bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Signatures of Genetically Elevated Vitamin D Among Chinese: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zhuang Zhenhuang , Yu Canqing , Guo Yu , Bian Zheng , Yang Ling , Millwood Iona Y , Walters Robin G , Chen Yiping , Xu Qinai , Zou Mingyuan , Chen Junshi , Chen Zhengming , Lv Jun , Huang Tao , Li Liming
Published: February 2021

Context

Observational studies have suggested that higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels are associated with favorable serum lipids and related metabolites. However, whether such observations reflect causality remains unclear.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the causal effect of elevated 25(OH)D with a detailed systemic metabolite profile in Chinese adults.

Methods

A total of 225 lipid and other metabolites were quantiﬁed in 4662 individuals in the China Kadoorie Biobank. Instrumental variable analyses were performed to test the causal associations of plasma 25(OH)D with lipids and metabolites.

Results

Higher plasma 25(OH)D was related to favorable lipid profiles in observational analyses. The genetic risk score was robustly correlated with observed 25(OH)D (beta[SE] = 3.54 [0.32]; P < 1 × 10−5, F-statistic = 122.3) and explained 8.4% of the variation in 25(OH)D in the Chinese population. For all individual metabolites, the causal estimates were not significant at the threshold P < 5 × 10−4 (multiple testing corrected). However, a Mendelian randomization (MR) estimate showed that per 1-SD increase in genetically determined 25(OH)D was suggestive of association with decreased levels of cholesterol, lipoprotein particles, and phospholipids within very small very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) (P ≤ 0.05, nominal significance). For amino acids, fatty acids, ketone bodies, glycoprotein acetyls, fatty acids, and other traits, we did not observe any significant causal association.

Conclusions

The MR analysis of metabolic data based a population-based cohort suggested a potential causal association of plasma 25(OH)D with cholesterol, lipoprotein particle, phospholipid concentrations, and total lipids within very small VLDL and IDL. Our findings highlight a long-term effect of 25(OH)D levels in maintaining healthy lipid metabolism.
IGSF1 Does Not Regulate Spermatogenesis or Modify FSH Synthesis in Response to Inhibins or Activins
Authors: Brûlé Emilie , Heinen Charlotte A , Smith Courtney L , Schang Gauthier , Li Yining , Zhou Xiang , Wang Ying , Joustra Sjoerd D , Wit Jan M , Fliers Eric , Repping Sjoerd , van Trotsenburg A S Paul , Bernard Daniel J
Published: February 2021

Loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked immunoglobulin superfamily, member 1 (IGSF1) gene result in central hypothyroidism, often associated with macroorchidism. Testicular enlargement in these patients might be caused by increases in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, as IGSF1 has been proposed to function as an inhibin B receptor or as an inhibitor of activin type I receptor (ALK4) activity in pituitary gonadotrope cells. If true, loss of IGSF1 should lead to reduced inhibin B action or disinhibition of activin signaling, thereby increasing FSH synthesis. Here, we show that FSH levels and sperm counts are normal in male Igsf1 knockout mice, although testis size is mildly increased. Sperm parameters are also normal in men with IGSF1 deficiency, although their FSH levels may trend higher and their testes are enlarged. Inhibin B retains the ability to suppress FSH synthesis in pituitaries of Igsf1-knockout mice and IGSF1 does not interact with ALK4 or alter activin A/ALK4 stimulation of FSHβ (Fshb/FSHB) subunit transcription or expression. In light of these results, it is unlikely that macroorchidism in IGSF1 deficiency derives from alterations in spermatogenesis or inhibin/activin regulation of FSH.
Removal of Epididymal Visceral Adipose Tissue Prevents Obesity-Induced Multi-organ Insulin Resistance in Male Mice
Authors: Franczyk Michael P , He Mai , Yoshino Jun
Published: February 2021

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, an important risk factor of type 2 diabetes, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The major purpose of this study was to test hypothesize that prophylactic removal of epididymal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) prevents obesity-induced multi-organ (liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue) insulin resistance. Accordingly, we surgically removed epididymal VAT pads from adult C57BL/6J mice and evaluated in vivo and cellular metabolic pathways involved in glucose and lipid metabolism following chronic high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. We found that VAT removal decreases HFD-induced body weight gain while increasing subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) mass. Strikingly, VAT removal prevents obesity-induced insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia and markedly enhances insulin-stimulated AKT-phosphorylation at serine-473 (Ser473) and threonine-308 (Thr308) sites in SAT, liver, and skeletal muscle. VAT removal leads to decreases in plasma lipid concentrations and hepatic triglyceride (TG) content. In addition, VAT removal increases circulating adiponectin, a key insulin-sensitizing adipokine, whereas it decreases circulating interleukin 6, a pro-inflammatory adipokine. Consistent with these findings, VAT removal increases adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase C phosphorylation, a major downstream target of adiponectin signaling. Data obtained from RNA sequencing suggest that VAT removal prevents obesity-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in liver and SAT, respectively. Taken together, these findings highlight the metabolic benefits and possible action mechanisms of prophylactic VAT removal on obesity-induced insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis. Our results also provide important insight into understanding the extraordinary capability of adipose tissue to influence whole-body glucose and lipid metabolism as an active endocrine organ.
Between Form and Formalization: Angus Fletcher’sThe Topological Imagination
Authors: Warren Andrew
Published: February 2021

This is a review essay of Angus Fletcher’s posthumous The Topological Imagination: Spheres, Edges, and Islands (2016). Fletcher’s guiding intuition is that topology—a vast, foundational, formally rigorous pillar of modern mathematics—can offer fresh, useful ways of seeing and thinking about our world. These novel modes of perception and cognition are, Fletcher contends, naturally anticipated by literary creation and theories of it—hence the book’s title, The Topological Imagination. Half of my essay is consequently devoted to fleshing out the larger contexts of Fletcher’s investigation: topology’s core concepts, Romantic theories of the imagination, and earlier encounters between topology and literary and philosophical thought, particularly that of Blanchot and Deleuze. The other half of this essay asks whether Fletcher’s accounts of topology and the (Romantic) imagination are accurate and compatible, and what true compatibility might look like. To answer this final question, I turn to recent debates about form and formalization and A. R. Ammons’s book-length poem, Sphere: The Form of a Motion (1974).
Moral trauma caused by COVID-19 - An ethical debate
Authors: Zaidi Shabih H , Jawaid Shaukat Ali
Published: February 2021

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.4295

How to cite this:Zaidi SH, Jawaid SA. Moral trauma caused by COVID-19 - An ethical debate. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):613-615. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.4295

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Physical and mathematical modeling of building systems
Authors: Chemodurov Vladimir , Litvinova Ella
Published: February 2021

Physical and mathematical modeling is widely used in scientific research. This is due to the fact that field experiments on real construction sites are often impossible to organize for various reasons. The material included in the textbook is a summary of the authors ' experience in the field of system analysis. In the first section, the regularities of physical modeling of the functioning of objects based on the similarity and dimension theorems are considered. The second section presents modern models and methods for choosing optimal solutions: linear, nonlinear, stochastic, and statistical. The third section deals with experimental methods of system optimization based on the theory of experimental planning. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. For students of higher educational institutions studying in the direction of training 08.04.01 "Construction", and graduate students of higher educational institutions. It will be useful for specialists in the field of mathematical methods for the study of complex systems and their applications.
Logistics management
Authors: Kurshakova Natal'ya , Levkin Grigoriy
Published: February 2021

The textbook consistently examines the process of administration of the logistics system of the enterprise, consisting of performing basic, technological and socio-psychological management functions, ensuring decision-making in the organization and improvement of material, information and other related flows in the enterprise, as well as achieving long-term success and stability of the enterprise. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation and bachelor's degree programs in the areas of training 23.03.01 "Technology of transport processes", 27.03.02 "Quality Management", 38.03.02 "Management". It is intended for students of educational institutions of higher education, students of advanced training programs.
Organization of agricultural production
Authors: Tushkanov Mihail , Vodyannikov Vladimir , Maksimov Artem , Semenova Elena , Telegina Zhanna , Shumakov Yuriy , Cherevko Lyudmila , Arinichev Vladimir , Balashova Svetlana , Dzhikiya Konstantin
Published: February 2021

The textbook examines the laws and principles of the organization of agricultural production, the essence, organizational and economic foundations of the creation and operation of agricultural enterprises of various organizational and legal forms. The issues of organization and use of resource potential (land, fixed assets, labor), material incentives, economic calculation, intra-economic economic relations are described. The issues of organization of production of crop production, horticulture and animal husbandry, its storage and sale, environmental protection in the production of organic products are disclosed. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. For bachelor students studying in the direction of training 38.03.02 " Management "(profiles "Production Management", "Marketing", "Logistics").
Theory of the possible
Authors: Borzyh Stanislav
Published: February 2021

In this book, we are talking about a single principle that permeates every organized entity, regardless of what sphere it belongs to. Everywhere and always, and in accordance with the current circumstances, the process of formation, support and regulation of any complex complexes and ensembles is guided and controlled by the concept of the realizable, which postulates that only what is stable and stable will be realized, and everything else will be discarded as untenable and unbalanced. These patterns and patterns can be traced resolutely at all levels of existence. And the universe, and life, and consciousness, and mind, and culture are arranged and assembled according to these schemes, because it is difficult, if possible, for them to be any other. This paper provides an overview of this type of layout in these areas, as well as the theory of the achievable and accessible itself. Using examples and theoretical considerations, it is shown that the configuration of all reliable and long-lasting structures is approximately the same or very similar, because it obeys a single end-to-end logic of the formation of any similar substances, whatever they touch and wherever they are found. In addition, it is demonstrated that if something in this spirit is objectified in practice, then its nature and properties must be fundamentally the same as what we observe around or extremely close to it. Finally, the view is argued and developed, according to which everything consists of matter, is constituted by it, is reduced only to it, including any non-physical phenomena. It is concluded that all the wealth of the world is subject to the same laws of its construction, and all this construction observes the universal rules of the functioning of complex things, no matter what they are aimed at. For all those interested in philosophy.
Maintenance and repair of marine pumps
Authors: Sherstnev Nikolay
Published: February 2021

The tutorial shows the design features of marine pumps that affect their working conditions and methods of maintenance and repair. Recommendations for external inspection and control of their components and parts are given. The features of disassembly and assembly of various types of pumps are shown. With examples from ship practice, typical defects of pump assemblies and parts, methods of their determination and elimination are considered. It is intended for students of higher educational institutions (specialty in the specialty "Operation of marine power plants") and university teachers. It can also be used in the system of secondary vocational education in the specialty "Operation of marine power plants".
Comprehensive economic analysis
Authors: Mel'nik Margarita , Krivcov Artem , Lihtarova Ol'ga
Published: February 2021

The textbook contains theoretical and practical material on the main topics of the course. Questions, tests and tasks are given to test and consolidate knowledge. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. It is intended for students of higher education institutions of the direction of training 38.03.01 "Economics" of all forms of education.
Astronomy
Authors: Pavlov Sergey
Published: February 2021

The textbook presents almost all sections of modern astronomy: a historical overview, the basics of practical astronomy, the laws of motion of celestial bodies, the structure of the Solar system, methods of astronomical research, basic information about the Sun, stars, planets, galaxies and the Universe as a whole. To work with the textbook, you need knowledge of the main sections of mathematics, physics and chemistry in the volume of the high school course. At the end of the paragraphs, there is a list of questions for better assimilation of the material, as well as tasks focused on preparing for the Unified State Exam in physics. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation. For students of the 11th grade, students of secondary special educational institutions and anyone interested in the problems of modern astronomy.
Electric drive with contactless synchronous motors
Authors: Smirnov Aleksandr
Published: February 2021

Contactless synchronous machines are considered, classification, description of structures, construction of analytical and numerical models for research calculations and design of inductor motors with electromagnetic excitation and with excitation from permanent magnets are given. Examples of design and research calculations of the operation of a synchronous drive of automation systems by means of a computational experiment are given.
Effect of the interface on femtosecond laser damage of a metal-dielectric low dispersion mirror
Authors: Zhang Yuhui , Wang Yanzhi , Chen Ruiyi , Wang Zhihao , Zhao Jiaoling , Li Dawei , Zhu Meiping , Zhao Yuanan , Jin Yunxia , Yi Kui , Leng Yuxin , Li Ruxin , He Hongbo , Shao Jianda
Published: February 2021

Metal-dielectric low dispersion mirrors (MLDM) have a promising application prospect in petawatt (PW) laser systems. We studied the damage characteristics of MLDM and found that the damage source of MLDM (Ag + Al2O3+SiO2) is located at the metal-dielectric interface. We present the effect of the interface on the femtosecond laser damage of MLDM. Finite element analysis shows that thermal stress is distributed at the interface, causing stress damage which is consistent with the damage morphology. After enhancing the interface adhesion and reducing the residual stress, the damage source transfers from the interface to a surface SiO2 layer, and the damage threshold can be increased from 0.60 J/cm2 to 0.73 J/cm2. This work contributes to the search for new techniques to improve the damage threshold of MLDM used in PW laser systems.
Ecological rules for the assembly of microbiome communities
Authors: Coyte Katharine Z. , Rao Chitong , Rakoff-Nahoum Seth , Foster Kevin R.
Published: February 2021

Humans and many other hosts establish a diverse community of beneficial microbes anew each generation. The order and identity of incoming symbionts is critical for health, but what determines the success of the assembly process remains poorly understood. Here we develop ecological theory to identify factors important for microbial community assembly. Our method maps out all feasible pathways for the assembly of a given microbiome—with analogies to the mutational maps underlying fitness landscapes in evolutionary biology. Building these “assembly maps” reveals a tradeoff at the heart of the assembly process. Ecological dependencies between members of the microbiota make assembly predictable—and can provide metabolic benefits to the host—but these dependencies may also create barriers to assembly. This effect occurs because interdependent species can fail to establish when each relies on the other to colonize first. We support our predictions with published data from the assembly of the preterm infant microbiota, where we find that ecological dependence is associated with a predictable order of arrival. Our models also suggest that hosts can overcome barriers to assembly via mechanisms that either promote the uptake of multiple symbiont species in one step or feed early colonizers. This predicted importance of host feeding is supported by published data on the impacts of breast milk in the assembly of the human microbiome. We conclude that both microbe to microbe and host to microbe interactions are important for the trajectory of microbiome assembly.
An antigenic diversification threshold for falciparum malaria transmission at high endemicity
Authors: He Qixin , Pascual Mercedes
Published: February 2021

In malaria and several other important infectious diseases, high prevalence occurs concomitantly with incomplete immunity. This apparent paradox poses major challenges to malaria elimination in highly endemic regions, where asymptomaticPlasmodium falciparuminfections are present across all age classes creating a large reservoir that maintains transmission. This reservoir is in turn enabled by extreme antigenic diversity of the parasite and turnover of new variants. We present here the concept of a threshold in local pathogen diversification that defines a sharp transition in transmission intensity below which new antigen-encoding genes generated by either recombination or migration cannot establish. Transmission still occurs below this threshold, but diversity of these genes can neither accumulate nor recover from interventions that further reduce it. An analytical expectation for this threshold is derived and compared to numerical results from a stochastic individual-based model of malaria transmission that incorporates the major antigen-encoding multigene family known asvar. This threshold corresponds to an “innovation” number we callRdiv; it is different from, and complementary to, the one defined by the classic basic reproductive number of infectious diseases,R0, which does not readily is better apply under large and dynamic strain diversity. This new threshold concept can be exploited for effective malaria control and applied more broadly to other pathogens with large multilocus antigenic diversity.
Margination and adhesion dynamics of tumor cells in a real microvascular network
Authors: Wang Sitong , Ye Ting , Li Guansheng , Zhang Xuejiao , Shi Huixin
Published: February 2021

In tumor metastasis, the margination and adhesion of tumor cells are two critical and closely related steps, which may determine the destination where the tumor cells extravasate to. We performed a direct three-dimensional simulation on the behaviors of the tumor cells in a real microvascular network, by a hybrid method of the smoothed dissipative particle dynamics and immersed boundary method (SDPD-IBM). The tumor cells are found to adhere at the microvascular bifurcations more frequently, and there is a positive correlation between the adhesion of the tumor cells and the wall-directed force from the surrounding red blood cells (RBCs). The larger the wall-directed force is, the closer the tumor cells are marginated towards the wall, and the higher the probability of adhesion behavior happen is. A relatively low or high hematocrit can help to prevent the adhesion of tumor cells, and similarly, increasing the shear rate of blood flow can serve the same purpose. These results suggest that the tumor cells may be more likely to extravasate at the microvascular bifurcations if the blood flow is slow and the hematocrit is moderate.
Effects of steroid therapy in patients with severe fever with Thrombocytopenia syndrome: A multicenter clinical cohort study
Authors: Jung Sook In , Kim Ye Eun , Yun Na Ra , Kim Choon-Mee , Kim Dong-Min , Han Mi Ah , Kim Uh Jin , Kim Seong Eun , Kim Jieun , Ryu Seong Yeol , Kim Hyun ah , Hur Jian , Kim Young Keun , Jeong Hye Won , Heo Jung Yeon , Jung Dong Sik , Lee Hyungdon , Huh Kyungmin , Kwak Yee Gyung , Lee Sujin , Lim Seungjin , Lee Sun Hee , Park Sun Hee , Yeom Joon-Sup , Kim Shin-Woo , Bae In-Gyu , Lee Juhyung , Kim Eu Suk , Seo Jun-Won
Published: February 2021

Background

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an acute, febrile, and potentially fatal tick-borne disease caused by the SFTS Phlebovirus. Here, we evaluated the effects of steroid therapy in Korean patients with SFTS.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed in a multicenter SFTS clinical cohort from 13 Korean university hospitals between 2013 and 2017. We performed survival analysis using propensity score matching of 142 patients with SFTS diagnosed by genetic or antibody tests.

Results

Overall fatality rate was 23.2%, with 39.7% among 58 patients who underwent steroid therapy. Complications were observed in 37/58 (63.8%) and 25/83 (30.1%) patients in the steroid and non-steroid groups, respectively (P < .001). Survival analysis after propensity score matching showed a significant difference in mean 30-day survival time between the non-steroid and steroid groups in patients with a mild condition [Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score <14; 29.2 (95% CI 27.70–30.73] vs. 24.9 (95% CI 21.21–28.53], P = .022]. Survival times for the early steroid (≤5 days from the start of therapy after symptom onset), late steroid (>5 days), and non-steroid groups, were 18.4, 22.4, and 27.3 days, respectively (P = .005).

Conclusions

After steroid therapy, an increase in complications was observed among patients with SFTS. Steroid therapy should be used with caution, considering the possible negative effects of steroid therapy within 5 days of symptom onset or in patients with mild disease (APACHE II score <14).
Genomic analysis of the diversity, antimicrobial resistance and virulence potential of clinical Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains from Chile
Authors: Bravo Veronica , Katz Assaf , Porte Lorena , Weitzel Thomas , Varela Carmen , Gonzalez-Escalona Narjol , Blondel Carlos J.
Published: February 2021

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the leading cause of human gastroenteritis in the industrialized world and an emerging threat in developing countries. The incidence of campylobacteriosis in South America is greatly underestimated, mostly due to the lack of adequate diagnostic methods. Accordingly, there is limited genomic and epidemiological data from this region. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the genetic diversity, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance of the largest collection of clinical C. jejuni and C. coli strains from Chile available to date (n = 81), collected in 2017–2019 in Santiago, Chile. This culture collection accounts for more than one third of the available genome sequences from South American clinical strains. cgMLST analysis identified high genetic diversity as well as 13 novel STs and alleles in both C. jejuni and C. coli. Pangenome and virulome analyses showed a differential distribution of virulence factors, including both plasmid and chromosomally encoded T6SSs and T4SSs. Resistome analysis predicted widespread resistance to fluoroquinolones, but low rates of erythromycin resistance. This study provides valuable genomic and epidemiological data and highlights the need for further genomic epidemiology studies in Chile and other South American countries to better understand molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of this emerging intestinal pathogen.
Effects of parity, blood progesterone, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment on the dynamics of the uterine microbiota of healthy postpartum dairy cows
Authors: Bogado Pascottini O. , Spricigo J. F. W. , Van Schyndel S. J. , Mion B. , Rousseau J. , Weese J. S. , LeBlanc S. J.
Published: February 2021

This study evaluated the effects of treatment with meloxicam (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), parity, and blood progesterone concentration on the dynamics of the uterine microbiota of 16 clinically healthy postpartum dairy cows. Seven primiparous and 9 multiparous postpartum Holstein cows either received meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg SC, n = 7 cows) once daily for 4 days (10 to 13 days in milk (DIM)) or were untreated (n = 9 cows). Endometrial cytology samples were collected by cytobrush at 10, 21, and 35 DIM, from which the microbiota analysis was conducted using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A radioimmunoassay was used to measure progesterone concentration in blood serum samples at 35 DIM and cows were classified as ˃ 1 ng/mL (n = 10) or ≤ 1 ng/mL (n = 6). Alpha diversity for bacterial genera (Chao1, Shannon-Weiner, and Camargo’s evenness indices) were not affected by DIM, meloxicam treatment, parity, or progesterone category. For beta diversity (genera level), principal coordinate analysis (Bray-Curtis) showed differences in microbiota between parity groups. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria was greater in primiparous than multiparous cows. At the genus level, there was lesser relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Neisseriaceae, Paracoccus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus and greater relative abundance of Bacillus and Fusobacterium in primiparous than multiparous cows. Bray-Curtis dissimilarity did not differ by DIM at sampling, meloxicam treatment, or progesterone category at 35 DIM. In conclusion, uterine bacterial composition was not different at 10, 21, or 35 DIM, and meloxicam treatment or progesterone category did not affect the uterine microbiota in clinically healthy postpartum dairy cows. Primiparous cows presented a different composition of uterine bacteria than multiparous cows. The differences in microbiota associated with parity might be attributable to changes that occur consequent to the first calving, but this hypothesis should be investigated further.
Assessment of research ethics education offerings of pharmacy master programs in an Arab nation relative to top programs worldwide: A qualitative content analysis
Authors: Ahmed Wesam S. , Nebeker Camille
Published: February 2021

The importance of research ethics (RE) training has led academic and funding institutions to require that students, trainees, and faculty obtain such training at various stages of their careers. Despite the increasing awareness of the value RE education offers, this training requirement is absent in Jordan. We aimed to assess RE education offerings of pharmacy master programs in Jordan and compare with the top-ranked pharmacy graduate programs globally. Therefore, a list of universities that offer research-based pharmacy master programs was created. Each program was evaluated for the inclusion of RE education. A qualitative content analysis approach based on inductive reasoning and latent analysis was followed to analyze the data. Results of the study showed a lack of appropriate RE education for graduate-level pharmacy programs in Jordan with only 40% of the programs partially discuss selected topics related to RE. Regarding pharmacy graduate programs globally, 10% offer a standalone RE course, 40% offer some discussions related to RE, another 10% do not offer RE education in any form, and the remaining 40% of the programs were difficult to assess due to lack of sufficient information available online. Based on the findings of this study, training in RE is tends to be lacking in pharmacy graduate programs in Jordan and globally, with a greater lack in Jordan than globally. There is a need to incorporate formal RE education into programs that do not offer this type of instruction. Programs that formally touch on some aspects of RE need to expand the scope of topics to include more RE-related themes. Integrating a standalone RE course into pharmacy graduate programs is highly encouraged.
Characterisation of Metarhizium majus (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) isolated from the Western Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Mathulwe Letodi L. , Jacobs Karin , Malan Antoinette P. , Birkhofer Klaus , Addison Matthew F. , Addison Pia
Published: February 2021

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are important soil-dwelling entomopathogens, which can be used as biological control agents against pest insects. EPF are capable of causing lethal epizootics in pest insect populations in agroecosystems. During a survey of the orchard soil at an organic farm, different EPF species were collected and identified to species level, using both morphological and molecular techniques. The EPF were trapped from soil samples taken from an apricot orchard. The traps, which were baited in the laboratory, used susceptible host insects, including the last-instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (wax moth larvae) and Tenebrio molitor (mealworm larvae). The potential pathogenicity of the local Metarhizium majus isolate was tested and verified using susceptible laboratory-reared last-instar T. molitor larvae. The identification of the M. majus isolated from South African soil was verified using both morphological and molecular techniques. The occurrence of M. majus in the South African soil environment had not previously been reported.
Effects of ploidy and salmonid alphavirus infection on the skin and gill microbiome of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Brown Ryan , Moore Lindsey , Mani Amir , Patel Sonal , Salinas Irene
Published: February 2021

The microbial communities that live in symbiosis with the mucosal surfaces of animals provide the host with defense strategies against pathogens. These microbial communities are largely shaped by the environment and the host genetics. Triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are being considered for aquaculture as they are reproductively sterile and thus cannot contaminate the natural gene pool. It has not been previously investigated how the microbiome of triploid salmon compares to that of their diploid counterparts. In this study, we compare the steady-state skin and gill microbiome of both diploid and triploid salmon, and determine the effects of salmonid alphavirus 3 experimental infection on their microbial composition. Our results show limited differences in the skin-associated microbiome between triploid and diploid salmon, irrespective of infection. In the gills, we observed a high incidence of the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Branchiomonas, with higher abundance in diploid compared to triploid control fish. Diploid salmon infected with SAV3 showed greater histopathological signs of epitheliocystis compared to controls, a phenomenon not observed in triploid fish. Our results indicate that ploidy can affect the alpha diversity of the gills but not the skin-associated microbial community. Importantly, during a natural outbreak of Branchiomonas sp. the gill microbiome of diploid Atlantic salmon became significantly more dominated by this pathogen than in triploid animals. Thus, our results suggest that ploidy may play a role on Atlantic salmon gill health and provide insights into co-infection with SAV3 and C. Branchiomonas in Atlantic salmon.
Online pragmatic interpretations of scalar adjectives are affected by perceived speaker reliability
Authors: Gardner Bethany , Dix Sadie , Lawrence Rebecca , Morgan Cameron , Sullivan Anaclare , Kurumada Chigusa
Published: February 2021

Linguistic communication requires understanding of words in relation to their context. Among various aspects of context, one that has received relatively little attention until recently is the speakers themselves. We asked whether comprehenders’ online language comprehension is affected by the perceived reliability with which a speaker formulates pragmatically well-formed utterances. In two eye-tracking experiments, we conceptually replicated and extended a seminal work by Grodner and Sedivy (2011). A between-participant manipulation was used to control reliability with which a speaker follows implicit pragmatic conventions (e.g., using a scalar adjective in accordance with contextual contrast). Experiment 1 replicated Grodner and Sedivy’s finding that contrastive inference in response to scalar adjectives was suspended when both the spoken input and the instructions provided evidence of the speaker’s (un)reliability: For speech from the reliable speaker, comprehenders exhibited the early fixations attributable to a contextually-situated, contrastive interpretation of a scalar adjective. In contrast, for speech from the unreliable speaker, comprehenders did not exhibit such early fixations. Experiment 2 provided novel evidence of the reliability effect in the absence of explicit instructions. In both experiments, the effects emerged in the earliest expected time window given the stimuli sentence structure. The results suggest that real-time interpretations of spoken language are optimized in the context of a speaker identity, characteristics of which are extrapolated across utterances.
Genetic mechanisms associated with floral initiation and the repressive effect of fruit on flowering in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh)
Authors: Gottschalk Chris , Zhang Songwen , Schwallier Phil , Rogers Sean , Bukovac Martin J. , van Nocker Steve
Published: February 2021

Many apple cultivars are subject to biennial fluctuations in flowering and fruiting. It is believed that this phenomenon is caused by a repressive effect of developing fruit on the initiation of flowers in the apex of proximal bourse shoots. However, the genetic pathways of floral initiation are incompletely described in apple, and the biological nature of floral repression by fruit is currently unknown. In this study, we characterized the transcriptional landscape of bourse shoot apices in the biennial cultivar, ’Honeycrisp’, during the period of floral initiation, in trees bearing a high fruit load and in trees without fruit. Trees with high fruit load produced almost exclusively vegetative growth in the subsequent year, whereas the trees without fruit produced flowers on the majority of the potential flowering nodes. Using RNA-based sequence data, we documented gene expression at high resolution, identifying >11,000 transcripts that had not been previously annotated, and characterized expression profiles associated with vegetative growth and flowering. We also conducted a census of genes related to known flowering genes, organized the phylogenetic and syntenic relationships of these genes, and compared expression among homeologs. Several genes closely related toAP1,FT,FUL,LFY, andSPLswere more strongly expressed in apices from non-bearing, floral-determined trees, consistent with their presumed floral-promotive roles. In contrast, a homolog ofTFL1exhibited strong and persistent up-regulation only in apices from bearing, vegetative-determined trees, suggesting a role in floral repression. Additionally, we identified fourGIBBERELLIC ACID (GA) 2 OXIDASEgenes that were expressed to relatively high levels in apices from bearing trees. These results define the flowering-related transcriptional landscape in apple, and strongly support previous studies implicating both gibberellins andTFL1as key components in repression of flowering by fruit.
Novel method to analyze cell kinetics for the rapid diagnosis and determination of the causative agent in allergy
Authors: Shibaguchi Hirotomo , Yasutaka Yuki , Futagami Koujiro
Published: February 2021

Drug-induced allergy (DIA), an unexpectedly triggered side effect of drugs used for therapeutic purposes, is a serious clinical issue that needs to be resolved because it interrupts the treatment of the primary disease. Since conventional allergy testing is insufficient to accurately predict the occurrence of DIA or to determine the drugs causing it, the development of diagnostic and predictive tools for allergic reactions is important. We demonstrated a novel method, termed high-sensitive allergy test (HiSAT), for the rapid diagnosis of allergy (within 1 hr; with true-positive diagnosis rates of 89% and 9% for patients with and without allergy-like symptoms, respectively). HiSAT analyzes the cell kinetics as an index against chemotactic factors in a patient’s serum, as different from the diagnosis using conventional methods. Once allergy has occurred, HiSAT can be used to determine the causative medicine using culture supernatants incubated with the subject’s lymphocytes and the test allergen. This test is more efficient (60%) than the lymphocyte transformation test (20%). Furthermore, in HiSAT, cell mobility significantly increases in a dose-dependent manner against supernatant incubated with lymphocytes from a subject with pollinosis collected at a time when the subject is without allergic symptoms and the antigen. The result demonstraed that HiSAT might be a promising method to rapidly diagnose DIA or to determine with high accuracy the antigen causing allergy.
Knowledge, attitude, practice towards COVID-19 pandemic and its prevalence among hospital visitors at Ataye district hospital, Northeast Ethiopia
Authors: Gebretsadik Daniel , Ahmed Nuru , Kebede Edosa , Gebremicheal Saba , Belete Melaku Ashagrie , Adane Metadel
Published: February 2021

Background

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is currently a global health threat and public health emergency of international concern. Africa is the last continent to be hit by this pandemic and the population is still prone to misconceptions and may not take it seriously. In developing countries including Ethiopia, where trained human resources and equipment for the treatment of COVID-19 are scarce, working on prevention of the viral spread should be a priority as a feasible intervention strategy. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) towards COVID-19 and its prevalence among hospital visitors.

Methods

Health institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 513 hospital visitors who are recruited by using simple random sampling technique at Ataye district hospital, Northeast Ethiopia from June 3, 2020 to August 10, 2020. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to obtain information related to socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge (11 questions), attitude (9 questions) and practice (9 questions). Oro-pharyngeal specimen was collected by trained healthcare provider and processed in a molecular laboratory. After extraction of viral nucleic acid, the Real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit was used for detecting novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Data was analyzed using bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression model with 95% CI (confidence interval). From the bi-variable analysis, variables having a P-value <0.25 were retained into multivariable analysis. From the multivariable analysis, variables with a P-value <0.05 was declared as associated factors.

Results

Majority (72.9%) of the study participants were male; and most were urban dwellers. From the total study participants, 17 (3.3%) were found to be infected with the virus. The magnitude of low-level of knowledge was 4.9%; and of the analyzed risk factors, female gender, age (category less than 16 years and category between 16 and 65 years), and usual alcohol drinking habit had statistically significant association with low level knowledge. The proportion of study participants who had low level of practice was 75/513 (14.62%). Family size, age category between 16 and 65 years, and low-level knowledge were associated with low-level practice.

Conclusion

Limited number of study participants had high-level knowledge and practice towards COVID-19; while majority of the study candidates demonstrated moderate level of knowledge and practice. Good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice can be a guarantee for the prevention and control of COVID-19. Hence, various measurements to combat the pandemic should be taken by different stakeholders including the community members, religious leader, health professionals and others.
Life chances after surgery of congenital heart disease: A case-control-study of inter- and intragenerational social mobility over 15 years
Authors: Geyer Siegfried , Fleig Katharina , Norozi Kambiz , Röbbel Lena , Paul Thomas , Müller Matthias , Dellas Claudia
Published: February 2021

Background

Patients of congenital heart disease surgery have good prospects for reaching old age. Against the backdrop of increasing life expectancies, the question of how well such patients are mastering daily routines and their working life emerges. In our study, the educational and occupational performance of patients over 15 years was examined.

Methods

Intergenerational social mobility (changes in social positions from the parental generation to the generation of children) was examined in terms of education, and intragenerational social mobility (changes in positions within the same generation, i.e., in individuals over their life courses) was examined in terms of occupational positions. Comparisons were made between patients and a control group drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). Controls were drawn from respondents who participated in the 2004 and 2018 SOEP surveys.

Results

The data were from 244 out of 360 patients (68%) with complete social data from the first survey (2003–2004) and who were included in the follow-up (2017–2019), and 238 controls were drawn from the SOEP. At the time of the second survey, subjects’ ages ranged from 28 to 59 years of age (M = 40.1 years). Intergenerational educational mobility did not differ between cases and controls. For intragenerational social mobility, downward changes were more frequent among controls. This latter finding may be explained by patients retiring earlier than the general population. Retirement rates increased over time, particularly among patients with severe congenital malformations. Unemployment rates were also higher among patients.

Conclusions

Taken together, although a considerable proportion of patients with congenital heart disease retired prematurely or never entered the labour force, their educational and occupational careers proceeded more favourably than expected.
Prediction of 72-hour mortality in patients with extremely high serum C-reactive protein levels using a novel weighted average of risk scores
Authors: Saito Kai , Sugawara Hitoshi , Ichihara Kiyoshi , Watanabe Tamami , Ishii Akira , Fukuchi Takahiko
Published: February 2021

The risk factors associated with mortality in patients with extremely high serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are controversial. In this retrospective single-center cross-sectional study, the clinical and laboratory data of patients with CRP levels ≥40 mg/dL treated in Saitama Medical Center, Japan from 2004 to 2017 were retrieved from medical records. The primary outcome was defined as 72-hour mortality after the final CRP test. Forty-four mortal cases were identified from the 275 enrolled cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis (MLRA) was performed to explore the parameters relevant for predicting mortality. As an alternative method of prediction, we devised a novel risk predictor, “weighted average of risk scores” (WARS). WARS features the following: (1) selection of candidate risk variables for 72-hour mortality by univariate analyses, (2) determination of C-statistics and cutoff value for each variable in predicting mortality, (3) 0–1 scoring of each risk variable at the cutoff value, and (4) calculation of WARS by weighted addition of the scores with weights assigned according to the C-statistic of each variable. MLRA revealed four risk variables associated with 72-hour mortality—age, albumin, inorganic phosphate, and cardiovascular disease—with a predictability of 0.829 in C-statistics. However, validation by repeated resampling of the 275 records showed that a set of predictive variables selected by MLRA fluctuated occasionally because of the presence of closely associated risk variables and missing data regarding some variables. WARS attained a comparable level of predictability (0.837) by combining the scores for 10 risk variables, including age, albumin, electrolytes, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, and fibrinogen. Several mutually related risk variables are relevant in predicting 72-hour mortality in patients with extremely high CRP levels. Compared to conventional MLRA, WARS exhibited a favorable performance with flexible coverage of many risk variables while allowing for missing data.