bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing chromoblastomycosis with acitretin plus imiquimod: A case report on the improvement of cutaneous lesions and reduction of the treatment time
Authors: Belda Walter , Casolato Ana Thereza Stradioto , Luppi Juliana Bronzato , Passero Luiz Felipe Domingues
Published: August 2021

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is an infectious disease caused by fungi that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries. Besides few therapeutic options, the classical treatment of CBM needs to be administrated for a long period of time, and unfortunately some patients do not show improvement of the lesions. Thus, it becomes urgent to develop new strategies for the treatment of CBM. This work reports a successful treatment, performed with the combination of oral acitretin (50 mg/kg, once a day) plus topical imiquimod (50 mg/g, five times per week) for 5 months in a patient with CBM. A significant improvement of the lesions was observed in the 1st month, and in the 5th a complete regression of lesions was recorded. Changes in the biochemical parameters were not observed. These data suggest that the combination of acitretin and imiquimod may be effective at treating CBM.
Association between cheilitis granulomatosa and odontogenic infections: A case–control study
Authors: Hu Xiaosheng , Xing Yixiao , Mu Changqing , Liu Yang , Hua Hong
Published: August 2021

The association between cheilitis granulomatosa and dental infections (dental caries and apical periodontitis) is still not well understood. Herein, we aimed to investigate the association in large hospital cases with cohort controls. Cheilitis granulomatosa cases (n = 181) were retrieved from Peking University Hospital of Stomatology and age‐ and sex‐matched to controls (n = 181). The χ2‐test, Student’s t‐test, and Mann–Whitney U‐test were used to compare the differences between groups. The χ2‐test and odds ratio were used to verify if there was an association and risk relationship. The results showed that both dental caries and apical periodontitis were associated with cheilitis granulomatosa (p < 0.001). Individuals with cheilitis granulomatosa had approximately a twofold increased frequency of dental caries than those without cheilitis granulomatosa (104/181, 57.5% vs. 53/181, 29.3%) (p < 0.001). The odds ratio of dental caries occurring in the case group compared to the control group was 3.211. The frequency of apical periodontitis in patients with cheilitis granulomatosa was significantly greater than in those without cheilitis granulomatosa (109/181, 60.2% vs. 28/181, 15.5%) (p < 0.001). The odds ratio was 8.272. Moreover, apical periodontitis was also locationally related to cheilitis granulomatosa (p < 0.001). Collectively, our study showed that the foci of dental infections are associated with cheilitis granulomatosa, suggesting that proper treatment of focal teeth may be important in the management of cheilitis granulomatosa.
Multiscale phase inversion for vertical transverse isotropic media
Authors: Feng Shihang , Fu Lei , Feng Zongcai , Schuster Gerard T.
Published: August 2021

Inanisotropy full waveform inversion, the pseudo‐acoustic approximation is widely used to reduce the computation cost. However, artefacts and inaccurate predictions of amplitudes by the pseudo‐acoustic approximation often result in slow convergence in the full waveform inversion iterations and inaccurate tomograms. To solve this problem, multiscale phase inversion methodology is extended to vertical transverse isotropic media. In multiscale phase inversion, the amplitude spectra of the predicted data are replaced by those of the recorded data to mitigate the amplitude mismatch problem. Moreover, multiscale phase inversion tends to avoid the local minimum problem of full waveform inversion by temporally integrating the traces several times. Numerical tests on synthetic data and field data demonstrate the superiority of this method compared to conventional multiscale full waveform inversion for vertical transverse isotropic media.
Facilitation by isolated trees triggers woody encroachment and a biome shift at the savanna–forest transition
Authors: Abreu Rodolfo C. R. , Durigan Giselda , Melo Antônio C. G. , Pilon Natashi A. L. , Hoffmann William A.
Published: August 2021

Woody encroachment into grassy biomes is a global phenomenon, often resulting in a nearly complete turnover of species, with savanna specialists being replaced by forest‐adapted species. Understanding the mechanisms involved in this change is important for devising strategies for managing savannas.

We examined how isolated trees favour woody encroachment and species turnover by overcoming dispersal limitation and environmental filtering. In a savanna released from fire in south‐eastern Brazil (Cerrado), we sampled woody plants establishing under 40 tree canopies and in paired treeless plots. These trees comprised eight species selected for habitat preference (savanna or forest) and dispersal syndrome (bird dispersed or not). We recorded dimensions of each tree, dispersal syndrome and habitat preference of recruits, and quantified the physical environment within each plot, aiming at a mechanistic understanding of woody encroachment.

We found clear evidence that isolated trees cause nucleation and drive changes in functional composition of savanna. Effectiveness as nucleator differed among species, but was unrelated to their functional guilds (habitat preference or dispersal syndrome). The density of saplings in nuclei was partially explained by soil moisture (+), daily temperature amplitude (−) and sum of bases (−).

Our results indicate that isolated trees act first as perches, strongly favouring bird‐dispersed species. They then act as nurse trees, considerably changing the environment in favour of forest‐adapted recruits. In the long term, as the nuclei expand and merge, savanna specialists tend to disappear and the savanna turns into a low‐diversity forest.

Synthesis and applications. Fire suppression has allowed the nucleation process and consequently the woody encroachment and fast replacement of savanna specialists by forest species in the Cerrado. By elucidating the mechanisms behind woody encroachment, we recommend using prescribed fires to burn forest seedlings and to reduce tree canopy size wherever the management goal is to maintain the typical savanna structure and composition.
Dapagliflozin and xanthine oxidase inhibitors improve insulin resistance and modulate renal glucose and urate transport in metabolic syndrome
Authors: Ng Hwee‐Yeong , Leung Foong‐Fah , Kuo Wei‐Hung , Lee Wen‐Chin , Lee Chien‐Te
Published: August 2021

Disturbance in glucose and uric acid metabolism is the major disorder of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The kidneys play an important role in the management of glucose and uric acid. The aim of our study was to investigate alterations in renal glucose and uric acid transporters in animals with MetS after treatment with dapagliflozin and xanthine oxidase inhibitors (allopurinol and febuxostat). Sprague–Dawley rats were fed normal chow or a high fructose diet for the first 3 months. The fructose‐fed animals were then treated with dapagliflozin, allopurinol, febuxostat, or no treatment for the next 3 months. Fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and hyperuricaemia were improved in all treatment groups except that in the fructose group (all p < 0.05). Both allopurinol and febuxostat reversed the increase in levels of sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT) 1, SGLT2, and glucose transporter (GLUT) 2 (all p < 0.05). Dapagliflozin alleviated hyperuricaemia and induced uricosuria without affecting serum xanthine oxidase activity. Dapagliflozin suppressed the expression of GLUT9, urate transporter, and urate anion exchanger 1 (all p < 0.05), which was similar to the effects of allopurinol and febuxostat. The results suggest that treatment with dapagliflozin and xanthine oxidase inhibitors improved insulin resistance and reversed the increased expression of glucose and urate transporters in the kidney.
Precipitation increases the abundance of fungal plant pathogens in Eucalyptus phyllosphere
Authors: Chen Qing‐Lin , Hu Hang‐Wei , Yan Zhen‐Zhen , Li Chao‐Yu , Nguyen Bao‐Anh Thi , Zhu Yong‐Guan , He Ji‐Zheng
Published: August 2021

Understanding the current and future distributions of plant pathogens is critical to predict the plant performance and related economic benefits in the changing environment. Yet, little is known about the roles of environmental drivers in shaping the profiles of fungal plant pathogens in phyllosphere, an important habitat of microbiomes on Earth. Here, using a large‐scale investigation of Eucalyptus phyllospheric microbiomes in Australia and the multiple linear regression model, we show that precipitation is the most important predictor of fungal taxonomic diversity and abundance. The abundance of fungal plant pathogens in phyllosphere exhibited a positive linear relationship with precipitation. With this empirical dataset, we constructed current and future atlases of phyllosphere plant pathogens to estimate their spatial distributions under different climate change scenarios. Our atlases indicate that the abundance of fungal plant pathogens would increase especially in the coastal regions with up to 100‐fold increase compared with the current abundance. These findings advance our understanding of the distributions of fungal plant pathogens in phyllospheric microbiomes under the climate change, which can improve our ability to predict and mitigate their impacts on plant productivity and economic losses.
Open Dialogue trainees’ expectations of ‘shared concern’: An international focus group study
Authors: Buus Niels , Leer Mie , Mikes‐Liu Kristof , Dawson Lisa , Folkmann Pedersen Merete , Einboden Rochelle , McCloughen Andrea
Published: August 2021

Open Dialogue is an alternative approach to service provision for people experiencing mental health problems. Training and implementation of dialogical ways of working require that professionals disposition themselves as experts and ‘unlearn’ traditional therapeutic relations. This study explored trainees’ discussions of their expectations of Open Dialogue as they commence their training. Four focus groups, two in Australia and two in Denmark, were analysed thematically. We generated the theme ‘shared concern’ with four sub‐themes: (1) ‘A democratising alternative’, (2) ‘Waiting and listening’, (3) ‘Acknowledging many kinds of expertise’ and (4) ‘Personal participation’. Rather than learning a therapeutic technique, ‘shared concern’ in dialogical practices emphasised a collaborative approach to manage ubiquitous uncertainty and a political commitment to addressing inequities in service delivery. This variance from usual reasons to undertake training has implications for course design and delivery that have yet to be considered.

Practitioner points

The theme ‘shared concern’ was generated from across the focus groups, which was well aligned with the doxa of Open Dialogue

Trainees emphasised their experience of Open Dialogue as a moral counterapproach to traditional healthcare with less emphasis on the actual psychotherapeutic practices
Fast and reliable analysis of veterinary metomidate and etomidate in human blood samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in a postmortem case
Authors: Yum Hyesun , Jeong Sujin , Jang Moonhee , Moon Sungmin , Kang Minji , Kim Byungjoo , Kim Dongwoo , Choe Sanggil , Yang Wonkyung , Kim Jihyun , Han Sang Beom
Published: August 2021

Metomidate and etomidate belong to the non‐barbiturate imidazole family of sedative–hypnotics and elicit little analgesic action when used alone. Metomidate, in particular, has little analgesic activity in humans and is, therefore, used for veterinary purposes. In 2019, a Korean woman in her twenties was found unconscious in a motel bath and eventually died. Etomidate, alprazolam, escitalopram, and metomidate were detected in the postmortem specimens. To our knowledge, this is the first case of human metomidate abuse reported in the Republic of Korea. In this research, a simple and reliable method was developed for the analysis of metomidate and etomidate in human blood samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Blood samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile, filtered, and analyzed by LC–MS/MS. Linear calibration curves were obtained with six concentrations ranging from 1 to 50 ng/ml for metomidate and 10 to 500 ng/ml for etomidate. The method was validated by assessing the selectivity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy, matrix effect, and stability and successfully applied to the analysis of metomidate and etomidate in human blood samples. In a postmortem case, the concentrations of metomidate and etomidate were found to be 8 and 110 ng/ml in femoral blood and 6 and 210 ng/ml in cardiac blood, respectively.
A systematic review of quantitative analysis of cannabinoids in oral fluid
Authors: Gorziza Roberta Petry , Duarte Jonathaline Apollo , González Marina , Arroyo‐Mora Luis E. , Limberger Renata Pereira
Published: August 2021

Cannabis sativa L. is a substance widely used around the world for recreational and medicinal purposes. Oral fluid has been investigated as an alternative biological matrix for demonstrating the illegal use of cannabis, particularly in situations where its recent use needs to be identified. In the last two decades, many methods have been developed to detect and quantify cannabinoids in oral fluid, especially for Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive substance of cannabis. However, some aspects must be considered in the use of these techniques, such as cannabinoids recoveries or extraction efficiency from different oral fluid collection devices/containers. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that the presence of minor cannabinoids and metabolites in the analysis of oral fluid may be valuable in interpreting tests, which indicates the need to improve the sensitivity of detecting low concentrations. The aim of this review is to summarize and to describe the methodologies for the quantitative analysis of cannabinoids in oral fluid that have previously been investigated. A systematic search for articles was performed of four different databases, using the descriptor “cannabinoids and oral fluid”. Forty‐seven studies that examined quantitative methods were identified. The analytical data described in these articles, including oral fluid collection, sample preparation, cannabinoids recovery and extraction efficiency, detection instruments, and quantification limits, were analyzed. The discussion of these particular features of cannabinoid analysis in oral fluid could help to improve or to develop methods for use in Forensic Toxicology.
DisCoTune: versatile auxiliary plasmids for the production of disulphide‐containing proteins and peptides in the E. coli T7 system
Authors: Bertelsen Andreas B. , Hackney Celeste Menuet , Bayer Carolyn N. , Kjelgaard Lau D. , Rennig Maja , Christensen Brian , Sørensen Esben Skipper , Safavi‐Hemami Helena , Wulff Tune , Ellgaard Lars , Nørholm Morten H. H.
Published: August 2021

Secreted proteins and peptides hold large potential both as therapeutics and as enzyme catalysts in biotechnology. The high stability of many secreted proteins helps maintain functional integrity in changing chemical environments and is a contributing factor to their commercial potential. Disulphide bonds constitute an important post‐translational modification that stabilizes many of these proteins and thus preserves the active state under chemically stressful conditions. Despite their importance, the discovery and applications within this group of proteins and peptides are limited by the availability of synthetic biology tools and heterologous production systems that allow for efficient formation of disulphide bonds. Here, we refine the design of two DisCoTune (Disulphide bond formation in E. coli with tunable expression) plasmids that enable the formation of disulphides in the highly popular Escherichia coli T7 protein production system. We show that this new system promotes significantly higher yield and activity of an industrial protease and a conotoxin, which belongs to a group of disulphide‐rich venom peptides from cone snails with strong potential as research tools and pharmacological agents.
Use of crizotinib as neoadjuvant therapy for non‐small cell lung cancers patient with ROS1 rearrangement: A case report
Authors: Zhao Shikang , Zhu Shuai , Lei Xi , Xu Dongbo , Shi Tao , Chen Qiusong , Ren Fan , Chen Gang , Huang Dingzhi , Xu Song
Published: August 2021

Crizotinib showed significant antitumor effect in patients with advanced ROS1‐rearranged non‐small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Most recently, many studies have explored the feasibility and efficacy of target therapy for perioperative application in NSCLC. Here, we describe a female patient who was diagnosed with stage IIIB lung adenocarcinoma exhibiting a CCDC6‐ROS1 rearrangement by high‐throughput sequencing. The tumor and lymph nodes showed durable response after the treatment of crizotinib. Given that a radiological downstaging was indicated, a right lower lobectomy and systemic lymphadenectomy were successfully performed. The pathological response was 60% and the tumor, nodes, and metastases (TNM) stage was ypT2bN0M0. The PD‐L1 expression and activity of immunological cells were also investigated.
Molecular mimicry between SARS‐CoV‐2 and the female reproductive system
Authors: Dotan Arad , Kanduc Darja , Muller Sylviane , Makatsariya Alexander , Shoenfeld Yehuda
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Oogenesis, the process of egg production by the ovary, involves a complex differentiation program leading to the production of functional oocytes. This process comprises a sequential pathway of steps that are finely regulated. The question related to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and fertility has been evoked for several reasons, including the mechanism of molecular mimicry, which may contribute to female infertility by leading to the generation of deleterious autoantibodies, possibly contributing to the onset of an autoimmune disease in infected patients.

Objective

The immunological potential of the peptides shared between SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein and oogenesis‐related proteins; Thus we planned a systematic study to improve our understanding of the possible effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on female fertility using the angle of molecular mimicry as a starting point.

Methods

A library of 82 human proteins linked to oogenesis was assembled at random from UniProtKB database using oogenesis, uterine receptivity, decidualization, and placentation as a key words. For the analyses, an artificial polyprotein was built by joining the 82 a sequences of the oogenesis‐associated proteins. These were analyzed by searching the Immune Epitope DataBase for immunoreactive SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein epitopes hosting the shared pentapeptides.

Results

SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein was found to share 41 minimal immune determinants, that is, pentapeptides, with 27 human proteins that relate to oogenesis, uterine receptivity, decidualization, and placentation. All the shared pentapeptides that we identified, with the exception of four, are also present in SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein–derived epitopes that have been experimentally validated as immunoreactive.
Blurred Lines: Intersections of Ethnography and Rape in South Africa and Mozambique
Authors: Connor Teresa K.
Published: August 2021

In this article, I examine the blurred lines between my own experience of violence in South Africa and that of the women I encountered while doing fieldwork in Pafuri, Mozambique. I centralize the importance of personal insight to deal with violent sexuality and rape and argue that reflection provides meaning to the process of ethnographic fieldwork. I examine the similarities between my own experience of violence in South Africa and that of my interlocutors in Mozambique, set within a regional political system that marginalizes women's experiences in both countries. While negative experiences of rape stem from a prejudiced history, I argue that these experiences can be overcome through rebirth or initiation. In my case, this was achieved through the personal level of transformation that fieldwork produced, while for women in Pafuri, the initiation (vukhomba) of young girls translates violence into empowerment.
Dissection of 4L lymph node for left‐sided non‐small cell lung cancer: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Deng Han‐Yu , Li Deyan , Qiu Xiao‐Ming , Zhu Da‐Xing , Tang Xiaojun , Zhou Qinghua
Published: August 2021

Background

Whether dissection of left lower paratracheal (4L) lymph node has any impact on survival of patients with left‐sided non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. We conducted the first meta‐analysis to compare the survival of patients treated with 4L lymph node dissection (LND) and those without for left‐sided NSCLC.

Methods

We systematically searched relevant studies from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science on February 6, 2020. Data for analysis included 5‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates, OS, and DFS. We calculated risk ratio (RR) for pooling 5‐year OS and DFS rates and extracted hazard ratio (HR) from multivariate analysis for pooling OS and DFS.

Results

We finally included three retrospective cohort studies with propensity score‐matched analysis consisting of 2103 patients. Meta‐analysis showed that patients treated with 4L LND yielded significantly higher 5‐year OS (67.7% vs. 54.6%; fixed effects models: RR = 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.67, 0.84]; p < 0.001; I2 = 0%) and DFS (53.3% vs. 44.8%; fixed effects models: RR = 0.85; 95% CI = [0.76, 0.95]; p = 0.003; I2 = 41.7%) rates than patients without 4L LNDS. Moreover, dissection of 4L lymph node was significantly associated with better OS (fixed effects model: HR = 0.66; 95% CI = [0.57, 0.76]; p < 0.001; I2 = 45.7%) and DFS (fixed effects model: HR = 0.67; 95% CI = [0.52, 0.87]; p = 0.003; I2 = 0%). No significant heterogeneities were observed.

Conclusions

Dissection of 4L lymph node could significantly improve both 5‐year OS and DFS rates and 4L LND was a favorable prognostic factor for patients with left‐sided NSCLC.
Paternal age over 50 years decreases assisted reproductive technology (ART) success: A single UK center retrospective analysis
Authors: Morris Guy , Mavrelos Dimitrios , Odia Rabi , Viñals Gonzalez Xavier , Cawood Suzanne , Yasmin Ephia , Saab Wael , Serhal Paul , Seshadri Srividya
Published: August 2021

Introduction

To study whether paternal age exerts an effect, independent of maternal age, on the outcomes of fresh in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles. Semen quality deteriorates with increasing paternal age; however, there is conflicting evidence for any impact paternal age may have on the outcome of IVF/ICSI. Several retrospective and prospective cohort studies have shown that paternal age increases the miscarriage rate and reduces the live birth rate. Some studies have shown no effect of paternal age on live birth rate or miscarriage rate. Studies involving donor oocytes have tended to show no independent effect of paternal age on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. The age at which paternal age may exert a significant deleterious effect on outcome is not known and there is no limit to paternal age in IVF/ICSI treatment.

Material and methods

A single‐center retrospective cohort study was carried out at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, London, UK. Included in the analysis were all couples with primary or secondary infertility undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles in which the male partner produced a fresh semen sample and the cycle proceeded to fresh embryo transfer. All cycles of IVF/ICSI that used donor oocytes—donor sperm, frozen sperm, cycles leading to embryo storage and cycles including preimplantation genetic testing (PGT‐A/PGT‐M)—were excluded from analysis. The primary outcome was live birth rate and secondary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with live birth as a dependent variable and maternal and paternal age class as independent variables was performed.

Results

During the study period there were 4833 cycles, involving 4271 men, eligible for analysis; 1974/4833 (40.8%, 95% confiene intervals [CI] 39.5–42.2%) cycles resulted in a live birth. A significantly lower proportion of men over 51 years met World Health Organization semen analysis criteria (56/133, [42.1%, 95% CI 34.1–50.6]) compared with men under 51 years of age (2530/4138 [61.1%, 95% CI 60.0–62.6]) (p = 0.001). Both maternal and paternal age were retained in the multivariate model and for all maternal age subgroups the probability of live birth decreased with paternal age over 50 years (odds ratio [OR] 0.674, 95% CI 0.482–0.943) (p = 0.021). Paternal age over 50 years was not an independent predictor of miscarriage (OR 0.678, 95% CI 0.369–1.250) (p = 0.214).

Conclusions

Paternal age over 50 significantly affects the chance of achieving a live birth following ART. Paternal age does not independently affect the risk of miscarriage following ART. There should be a public health message for men not to delay fatherhood.
Life after Leaving Institutional Care: Independent Living Experience of Orphan Care Leavers of Mumbai, India
Authors: Keshri Ankit Kumar
Published: August 2021

Transitioning from institutional care to independent living is a complex process for orphan care leavers. Most of them struggle to adapt to independent living for longer periods after leaving institutional care. This study describes those challenges in the Indian context. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 orphan care leavers to explore their experiences and perceptions of independent living. Findings showed that orphan care leavers perceive independent living as both opportunity and challenge. Some orphan care leavers felt that after leaving institutional care, they have lived through difficulties at their workplace: while finding accommodation, in household management, and establishing their official identity. However, data suggest that even in adverse circumstances, these orphan young adults have kept hope and have positive aspirations about their lives with a very strong informal network of care leavers as their main source of support. But overall, it was confirmed that social exclusion based on personal and care background is persistent among the orphan care leavers. Therefore, for promoting a better independent living experience initiating changes in the approach to work with care leavers is recommended.
Changes in antibiotic prescribing following COVID‐19 restrictions: Lessons for post‐pandemic antibiotic stewardship
Authors: Gillies Malcolm B. , Burgner David P. , Ivancic Lorraine , Nassar Natasha , Miller Jessica E. , Sullivan Sheena G. , Todd Isobel M. F. , Pearson Sallie‐Anne , Schaffer Andrea L. , Zoega Helga
Published: August 2021

Aims

Public health responses to reduce SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission have profoundly affected the epidemiology and management of other infections. We examined the impact of COVID‐19 restrictions on antibiotic dispensing in Australia.

Methods

We used national claims data to investigate antibiotic dispensing trends from November 2015 to October 2020 and whether changes reflected reductions in primary care consultations. We used interrupted time series analysis to quantify changes in monthly antibiotic dispensing and face‐to‐face and telehealth GP consultations and examined changes by recipient age, pharmacy State and prescriber specialty.

Results

Over the study period, an estimated 19 921 370 people had 125 495 137 antibiotic dispensings, 71% prescribed by GPs. Following COVID‐19 restrictions, we observed a sustained 36% (95% CI: 33–40%) reduction in antibiotic dispensings from April 2020. Antibiotics recommended for managing respiratory tract infections showed large reductions (range 51–69%), whereas those recommended for non‐respiratory infections were unchanged. Dispensings prescribed by GPs decreased from 63.5 per 1000 population for April–October 2019 to 37.0 per 1000 for April–October 2020. Total GP consultation rates remained stable, but from April 2020, 31% of consultations were telehealth.

Conclusion

In a setting with a low COVID‐19 incidence, restrictions were associated with a substantial reduction in community dispensings of antibiotics primarily used to treat respiratory infections, coincident with reported reductions in respiratory viral infections. Our findings are informative for post‐pandemic antimicrobial stewardship and highlight the potential to reduce inappropriate prescribing by GPs and specialists for respiratory viral infections.
Simultaneous variable selection in regression analysis of multivariate interval‐censored data
Authors: Sun Liuquan , Li Shuwei , Wang Lianming , Song Xinyuan , Sui Xuemei
Published: August 2021

Multivariate interval‐censored data arise when each subject under study can potentially experience multiple events and the onset time of each event is not observed exactly but is known to lie in a certain time interval formed by adjacent examination times with changed statuses of the event. This type of incomplete and complex data structure poses a substantial challenge in practical data analysis. In addition, many potential risk factors exist in numerous studies. Thus, conducting variable selection for event‐specific covariates simultaneously becomes useful in identifying important variables and assessing their effects on the events of interest. In this paper, we develop a variable selection technique for multivariate interval‐censored data under a general class of semiparametric transformation frailty models. The minimum information criterion (MIC) method is embedded in the optimization step of the proposed expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm to obtain the parameter estimator. The proposed EM algorithm greatly reduces the computational burden in maximizing the observed likelihood function, and the MIC naturally avoids selecting the optimal tuning parameter as needed in many other popular penalties, making the proposed algorithm promising and reliable. The proposed method is evaluated through extensive simulation studies and illustrated by an analysis of patient data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study.
Building physical health: What is the role of mental health?
Authors: Kesavayuth Dusanee , Shangkhum Prompong , Zikos Vasileios
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we examine the dynamic relationship between physical and mental health. We ask whether and to what extent mental health affects subsequent physical health, and drawing eight waves of panel data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia (HILDA) Survey, use a dynamic panel estimator with instrumental variables for identification. We find that good past mental health promotes present physical health. We also show that good past physical health predicts good present physical health. Our findings imply that policies and intervention programs should focus on helping individuals with mental health conditions to reduce the risk of negative spillover effects on their physical health.
Choking or excelling under pressure: Evidence of the causal effect of audience size on performance
Authors: Jane Wen‐Jhan
Published: August 2021

Performing in front of a crowd increases motivation. However, it also creates a psychological pressure, which may hinder performance, especially in precision tasks in decisive situations, such as assessment tests, job‐related talks, or sports competitions. In this paper, I shed light on the effects of pressure on performance. Using the task of batting in baseball competitions involving Major League Baseball regular season games from 2015 to 2018, I find evidence of a negative causal effect of audience size on the probability of a successful bat for all players. The results are in line with the hypothesis of choking under pressure when performing skill‐based tasks. However, contrary to what would be expected given the evidence in favor of a choking phenomenon, star batters do not choke but instead tend to excel when facing large audience. They also behave differently from nonstar batters when facing different audience compositions.
Multiple fluid flow events from salt‐related rifting to basin inversion (Upper Pedraforca thrust sheet, SE Pyrenees)
Authors: Cruset David , Vergés Jaume , Benedicto Antonio , Gomez‐Rivas Enrique , Cantarero Irene , John Cédric M. , Travé Anna
Published: August 2021

Fluid systems in inverted rifted margins are challenging to interpret because fractures formed before compression were often reactivated acting as fluid pathways as new ones formed. Deciphering the fracture and fluid flow history in such complex settings has key implications for the prediction of the distribution of mineral resources. As an example, we reconstruct the fluid flow evolution of a portion of the inverted Pyrenean rift, the Upper Pedraforca thrust sheet, from the Mesozoic extension to the Alpine orogeny. We combine structural analysis and petrographic, geochemical and geochronological data obtained from 87 samples of fracture‐filling carbonate cements. During the Late Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous, low‐temperature seawater produced dolomitization of Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous limestones in an extensional setting. During the Early Cretaceous salt‐related extension, formation waters, probably evolved seawater or fluids that interacted with Triassic evaporites, at temperatures from 125 to 149°C migrated through fractures. The formation of breccias within post‐salt rocks in primary weld zones facilitated the upward migration of formation waters that interacted with pre‐salt rocks with high 87Sr/86Sr ratios. Formation waters at temperatures of 80°C migrated during the emplacement of the Upper Pedraforca thrust sheet in the Late Cretaceous‐Palaeocene. These fluids interacted with Upper Cretaceous Carbonates and/or Triassic evaporites. In contrast, the influence of meteoric fluids increased in shallower positions due to the exhumation of the SE Pyrenees during the Eocene‐Oligocene. Coevally, hot dolomitizing fluids migrated along diapir walls during the formation of secondary welds. Supergene ores documented in diapiric areas worldwide related to meteoric fluids, and the similar meteoric percolation occurred in the Upper Pedraforca thrust sheet, suggest that supergene mineralization could be found in the Pyrenees. Brecciation of rocks in primary weld zones and evaporite detachments, where mineralization accumulate in fractures from basement‐derived fluids, also suggests that similar ores could be found in the Pyrenees.
Influence of extensional faults and relay ramp on palaeo‐topography and lacustrine carbonate facies: Purbeck Limestone Group (Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous), Wessex Basin, UK
Authors: Gallois Arnaud , Bosence Daniel , Burgess Peter
Published: August 2021

Lacustrine carbonate facies distribution is controlled by multiple environmental parameters including climate, hydrology, and tectonic setting, but few published models address this complexity. In this study, seismic and borehole data, integrated with outcrop logging, correlations, and facies models, are used to create a new tectono‐sedimentary model demonstrating how extensional faults, linked by a relay ramp, control distribution of lacustrine carbonate facies in the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Purbeck Limestone Group (Wessex Basin, UK). Accumulation occurred in half‐graben sub‐basins south of two extensional east‐west faults, with widespread subaerial emergence of footwall blocks to the north. The lacustrine limestones of the lowest unit of this Group are characterised by in‐situ microbial mounds within bedded inter‐mound packstones‐grainstones. Mounds occur in three depositional intervals separated by paleosols. The distribution of facies indicates more brackish‐water conditions shoreward to the west, and more hypersaline conditions basinward to the east. The relay ramp hosts extensive microbial carbonate buildups formed in response to carbonate‐rich waters sourced from the northern limestone footwall blocks that fed into extensive shallow‐water areas on the low‐angle relay ramp slope.
Selective autophagy
Authors: Faruk Mohammad Omar , Ichimura Yoshinobu , Komatsu Masaaki
Published: August 2021

While starvation‐induced autophagy is thought to randomly degrade cellular components, under certain circumstances autophagy selectively recognizes, sequesters, and degrades specific targets via autophagosomes. This process is called selective autophagy, and it contributes to cellular homeostasis by degrading specific soluble proteins, supramolecular complexes, liquid‐liquid phase‐separated droplets, abnormal or excess organelles, and pathogenic invasive bacteria. This means that autophagy, like the ubiquitin‐proteasome system, strictly regulates diverse cellular functions through its selectivity. In this short review, we focus on the mechanism of "selective" autophagy, which is rapidly being elucidated.
Extraction and deproteinization process of polysaccharide from purple sweet potato
Authors: Yang Wenjian , Yang Zixuan , Zou Yi , Sun Xinke , Huang Gangliang
Published: August 2021

Extraction and deproteinization process of polysaccharide from purple sweet potato (PPSP) were optimized via the response surface methodology (RSM). The results indicated that the optimal conditions of extraction in hot water of PPSP were as follows: The extraction temperature was 120℃, the extraction time was 2.5 hr, and the solid–liquid ratio was 1∶10 (g/ml). The optimal conditions of Sevage deproteinization were as under the oscillation time was 20 min, the deproteinization times was twice, and polysaccharide solution‐Sevage reagent ratio was 1:1 (ml/ml). The extraction yield of PPSP was 3.32%, and the protein removal rate was 93.14% in such a condition.
Strongyloidiasis prophylaxis: Is there room for ivermectin in neurological patients?
Authors: De Moura Campos Marcelo Henrique , Marques Neto Ariel José Gomes , Kleinpaul Rodrigo , Gonçalves Marcus Vinicius Magno
Published: August 2021

Ivermectin has been proposed as a prophylactic treatment for strongyloidiasis in patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatment. However, there is no evidence in the literature to support this recommendation.
Strengthening conservation science as a crisis discipline by addressing challenges of precaution, privilege, and individualism
Authors: Stirling Andy , Burgman Mark A.
Published: August 2021

Conservation science deals with crises and supports policy interventions devised to mitigate highly uncertain threats that pose irreversible harm. When conventional policy tools, such as quantitative risk assessments, are insufficient, the precautionary principle provides a practical framework and range of robust heuristics. Yet, precaution is often resisted in many policy arenas, especially those involving powerful self‐interests, and this resistance is compounded by structures of privilege and competitive individualism in science. We describe key drivers and effects of such resistance in conservation science. These include a loss of rigor under uncertainty, an erosion of crisis response capabilities, and a further reinforcement of privileged interests in conservation politics. We recommend open acknowledgement of the pressures exerted by power inside science; greater recognition for the value of the precautionary principle under uncertainty; deliberate measures to resist competitive individualism; support for blind review, open science, and data sharing; and a shift from hierarchical multidisciplinarity toward more egalitarian transdisciplinarity to accelerate advances in conservation science.

Article impact statement: Precautionary principle, privilege structures among disciplines, and culture of individualism link to effective conservation policy making.
Importance of greater interdisciplinarity and geographic scope when tackling the driving forces behind biological invasions
Authors: Hulme Philip E.
Published: August 2021

Invasive non‐native species are important drivers of ecosystem change, yet the driving forces of biological invasions themselves are poorly understood. Such information is essential to ensure policies focus on the most relevant drivers, and that future scenarios capture the full range of potential outcomes for invasive non‐native species. I carried out a bibliometric analysis of articles published from 2000 to 2020 that address either invasive non‐native species or biodiversity and ecosystem services and that also mention 1 or more drivers of ecosystem change. I examined 5 indirect drivers (demographic, economic, governance, sociocultural, and technological) and 6 direct drivers (climate change, invasive non‐native species, land‐use or sea‐use change, natural hazards, pollution, and resource extraction). Using the Web of Science core collection of citation indexes, I undertook searches of article titles and keywords and retrieved 27,462 articles addressing invasive non‐native species and 110,087 articles dealing with biodiversity or ecosystem services. Most research to date on biological invasions as well as on biodiversity and ecosystem services has focused on anthropogenic direct drivers of ecosystem change rather than indirect drivers. Yet currently, less than 18% of articles addressing biological invasions examined drivers of ecosystem change, a similar level to that found over 20 years ago for biodiversity or ecosystem services. Knowledge of the drivers of biological invasions is limited, emphasizes tractable drivers over those that require an interdisciplinary approach, and is biased toward developed economies. Drivers generally deemed important for biological invasions, such as governance and resource extraction, accounted for less than 2% of research effort. The absence of a systematic understanding of the forces that drive invasive non‐native species and how they interact means that attempts to mitigate or forecast biological invasions are likely to fail. To address biological invasions requires a much better orientation of national and international research on drivers in relation to both their actual importance as well as their policy relevance.
Time interval between rectal cancer resection and reintervention for anastomotic leakage and the impact of a defunctioning stoma: A Dutch population‐based study
Authors: Warps Anne‐Loes K. , Tollenaar Rob A. E. M. , Tanis Pieter J. , Dekker Jan Willem T. ,   the Dutch ColoRectal Audit
Published: August 2021

Aim

In the Netherlands, a selective policy of faecal diversion after rectal cancer surgery is generally applied. This study aimed to evaluate the timing, type, and short‐term outcomes of reoperation for anastomotic leakage after primary rectal cancer resection stratified for a defunctioning stoma.

Method

Data of all patients who underwent primary rectal cancer surgery with primary anastomosis from 2013–2019 were extracted from the Dutch ColoRectal Audit. Primary outcomes were new stoma construction, mortality, ICU admission, prolonged hospital stay, and readmission.

Results

In total, 10,772 rectal cancer patients who underwent surgery with primary anastomosis were included, of whom 46.6% received a primary defunctioning stoma. The reintervention rate for anastomotic leakage was 8.2% and 11.6% for patients with and without a defunctioning stoma (p < 0.001). Reintervention consisted of reoperation in 44.0% and 85.3% (p < 0.001), with a median time interval from primary resection to reoperation of seven days (IQR 4–14) vs. five days (IQR 3–13), respectively. In the presence of a defunctioning stoma, early reoperation (<5 days; n = 47) was associated with significantly more end‐colostomy construction (51% vs. 33%) and ICU admission (66% vs. 38%) than late reoperation (≥5 days; n = 127). Without defunctioning stoma, early reoperation (n = 252) was associated with significantly higher mortality (4% vs. 1%), and more ICU admissions (52% vs.34%) than late reoperation (n = 302).

Conclusions

Early reoperations after rectal cancer resection are associated with worse outcomes reflected by a more frequent ICU admission in general, more colostomy construction, and higher mortality in patients with primary defunctioned and nondefunctioned anastomosis.
Coloration of flax woven fabrics using Taxus baccata heartwood‐mediated nanosilver
Authors: Hasan K. M. Faridul , Horváth Péter György , Kóczán Zsófia , Bak Miklós , Horváth Adrienn , Alpár Tibor
Published: August 2021

Ecological nanosilver‐based colours were biosynthesised from the heartwood of European yew (Taxus baccata) trees for the dyeing of flax woven fabrics through the implementation of in situ synthesis protocols. The produced lighter brown yellow to darker brown‐yellow coloured nanosilver particles on flax woven fabrics were characterised in terms of morphological observations, metallic compositions, elemental mapping, chemical interactions, the presence of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) concentrations and colour characteristics with associated performances. The presence of AgNPs was clearly observed by morphological studies of the coloured substrates. Quantitative analysis of the products also confirmed the significant presence of AgNPs. The results demonstrate that the uniform dispersions and strong attachments of AgNPs in cellulosic flax woven fabrics are due to surface plasmon resonance characteristics. The incorporation of different concentrations of metallic AgNPs plays a significant role in producing versatile colour appearances on flax woven textiles with improved colour durability. The overall results offer new routes for sustainable structural colourants in the industrial dyeing of cellulosic materials.
Pre‐transplant vaccination compliance in adult heart and lung transplant recipients
Authors: Neuhaus Kristen A. , Mossad Sherif B. , Pallotta Andrea , Srinivas Pavithra , West Lucianne , Budev Marie M. , Rivard Kaitlyn
Published: August 2021

Background

Vaccine preventable diseases can affect solid organ transplant recipients post‐transplant. Therefore, the administration of vaccines and assessment of serologic response should be prioritized in the pre‐transplant period.

Methods

This single‐center, retrospective study included 349 adult heart or lung transplant candidates between December 1, 2017 and November 30, 2019. We describe vaccination or serologic status for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, pneumococcal, influenza, and other recommended vaccinations among heart or lung transplant candidates.

Results

Eighty‐two heart transplant candidates (91%) and 77 lung transplant candidates (30%) received an ID consult prior to transplant. More patients completed the pneumococcal series (66.7% vs. 28.6%, P = .045) in the heart transplant group that received an ID consult. In the lung transplant group, patients with an ID consult demonstrated higher rates of immunity to hepatitis A (84.4% vs. 72.9%, P = .047), hepatitis B (75.3% vs. 56.9%, P = .005), and measles (71.4% vs. 52.5%, P = .005) compared to those without.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the value of consulting ID and administering vaccinations in the early evaluation phase, prior to transplant listing. Opportunities remain to better optimize vaccination rates prior to transplant in heart and lung transplant candidates.