Only a minority (<10%) of pneumococcal diseases are bacteremic with known serotype distribution.
Impact of a prescriber and patient educational intervention on discharge analgesia prescribing and hospital readmission rates following elective unilateral total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Wood Daniel , Moy Shuh Fen , Zhang Shiran , Lightfoot Nicholas
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Pain management after elective, unilateral total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) should use a multimodal approach. At discharge, challenges include ensuring correct prescribing practices to optimise analgesia and rationalise opioid use as well as ensuring patients are adequately educated to take these medications safely and effectively in the community. This audit cycle reports on a prescriber and patient education intervention using printed guidelines, educational outreach and prescription standardisation along with a patient information sheet to address the high unplanned readmission rate following THA and TKA at our institution.

Methods

Two cohorts of patients were identified before (2016) and after (2019) the introduction of the educational package. The primary outcome was the unplanned hospital readmission rate in the 42 days following discharge. Secondary outcomes were the compliance with the set prescribing standards and the prescription of strong opioid medications (morphine or oxycodone) on discharge.

Results

There was a reduction in the readmission rate from 20.4% to 10.0% (p=0.004). Readmission rates for pain and constipation were also reduced. The prescribing of tramadol (p<0.001) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p<0.001) both increased while the number of patients who received a strong opioid at discharge decreased (p<0.001) as did the number of patients who received a sustained release strong opioid (p<0.001).

Conclusion

We have observed significant improvement in discharge prescribing which coincided with a reduction in unplanned readmissions after elective TKA and THA. Our approach used prescriber guidelines, education and standardisation with printed information for patients to enhance understanding and recall.