bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of nurses involved in natural disaster relief: A meta‐synthesis of qualitative literature
Authors: Xue Chao‐Li , Shu Yu‐Sheng , Hayter Mark , Lee Amanda
Published: September 2020

Aim

To explore nurses’ experiences in natural disaster response.

Background

Nurses are key to disaster response. There is a growing body of qualitative research exploring this emerging nursing issue. However, there is a need to synthesise and summarise this body of knowledge to identify the overarching elements of how nurses experience working in disaster situations to reflect on their experiences so that we may help shape future clinical practice, research and education.

Design

Qualitative meta‐synthesis.

Method

Following PROSPERO guidelines (Moher et al., 2015), an exhaustive and systematic literature search and quality appraisal was undertaken in December 2019 to reveal nurses’ experiences during natural disaster response. Sandelowski and Barroso's systematic retrieval, analysis and interpretation of findings method was used to produce a meta‐summary of findings from 10 papers evaluating experiences across 9 disasters. A meta‐aggregation was used to synthesise the findings from the studies and was methodically quality assessed with PRISMA and CASP.

Results

Our findings aggregated data from 42 sub‐themes, into the following four themes to capture nurses’ experiences after responding to disasters. These included agile response; leadership and innovative problem solving; building resilience; positive communication and need for psychological/emotional support.

Discussion

This meta‐synthesis provides evidence to illustrate nurses’ resilience and leadership capabilities as means to manage and perceive their disaster relief response. Factors such as emotional intelligence, capacity to react to changing situations, to manage scant resources in extreme situations were highlighted in nurses practising in highly stressful environments. Managers can use these examples to support ways to improve disaster management policies, but also, to engage in support for their staff.

Relevance to clinical practice

The role of nursing staff in disaster rescue is receiving significant attention. Understanding nurses’ experiences during disaster rescue can help future leaders to improve capacity to respond and nursing preparedness through education, training and management, but also for continuing emotional support after the event.
Exploring social media data to understand consumers' perception of eggs: A multilingual study using Twitter
Authors: Sass Carla Araújo Brito , Pimentel Tatiana Colombo , Aleixo Marina Gonzalez Barandela , Dantas Tiago Mendes , Cyrino Oliveira Fernando Luiz , de Freitas Mônica Queiroz , da Cruz Adriano Gomes , Esmerino Erick Almeida
Published: September 2020

Since Twitter covers a broad spectrum of topics, this study aimed to evaluate the consumer perception of an agri‐food product using its data as source of information. The keyword “eggs” was searched in different languages (English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese) and a content analysis was performed in tweets that had terms referring to the product in a food context. Although most of the perceptions regarding the use/consumption of eggs were shared among the languages, some differences could be highlighted such as the period of consumption of eggs or important concerns related to the product, such as quality, animal welfare, special diets, and price. In conclusion, we can highlight the use of Twitter as a practical source of information about consumers' perception of eggs and a dynamic tool to guide the different agents in the egg production chain. These findings can drive improvements both in zootechnical procedures (such as the way chickens were raised, feed formulation, egg processing, etc.), egg quality assurance, as well as identifying global or targeted trends in the poultry sector.

Practical Application

Social media has emerged as an important tool to obtain market and consumption trends around the world, attracting special attention from academics and scientists in the consumer research area. Among them, Twitter stands out, which is easy to use and a pertinent crowdsourcing platform for acquire spontaneous information elicited in real‐life situations. This is the first multilingual study available for the public on consumer's trends on eggs using Twitter and we believe that can be used by producers and traders in the egg production chain to improve production variables and quality parameters, as well as to invest in marketing strategies that are global or targeted at the different segments of egg consumers.
Hepatitis E virus genome detection in commercial pork livers and pork meat products in Germany
Authors: Pallerla Srinivas Reddy , Schembecker Sonja , Meyer Christian G. , Linh Le Thi Kieu , Johne Reimar , Wedemeyer Heiner , Bock C.‐Thomas , Kremsner Peter G. , Velavan Thirumalaisamy P.
Published: September 2020

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of hepatitis worldwide. HEV is also widespread in many developed countries, where the number of infections is steadily increasing. In those countries, the virus is transmitted mainly through consumption of undercooked or raw food or through contact with animals. Especially, pigs serve as a main reservoir of HEV. Here, we investigated the prevalence of HEV RNA in pork livers and pork meat products to assess the actual risk of HEV infection through food consumption in Germany. A total of 131 pork products were collected from grocery stores and butcher shops between October 2019 and February 2020 and screened for HEV RNA using nested PCR and subsequent sequencing. Overall, 10% of the samples were positive for HEV, including pork livers (5%), spreadable liver sausages (13%) and liver pâté samples (15%). Sequence analyses indicated that the large majority of HEV strains belonged to subtype HEV‐3c, representing the most frequent subtype in Germany. One sample belonged to subtype HEV‐3f. Further sequence analysis revealed large sequence variation between the samples; however, most of the mutations identified were synonymous. Although infectivity of the virus was not tested, the results suggest a considerable risk of HEV infection through food consumption. Therefore, preventive measures should be taken according to a One Health approach.
Molecular typing, in vitro susceptibility and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex clinical isolates from south‐eastern Brazil
Authors: Grizante Barião Patrícia Helena , Tonani Ludmilla , Cocio Tiago Alexandre , Martinez Roberto , Nascimento Érika , von Zeska Kress Marcia Regina
Published: September 2020

Background

Cryptococcus neoformans/ Cryptococcus gattii species complex is composed of encapsulated yeast species that are causative agents of cryptococcosis. The characterisation of pathogenic Cryptococcus species provides useful data for epidemiological studies as well as the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Objectives

This study aimed to characterise the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility and virulence of 72 clinical strains isolated from cryptococcosis cases between 2012 and 2017 in a tertiary reference hospital in south‐eastern Brazil.

Methods

Species and molecular types were molecularly assessed by PCR and PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the URA5 gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI protocols. The virulence was studied in a Galleria mellonella infection model.

Results

The most frequently isolated strain was C. neoformans molecular type VNI (61/72; 84.7%), although C. neoformans molecular type VNII (3/72; 4.2%) was also isolated. Additionally, C. deuterogattii molecular type VGII (8/72; 11.1%) was present, but most frequently from non‐HIV‐infected patients. Non‐wild‐type phenotype to the antifungals was observed in 26.4% (19/72) of the C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii clinical isolates, and the latter demonstrated higher MIC to fluconazole and itraconazole than C. neoformans clinical isolates. Finally, the virulence of C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii clinical isolates was diverse in G mellonella larvae and uncorrelated with the virulence factors of melanin and capsule.

Conclusions

The assessment of the spread of cryptococcal species and molecular types as well as the pattern of corresponding antifungal susceptibility and virulence aids in surveil the emergence of resistant strains, ensuring more accurate management of the cryptococcal infection.
Juxtaglomerular cell tumor: Clinicopathologic evaluation in a large series emphasizing its broad histologic spectrum
Authors: Zhou Jun , Zheng Saifang , Zhang Yanping , Yu Yijian , Zhou Luting , Zhang Wenjing , Wang Chaofu , Shen Qin , Yang Xiaoqun
Published: September 2020

The juxtaglomerular cell tumor (JCT) is a rare renal tumor. We re‐evaluated the clinicopathologic features of 21 JCTs to summarize their variable morphologies. Immunohistochemical, fluorescent in situ hybridization and periodic acid–Schiff stains were routinely performed, and four JCT cases were detected via transmission electron microscopy. The 21 JCTs involved five males and 16 females, ranging in age from 19 years to 69 years (mean, 36.9 years; median, 34 years). The tumors were composed of large, small, or spindle cells with a round, oval or polygonal shape, arranged in various growth patterns. Both necrosis (1/21) and mitosis (2/21, with 1/50HFP, 8/50HFP) was rarely appreciated. All cases were immunoreactive for renin and CD34 (21/21), and few were positive for α‐SMA (13/21;11/21, focally; 2/21, diffusely,), CD117 (9/21, focally) and synaptophysin (3/21, focally). Ultrastructurally, all four cases exhibited secretory granules in varying sizes in the cytoplasm, two of which exhibited cellular junctions. Almost all cases (20/21) had a favorable prognosis, but one succumbed due to bone and hepatic metastases, which corresponds to malignant JCT. Our study demonstrates that JCTs may have atypical clinical presentations and variable histologic appearances. A familiarity with these features may contribute to a correct diagnosis.
The Effect of List Price on Channel Performance with Consignment
Authors: Fang Xiang , Ru Jun , Wang Yunzeng
Published: September 2020

Motivated by the newest contract offered by Amazon.com, called the Advantage Program, we study a supply chain where a retailer offers a vendor‐managed inventory with consignment contract to n suppliers for selling their products. A key parameter in the contract is the product list price that the retailer allows each supplier to choose for its own product. The retailer then sets the retail price of each product at or below its list price for selling it to the market and remits its supplier an amount equal to a prespecified percentage of its list price on each unit sold. Two alternative consignment contracts are also considered with only one deviation where the retailer chooses the retail price of each product freely, or the retailer sets the retail price of each product at or above its list price. We show that the supplier’s list price plays a major role in determining firms’ decisions and performance in equilibrium. In particular, we find that by committing the retail price of each product to not exceeding the list price set by its supplier, the retailer can improve its own performance and the channel performance without hurting each supplier.
Determinants of idea sharing in crowdsourcing: evidence from the automotive industry
Authors: Schäper Thomas , Foege J. Nils , Nüesch Stephan , Schäfer Sebastian
Published: September 2020

Drawing on external ideas through crowdsourcing has become common practice for firms that seek to improve and extend their product portfolios. As these initiatives often address the users of products, it is essential for firms to recognize those attributes that determine these individuals' willingness to share their ideas. This study takes the example of the automotive industry to examine how three attributes of car drivers determine their sharing behavior – that is, altruism, psychological ownership of ideas, and trust in car manufacturers. Our findings suggest that trust and altruism strengthen idea sharing, while psychological ownership weakens it. Furthermore, we find that car drivers' perception of sharing‐related risk acts as an important boundary condition for these relationships.
Sulfonamides without trimethoprim in the treatment of Nocardia infections: A case report and literature review
Authors: Root Heather , Daniels Lindsay , Marx Ashley , Bartelt Luther A. , Lachiewicz Anne M. , van Duin David
Published: September 2020

Sulfonamides are recommended as part of first‐line therapy for most Nocardia infections, with trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMP‐SMX) considered the drug of choice for susceptible isolates. However, in the case of central nervous system, disseminated disease, and other serious Nocardia infections, TMP‐SMX should not be used as monotherapy. The preferred treatment for a patient unable to take TMP‐SMX because of allergy or intolerance remains uncertain. Prior to the availability of TMP‐SMX in 1973, other sulfonamides were mainstays of treatment. We describe a Nocardia infection successfully treated with sulfadiazine in a lung transplant recipient who could not tolerate TMP‐SMX. A review of similar cases reported in the literature provides insight into the successful treatment of Nocardia infections with sulfonamide regimens not containing trimethoprim in transplant recipients and other immunocompromised hosts.
Boys are tired! Youth, urban struggles, and retaliatory patriarchy
Authors: Esson James , Amankwaa Ebenezer F. , Mensah Peter
Published: September 2020

Research in geography and allied disciplines on gendered experiences in Africa have struggled to comprehend the nuances that make up young men's lifeworlds. Influenced by theoretical orientations in urban studies, which demonstrate how music offers a way to explore social dynamics in Africa, we examine the thoughts, actions, and experiences of male youth in Ghana using Guru's popular song “Boys abrƐ [Boys are tired].” Drawing on interviews and focus groups with young people in Accra, the empirical findings and analysis illustrate how the phrase “boys are tired,” and the dispositions it evokes, provides a subversive critique of and protest against the precariousness of contemporary Ghanaian urbanism. Problematically, “Boys are tired” also encourages the (re)calibration of gender relations on patriarchal terms. These insights extend debates around geographies of children and youth and gender relations in two novel ways. First, the vernacular of “tiredness” generates fresh theoretical perspectives on a wider set of questions about youth agency and contemporary gender relations, namely, how young people are implicated in the reproduction of patriarchy. Through doing so, we identify a set of troubling gender relations unfolding in Accra that are conceptualised as “retaliatory patriarchy” which has three constituent elements: entitlement, resentment, and obliviousness. Second, the paper detects reasons why young men in Accra are reluctant to support feminist action and suggests how to counter this trend. These findings support wider efforts, within and beyond the discipline, to better conceptualise and prevent the perpetuation of inequity and oppression along gendered lines.
Oestradiol affects skeletal muscle mass, strength and satellite cells following repeated injuries
Authors: Larson Alexie A. , Baumann Cory W. , Kyba Michael , Lowe Dawn A.
Published: September 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Oestradiol (E2) plays an important role in regulating skeletal muscle strength in females. To what extent does E2 deficiency affect recovery of strength and satellite cell number when muscle is challenged by multiple injuries?

What is the main finding and its importance?

E2 deficiency impairs the adaptive potential of skeletal muscle following repeated injuries, as measured by muscle mass and strength. The impairment is likely multifactorial with our data indicating that one mechanism is reduction in satellite cell number. Our findings have implications for ageing, hormone replacement and regenerative medicine in regards to maintaining satellite cell number and ultimately the preservation of skeletal muscle's adaptive potential.

Oestradiol's effects on skeletal muscle are multifactorial including the preservation of mass, contractility and regeneration. Here, we aimed to determine the extent to which oestradiol deficiency affects strength recovery when muscle is challenged by multiple BaCl2‐induced injuries and to assess how satellite cell number is influenced by the combination of oestradiol deficiency and repetitive skeletal muscle injuries. A longitudinal study was designed, using an in vivo anaesthetized mouse approach to precisely and repeatedly measure maximal isometric torque, coupled with endpoint fluorescence‐activated cell sorting to quantify satellite cells. Isometric torque and strength gains were lower in ovariectomized mice at several time points after the injuries compared to those treated with 17β‐oestradiol. Satellite cell number was 41–43% lower in placebo‐ than in oestradiol‐treated ovariectomized mice, regardless of injury status or number of injuries. Together, these results indicate that the loss of oestradiol blunts adaptive strength gains and that the number of satellite cells likely contributes to the impairment.
Práctica de inyecciones seguras por parte del personal de la salud: revisión integrativa
Authors: Gaitan Gomez Olga Lucia , Aristizabal Patricia , Bueno Robles Luz Stella
Published: September 2020

Introducción: Las prácticas de inyecciones seguras han recobrado importancia en las últimas dos décadas, como consecuencia de las infecciones asociadas con su aplicación incorrecta. Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia disponible sobre las prácticas de inyecciones seguras ejecutadas por el personal de la salud en su práctica clínica. Método: Revisión integrativa de la literatura, realizada en 12 bases de datos entre 1999 y 2018. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 29 artículos y se identificaron prácticas riesgosas como el reúso de los dispositivos de inyección en el mismo paciente o en otros, fallas en la técnica aséptica, ausencia o no seguimiento del protocolo posexposición, reencapuchado de la aguja y ausencia de inmunización contra el virus de hepatitis B. Conclusiones: Los esfuerzos orientados a la seguridad del paciente deben enfocarse también en acciones concretas dirigidas a la administración de los medicamentos.
Mechanical Damage and Response of a Buried Steel Pipeline Under Subsurface Explosion Load
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhang Lan , Chen Yang
Published: September 2020

Subsurface explosions seriously threaten the safety and reliability of buried oil and gas pipeline. In order to investigate the mechanical responses of buried steel pipeline under subsurface explosion load, a numerical model of pipeline–soil coupling under explosion load was developed. Stress, displacement, plastic deformation, and local buckling of the buried pipeline were investigated. The effects of trinitrotoluene (TNT) magnitude, pipeline diameter-thickness ratio, pipeline's buried depth, explosive depth, and explosive offset on the mechanical response of pipeline were studied. The results show that the response time of buried pipeline is very short under the explosion load. There is a dent appearing on the pipeline section toward the exploding location. Cross-sectional area of the pipeline decreases along the time during the explosion, but it gradually increases for the elastic recovery. Pipeline's deformation and total energy increase gradually with the increasing of trinitrotoluene magnitude or diameter-thickness ratio, but they decrease with the increasing of the buried depth or explosive offset. With the explosive depth increases, the pipeline's plastic deformation first increases and then decreases. The pipeline's energy curve can be used to determine the buckling state under explosion load. The empirical formulas of the maximum strain and dent rate for buried pipelines have been obtained and can be used for the pipeline safety assessment.
Generalization of Sabine's reverberation theory
Authors: Xiang Ning
Published: September 2020

The Reflections series takes a look back on historical articles from The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America that have had a significant impact on the science and practice of acoustics.
The Long-Term Effectiveness of Trigger Point Dry Needling and Exercise for Individuals With Shoulder Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic
Authors: Matsel Kyle , Davies Claire , Uhl Tim
Published: September 2020

Clinical Scenario: Shoulder pain is a very common symptom encountered in outpatient physical therapy practice. In addition to therapeutic exercise and manual therapy interventions, trigger point dry needling (TDN) has emerged as a possible treatment option for reducing shoulder pain and improving function. Dry needling consists of inserting a thin stainless-steel filament into a myofascial trigger point with the intention of eliciting a local twitch response of the muscle. It is theorized that this twitch response results in reduced muscle tension and can aid in reduced pain and disability. To this point, multiple studies have found TDN to be effective at reducing pain and improving function in the short-term, but the long-term outcomes remain unknown. Clinical Question: Does the addition of TDN to an exercise program result in better long-term pain intensity and disability reduction in patients with shoulder pain? Summary of Findings: Improvement in long-term pain and function can be expected regardless of the addition of TDN to an evidence-based exercise program for patients with shoulder pain. Clinical Bottom Line: Either TDN or an evidence-based therapeutic exercise program elicits improved long-term pain and disability reduction in patients with shoulder pain, which suggests that clinicians can confidently use either approach with their patients. Strength of Recommendation: Strong evidence (level 2 evidence with PEDro scores >8/10) suggesting that TDN does not outperform therapeutic exercise regarding long-term pain reduction.
The Somatic Work of Thomas Hanna, Tai Chi, and Kinesiology
Authors: Bennett Bradford C.
Published: September 2020

Thomas Hanna’s somatic work has been essential to the development of the field of somatic education. From redefining the word “somatic” and developing the concept of somatics as a field of study, to starting the magazine/journal Somatics, to developing theories and practices of somatic education, Hanna greatly influenced this fledgling area of work. This article presents the somatic philosophy, theories, and education techniques of Hanna, focusing on the aspects that are unique to this somatic explorer. Hanna’s techniques are contrasted to the traditional somatic movement training of Tai Chi. The difficulties of researching a learning such as somatic education are discussed. Ideas are presented on how kinesiology and somatic education can inform each other.
µ-Opioid receptor–induced synaptic plasticity in dopamine neurons mediates the rewarding properties of anabolic androgenic steroids
Authors: Bontempi Leonardo , Bonci Antonello
Published: September 2020

Induction of opioid signaling in a “reward center” of the brain underlies the addictive nature of anabolic steroids.
Population Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis To Evaluate a Switch to Doravirine/Lamivudine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in People Living with HIV-1
Authors: Vaddady Pavan , Kandala Bhargava , Yee Ka Lai
Published: September 2020

Doravirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. A population pharmacokinetic (PK) model for treatment-naive participants in doravirine clinical studies was updated with data from switch participants in the DRIVE-SHIFT trial and used to estimate individual
post hoc
PK parameter values and evaluate the efficacy exposure-response relationship. The results support the 100-mg dose for people living with HIV switching to a doravirine-based regimen (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.
Intracellular Organization by Jumbo Bacteriophages
Authors: Guan Jingwen , Bondy-Denomy Joseph
Published: September 2020

Since their discovery more than 100 years ago, the viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages) have been widely studied as model systems. Largely overlooked, however, have been “jumbo phages,” with genome sizes ranging from 200 to 500 kbp. Jumbo phages generally have large virions with complex structures and a broad host spectrum. While the majority of jumbo phage genes are poorly functionally characterized, recent work has discovered many unique biological features, including a conserved tubulin homolog that coordinates a proteinaceous nucleus-like compartment that houses and segregates phage DNA.
The C-Terminal Domain of Clostridioides difficile TcdC Is Exposed on the Bacterial Cell Surface
Authors: Oliveira Paiva Ana M. , de Jong Leen , Friggen Annemieke H. , Smits Wiep Klaas , Corver Jeroen
Published: September 2020

The transcription of
C. difficile
toxins TcdA and TcdB is directed by the sigma factor TcdR. TcdC has been proposed to be an anti-sigma factor. The activity of TcdC has been mapped to its C terminus, and the N terminus serves as the membrane anchor. Acting as an anti-sigma factor requires a cytoplasmic localization of the C terminus of TcdC. Using cysteine accessibility analysis and a HiBiT-based system, we show that the TcdC C terminus is located extracellularly, which is incompatible with its role as anti-sigma factor. Furthermore, mutating a cysteine residue at position 51 resulted in the release of TcdC from the bacteria. The codon-optimized version of the HiBiT (HiBiT
opt
) extracellular detection system is a valuable tool for topology determination of membrane proteins, increasing the range of systems available to tackle important aspects of
C. difficile
development.
Development of a Peer-Reviewed Open-Access Undergraduate Research Journal
Authors: Sun Evelyn , Huggins Julia A. , Brown Kirstin L. , Boutin Rozlyn C.T. , Ramey William D. , Graves Marcia L. , Oliver David C.
Published: September 2020

Dissemination of results is a fundamental aspect of the scientific process and requires an avenue for publication that is specifically designed to suit the nature of the research being communicated. Undergraduate research journals provide a unique forum for students to report scientific findings and ideas while learning about the complete scientific process. We have developed a peer-reviewed, open-access, international undergraduate research journal that is linked to a course-based undergraduate research experience. We reflect on lessons learned and recommend effective approaches for the implementation and operation of a successful undergraduate research journal.
RUNX Binding Sites Are Enriched in Herpesvirus Genomes, and RUNX1 Overexpression Leads to Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Suppression
Authors: Kim Daniel J. , Khoury-Hanold William , Jain Priyanka Caroline , Klein Jonathan , Kong Yong , Pope Scott D. , Ge William , Medzhitov Ruslan , Iwasaki Akiko
Published: September 2020

Infecting 90% of the global population, HSV-1 and HSV-2 represent some of the most prevalent viruses in the world. Much of their success can be attributed to their ability to establish lifelong latent infections in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). It is still largely unknown, however, how host transcription factors are involved in establishing this latency. Here, we report that RUNX1, expressed highly in DRG, binds HSV-1 genome, represses transcription of numerous viral genes, and suppresses productive
in vitro
infection. Our computational work further suggests this strategy may be used by other herpesviruses to reinforce latency in a cell-specific manner.
Human Cytomegalovirus-Induced Autophagy Prevents Necroptosis of Infected Monocytes
Authors: Altman Aaron M. , Miller Michael J. , Mahmud Jamil , Smith Nicholas A. , Chan Gary C.
Published: September 2020

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is endemic throughout the world, with a seroprevalence of 40 to 100% depending on geographic location. HCMV infection is generally asymptomatic, but can cause severe inflammatory organ diseases in immunocompromised individuals. The broad array of organ diseases caused by HCMV is directly linked to the systematic spread of the virus mediated by monocytes. Monocytes are naturally programmed to undergo apoptosis, which is rapidly blocked by HCMV to ensure the survival and dissemination of infected monocytes to different organ sites. In this work, we demonstrate infected monocytes also initiate necroptosis as a “trap door” death pathway in response to HCMV subversion of apoptosis. HCMV then activates cellular autophagy as a countermeasure to prevent the execution of necroptosis, thereby promoting the continued survival of infected monocytes. Elucidating the mechanisms by which HCMV stimulates monocyte survival is an important step to the development of novel anti-HCMV drugs that prevent the spread of infected monocytes.
Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Signaling Activation Antagonizes Autophagy To Facilitate Zika Virus Replication
Authors: Sahoo Bikash R. , Pattnaik Aryamav , Annamalai Arun S. , Franco Rodrigo , Pattnaik Asit K.
Published: September 2020

The re-emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its association with neurological complications necessitates studies on the molecular mechanisms that regulate ZIKV pathogenesis. The mTOR signaling cascade is tightly regulated and central to normal neuronal development and survival. Disruption of mTOR signaling can result in neurological abnormalities. In the studies reported here, we demonstrate for the first time that ZIKV infection results in activation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 to promote virus replication. Although autophagy is activated early in infection to counter virus replication, it is subsequently suppressed by mTOR. These results reveal critical roles of mTOR signaling and autophagy in ZIKV infection and point to a possible mechanism underlying ZIKV-induced pathogenesis. Elucidating the role of mTOR signaling in ZIKV infection will provide insights into the mechanisms of ZIKV-induced neurological complications and potential targets for therapeutic approaches.
Modeling Tubercular ESX-1 Secretion Using Mycobacterium marinum
Authors: Chirakos Alexandra E. , Balaram Ariane , Conrad William , Champion Patricia A.
Published: September 2020

Pathogenic mycobacteria cause chronic and acute diseases ranging from human tuberculosis (TB) to nontubercular infections.Mycobacterium tuberculosiscauses both acute and chronic human tuberculosis. Environmentally acquired nontubercular mycobacteria (NTM) cause chronic disease in humans and animals. Not surprisingly, NTM andM. tuberculosisoften use shared molecular mechanisms to survive within the host. The ESX-1 system is a specialized secretion system that is essential for virulence and is functionally conserved betweenM. tuberculosisandMycobacterium marinum.
Antibody and Local Cytokine Response to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Yu Xiao , Lakerveld Anke J. , Imholz Sandra , Hendriks Marion , ten Brink Sofie C. A. , Mulder H. Lie , de Haan Karen , Schepp Rutger M. , Luytjes Willem , de Jong Menno D. , van Beek Josine , van Kasteren Puck B.
Published: September 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe morbidity and mortality in certain risk groups, especially infants and older adults. Currently no (prophylactic) treatment is available, except for a partially effective yet highly expensive monoclonal antibody. RSV therefore remains a major public health concern. To allow targeted development of novel vaccines and therapeutics, it is of great importance to understand the immunological mechanisms that underlie (protection from) severe disease in specific risk populations. Since most RSV-related studies focus on infants, there are only very limited data available concerning the response to RSV in the elderly population. Therefore, in this study, RSV-induced antibody responses and local cytokine secretion were assessed in community-dwelling older adults. These data provide novel insights that will benefit ongoing efforts to design safe and effective prevention and treatment strategies for RSV in an understudied risk group.
A Simplified Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay for Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 Growth in Cell Culture
Authors: Shema Mugisha Christian , Vuong Hung R. , Puray-Chavez Maritza , Bailey Adam L. , Fox Julie M. , Chen Rita E. , Wessel Alex W. , Scott Jason M. , Harastani Houda H. , Boon Adrianus C. M. , Shin Haina , Kutluay Sebla B.
Published: September 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is continuing to cause immense respiratory disease and social and economic disruptions. Conventional assays that monitor SARS-CoV-2 growth in cell culture rely on costly and time-consuming RNA extraction procedures, hampering progress in basic SARS-CoV-2 research and development of effective therapeutics. Here, we developed a simple quantitative real-time PCR assay to monitor SARS-CoV-2 growth in cell culture supernatants that does not necessitate RNA extraction and that is as accurate and sensitive as existing methods. In a proof-of-concept screen, we found that E64D, apilimod, EIPA, and remdesivir can substantially impede SARS-Cov-2 replication, providing novel insight into viral entry and replication mechanisms. In addition, we show that this approach is easily adaptable to numerous other RNA and DNA viruses. This simplified assay will undoubtedly expedite basic SARS-CoV-2 and virology research and be amenable to use in drug screening platforms to identify therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.
SONO case series: 35-year-old male patient with flank pain
Authors: Shyy William , Knight Roneesha
Published: September 2020

The diagnosis and management of obstructing nephrolithiasis by emergency physicians has undergone great advancements in the past few years. No longer do all patients with suspected renal colic need a CT scan and an immediate urology consult. In this case presentation, we present a classic case of obstructing nephrolithiasis along with the associated point-of-care ultrasound images. We will walk with the reader through a series of questions and answers discussing the patient’s diagnosis based on the most current evidence-based recommendations.
BET 1: Can hands-on defibrillation be performed safely?
Authors: Adler David , Helming Andrew , Lupton Joshua
Published: September 2020

A review was carried out to see whether hands-on defibrillation could be performed safely. 6 papers presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. It is concluded that hands-on defibrillation has the potential to be performed safely if the rescuer uses appropriate electrical insulating barriers such as polyethylene gloves or class 1 electrical insulating gloves. The safety profile of nitrile gloves is unclear. Since detection of shock was used as a proxy for safety, additional investigation is warranted before hands-on defibrillation becomes common practice.
BET 2: FAST or ROSIER to identify suspected stroke in the prehospital setting?
Authors: Gibbons Ian , Williams Owen
Published: September 2020

A short cut review was carried out to whether the FAST screening tool is more accurate than the ROSIER tool at correctly identifying those with stroke in the prehospital setting. 9 papers presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. It is concluded that FAST and ROSIER have similar sensitivities in the recognition of stroke, with ROSIER demonstrating a higher specificity in the prehospital setting.
Changes in intimate partner violence during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA
Authors: Jetelina Katelyn K , Knell Gregory , Molsberry Rebecca J
Published: September 2020

The objective of this study is to describe intimate partner violence (IPV) severity and types of victimization during the early states of the COVID19 pandemic. A survey was distributed through social media and email distribution lists. The survey was open for 14 days in April 2020 and 2441 participated. Information on IPV, COVID19-related IPV severity, sociodemographics, and COVID19-related behaviors (eg, job loss) were collected. Regression models were used to evaluate COVID19-related IPV severity across victimization types and sociodemographics. 18% screened positive for IPV. Among the respondents that screened positive, 54% stated the victimization remained the same since the COVID19 outbreak, while 17% stated it worsened and 30% stated it got better. The odds of worsening victimization during the pandemic was significantly higher among physical and sexual violence. While the majority of IPV participants reported victimization to remain the same, sexual and physical violence was exacerbated during the early stages of the pandemic. Addressing victimization during the pandemic (and beyond) must be multi-sectorial.
Functional framework for change leaders: results of a qualitative study
Authors: Woods Amanda L , Luciano Margaret M , Aloia Thomas A , Gottumukkala Vijaya , Salas Eduardo
Published: September 2020

Background

Healthcare organisations are increasingly placing the onus on care providers to lead change initiatives to improve patient care. This requires care providers to perform tasks in addition to their core job roles and often outside of their formal training. The existing literature provides few insights regarding the functions required of change leaders in healthcare organisations.

Objective

To identify the core functions required of effective change leaders in healthcare organisations.

Design

Qualitative interview study.

Participants

Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 31 individuals employed by a large cancer centre in a variety of different positions (eg, surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurse anaesthetists, nurses, project consultants and research coordinators) who had been involved in successful quality improvement initiatives.

Results

Using inductive content analysis, we identified six core pillars of leading change, which are supported by a foundation of effective communication. Within these six pillars, there were 12 functions, including explain why, demonstrate value, create consensus, align efforts, generate enthusiasm, motivate commitment, institute structure, explain how, facilitate taskwork, promote accountability, enable adjustment and sustain effort. Our model offers unique insights on leading sustainable change in healthcare organisations.

Conclusion

Using inductive content analysis of semistructured interviews, we have identified 12 important change leader functions and have organised them into a conceptual framework for leading change in healthcare. Individuals involved in leading change initiatives or developing training programmes to help others become effective change leaders can use this framework to ensure they are comprehensively addressing the necessary tasks for sustainable change.
Pharmacokinetics of lidocaine after bilateral ESP block
Authors: De Cassai Alessandro , Bonanno Claudio , Padrini Roberto , Geraldini Federico , Boscolo Annalisa , Navalesi Paolo , Munari Marina
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is an emerging interfascial block with a wide range of indications for perioperative analgesia and chronic pain treatment. Recent studies have focused their attention on mechanisms of action of ESP block. However, the pharmacokinetics of drugs injected in ESP is, as of now, uninvestigated. The aim of this brief report is to investigate the pharmacokinetics of lidocaine in a series of 10 patients.

Methods

We are reporting a case series of 10 patients undergoing bilateral ESP block for multilevel lumbar spine surgery.

ESP was performed with 3.5 mg/kg of lidocaine based on ideal body weight. Lidocaine concentration was dosed at 5, 15, 30 min and at 1, 2 and 3 hours.

Results

Tmaxwas 5 min for all the patients. Cmaxranged from 1.2 to 3.8 mg/L (mean: 2.59 mg/L). AUC0-3was high (76%, on average) suggesting an almost complete bioavailability. Age had a negative correlation with T½ of lidocaine.

Conclusions

Lidocaine pharmacokinetic after ESP block is well-described by a two-compartment model with a rapid and extensive rate of absorption. Nevertheless, its peak concentrations never exceeded the accepted toxicity limit. Elimination half-life was slightly prolonged, probably due to the advanced age of some patients.
Secondary invasion? Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) induced ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality interacts with ecological integrity to facilitate European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Authors: Baron Jennifer N. , Rubin Benjamin D.
Published: September 2020

Invasive insects facilitate secondary invasive species by altering forest structure and function. Specifically, invasive insect herbivores may promote the establishment and growth of invasive plants by creating canopy gaps. Such secondary invasions may be influenced by ecological integrity — the degree to which ecosystem composition, structure, and function deviate from their natural or historical range of variation. Here we investigate (i) whether emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis; EAB) induced ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality facilitates European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) — an invasive, shade-tolerant shrub, and (ii) the role of ecological integrity in this relationship. We use a principal component analysis (PCA) to calculate an index of ecological integrity and a zero-altered negative binomial generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to describe European buckthorn occurrence and abundance. European buckthorn occurrence is influenced by canopy gaps, independent of EAB-induced gap formation. Ecological integrity and EAB-induced ash mortality interact to control European buckthorn abundance, with high ecological integrity limiting EAB-facilitated buckthorn invasion. This is the first evidence for EAB-facilitated buckthorn invasion and for an interaction between a secondary invasion and ecological integrity. Thus, ecological integrity plays an important role in the EAB–buckthorn system and may be used to manage the impacts of secondary invasions.
Estimating educational outcomes from students’ short texts on social media
Authors: Smirnov Ivan
Published: September 2020

Digital traces have become an essential source of data in social sciences because they provide new insights into human behavior and allow studies to be conducted on a larger scale. One particular area of interest is the estimation of various users’ characteristics from their texts on social media. Although it has been established that basic categorical attributes could be effectively predicted from social media posts, the extent to which it applies to more complex continuous characteristics is less understood. In this research, we used data from a nationally representative panel of students to predict their educational outcomes measured by standardized tests from short texts on a popular Russian social networking site VK. We combined unsupervised learning of word embeddings on a large corpus of VK posts with a simple, supervised model trained on individual posts. The resulting model was able to distinguish between posts written by high- and low-performing students with an accuracy of 94%. We then applied the model to reproduce the ranking of 914 high schools from 3 cities and of the 100 largest universities in Russia. We also showed that the same model could predict academic performance from tweets as well as from VK posts. Finally, we explored predictors of high and low academic performance to obtain insights into the factors associated with different educational outcomes.
Holographic dark energy in Rastall theory
Authors: Ghaffari S. , Mamon A. A. , Moradpour H. , Ziaie A. H.
Published: September 2020

Bearing holographic dark energy hypothesis in mind, the ability of vacuum energy in describing the current accelerated universe is studied in the framework of Rastall theory. Here, in addition to the ordinary approach in which it is expected that this energy plays the role of dark energy, we also address a new approach where the sum of this energy and Rastall term is responsible for the current accelerated universe. We also investigate the cosmological outcomes of using Tsallis entropy in quantifying the energy of fields in vacuum for both mentioned approaches. The implications of considering an interaction between the various segments of cosmic fluid have been addressed in each studied cases. The normalized Hubble parameter for the models have also been plotted and compared that with the [Formula: see text] data consisting of 41 data points in the redshift range of [Formula: see text].
Pre-inflation dynamical behavior of warm inflation in loop quantum cosmology
Authors: Xiao Kui , Wang Sheng-Qin
Published: September 2020

Considering a constant dissipative coefficient [Formula: see text], the pre-inflation dynamical behaviors of warm inflation in the loop quantum cosmology scenario are discussed. We consider three sets of initial conditions. The evolution of the background can always be divided into three phases, namely super-inflation, damping, and slow-roll inflation phases, with the duration of each phase depending on the initial conditions. As an example, we compare the background evolution between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] under special initial conditions and find that there is no slow-roll inflation phase for [Formula: see text] while the number of e-folds is about 60.209 for [Formula: see text].
A note on transition in discrete gauge groups in F-theory
Authors: Kimura Yusuke
Published: September 2020

We observe a new puzzling physical phenomenon in F-theory on the multisection geometry, wherein a model without a gauge group transitions to another model with a discrete [Formula: see text] gauge group via Higgsing. This phenomenon may suggest an unknown aspect of F-theory compactification on multisection geometry lacking a global section. A possible interpretation of this puzzling physical phenomenon is proposed in this note. We also propose a possible interpretation of another unnatural physical phenomenon observed for F-theory on four-section geometry, wherein a discrete [Formula: see text] gauge group transitions to a discrete [Formula: see text] gauge group via Higgsing as described in the previous literature.
Nonlinear dynamic analysis of spur gear system based on fractional-order calculus
Authors: Hou Jingyu , Yang Shaopu , Li Qiang , Liu Yongqiang
Published: September 2020

In this paper, nonlinear dynamic model of spur gear pairs with fractional-order damping under the condition of time-varying stiffness, backlash and static transmission error is established. The general formula of fractional-order damping term is derived by using the incremental harmonic balance method (IHBM), and the approximate analytical solution of the system is obtained by use of the iterative formula. The correctness of the results is verified by comparing with the numerical solutions in the existing literature. The effects of mesh stiffness, internal excitation amplitude and fractional order on the dynamic behavior of the system are analyzed. The results show that changing the fractional order can effectively control the resonance position and amplitude in the meshing process. Both the mesh stiffness and internal excitation can control the collision state and the stability.