bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shadow pitching deviates ball release position: kinematic analysis in high school baseball pitchers
Authors: Miyazaki Shigeaki , Yamako Go , Totoribe Koji , Sekimoto Tomohisa , Kadowaki Yuko , Tsuruta Kurumi , Chosa Etsuo
Published: March 2021

Background

Although shadow pitching, commonly called “towel drill,” is recommended to improve the throwing motion for the rehabilitation of pitching disorders before the initiation of a throwing program aimed at returning to throwing using a ball, the motion differs from that of normal throwing. Learning improper motion during ball release (BR) may increase shoulder joint forces. Abnormal throwing biomechanics leads to injures. However, there has been no study of shadow pitching focusing on the BR position. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the BR position and kinematic differences between shadow pitching and normal throwing. In addition, the effect of setting a target guide for BR position on throwing motion was examined in shadow pitching.

Methods

The participants included in this study were 20 healthy male students who were overhand right-handed pitchers with no pain induced by a throwing motion. Participants performed normal throwing (task 1), shadow pitching using a hand towel (task 2), and shadow pitching by setting a target of the BR position (task 3). A motion capture system was used to evaluate kinematic differences in throwing motions, respectively. Examination items comprised joint angles and the differences in BR position.

Results

BR position of task 2 shifted significantly toward the anterior, leftward, and downward directions compared with task 1. The distance of BR position between tasks 1 and 2 was 24 ± 10%. However, task 3 had decreased BR deviation compared with task 2 (the distance between 3 and 1 was 14 ± 7%). Kinematic differences were observed among groups at BR. For shoulder joint, task 2 showed the highest value in abduction and horizontal adduction among groups. In spine flexion, left rotation and thorax flexion, task 2 was significantly higher than task 1. Task 3 showed small differences compared with task 1.

Conclusions

The BR position of shadow pitching deviated significantly in the anterior, leftward, and downward directions compared with normal throwing. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the setting of BR target reduces this deviation. Thus, the target of BR position should be set accurately during shadow pitching exercises in the process of rehabilitation.
Relationship of anthropometric indices with rate pressure product, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure among secondary adolescents of 12–17 years
Authors: Katamba Godfrey , Musasizi Abdul , Kinene Mivule Abdul , Namaganda Agnes , Muzaale Francis
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To determine the correlation between anthropometric indices and the selected hemodynamic parameters among secondary adolescents aged 12–17 years.

Results

Our findings showed weak positive correlation between generally body surface area, neck circumference and conicity index with the hemodynamic parameters (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, resting pulse rate, mean arterial pressure, rate pressure product and pulse pressure). However, the ponderosity index, body mass index and waist hip ratio showed negative weak correlations with the hemodynamic parameters. There was a significant difference in pulse pressure among the BMI categories. All parameters showed significant (p < 0.05) differences across the categories of neck circumference and waist hip ratio. Generally, in multivariate regression analysis, anthropometric indices showed significant prediction of the hemodynamic parameters.
BET bromodomain inhibitors PFI-1 and JQ1 are identified in an epigenetic compound screen to enhance C9ORF72 gene expression and shown to ameliorate C9ORF72-associated pathological and behavioral abnormalities in a C9ALS/FTD model
Authors: Quezada Esteban , Cappelli Claudio , Diaz Iván , Jury Nur , Wightman Nicholas , Brown Robert H. , Montecino Martín , van Zundert Brigitte
Published: March 2021

Background

An intronic GGGGCC (G4C2) hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in theC9ORF72gene is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), referred to as C9ALS/FTD. No cure or effective treatment exist for C9ALS/FTD. Three major molecular mechanisms have emerged to explain C9ALS/FTD disease mechanisms: (1) C9ORF72 loss-of-function through haploinsufficiency, (2) dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins mediated toxicity by the translation of the repeat RNAs, and more controversial, (3) RNA-mediated toxicity by bidirectional transcription of the repeats that form intranuclear RNA foci. Recent studies indicate a double-hit pathogenic mechanism in C9ALS/FTD, where reduced C9ORF72 protein levels lead to impaired clearance of toxic DPRs. Here we explored whether pharmacological compounds can revert these pathological hallmarks in vitro and cognitive impairment in a C9ALS/FTD mouse model (C9BAC). We specifically focused our study on small molecule inhibitors targeting chromatin-regulating proteins (epidrugs) with the goal of increasingC9ORF72gene expression and reduce toxic DPRs.

Results

We generated luciferase reporter cell lines containing 10 (control) or ≥ 90 (mutant) G4C2 HRE located between exon 1a and 1b of the humanC9ORF72gene. In a screen of 14 different epidrugs targeting bromodomains, chromodomains and histone-modifying enzymes, we found that several bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors (BETi), including PFI-1 and JQ1, increased luciferase reporter activity. Using primary cortical cultures from C9BAC mice, we further found that PFI-1 treatment increased the expression of V1-V3 transcripts of the human mutantC9ORF72gene, reduced poly(GP)-DPR inclusions but enhanced intranuclear RNA foci. We also tested whether JQ1, an BETi previously shown to reach the mouse brain by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, can revert behavioral abnormalities in C9BAC mice. Interestingly, it was found that JQ1 administration (daily i.p. administration for 7 days) rescued hippocampal-dependent cognitive deficits in C9BAC mice.

Conclusions

Our findings place BET bromodomain inhibitors as a potential therapy for C9ALS/FTD by amelioratingC9ORF72-associated pathological and behavioral abnormalities. Our finding that PFI-1 increases accumulation of intranuclear RNA foci is in agreement with recent data in flies suggesting that nuclear RNA foci can be neuroprotective by sequestering repeat transcripts that result in toxic DPRs.
Gamma heavy chain disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis: a case report
Authors: Danic Gwenvaël , Dejoie Thomas , Caillon Hélène , Achille Aurélie , Pottier Pierre , Agard Christian
Published: March 2021

Background

Gamma heavy chain disease (γ-HCD) is a monoclonal gammopathy defined by an abnormal clonal and isolated production of incomplete heavy chain gamma (γ), unable to bind with light chains kappa or lambda. This disease is rare and remains poorly described. Its association to lymphoid neoplasm is well established, but exceptional forms of γ-HCD may also accompany auto-immune diseases. We report here a new case of γ-HCD characterized by an indolent course with a 4-year follow-up, and its association with quiescent rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Case presentation

We report the case of a 85-year old French white man followed for quiescent anti-CCP+ rheumatoid arthritis treated by prednisolone 4 mg/day and hydroxychloroquine 200 mg/day since 10 years, and a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance for 6 years, who was hospitalized for costal fractures after a fall. Serum protein electrophoresis showed a stable small monoclonal peak, and capillary electrophoresis/immunosubtraction technique identified an isolated clonal γ-heavy chain (HC). Bone marrow aspiration was normal and he had no other lymphoproliferation. The monoclonal peak remained stable after 4 years of follow-up.

Conclusions

In case of monoclonal peak without complete monoclonal Ig on serum protein electrophoresis, the diagnosis of γ-HCD should be discussed and capillary electrophoresis/immune-subtraction is a mean to detect isolated monoclonal heavy chain (HC). Gamma-HC disease is rare, may be associated to RA, and may have an indolent course.
Learning chemistry: exploring the suitability of machine learning for the task of structure-based chemical ontology classification
Authors: Hastings Janna , Glauer Martin , Memariani Adel , Neuhaus Fabian , Mossakowski Till
Published: March 2021

Chemical data is increasingly openly available in databases such as PubChem, which contains approximately 110 million compound entries as of February 2021. With the availability of data at such scale, the burden has shifted to organisation, analysis and interpretation. Chemical ontologies provide structured classifications of chemical entities that can be used for navigation and filtering of the large chemical space. ChEBI is a prominent example of a chemical ontology, widely used in life science contexts. However, ChEBI is manually maintained and as such cannot easily scale to the full scope of public chemical data. There is a need for tools that are able to automatically classify chemical data into chemical ontologies, which can be framed as a hierarchical multi-class classification problem. In this paper we evaluate machine learning approaches for this task, comparing different learning frameworks including logistic regression, decision trees and long short-term memory artificial neural networks, and different encoding approaches for the chemical structures, including cheminformatics fingerprints and character-based encoding from chemical line notation representations. We find that classical learning approaches such as logistic regression perform well with sets of relatively specific, disjoint chemical classes, while the neural network is able to handle larger sets of overlapping classes but needs more examples per class to learn from, and is not able to make a class prediction for every molecule. Future work will explore hybrid and ensemble approaches, as well as alternative network architectures including neuro-symbolic approaches.
Calf health from birth to weaning - an update
Authors: Lorenz Ingrid
Published: March 2021

Research on calf health and welfare has intensified in the past decades. This is an update on a review series on calf health from birth to weaning published ten years ago.

Good colostrum management is still recognised as the single most important factor to preventing calf morbidity and mortality, however, it is now known that immunoglobulins are only one of many components of colostrum that are vital for the calf’s development. Other non-nutrient factors like leucocytes, hormones and growth factors, oligosaccharides as well as microRNAs have significant effects on the development and maturation of the intestinal and systemic immune functions. They also promote the maturation and function of the intestine, thus enabling the calf to digest and absorb the nutrients provided with colostrum and milk. The improved energetic status of colostrum-fed neonates is reflected by an accelerated maturation of the somatotropic axis, which stimulates body growth and organ development. Colostrum oligosaccharides are presumed to play a major role in the development of a healthy intestinal flora.

A biologically normal (intensive) milk-feeding programme is subsequently necessary for optimal body growth, organ development and resistance to infectious diseases. Ad-libitum or close to ad-libitum feeding in the first three to four weeks of life also leaves calves less hungry thus improving calf welfare. Only calves fed intensively with colostrum and milk are able to reach their full potential for performance throughout their life.

Public interest in farm animal welfare is growing in past decades, which makes it necessary to have a closer look at contentious management practices in the dairy industry like early separation of the dairy calf from the dam with subsequent individual housing. Public objection to these practices cannot be mitigated through educational efforts. Contrary to common opinion there is no evidence that early cow-calf separation is beneficial for the health of calf or cow. There is evidence of behavioural and developmental harm associated with individual housing in dairy calves, social housing improves feed intake and weight gains, and health risks associated with grouping can be mitigated with appropriate management.

In conclusion, there are still many management practices commonly applied, especially in the dairy industry, which are detrimental to health and welfare of calves.
Motivational network intervention to reduce substance use and increase supportive connections among formerly homeless emerging adults transitioning to housing: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tucker Joan S. , Kennedy David P. , Osilla Karen Chan , Golinelli Daniela
Published: March 2021

Background

Studies indicate high rates of substance use among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH). Further, the social networks of YEH, although multi-dimensional in composition, are largely comprised of other YEH, substance users, and individuals who do not provide the youth with tangible or emotional support. For YEH who have the opportunity to enter a housing program, helping them to reduce their substance use and strengthen their prosocial supportive connections during this critical transition period may increase their stability and reduce their risk of re-entering homelessness. The goal of this study is to pilot test a brief motivational network intervention (MNI), delivered by case managers, to help former YEH who have recently transitioned to a housing program reduce their substance use and strengthen their prosocial supportive connections.

Methods/design

Up to 60 residents of housing programs in the Los Angeles area will be randomized to receive four sessions of usual case manager support or four sessions of case manager support + MNI. Each MNI session consists of three parts: (1) identifying two goals that are most important for the resident over the next year (e.g., get or keep a job, finish or stay in school, reduce substance use); (2) a network interview with the resident to capture network data pertaining to their interactions in the past 2 weeks; and (3) a discussion between the case manager and the resident of the resulting network visualizations, conducted in a Motivational Interviewing (MI) style, and what role the resident’s network may play in reaching their most important goals over the next year.

Discussion

This study addresses a critical gap by pilot testing a computer-assisted MNI, delivered using MI techniques, that can help case managers work with recent YEH to reduce substance use and increase permanent supportive connections during the critical transitional period from homelessness to housing.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04637815. Registered November 10, 2020.
The subtle nuances of intranasal corticosteroids
Authors: Fowler James , Rotenberg Brian W. , Sowerby Leigh J.
Published: March 2021

Background

In the specialty of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, intranasal corticosteroids are the mainstay treatment for inflammatory processes within the nasal cavity. All too often, physician prescribing patterns are based on previous training, personal experience, and interactions with industry. The purpose of this commentary is to review the nuances of each intranasal corticosteroid.

Commentary

There are nine intranasal corticosteroids approved for use in Canada. Each are discussed in detail, including their indication, bioavailability, effects on intranasal environment, and factors around patient adherence. Off-label use of budesonide irrigations is also discussed and cost information is presented in reference format for all available intranasal corticosteroids.

Conclusion

Although the efficacy of each intranasal corticosteroid has been shown to be similar, prescribing should be tailored based on bioavailability, intranasal environment, and factors that impact patient adherence such as dosing, cost and tolerability.

Graphical abstract
Towards a science inquiry test in primary education: development of items and scales
Authors: Pedaste Margus , Baucal Aleksandar , Reisenbuk Elle
Published: March 2021

Background

Inquiry-based learning is widely applied in science education; however, so far, the outcomes of learning process have been systematically assessed mainly at the secondary school level. For primary school students, there is no valid instrument for assessing the outcomes of their science inquiry. The aim of the current study was to develop a test for assessing science learning outcomes (analytical skills, planning skills, interpretation skills, and science knowledge) related to the five phases of inquiry-based learning (Orientation, Conceptualization, Investigation, Conclusion, and Discussion) at primary education level (ISCED 1).

Results

A set of contextualized science tasks was created to assess each of the learning outcomes at three levels. The Science Inquiry Test for Primary Education (SIT-PE test) was developed through several phases, including pilot studies with large groups of fourth-grade students (10 to 11 years of age). The 1 PL Item Response Theory model was used to analyze the quality of the test and items based on the test’s reliability score, item difficulty measure, infit and outfit indices, estimation of item discrimination, item-scale correlation, and the quality of the scoring key. The final test, consisting of 24 items, was used with a sample of 1868 students. The analysis showed the SIT-PE test to be of good quality on test level and item level and to also have good predictive validity. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the correlated factors model and second-order factor model of the science learning outcomes both had a good fit to data collected with the SIT-PE test. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the multidimensionality of science learning outcomes and validated four dimensions of the model: analytical skills, planning skills, interpretation skills, and science knowledge.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the SIT-PE test could be further used for assessing students’ inquiry competence in primary education. However, it could be even further improved in several ways and this study provides guidelines on how to do that. In addition, the SIT-PE provides test developers with information on how to design derivations of the SIT-PE test for assessing particular science inquiry outcomes or the same outcomes in older age groups as well.
Laser microgrooved vs. machined healing abutment disconnection/reconnection: a comparative clinical, radiographical and biochemical study with split-mouth design
Authors: Guarnieri Renzo , Miccoli Gabriele , Reda Rodolfo , Mazzoni Alessandro , Di Nardo Dario , Testarelli Luca
Published: March 2021

Background

Repeated removal and replacement of healing abutments result in frequent injuries to the soft tissues.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of disconnection/reconnection of laser microgrooved vs. machined healing and prosthetic abutments on clinical periodontal parameters, marginal bone levels, and proinflammatory cytokine levels around dental implants.

Material and methods

Twenty-four patients each received 2 implants with one-stage protocol in a split-mouth design on the same jaw. In each patient, one healing and prosthetic abutments with a laser microgrooved surface (LMS group) and one healing and prosthetic abutments with machined surface (MS group) were used. Four months following implant placement (T0), the healing abutments were disconnnected and reconnected three times to carry out the impression procedures and metal framework try-in. Four weeks later (T1), definitive prosthetic abutments were installated with screw-retained crowns. Modified plaque index (mPI), modified gingival index (mGI) bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were recorded at T0 and T1. At the same time points, samples for immunological analyses were taken from the sulcus around each implant. Peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples were analyzed for interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels using the ELISA kit.

Results

At T0 and T1, mPI and mGI showed no statistical difference between the two groups, while higher PD and BoP values were noted for the MS group (P < 0.05). The mean PICF volume and mean concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and (TNF)-α in the LMS group were statistically less than those in the MS group (P < 0.05). In addition, comparison of IL-6 and IL-1β mean concentrations at T0 and T1 in the MS group showed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) over time, which was not noted for the LMS.

Conclusion

Disconnection/reconnection of healing and prosthetic abutments with a laser-microgrooved surface resulted in less inflammatory molecular response compared with conventional machined ones.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04415801, registered 03/06/2020
Mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gallbladder: a case report
Authors: Ishikawa Tatsuki , Nakano Katsunori , Osaka Masafumi , Aratani Kenichi , Yayoi Kadotani , Akioka Kiyokazu , Tsuchiya Kuniyuki , Hosokawa Yohei
Published: March 2021

Background

 Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder (GB-NETs) are rare, accounting for 0.5% of all NETs and 2.1% of all gallbladder cancers. Among GB-NETs, mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gallbladder (GB-MiNENs) are extremely rare.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 66-year-old woman who was referred to us for the management of a gallbladder tumor (incidentally found during abdominal ultrasonography indicated for gallbladder stones). The patient had no history of abdominal pain or fever, and the findings on a physical examination were unremarkable. Blood tests showed normal levels of tumor markers. Imaging studies revealed a mass of approximately 10 mm in diameter (with no invasion of the gallbladder bed) located at the fundus of the gallbladder. A gallbladder cancer was suspected. Therefore, an open whole-layer cholecystectomy with regional lymph nodes dissection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 6. Pathological findings showed GB-MiNENs with invasion of the subserosal layer and no lymph node invasion (classified T2aN0M0 pStage IIA according to the Union for International Cancer Control, 8th edition staging system). Analysis of the neuroendocrine markers revealed positive chromogranin A and synaptophysin, and a Ki-67 index above 95%. Fourteen months after the operation, a local recurrence was detected, and she was referred to another hospital for chemotherapy.

Conclusions

 GB-MiNENs are extremely aggressive tumors despite their tumor size. Optimal therapy should be chosen for each patient.
An evaluation of the InDevR FluChip-8G insight microarray assay in characterizing influenza a viruses
Authors: Bailey Emily S. , Wang Xinye , Ma Mai-juan , Wang Guo-lin , Gray Gregory C.
Published: March 2021

Influenza viruses are an important cause of disease in both humans and animals, and their detection and characterization can take weeks. In this study, we sought to compare classical virology techniques with a new rapid microarray method for the detection and characterization of a very diverse, panel of animal, environmental, and human clinical or field specimens that were molecularly positive for influenza A alone (n = 111), influenza B alone (n = 3), both viruses (n = 13), or influenza negative (n = 2) viruses. All influenza virus positive samples in this study were first subtyped by traditional laboratory methods, and later evaluated using the FluChip-8G Insight Assay (InDevR Inc. Boulder, CO) in laboratories at Duke University (USA) or at Duke Kunshan University (China). The FluChip-8G Insight multiplexed assay agreed with classical virologic techniques 59 (54.1%) of 109 influenza A-positive, 3 (100%) of the 3 influenza B-positive, 0 (0%) of 10 both influenza A- and B-positive samples, 75% of 24 environmental samples including those positive for H1, H3, H7, H9, N1, and N9 strains, and 80% of 22 avian influenza samples. It had difficulty with avian N6 types and swine H3 and N2 influenza specimens. The FluChip-8G Insight assay performed well with most human, environmental, and animal samples, but had some difficulty with samples containing multiple viral strains and with specific animal influenza strains. As classical virology methods are often iterative and can take weeks, the FluChip-8G Insight Assay rapid results (time range 8 to 12 h) offers considerable time savings. As the FluChip-8G analysis algorithm is expected to improve over time with addition of new subtypes and sample matrices, the FluChip-8G Insight Assay has considerable promise for rapid characterization of novel influenza viruses affecting humans or animals.
Addressing the mental health needs of adolescents in South African communities: a protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sorsdahl K. , van der Westhuizen C. , Neuman M. , Weiss H. A. , Myers B.
Published: March 2021

Background

Like many low- and middle-income countries, almost half of the proportion of the South African population is under the age of 25. Given the peak age of onset for most mental health problems is in adolescence, it is vital that adolescents have access to mental health counselling. There are several initiatives to increase access to mental health counselling in South Africa, primarily through the integration of counselling for common mental disorders (CMD) into primary health care services, but adolescents (15–18 years of age) generally do not utilize these services. To address this gap, we will undertake a study to explore the feasibility of conducting a trial of the effectiveness of a community-based mental health counselling intervention for adolescents at-risk for a CMD.

Methods

The study is a feasibility trial of the ASPIRE intervention, a four-session blended multi-component counselling intervention adapted for South African adolescents at risk for depression and alcohol use disorders. We will enrol 100 adolescents from community settings and randomly assign them to the ASPIRE intervention or a comparison condition. Feasibility measures, such as rates of recruitment, consent to participate in the trial and retention, will be calculated. Qualitative interviews with participants and counsellors will explore the acceptability of the intervention. The primary outcomes for a subsequent trial would be reductions in symptoms of depression and days of heavy drinking which will be measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months post-randomization.

Discussion

This feasibility trial using a mixed-methods design will allow us to determine whether we can move forward to a larger effectiveness trial of the ASPIRE intervention.

Trial registration

The trial is registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR20200352214510). Registered 28 February 2020—retrospectively registered, https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=9795
A diet-specific microbiota drives Salmonella Typhimurium to adapt its in vivo response to plant-derived substrates
Authors: Prax Nicoletta , Wagner Stefanie , Schardt Jakob , Neuhaus Klaus , Clavel Thomas , Fuchs Thilo M.
Published: March 2021

Background

Little is known about the complex interactions between the diet, the gut microbiota, and enteropathogens. Here, the impact of two specific diets on the composition of the mouse gut microbiota and on the transcriptional response of Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) was analyzed in an enteritis model.

Results

Mice were fed for two weeks a fibre-rich, plant-based diet (PD), or a Westernized diet (WD) rich in animal fat and proteins and in simple sugars, and then infected with an invasin-negative S. Typhimurium strain ST4/74 following streptomycin-treatment. Seventy-two hours post infection, fecal pathogen loads were equal in both diet groups, suggesting that neither of the diets had negatively influenced the ability of this ST4/74 strain to colonize and proliferate in the gut at this time point. To define its diet-dependent gene expression pattern, S. Typhimurium was immunomagnetically isolated from the gut content, and its transcriptome was analyzed. A total of 66 genes were more strongly expressed in mice fed the plant-based diet. The majority of these genes was involved in metabolic functions degrading substrates of fruits and plants. Four of them are part of the gat gene cluster responsible for the uptake and metabolism of galactitol and D-tagatose. In line with this finding, 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis revealed higher relative abundance of bacterial families able to degrade fiber and nutritive carbohydrates in PD-fed mice in comparison with those nourished with a WD. Competitive mice infection experiments performed with strain ST4/74 and ST4/74 ΔSTM3254 lacking tagatose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase, which is essential for galactitol and tagatose utilization, did not reveal a growth advantage of strain ST4/74 in the gastrointestinal tract of mice fed plant-based diet as compared to the deletion mutant.

Conclusion

A Westernized diet and a plant-based diet evoke distinct transcriptional responses of S. Typhimurium during infection that allows the pathogen to adapt its metabolic activities to the diet-derived nutrients. This study therefore provides new insights into the dynamic interplay between nutrient availability, indigenous gut microbiota, and proliferation of S. Typhimurium.
Representing Knowledge
Authors: van Elswyk Peter
Published: March 2021

A speaker's use of a declarative sentence in a context has two effects: it expresses a proposition and represents the speaker as knowing that proposition. This article is about how to explain the second effect. The standard explanation is act-based. A speaker is represented as knowing because their use of a declarative in a context tokens the act-type of assertion and assertions represent knowledge in what's asserted. In this article, a semantic explanation is proposed according to which declaratives covertly host a know-parenthetical. A speaker is thereby represented as knowing the proposition expressed because that is the semantic contribution of the parenthetical. This view is called PARENTHETICALISM. The article contends that parentheticalism better explains knowledge representation than alternatives. As a consequence of outperforming assertoric explanations, parentheticalism opens the door to altogether eliminating the act-type of assertion from linguistic theorizing.
How Much Is Your African Slave Worth?
Authors: Bogues Anthony
Published: March 2021

Arguing that racial slavery was a foundation of the modern world and of capitalism, this essay details the historical ways in which the organization of debt and credit networks were integral to the Atlantic slave trade. The author contends that the enslaved body of the African was itself commodified and, as such, opened new technologies of rule. Contemporary forms of commodification, indebtedness, and saturation, the essay concludes, draw from some of the ways in which the enslaved black body was ruled.
Development of Effective Bidentate Diphosphine Ligands of Ruthenium Catalysts toward Practical Hydrogenation of Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Yoshioka Shota , Wen Ke , Saito Susumu
Published: March 2021

Hydrogenation of carboxylic acids (CAs) to alcohols represents one of the most ideal reduction methods for utilizing abundant CAs as alternative carbon and energy sources. However, systematic studies on the effects of metal-to-ligand relationships on the catalytic activity of metal complex catalysts are scarce. We previously demonstrated a rational methodology for CA hydrogenation, in which CA-derived cationic metal carboxylate [(PP)M(OCOR)]+ (M = Ru and Re; P = one P coordination) served as the catalyst prototype for CA self-induced CA hydrogenation. Herein, we report systematic trial-and-error studies on how we could achieve higher catalytic activity by modifying the structure of bidentate diphosphine (PP) ligands of molecular Ru catalysts. Carbon chains connecting two P atoms as well as Ar groups substituted on the P atoms of PP ligands were intensively varied, and the induction of active Ru catalysts from precatalyst Ru(acac)3 was surveyed extensively. As a result, the activity and durability of the (PP)Ru catalyst substantially increased compared to those of other molecular Ru catalyst systems, including our original Ru catalysts. The results validate our approach for improving the catalyst performance, which would benefit further advancement of CA self-induced CA hydrogenation.
The Effects of Cranial Cryotherapy on Hemodynamics and Cognition in Healthy Adults
Authors: Lempke Landon B. , Fraser John J. , Erdman Nicholas K. , Barone Nicholas A. , Saliba Susan , Resch Jacob E.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the effects of superficial cranial cryotherapy on cortical hemodynamics and neurocognitive performance in healthy young adults.

Methods

Thirty-four healthy individuals (21.3 ± 1.6 yr; 173.8 ± 10.6 cm; 73.3 ± 12.5 kg) participated. Cortical hemodynamic changes over the left prefrontal cortex was assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) throughout the study timeline. All participants were seated in a quiet room and for a 5-min period of cognitive rest before administration of the Stroop Test (CNS Vital Signs) followed by another 5-min period of cognitive rest. Participants were randomizeda priorito either the cryotherapy (CryoHelmet™) or control group for 20 min while seated in an isolated quiet room. After the intervention, each group completed a 5-min cognitive rest period, a postintervention Stroop Test, and a final 5-min cognitive rest period. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to assess cortical hemodynamics (oxygenated hemoglobin, deoxygenated hemoglobin) and Stroop Test outcome scores across time (pre– and post–Stroop Test administration, during intervention, and before and after intervention).

Results

No significant group–time interactions were observed between groups for oxygenated hemoglobin or deoxygenated hemoglobin (P> 0.05). Cryotherapy participants committed significantly fewer Stroop Test errors than did control participants after intervention (0.7 ± 0.26 vs 1.2 ± 0.23;P= 0.05, η2p= 0.12).

Conclusions

Superficial cranial cryotherapy did not significantly influence cortical hemodynamics in this healthy sample. Statistically significant improvements in neurocognitive performance in the intervention group occurred but are negligible in their clinical meaningfulness. Future studies should examine cortical hemodynamic change in pathological populations and determine the clinical utility of superficial cranial cryotherapy.
Cognitive Testing and Exercise to Assess the Readiness to Return to Play After a Concussion
Authors: Sicard Veronik , Lortie Jean-Christophe , Moore Robert Davis , Ellemberg Dave
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The decision to clear an athlete to return to play (RTP) after a concussion is critical given the potential consequences of premature RTP. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate more sensitive ways to assess readiness for RTP. We examined postexercise cognitive assessment in recently concussed and asymptomatic university athletes who were cleared to RTP.

Methods

Forty recently concussed athletes and 40 control athletes without a history of concussion participated in the study. Athletes completed a switch task preexercise and postexercise (20 min on an ergometer at 80% maximal heart rate). A series of one-way ANOVA were performed to compare accuracy and response time between the concussion and the control groups on the switch task. Given that the clinical recovery of the participants in the concussion group could be heterogeneous, we also ran χ2tests to identify the presence of subgroups. Specifically, we aimed to determine whether a group difference existed in the proportion of concussed participants who underperformed.

Results

No difference between the concussion and control groups was observed for reaction time. However, a significant group difference was found for accuracy, with athletes from the concussion group exhibiting lower accuracy relative to the control group. Irrespective of condition (rest, postexercise), up to 30% of athletes from the concussion group were 2 SD lower when compared with the control group's average score. A third of the athletes only exhibited deficits after exercise.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the importance of considering interindividual differences in recovery trajectories. Although asymptomatic and cleared to RTP, an important portion of athletes had not completely recovered from their concussion. Fortunately, these athletes can be readily identified by using sensitive cognitive tests administered after a moderate-to-vigorous exercise.
Associations between Habitual Sedentary Behavior and Endothelial Cell Health
Authors: Duran Andrea T. , Garber Carol Ewing , Ensari Ipek , Shimbo Daichi , Diaz Keith M.
Published: March 2021

Endothelial dysfunction is a mechanism that may explain the link between prolonged sedentary time and cardiovascular disease. However, the relation between habitual sedentary (SED) behavior and endothelial function has yet to be explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of accelerometer-measured SED with markers of endothelial cell health. Healthy adult participants (N = 83; 43.4% male; 25.5 ± 5.8 yr old) were examined. SED was measured for 7 d by accelerometer. Endothelial function measures included endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV), endothelial microparticles (EMP) [CD62E+ and CD31+/CD42− EMP], and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) [CD34+/CD133+/KDR+ and CD34+/KDR+ EPC]. Participants were classified as having low or high SED based on a median split. Participants in the low and high SED group spent a mean ± SD of 8.6 ± 1.1 and 11.1 ± 1.0 h·d−1 in SED, respectively. No significant differences between the low and the high SED groups were detected in mean (95% confidence interval): EDV, 2.51 (2.21–2.81) versus 2.36 (2.07–2.64), P = 0.50; EMP, CD62E+ = 6.70 (6.55–6.84) versus 6.56 (6.42–6.69), P = 0.20, CD31+/CD42− = 6.26 (6.10–6.42) versus 6.18 (6.03–6.33), P = 0.50; or EPC, CD34+/KDR+ = 11.91 (9.23–14.48) × 10−2 versus 14.87 (12.41–17.32) × 10−2, P = 0.13, CD34+/CD133+/KDR+ = 1.84 (1.28–2.39) × 10−2 versus 2.17 (1.64–2.70) × 10−2, P = 0.43. Among healthy adults, habitual SED was not associated with markers of endothelial cell health.
Recess Should NOT Be Cut: Considerations for COVID-19 School Reopening Plans
Authors: Clevenger Kimberly A. , Pfeiffer Karin A.
Published: March 2021

Physical inactivity is an important health concern for children. Children spend the bulk of their days during most times of the year in school, and school outdoor time (recess) contributes up to 70% of children’s weekday physical activity. Recess confers many benefits, such as improved academic performance, better classroom behavior, lower stress, and improved social skills. Although the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in closure of schools nationwide, school officials will need to consider all aspects of keeping children healthy when they return to school. Public health officials and exercise professionals may be asked to provide guidance to school officials regarding strategies for implementing recess. Eliminating recess should not be one of those strategies. Although a number of other strategies (e.g., designating areas of the schoolyard for each class) have been proposed to limit virus transmission during recess, this commentary translates science on recess to general guidelines and specific strategies that can be followed, specifically in the context of maintaining the benefits of recess. Keeping children healthy upon return to school is paramount, and allowing participation in recess is a key component to promoting children’s health in schools.
Morphological and genetic evaluation of the thumbprint emperor, Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775) in the Pacific and Indian Oceans
Authors: Afrisal Muhammad , Iwatsuki Yukio , Burhanuddin Andi Iqbal
Published: March 2021

Background: The Lethrinidae (emperors) include many important food fish species. Accurate determination of species and stocks is important for fisheries management. The taxonomy of the genus Lethrinus is problematic, for example with regards to the identification of the thumbprint emperor Lethrinus harak. Little research has been done on L. harak diversity in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This study aimed to evaluate the morphometric and genetic characters of the thumbprint emperor, L. harak (Forsskål, 1775) in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Methods: This research was conducted in the Marine Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, and Division of Fisheries Science, University of Miyazaki. Morphometric character measurements were based on holotype character data, while genetic analysis was performed on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence data. Morphometric data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) statistical tests in MINITAB, and genetic data were analysed in MEGA 6.

Results: Statistical test results based on morphometric characters revealed groupings largely representative of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Seychelles was separated from other Indian Ocean sites and Australian populations were closer to the Pacific than the Indian Ocean group. The genetic distance between the groups was in the low category (0.000 - 0.042). The phylogenetic topology reconstruction accorded well with the morphometric character analysis, with two main L. harak clades representing Indian and Pacific Ocean, and Australia in the Pacific Ocean clade.

Conclusions: These results indicate that the morphological character size of L. harak from Makassar and the holotype from Saudi Arabia have changed. Genetic distance and phylogeny reconstruction are closely related to low genetic distance.
Prevalence and predictors of medication non-adherence among patients with multimorbidity: A systematic review protocol
Authors: Foley Louise , Larkin James , Lombard-Vance Richard , Murphy Andrew W. , Molloy Gerard J.
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Patients with multimorbidity are expected to adhere to complex medication regimens in order to manage their multiple chronic conditions. It has been reported the likelihood of adherence decreases as patients are prescribed more medications. Much medication adherence research to date is dominated by a single-disease focus, which is at odds with the rising prevalence of multimorbidity and may artificially underestimate the complexity of managing chronic illness. This review aims to describe the prevalence of medication non-adherence among patients with multimorbidity, and to identify potential predictors of non-adherence in this population.

Methods: A systematic review will be conducted and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO will be searched using a predefined search strategy from 2009–2019. Quantitative studies will be considered eligible for review if prevalence of medication non-adherence among adults with two or more chronic conditions is reported. Studies will be included in the review if available in English full text. Titles and abstracts will be screened by single review, with 20% of screening cross-checked by a second reviewer. Full-text articles will be screened by two independent reviewers, noting reasons for exclusions. Data extraction will be performed using a predefined extraction form. Quality and risk of bias assessment will be conducted using criteria for observational studies outlined by Sanderson et al. (2007). A narrative synthesis and, if feasible, meta-analysis will be conducted.

Discussion: By exploring medication non-adherence from a multimorbidity perspective, the review aims to inform an evidence base for intervention development which accounts for the rising prevalence of patients with multiple chronic conditions. 

Study registration: The systematic review is prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019133849); registered on 12 June 2019.
Al-Jaya Palace and the New Shawbak Town. A Medieval frontier and the return of the urbanism in the Southern Transjordan
Authors: Vannini Guido
Published: March 2021

Al-Jaya Palace and the New Shawbak Town. A Medieval frontier and the return of the urbanism in the Southern Transjordan The recent discovery – made during the 2018 campaign ofthe ‘Medieval Petra’ Mission of the University of Florence – of the residential al-Jaya Palace at the bottom of the hill of Shawbak’s ‘incastellato’ site is of particular relevance both for medieval and Islamic heritage in Jordan (no architecture of a comparable quality from the Ayyubid-Mamluk periodhas ever been found in the country) and mostly for the archaeological confirmation that underneath al-Jaya, lays the ancient medieval capital city of southern Jordan, founded by Saladin, on the same site of the castle-capital of the previous Crusader Lordship of Transjordan. This result represents a triple confirmation for the scientific program of the Mission: the productivity of the ‘Light Archaeology’ methodology that characterizes our approach; the real existence of the city whose foundation we had deemed to be able to propose (owing solely to the ‘light’ reading son the walls of the ‘castle’); and the excellence of the formal level of the building – perfectly matching the quality of the political and productive structures documented earlier in the castle – that speaks of a cultured and refined city and of an extraordinary strategic project that can be attributed to Saladin’s political intelligence. A project that gave back a new centrality to the entire southern Transjordan and started a settlement and political tradition that is the basis of modern Jordan itself (it is not accidental that the first capital of the state was Ma’an). Once the urban structure that has now appeared is understood, future research will be able to direct the excavations so as to address another great historical question which 2018 investigations have highlighted: we know the birth and begin to read the life of this extraordinary town, butwhen, how and why did it perish so much so that it was forgotten by history (and to be rediscovered by archaeology)? Perhaps for the first time, we will have an opportunity to study archaeologically an aspect of the historical crisis that, probably during the 15th century, engulfed the Arab-Islamicworld, opening the way for the Ottoman conquest. It is an intriguing perspective to be addressed in tandem with a renewed public archaeology program: conservative restoration, social valorization, broad communication directed both to the local communities and to the international public with the implementation of the master plan 2010-14, and, finally, tourist routes connecting Shawbak with the Petra area.
A note on sasanian-buddhist object of Gyeongju National Museum
Authors: Akbarzadeh Daryoosh
Published: March 2021

A note on sasanian-buddhist object of Gyeongju National Museum

Although Korean and late Sasanian texts are silent about mutual relations, archaeological evidences provide a different perspective. This paper deals with an object known at Gyeongju National Museum of the Republic of Korea. The loop was discovered in Bunhwangsa Buddhist Temple in Geun-jik (Gyeongju) region in 2001. Gyeongju’s loop includes a round form made of clay, with a pearly chain (running) in the border and two birds (ducks most probably) appearing in the center of the motif while they are trying to hold a stalk of a herb. Many scholarly works have been published about it and interpreted it as the ‘tree of life.’The author believes that this herb (as distinct from a plant) is a sacred lotus. In fact, the birds try to hold it in their beaks. So, an expert creator of the object used known Sasanian artistic elements on the one hand and combined them with a famous Buddhist element on the other hand. It ispossible the creator attempted to immortalize his work with this sacred lotus: in a Buddhist temple, only such an element was allowed to be introduced.