bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge and attitudes of critical care providers towards neurophysiological monitoring, seizure diagnosis, and treatment
Authors: Butler Evie , Mills Nicholas , J P Alix James , Hart Anthony R
Published: April 2021

Aim

To explore the attitudes of paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) health care professionals towards diagnosis and neurophysiological monitoring of seizures.

Method

This study used an explanatory sequential mixed‐methods approach, interconnecting quantitative and qualitative features, comprising questionnaires and interviews, with equal weighting between stages, of health care professionals working in UK PICUs. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis and triangulated with questionnaire data.

Results

Seventy‐two questionnaires were returned: 49 out of 60 (71.0%) of respondents reported that seizures were extremely hard or somewhat hard to diagnose in a critically ill child, and 81.2% had seen misdiagnosis occur. Thematic analysis revealed two main themes: (1) feeling out of control when faced with ‘grey areas’; and (2) regaining control, which compromised three subthemes: aggressive intervention, accurate diagnosis, and eschewing diagnosis.

Interpretation

Health care professionals find accurate diagnosis of seizures difficult, particularly in sedated/paralysed children and those with chronic neurological disorders. They report they would like better educational opportunities on discriminating between epileptic and non‐epileptic events to improve their confidence. Professionals want routine neurophysiological monitoring that can be applied and interpreted at the bedside throughout the day to regain a sense of control over their patient, direct treatment appropriately, and, potentially, improve outcomes, but report appropriate training and peer review are essential if it is to be introduced into routine care.

What this study adds

Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) staff feel out of control when faced with diagnosing seizures.

Neurophysiological monitoring is wanted to help diagnosis and treatment.

Amplitude‐integrated electroencephalography is the preferred, pragmatic tool by PICU staff.
Re‐membering Dismemberment: Haunting Images of Amputation at Aanolee and Oromo Political Subjectivities in Ethiopia
Authors: Park Young Su
Published: April 2021

This ethnographic study examines how the late nineteenth century Aanolee massacre in Ethiopia is remembered by the Arsi Oromo in gestures of amputation and memorial monuments. Haunted by vivid images of the amputated body, descendants of those who experienced this collective historical trauma have recast the past with implications for Oromo subjectivities. During recent periods of political violence, the dismembered bodies of the past have become reference points for Arsi Oromo seeking to reconstitute their collective social body. They literally “re‐member” their community by having larger families and meeting under Odaa trees that represent the traditional Oromo political system and social body. This research suggests that secondary hauntings constituted of memorializations of the violated body can remain so emotionally potent as to facilitate new political responses and imaginaries among peoples with historical trauma.
An in vitro pharmacodynamic spiking study of befovacimab, a tissue factor pathway inhibitor monoclonal antibody, in blood samples from patients with severe FVIII deficiency
Authors: Martin Erika J. , Nolte Melinda E. , Kuhn Janice , Schmidt Nicole , Pfaff Nils , Brophy Donald F.
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is an endogenous protein that inhibits the extrinsic (tissue factor) pathway and negatively regulates thrombin production during coagulation. Inhibiting TFPI may become a useful target for haemophilia drug development to allow greater thrombin generation without use of the intrinsic (contact) pathway.

Aims

The in vitro effects of befovacimab, a humanized TFPI neutralizing antibody, were studied in whole blood and plasma samples from patients with severe FVIII deficiency.

Methods

Blood and plasma obtained from participants was supplemented in vitro with befovacimab (0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 100 nM) or recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) 5‐, 10‐ and 40% and analysed using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), thrombin generation assay (TGA) and the dilute prothrombin time (dPT) assay. The in vitro coagulation effects of befovacimab were compared to samples supplemented with rFVIII.

Results

Befovacimab induced consistent pro‐coagulant responses in ROTEM parameters including reduction in clotting times and increases in α‐angle; induced reductions in dPT clotting time; and improvements in TGA parameters (reduced lag time and increased thrombin generation parameters). There was a modest concentration‐dependent response generally from 0.5‐ to 10 nM, after which, the pharmacodynamic effect plateaued through the 100 nM concentration. Befovacimab concentrations of 5 to 10 nM showed pro‐coagulant activity comparable to blood samples supplemented with rFVIII 10–40%.

Conclusions

Befovacimab has modest dose‐response effects from 0.5 to 10 nM with minimal improvement with higher concentrations. In vitro befovacimab blood concentrations of 5 to 10 nM had pro‐coagulant effects similar to blood supplemented with rFVIII 10‐ to 40%.
Citizen experience in public transport: A systematic review and future research agenda
Authors: Rincon‐Novoa Jeisson , Rojas‐Berrio Sandra , Robayo‐Pinzon Oscar
Published: April 2021

Public transport is a relevant issue for cities’ and territories’ development. From the perspective of consumer behavior, citizens’ experience as users and consumers is a topic of interest for public policy, especially at times when people are expected to avoid agglomerations. Given the lack of literature found in the systematic review regarding the future research agenda of consumer behavior in public transport, this research analyses the methodological perspectives, variables, and conceptual approaches relating to citizen experience of public transport. This systematic review takes 1997 to 2020 as a time frame and complies with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines; in addition, the research question follows the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Context (PICOC) strategy. The review of experiences in the public sector leads to a classification of articles that refer to citizens’ experience of public transport. The main findings show four research topics concerning citizen experience of public transport: the individual perspective on factors influencing the experience; the comprehensive design of public transport in different process stages (pre‐core, core, post‐core, and redesign) and its interaction with citizens; the decision‐making process involved in selecting “routes” and “modes” for travel; and responses and reactions to stimuli aimed at evaluating the experience. To conclude, the discussion focuses on the future lines of research in the area.
Mental health nurses’ psychological well‐being, mental distress, and workplace resilience: A cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Delgado Cynthia , Roche Michael , Fethney Judith , Foster Kim
Published: April 2021

Mental health nurses (MHNs) frequently face emotional adversity and stressors at work that can negatively impact their psychological well‐being and result in mental distress. This can affect their capacity for therapeutic work, professional relationships, and overall work performance. In the context of work, resilience is a dynamic process of positive adaptation to adversity that can lead to psychological well‐being and increased work performance. There is limited knowledge, however, on MHNs’ psychological well‐being and resilience from an Australian perspective. This study aimed to investigate the levels of, and relationships between, psychological well‐being, mental distress, and workplace resilience in Australian MHNs. A cross‐sectional online survey using Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well‐being (PWS) 18, Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS) 21, and Resilience at Work measures was completed by registered nurses (n = 482) working in a mental health setting or role. Mean scores were 85.38 for psychological well‐being and 70.27 for workplace resilience, with more than half reporting levels above the mean. However, some participants scored in the severe to extremely severe categories for depression (7.8%), anxiety (8.7%) or stress (7.3%). Psychological well‐being had strong positive and negative associations, respectively, with workplace resilience (r = 0.571, P < 0.01) and depression (r = −0.563, P < 0.01). Having a postgraduate specialist qualification was positively associated with psychological well‐being. Postgraduate speciality education may be a key protective factor that can increase MHNs’ psychological well‐being. Strengthening workplace resilience is an important strategy for organizations to implement to support MHNs’ psychological well‐being and reduce the risk of mental distress.
Clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes in degos disease: a systematic review
Authors: Kim P.J. , Lytvyn Y. , Kashetsky N. , Bagit A. , Mufti A. , Yeung J.
Published: April 2021

Degos disease (atrophic papulosis) is a rare vasculopathy with cutaneous and systemic manifestations. Although potentially fatal, the characteristics of and treatments for Degos disease variants are not adequately described. We conducted a systematic review to summarize cutaneous and systemic presentations, treatments and outcomes of malignant (MAP) and benign (BAP) variants of Degos disease. A comprehensive search was conducted on Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL and CENTRAL on 27 October 2020, which yielded 254 original studies reporting cases of Degos disease. A total of 357 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age of onset was 33.9 years. MAP was most commonly reported (63.8%, n = 228/357), with 56.6% (n = 129/228) mortality. Cutaneous lesions were usually asymptomatic (26.3%, n = 81/308) and localized to the trunk (57.7%, n = 206/357) and extremities (56.8%, n = 203/357). Systemic involvement developed within 2 years on average, ranging from 0 to 28 years. Anti‐platelet monotherapy had a complete resolution rate of 42.3% (n = 11/26) in BAP and 20.0% (n = 7/35) in MAP. Based on the findings of the study, most cases of Degos disease are malignant with high mortality, and even benign cutaneous cases may develop systemic disease in as late as 28 years. Anti‐platelet monotherapies may prove effective against both variants. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms after brief immersion to water test as a screening tool for cystic fibrosis diagnosis
Authors: Alexopoulos A. , Chouliaras G. , Kakourou T. , Dakoutrou M. , Nasi L. , Petrocheilou A. , Siahanidou S. , Kanaka‐Gantenbein C. , Chrousos G. , Loukou I. , Michos A.
Published: April 2021

Background

Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms (AWP) is an excessive and early palmar wrinkling occurring after Brief Immersion to Water (BIW), and has been reported as a frequent finding among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Objectives

To evaluate and assess the diagnostic performance of BIW test as an initial screening tool for CF diagnosis.

Methods

We measured AWP in CF patients, CF‐heterozygotes (CF‐het) and normal controls. The AWP parameters of palmar wrinkling, oedema, papules, pruritus and pain were assessed at 3, 7 and 11 min after a BIW test was performed for all the participants. Statistical analyses explored the progression of AWP in time for the three groups and assessed the diagnostic performance of BIW test as a diagnostic screening tool for CF.

Results

A total of 250 individuals (100 CF patients, their 50 CF‐het parents, 100 healthy controls) were included in the analysis. The average age in years (mean ± SD) was 10.4 ± 4.0 for CF, 35.9 ± 6.1 for CF‐het and 10.5 ± 4.0 for controls. The rate of positives for AWP at 3 min among CF patients, CF‐het and controls was 68%, 8% and 0%, respectively (P < 0.01). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a clear trend towards earlier appearance of all five parameters in the direction controls < hetCF < CF (P values <0.01). The best diagnostic performance in detecting between CF patients and non‐CF was achieved by the presence of papules and wrinkling at 7 min (sensitivity/specificity: 94.0%/98.3% and 100.0%/92.0%, respectively).

Conclusions

A strong association between AWP and CF was detected. AWP after BIW could be elicited easily and possibly can be used as an initial screening tool to assess if an individual with symptoms and signs that raise the likelihood of CF is a CF patient.
Lifespan decreases with proportion of sons in males but not females of zoo‐housed tigers and lemurs
Authors: Tidière Morgane , Douay Guillaume , Müller Peter , Siberchicot Aurélie , Sliwa Alexander , Whipple Mylisa , Douhard Mathieu
Published: April 2021

Several studies have shown higher costs of rearing sons than daughters in mammals where males are larger than females. These studies typically focus on females by examining how the offspring sex ratio during a single reproductive event affected mothers’ subsequent reproduction or survival probability. Here, we examine relationships between offspring sex ratio during single or multiple reproductive events and several survival metrics in mothers and fathers, using data from zoo‐housed tigers (Panthera tigris) and ruffed lemurs (Varecia sp.). Our analyses failed to reveal an overall cost of reproduction or a higher cost of sons to mothers. In male ruffed lemurs, the proportion of sons produced during early life (before 10 years old) was negatively correlated with lifespan later in life. In tigers, males with a higher proportion of sons during their lifetime had shorter lifespans. One likely mechanism is the difference in testosterone levels between males: a high concentration of testosterone can increase the proportion of sons and compromise immune function. Our results suggest studies in wild populations should address the outstanding challenge of understanding consequences of sex allocation for males, and open an opportunity to predict lifespan in an applied conservation context.
To what extent can the tiny parasitoid wasps,Eretmocerus mundus, fly upwind?
Authors: Sarig Amir , Ribak Gal
Published: April 2021

Body miniaturization in insects is predicted to result in decreased flight speed and therefore limited ability of these insects to fly upwind. Therefore, tiny insects are often regarded as relying on passive dispersal by winds. We tested this assumption in a wind tunnel by measuring the burst speed of Eretmocerus mundus (Mercet), a beneficial parasitoid wasp with body length <1 mm. Insects were filmed flying upwind towards a UV light source in a range of wind speed 0–0.5 m/s. The Insects flew towards the UV light in the absence and presence of wind but increased their flight speed in the presence of wind. They also changed flight direction to be directly upwind and maintained this body orientation even while drifted backwards relative to the ground by stronger winds. Field measurements showed that the average flight speed observed in the wind tunnel (0.3 m/s) is sufficient to allow flying between plants even when the wind speed above the vegetation was 3–5 folds higher. A simulation of the ability of the insects to control their flight trajectory towards a visual target (sticky traps) in winds show that the insects can manipulate their progress relative to the ground even when the wind speed exceeds their flight speed. The main factors determining the ability of the insects to reach the trap were trap diameter and the difference between insect flight speed and wind speed. The simulation also predicts the direction of arrival to the sticky target showing that many of the insects reach the target from the leeward side (i.e. by flight upwind). In light of these results, the notion that miniature insects passively disperse by winds is misleading because it disregards the ability of the insects to control their drift relative to the ground in winds that are faster than their flight speed.
Experimental study of ultrastructural mechanisms and kinetics of tegumental secretion in cestodes parasitizing fish (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea)
Authors: Kutyrev Ivan Alexandrovich , Biserova Natalia Mikhailovna , Mazur Olga Evgenievna , Dugarov Zhargal Nimaevich
Published: April 2021

The structural response and plasticity of the cestode tegument in response to the influence of the host organism is not yet well understood. The main aims of our in vitro study were to analyse the ultrastructural mechanisms and kinetics of tegumental secretion in two cestode species, Dibothriocephalus dendriticus and Ligula interrupta, in response to the influence of fish host blood serum. The incubation of plerocercoids in the culture medium, which contained fish host blood serum, resulted in an increased number of secretory products on the tegumental surface. Our study is the first to experimentally demonstrate the formation of plerocercoid protective layers influenced by the host's internal environment factors. The mechanism of the generation of the protective layer included the following: the intensive formation of organelles in the tegumental cytons and their transfer to the distal cytoplasm of the tegument; increases in extracellular vesicles and vacuoles released on the tegumental surface; arrangement of secretory products and fine‐dispersed extracellular matrix in layers; and formation of the protective layer. The structural tegumental response included increases in the glycocalyx layer and structural changes. Our study revealed that the universal mechanism of protective layer formation was intrinsic to different tapeworms. We hypothesize that plerocercoids of cestodes parasitizing fish may use tegumental secretion in the formation of a protective layer and in the release of immunoregulator molecules to evade the host's immune response.
Simultaneous gene editing of three homoeoalleles in self‐incompatible allohexaploid grasses
Authors: Zhang Liang , Wang Tao , Wang Guangyang , Bi Aoyue , Wassie Misganaw , Xie Yan , Cao Liwen , Xu Huawei , Fu Jinmin , Chen Liang , Zhao Yang , Hu Tao
Published: April 2021

Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has been widely used for precise gene editing in plants. However, simultaneous gene editing of multiple homoeoalleles remains challenging, especially in self‐incompatible polyploid plants. Here, we simultaneously introduced targeted mutations in all three homoeoalleles of two genes in the self‐incompatible allohexaploid tall fescue, using both CRISPR/Cas9 and LbCas12a (LbCpf1) systems. Loss‐of‐function mutants of FaPDS exhibited albino leaves, while knockout of FaHSP17.9 resulted in impaired heat resistance in T0 generation of tall fescue. Moreover, these mutations were inheritable. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of generating loss‐of‐function mutants in T0 generation polyploid perennial grasses using CRISPR/Cas systems.
Rural China under the COVID‐19 pandemic: Differentiated impacts, rural–urban inequality and agro‐industrialization
Authors: Zhang Qian Forrest , Hu Zhanping
Published: April 2021

We use field data collected in a village in northern China to examine the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on rural economy and livelihoods. The lockdown effectively protected the village from the pandemic, resulting in zero infection. The economic impacts were mostly negative but differentiated across economic sectors and livelihood strategies; some gained from the business opportunities arising from the pandemic. Wage loss for migrant workers was the most common negative impact but lasted less than 2 months. Overall, rural China has escaped the worst impacts of the pandemic found in other developing countries. We argue that the structure of inequalities in today's China, now primarily based on market differentiations, has become far more complex than the simplistic rural–urban dichotomy based on the household registration (hukou) status can possibly explain. Rather than exacerbating the hukou‐based rural–urban inequality, the true impacts of the pandemic on rural China are more likely to result from the reforms of the agri‐food system. The suspected link between the new pathogen and the food system has created a misinformed urgency for the government to accelerate the industrialization of the food system, which we think can backfire and increase the likelihood of the next outbreak.
Historical biogeography of the Southeast Asian and Malesian tribe Dissochaeteae (Melastomataceae)
Authors: Kartonegoro Abdulrokhman , Mota de Oliveira Sylvia , van Welzen Peter C.
Published: April 2021

The region of Tropical Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago is a very appealing area for research due to its outstanding biodiversity, being one of the most species‐rich areas in the world with high levels of endemism, and due to its complex geological history. The high number of species in tribe Dissochaeteae (Melastomataceae) and their tendency to narrow endemism make the tribe an ideal group for examining biogeographic patterns. We sampled 58 accessions spread over 42 accepted and two undescribed species of the Dissochaeteae. Two nuclear (ETS, ITS) and four chloroplast regions (ndhF, psbK‐psbL, rbcL, rpl16) were used for divergence time estimation and ancestral area reconstruction. Results from the molecular dating analysis suggest that the diversity of Dissochaeteae in the Southeast Asian region resulted from a South American ancestor in the late Eocene. The ancestor of the Dissochaeteae might have migrated from South America to Southeast Asia via North America and then entered Eurasia over the North Atlantic land bridge during the Eocene. The origin and early diversification of the Dissochaeteae in Southeast Asia dates back to the middle Oligocene, and most of the genera originated during the Miocene. Indochina and Borneo are most likely the area of origin for the most recent common ancestor of the Dissochaeteae and for many of the early diverging clades of some genera within Southeast Asia.
Two species of the Rhodiola yunnanensis species complex distributed around the Sichuan Basin of China: Speciation in a ring?
Authors: Wang Zi‐Meng , Meng Shi‐Yong , Rao Guang‐Yuan
Published: April 2021

A ring species consists of two reproductively isolated forms connected by a chain of intergrading populations encircling a geographic barrier. The mountains encircling the Sichuan Basin in southwestern China harbor great species diversity and endemism, and they are candidate regions for ring species. Here, we examined a potential ring species complex with a ring distribution surrounding the Sichuan Basin and the reproductive barrier between sibling species Rhodiola yunnanensis and R. henryi of the R. yunnanensis complex. In this study, we test the hypothesis that R. yunnanensis and R. henryi diverged by the ring‐species model using an amplicon sequencing strategy targeting the introns of 27 single‐copy nuclear genes and 14 chloroplast DNA sequences. Our studies indicated that the R. yunnanensis complex is monophyletic, originates at the late Miocene, and forms its current ring distribution pattern after the LIG. In addition, clear genetic intergradation was not found among R. henryi populations within the distribution ring. All these findings suggest that the divergence of two sibling species was not driven by the geographic isolation, and they were not originated from the ring‐species model; however, the basin‐surrounding distribution pattern and reproductive barrier between them meet some criteria for being a ring species.
Positioning theory, embodiment, and the moral orders of objects in social dynamics: How positioning theory has neglected the body and artifactual knowing
Authors: McVee Mary B. , Silvestri Katarina N. , Schucker Kelly A. , Cun Aijuan
Published: April 2021

The work of Rom Harré was groundbreaking in attention to the dynamics of social episodes as discursively produced. In particular, Positioning Theory, as introduced and explicated by Harré and colleagues, focused on the examination of speech and other acts to consider positions and storylines. Positioning theorists also considered the shifting patterns of rights and duties that shape and are shaped by social interaction. In this article, we briefly revisit positioning theory. We then review two critiques of positioning theory—that positioning scholars have neglected real world, naturalistic data and that positioning theory places too much emphasis on verbocentric communication (e.g., speaking, writing). Drawing upon some of the earlier observations of Harré and his collaborators, we urge consideration of artifactual and embodied positions. Extending beyond conversational interactions, we consider how the embodied actions and the artifacts produced by individuals can be analyzed. The paper includes data‐based examples of embodied interactions related to artifacts and multimodal communication in a children’s engineering literacy club. The examples demonstrate the ways in which moral orders are created and represented through multimodal interactions with artifacts as well as gesture, speech, and embodied actions.
Subcellular dynamics studies of iron reveal how tissue‐specific distribution patterns are established in developing wheat grains
Authors: Sheraz Sadia , Wan Yongfang , Venter Eudri , Verma Shailender K. , Xiong Qing , Waites Joshua , Connorton James M. , Shewry Peter R. , Moore Katie L. , Balk Janneke
Published: April 2021

Understanding the mechanisms of iron trafficking in plants is key to enhancing the nutritional quality of crops. Because it is difficult to image iron in transit, we currently have an incomplete picture of the route(s) of iron translocation in developing seeds and how the tissue‐specific distribution is established.

We have used a novel approach, combining iron‐57 (57Fe) isotope labelling and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), to visualize iron translocation between tissues and within cells in immature wheat grain, Triticum aestivum.

This enabled us to track the main route of iron transport from maternal tissues to the embryo through the different cell types. Further evidence for this route was provided by genetically diverting iron into storage vacuoles, with confirmation provided by histological staining and transmission electron microscopy energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (TEM‐EDS). Almost all iron in both control and transgenic grains was found in intracellular bodies, indicating symplastic rather than apoplastic transport. Furthermore, a new type of iron body, highly enriched in 57Fe, was observed in aleurone cells and may represent iron being delivered to phytate globoids.

Correlation of the 57Fe enrichment profiles obtained by NanoSIMS with tissue‐specific gene expression provides an updated model of iron homeostasis in cereal grains with relevance for future biofortification strategies.
Impacts of teleconnection patterns on South America climate
Authors: Reboita Michelle Simões , Ambrizzi Tércio , Crespo Natália Machado , Dutra Lívia Márcia Mosso , Ferreira Glauber Willian de S. , Rehbein Amanda , Drumond Anita , da Rocha Rosmeri Porfírio , Souza Christie Andre de
Published: April 2021

Oceanic heat sources disturb the atmosphere, which, to come back to its initial state, disperses waves. These waves affect the climate in remote regions, characterizing the teleconnection patterns. In this study, we describe eight teleconnection patterns that affect South America climate: the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), the Tropical Atlantic Dipole (TAD), the South Atlantic Dipole (SAD), the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Precipitation and winds at 850‐hPa anomalies, considering these teleconnection patterns in ENSO neutral periods, are also presented. Overall, southeastern South America and the north sector of the North and Northeast regions of Brazil are the most affected areas by the teleconnection patterns. In general, there is a precipitation dipole pattern between these regions during each teleconnection pattern.
Mediterranean diet and lung function, sensitization, and asthma at school age: The PARIS cohort
Authors: Amazouz Hélène , Roda Célina , Beydon Nicole , Lezmi Guillaume , Bourgoin‐Heck Mélisande , Just Jocelyne , Momas Isabelle , Rancière Fanny
Published: April 2021

Background

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has known health benefits, but its specific impact on allergy development is unclear. As part of the PARIS birth cohort follow‐up, we aimed to investigate the adherence of 8‐year‐old children to the MD and its association with allergic/respiratory morbidity at school age.

Methods

Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire completed by the parents. Adherence to the MD was assessed based on two scores: the KIDMED index and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). Current allergic diseases (asthma, rhinitis, eczema), lung function indices (FEV1 and FVC), FeNO and specific IgE levels were determined during a health check‐up at 8 years. Associations between levels of adherence to the MD and respiratory/allergic morbidity were studied using multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

A total of 975 children were included in the present study, 35.6% with low adherence to the MD, 55.7% with moderate adherence and 8.7% with high adherence according to the KIDMED index. High family socioeconomic status, any breastfeeding at 6 months and consumption of organic food were associated with higher adherence to the MD. Compared with low adherence, high adherence was associated with lower risk of asthma and sensitization at 8 years, as well as higher FEV1 and FVC.

Conclusion

This study suggests a protective effect of high adherence to the MD on allergic and respiratory morbidity at school age. These results need to be confirmed by further longitudinal analyses. A healthy diet may prevent allergic and respiratory morbidity in school‐aged children.
Essential spectra of singular Hamiltonian differential operators of arbitrary order under a class of perturbations
Authors: Yang Chen , Sun Huaqing
Published: April 2021

The main object of this paper is to study the essential spectrum of a Hamiltonian system of arbitrary order with one singular endpoint under a class of perturbations. We first present a characterization of the essential spectrum in terms of singular sequences and then give the concept of perturbations small at singular endpoints of Hamiltonian systems. Based on the above characterization, the invariance of essential spectra of Hamiltonian systems under these perturbations is shown. It is noted that these perturbations are given by using the associated pre‐minimal operator , which provides great convenience in the study of essential spectra of Hamiltonian systems since each element of the domain of has compact support. As applications, some sufficient conditions for the invariance of essential spectra of some systems are obtained in terms of coefficients of systems and perturbations terms. Further, essential spectra of Hamiltonian systems with different weight functions are discussed. Here, Hamiltonian systems may be non‐symmetric.
Effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ Referees Injury Prevention Program in reducing injury rates in male amateur soccer referees
Authors: Al Attar Wesam Saleh A. , Bizzini Mario , Alkabkabi Fahad , Alshamrani Nasser , Alarifi Saud , Alzahrani Hosam , Ghulam Hussain , Aljedaani Eman , Sanders Ross H.
Published: April 2021

Objective

The Fédération International de Football Association (FIFA) 11+ Referees Injury Prevention Program (FIFA 11+ Referees Program) is a structured warm‐up program specially designed to prevent injuries in soccer referees. However, its effectiveness has yet to be fully documented in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ Referees Program in reducing injury rates among soccer referees.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Two hundred male amateur soccer referees (mean ± SD age, 31.6 ± 4.1 years) participated in this study. Participants were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed the FIFA 11+ Referees Program as a warm‐up during training sessions at least twice a week, and the control group performed their usual warm‐ups. The participants were followed up for one season. The outcome measures were the incidence of overall injury, initial injury, recurrent injury, injury mechanism, and injury severity (primary), and the rate of adherence to the intervention program (secondary).

Results

A total of 24 injuries were reported among 100 referees in the control group in 16 606 h of exposure (1.45 injuries/1000 exposure h), and a total of nine injuries were reported across 100 referees within the experimental group in 17 834 exposure h (0.50 injuries/1000 exposure h). The Injury Risk Ratio (IRR) was 0.35 (95% CI 0.26–0.45).

Conclusion

The results indicated that the FIFA 11+ Referees Program effectively reduced injuries in the experimental group by 65% compared to the control group.
Measuring White Fragility
Authors: Hill Terrence , Mannheimer Andrew , Roos J. Micah
Published: April 2021

Objective

We propose and develop novel survey questions and quantitative summary indices of White fragility.

Methods

The data come from the 2018 Survey of White Fragility, a longitudinal convenience sample of 279 non‐Hispanic white undergraduate students aged 18 and over taking courses at two large public universities in the southeastern and southwestern United States.

Results

Factor analyses revealed two latent factors. The first factor—Remorse Fragility—was defined by feeling sad, guilty, and, to a lesser extent, angry in the context of discussions related to racism, race‐based discrimination, and white privilege. The second factor—Depletion Fragility—was defined by feeling drained, exhausted, unsafe, and, to a lesser extent, attacked and confused in the same contexts. Additional analyses supported the reliability and validity of our indices.

Conclusion

More research is needed to establish measures of White Fragility to inform interventions that support critical discussions of whiteness and the racist structures of society.
grasviq: an image analysis framework for automatically quantifying vein number and morphology in grass leaves
Authors: Robil Janlo M. , Gao Ke , Neighbors Claire M. , Boeding Michael , Carland Francine M. , Bunyak Filiz , McSteen Paula
Published: April 2021

Beyond facilitating transport and providing mechanical support to the leaf, veins have important roles in the performance and productivity of plants and the ecosystem. In recent decades, computational image analysis has accelerated the extraction and quantification of vein traits, benefiting fields of research from agriculture to climatology. However, most of the existing leaf vein image analysis programs have been developed for the reticulate venation found in dicots. Despite the agroeconomic importance of cereal grass crops, like Oryza sativa (rice) and Zea mays (maize), a dedicated image analysis program for the parallel venation found in monocots has yet to be developed. To address the need for an image‐based vein phenotyping tool for model and agronomic grass species, we developed the grass vein image quantification (grasviq) framework. Designed specifically for parallel venation, this framework automatically segments and quantifies vein patterns from images of cleared leaf pieces using classical computer vision techniques. Using image data sets from maize inbred lines and auxin biosynthesis and transport mutants in maize, we demonstrate the utility of grasviq for quantifying important vein traits, including vein density, vein width and interveinal distance. Furthermore, we show that the framework can resolve quantitative differences and identify vein patterning defects, which is advantageous for genetic experiments and mutant screens. We report that grasviq can perform high‐throughput vein quantification, with precision on a par with that of manual quantification. Therefore, we envision that grasviq will be adopted for vein phenomics in maize and other grass species.
Spontaneous abdominal effusion in dogs with presumed anaphylaxis
Authors: Summers April M. , Culler Christine , Cooper Edward
Published: April 2021

Objective

To describe patient characteristics of dogs developing spontaneous abdominal effusion in association with anaphylaxis.

Design

Retrospective study between 2010 and 2018.

Setting

University teaching hospital and referral specialty private practice emergency departments.

Animals

Sixteen dogs presenting to the emergency department for clinical signs suggestive of anaphylaxis with peritoneal effusion documented via ultrasonography.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Dogs presented with clinical signs of anaphylaxis including vomiting 12 of 16 (75%), diarrhea 9 of 16 (56%), and collapse 7 of 16 (44%). Physical examination findings included altered mentation 14 of 16 (88%), erythema 2 of 16 (13%), and urticaria 2 of 16 (13%). Historically, 3 of 16 (19%) had just recently been vaccinated, 1 of 16 (6%) had known contact with an insect, and 8 of 16 (50%) had been outdoors prior to the onset of clinical signs, whereas 5 of 16 (31%) had no known triggering event. At presentation, median systolic arterial pressure was 70 mm Hg (range, 30–210 mm Hg). Venous blood gas revealed an acidemia with a mean pH of 7.24 ± 0.09, a base deficit of 7.15 ± 7.7 mmol/L, and an increased plasma lactate with a mean of 7.35 ± 2.09 mmol/L. Bloodwork abnormalities included an increased alanine aminotransferase activity with a mean of 439.2 ± 404.5 U/L and an increased gamma‐glutamyl transferase activity with a mean concentration of 7.29 ± 4.1 U/L. Twelve patients (75%) had gallbladder wall abnormalities on ultrasonography. Eight patients (50%) had abdominocentesis performed. The median PCV of the effusion was 0.29 L/L (29%; range, 4–41) and total plasma protein was 38 g/L (3.8 g/dL; range, 2.4–6.5). Two dogs (12.5%) were euthanized. The remaining 14 dogs (87.5%) survived to discharge, with a mean hospitalization time of 23.7 ± 16.7 hours.

Conclusions

Abdominal effusion should be considered a potential sequela of anaphylaxis in dogs. Therefore, serial monitoring for presence or development of spontaneous abdominal effusion should be considered.
Microbial electrolysis cells and power‐to‐gas technology – A novel onsite industrial wastewater treatment and CCU arrangement
Authors: Gondal Irfan Ahmed
Published: April 2021

Industrial development owes its pace to the continued supply of energy; however, this development is also associated with a consequent consumption of water, climate change and environmental degradation. The increased concentration of carbon in the atmosphere and the dwindling clean water resources are posing another potent challenge to the sustained industrial development. The intermittent nature of the renewable energy resources particularly wind and solar energy make their storage difficult. Power‐to‐gas is perceived to solve this issue of storage of renewable energy through the production of synthetic natural gas. Production of economically viable hydrogen gas and carbon collection and utilization (CCU) are two energy‐intensive processes that are essential for the Sabatier reaction in the scheme of power‐to‐gas. This study proposes a novel model that employs low energy consuming microbial electrolysis cell along with carbon collectors for the production of synthetic natural gas through the Sabatier reaction. Renewable energy resources are proposed to power the MEC as well as the carbon collectors. The model uses the wastewater stream as input to the MEC ultimately delivering hydrogen to the Sabatier reactor. A successful model would be able to treat the wastewater, generate energy in the form of SNG, mitigate climate change and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14).
Hopf-theoretic approach to motives of twisted flag varieties
Authors: Petrov Victor , Semenov Nikita
Published: April 2021

Let$G$be a split semisimple algebraic group over a field and let$A^*$be an oriented cohomology theory in the Levine–Morel sense. We provide a uniform approach to the$A^*$-motives of geometrically cellular smooth projective$G$-varieties based on the Hopf algebra structure of$A^*(G)$. Using this approach, we provide various applications to the structure of motives of twisted flag varieties.
Beneficial effects of physical exercise for β‐cell maintenance in a type 1 diabetes mellitus animal model
Authors: Villaça Catharina de Barros Pimentel , de Paula Carolina Cavalcante , de Oliveira Caroline Cruz , Vilas‐Boas Eloisa Aparecida , dos Santos‐Silva Junia Carolina , de Oliveira Sérgio Ferreira , Abdulkader Fernando , Ferreira Sandra Mara , Ortis Fernanda
Published: April 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) leads to hyperglycaemia owing to pancreatic β‐cell destruction by the immune system. Physical exercise has been shown to have potentially beneficial protective roles against cytokine‐induced pancreatic β‐cell death, but its benefits are yet to be proved and should be understood better, especially in the islet environment.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Physical exercise protects against β‐cell loss in a well‐described animal model for T1D, induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin. This seems to be related to reduced cytokine‐induced β‐cell death and increased islet cell proliferation. Contributions of islet neogenesis and/or transdifferentiation of pancreatic non‐β‐cells into β‐cells cannot be excluded.

Physical exercise has beneficial effects on pancreatic β‐cell function and survival in a pro‐inflammatory environment. Although these effects have been linked to decreased islet inflammation and modulation of pro‐apoptotic pathways, little is known about the islet microenvironment. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of physical exercise in islet histomorphology in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes mellitus induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin. As expected, induction of type 1 diabetes mellitus led to β‐cell loss and, consequently, decreased islet area. Interestingly, although the decrease in islet area was not prevented by physical exercise, this was not the case for the decrease in β‐cell mass. This was probably related to induction of β‐cell regeneration, because we observed increased proliferation and regeneration markers, such as Ki67 and Pcna, in islets of trained mice. These were found in the central and peripheral regions of the islets. An increase in the percentage of α‐ and δ‐cells in these conditions, combined with an increase in proliferation and Pax4 labelling in peripheral regions, suggest that β‐cell regeneration might also occur by transdifferentiation. This agrees with the presence of cells double stained for insulin and glucagon only in islets of diabetic trained mice. In addition, this group had more extra‐islet insulin‐positive cells and islets associated with ducts than diabetic mice. Physical exercise also decreased nuclear factor‐κB activation in islet cells of diabetic trained compared with diabetic untrained mice, indicating a decrease in pro‐inflammatory cytokine‐induced β‐cell death. Taken together, these findings indicate that preservation of β‐cell mass induced by physical exercise involves an increase in β‐cell replication and decrease in β‐cell death, together with islet neogenesis and islet cell transdifferentiation.
An Active Set Sequential Linearization Algorithm for Nonlinear Design Optimization
Authors: Tzannetakis N. , Papalambros P. Y.
Published: April 2021

Solution of nonlinear design optimization problems via a sequence of linear programs is regaining attention for solving certain model classes, such as in structural design and chemical process design. An active set strategy modification of an algorithm by Palacios-Gomez is presented. A special interior linear programming algorithm with active set strategy is used also for solving the subproblem and generating the working set of the outer iterations. Examples are included.
Optimal Design Using a Two-Level Monotonicity-Based Decomposition Method
Authors: Azarm S. , Li Wei-Chu
Published: April 2021

In this paper, a two-level decomposition method for optimal design is described. Using this method, an optimal design problem is decomposed into several subproblems in the first-level and a coordinating problem in the second-level. In the first-level, the subproblems are analyzed using the global monotonicity concepts, then in the second-level the analyses of the subproblems are coordinated to obtain the optimal solution. Two engineering design examples, namely a gear reducer (formulated and solved in the literature) and a flywheel (formulated and solved here), illustrate applications of the developed method.
Computer Aided Synthesis Equation Derivation for Mechanisms Design Automation
Authors: Soni A. H. , Weng Y.
Published: April 2021

EQ-1, an algebraic equation derivation system for a variety of mechanism synthesis motion programs, is presented in the paper. This project is considered as part of the automated mechanism design procedure. The applied Artificial Intelligence techniques are introduced to the mechanism design area. The blackboard model for problem solving is adopted in the system for organizing reasoning steps and domain knowledge to construct a solution to a specified mechanism configuration. A frame-like data structure is demonstrated in the system. The domain knowledge is kept in several independent knowledge sources. Meanwhile, the path propagation method is addressed to control the knowledge application.
A Variational Formulation for the Dynamic Hygrothermoelastic Finite Element Analysis of Mechanical Systems Fabricated With Polymeric Composite Materials
Authors: Sung C. K. , Thompson B. S. , Gandi M. V.
Published: April 2021

Many classes of mechanical systems must now be designed with members possessing high stiffness-to-weight ratios and high strength-to-weight ratios in order to achieve superior performance characteristics. One of the philosophies proposed for addressing these classes of problems requires the articulating members to be fabricated with modern composite materials. While these materials enable high-strength, high-stiffness and low-mass members to be fabricated, the properties of these polymeric materials are adversely affected by elevated temperatures and also moisture absorption. The subject of this paper is the development of a methodology for predicting the dynamic hygrothermoelastic response of machine systems fabricated with these advanced materials. This methodology is based on a variational theorem which provides the basis for a finite element formulation. An illustrative example serves to demonstrate some preliminary work on predicting the response of a four-bar linkage fabricated with polymeric composite links simultaneously subjected to both mechanical and hygrothermal loadings.
Representing Component Types for Design
Authors: Ward A. C. , Seering W. P.
Published: April 2021

We are interested in programs which can support the design of a variety of machines. These will require program modules which can be combined by the designer. We provide parts of a theory for such modules, and illustrate the theory with examples from a simple test program. Finally, we sketch the application of the theory to more complex problems, and outline some issues for further research.
A Computer Aided Geometric Method for Development of Conical Convolutes
Authors: Gurunathan B. , Dhande S. G.
Published: April 2021

Convolutes are single curved, ruled surfaces formed by moving a plane tangent to two curves called the directrices. Conical convolutes are one form of convolutes. If atleast one of the two planar directrices is a super-ellipse, then the surface is called a super-conical convolute. Necessary mathematical expressions for the geometrical details as well as the development of the super-conical convolute surface are given in this paper. Also a suitable algorithm for the development of the surface is given. An illustrative case study is presented.