bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The experiences of cooperation among healthcare workers who participated in COVID‐19 aid mission in China: A qualitative study
Authors: Wang Anni , Liu Lei , Zhu Jianguo , Chen Xue , Tang Siyuan , Bai Xiaoling
Published: July 2021

Aims and objectives

To assist future offsite planning for pandemics, we documented lived experiences of cooperation among healthcare workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic poses a global health crisis. Most recent studies on the COVID‐19 focus on frontline HCWs' physio‐psychological experiences, with few studies examining their experiences of cooperation.

Design

A descriptive phenomenological design reported based on COREQ checklist.

Methods

25 HCWs (17 nurses and eight physicians) were interviewed, selected through convenience and purposive sampling, who participated in a medical aid mission in China during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Data were collected via semi‐structured online video interviews, and the transcripts were analysed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method.

Results

The HCWs experienced stressed and anxious, but rated their overall cooperation experience as positive. We categorised the reported experiences in five themes: (1) a multi‐level management structure; (2) nurse managers as internal and external team coordinators; (3) high morale and a mutual supportive context; (4) a continuous streamlined workflow; and (5) the value of multidisciplinary collaboration in care. Reasonable management structure and division of work were the basis for successful aid mission. High morale and a mutual supportive context were foundational for growth and stress mitigation. The HCWs continuously streamlined workflow through communication and met patients' individual need through multidisciplinary collaboration.

Conclusions

Planning for a pandemic aid mission is challenging, given the unpredictable nature of the working circumstances. Our results underline the importance of supportive strategies for COVID‐19 aid mission.

Relevance to clinical practice

Recommendations for future pandemic planning: (1) positive morale and supportive working text should be paid prioritised attention; (2) sufficient experienced and ancillary staff should be recruited; (3) multiple communication channels such as regular handover meetings, online chat applications and electronic recording devices are essential, and (4) multidisciplinary cooperation are is necessary in COVID‐19 wards.
Prediction of H3K27M mutation status of diffuse midline gliomas using MRI features
Authors: Chauhan Richa Singh , Kulanthaivelu Karthik , Kathrani Nihar , Kotwal Abhishek , Bhat Maya Dattatraya , Saini Jitender , Prasad Chandrajit , Chakrabarti Dhritiman , Santosh Vani , Uppar Alok Mohan , Srinivas Dwarakanath
Published: July 2021

Background and Purpose

Presurgical prediction of H3K27M mutation in diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) on MRI is desirable. The purpose of this study is to elaborate conventional MRI (cMRI) features of H3K27M‐mutant DMGs and identify features that could discriminate them from wild‐type (WT) DMGs.

Methods

CMRI features of 123 patients with DMG were evaluated conforming to the institutional research protocols. Multimodality MRI was performed on 1.5 or 3.0 Tesla MR Scanners with imaging protocol, including T1‐weighted (w), T2w, fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery, diffusion‐weighted, susceptibility‐weighted, and postcontrast T1w sequences. Pertinent cMRI features were annotated along the lines of Visually AcceSAble Rembrandt Images features, and Intra Tumoral Susceptibility Signal score (ITSS) was evaluated. R software was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Sixty‐one DMGs were H3K27M‐mutant (mutant DMGs). The patients in the H3K27M‐mutant DMG group were younger compared to the WT‐DMG group (mean age 24.13 ± 13.13 years vs. 35.79±18.74 years) (p = 0.016). The two groups differed on five cMRI features––(1) enhancement quality (p = 0.032), (2) thickness of enhancing margin (p = 0.05), (3) proportion of edema (p = 0.002), (4) definition of noncontrast‐enhancing tumor (NCET) margin (p = 0.001), and (5) cortical invasion (p = 0.037). The mutant DMGs showed greater enhancement and greater thickness of enhancing margin, while the WT DMGs exhibited significantly larger edema proportion with poorly defined NCET margins and cortical invasion. ITSS was not significantly different among the groups.

Conclusion

CMRI features like enhancement quality, the thickness of the enhancing margin, proportion of edema, definition of NCET margin, and cortical invasion can discriminate between the H3K27M‐mutant and WT DMGs.
The limits of moral dumbfounding
Authors: Wylie Danielle
Published: July 2021

In moral psychology, “psychological rationalism” is the view that moral judgments are caused by a process of reasoning. Jonathan Haidt argues against this view by showing that people succumb to “moral dumbfounding”—they cannot adequately provide reasoning for their moral judgment. I argue that this evidence undermines psychological rationalism only if the view is committed to two claims about reasoning: (a) reasoning must meet an adequacy condition, and (b) reasoning must be sufficiently conscious. I argue that plausible variants of psychological rationalism are not committed to these requirements. Thus, the efficacy of the dumbfounding objection is more limited than it might initially seem.
Chicago Classification update (version 4.0): Technical review on diagnostic criteria for achalasia
Authors: Khan Abraham , Yadlapati Rena , Gonlachanvit Sutep , Katzka David A. , Park Moo In , Vaezi Michael , Vela Marcelo , Pandolfino John
Published: July 2021

The recommended diagnostic criteria for achalasia have been recently updated by Chicago Classification version 4.0 (CCv4.0), the widely accepted classification scheme for esophageal motility disorders using metrics from high‐resolution manometry (HRM). CCv4.0 continued upon prior versions by subtyping achalasia into type I, type II, and type III on HRM. The achalasia subgroup of the CCv4.0 Working Group developed both conclusive and inconclusive statements for the HRM diagnoses of achalasia subtypes. Conclusive achalasia on HRM is defined as an abnormal median integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) in the primary position of wet swallows along with 100% failed peristalsis, with type I achalasia having 100% failed peristalsis without panesophageal pressurization (PEP), type II achalasia with PEP in at least 20% of swallows, and type III achalasia having at least 20% of swallows premature with no appreciable peristalsis. An inconclusive HRM diagnosis of achalasia can arise when there is an integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) that is borderline or at the upper limit of normal in at least one position, there is an abnormal IRP in both positions but evidence of peristalsis with PEP or premature swallows, or there is peristalsis in the secondary position after apparent achalasia in the primary position. In patients with dysphagia and an inconclusive HRM diagnosis of achalasia, supportive testing beyond HRM such as a timed barium esophagram (TBE) for functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) is recommended. The review recommends a diagnostic algorithm for achalasia, discusses therapeutic options for the disease, and outlines future needs on this topic.
Recently photoassimilated carbon and fungus‐delivered nitrogen are spatially correlated in the ectomycorrhizal tissue of Fagus sylvatica
Authors: Mayerhofer Werner , Schintlmeister Arno , Dietrich Marlies , Gorka Stefan , Wiesenbauer Julia , Martin Victoria , Gabriel Raphael , Reipert Siegfried , Weidinger Marieluise , Clode Peta , Wagner Michael , Woebken Dagmar , Richter Andreas , Kaiser Christina
Published: July 2021

Ectomycorrhizal plants trade plant‐assimilated carbon for soil nutrients with their fungal partners. The underlying mechanisms, however, are not fully understood. Here we investigate the exchange of carbon for nitrogen in the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis of Fagus sylvatica across different spatial scales from the root system to the cellular level.

We provided 15N‐labelled nitrogen to mycorrhizal hyphae associated with one half of the root system of young beech trees, while exposing plants to a 13CO2 atmosphere. We analysed the short‐term distribution of 13C and 15N in the root system with isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry, and at the cellular scale within a mycorrhizal root tip with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS).

At the root system scale, plants did not allocate more 13C to root parts that received more 15N. Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging, however, revealed a highly heterogenous, and spatially significantly correlated distribution of 13C and 15N at the cellular scale.

Our results indicate that, on a coarse scale, plants do not allocate a larger proportion of photoassimilated C to root parts associated with N‐delivering ectomycorrhizal fungi. Within the ectomycorrhizal tissue, however, recently plant‐assimilated C and fungus‐delivered N were spatially strongly coupled. Here, NanoSIMS visualisation provides an initial insight into the regulation of ectomycorrhizal C and N exchange at the microscale.
Integrated analysis of lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the submandibular glands of DIO mice
Authors: Liu Hui‐Min , Liu Li‐Mei , Zhang Yan , Cong Xin , Wu Li‐Ling , Xiang Ruo‐Lan
Published: July 2021

Objective

Obesity contributes to the dysfunction of salivary gland. To explore the specific underlying mechanism for obesity‐induced hyposalivation, a model for high‐fat diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice were constructed to analyze long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) expression profiles.

Methods

The DIO group and control group were fed a diet containing 60 kcal% fat and a normal chow diet for 16 weeks respectively. Microarray analyses were performed to detect the expression profiles of lncRNA and mRNA in submandibular gland tissues from control group mice and DIO mice. Gene ontology, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes, protein–protein interaction, coding‐non‐coding gene co‐expression, transcription factors and competing endogenous RNA analyses were performed to examine the function of differentially expressed genes.

Results

Microarray analyses identified that 624 lncRNAs, along with 297 mRNAs were differentially expressed. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that “complement and coagulation cascades,” “glutathione metabolism,” “cysteine and methionine metabolism,” and “estrogen signaling pathway” were significantly associated with candidate lncRNAs. Transcription factors analysis on candidate lncRNAs revealed several genes such as tribbles pseudokinase 3 may play regulatory roles.

Conclusions

Our results revealed the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs and provided new insights into the mechanism of obesity‐induced hyposalivation using bioinformatic analyses.
An approach to detecting quantitative trait loci and candidate genes associated with salinity tolerance in faba bean (Vicia faba)
Authors: Asif Muhammad A. , Paull Jeffrey G.
Published: July 2021

Faba bean is one of the most important high protein cool‐season grain legumes, but it is sensitive to salinity stress. Improved salt tolerance of faba bean is needed to increase its yield and area of production. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, derived from the bi‐parental cross of 'Icarus' × 'Ascot', was phenotyped under control and saline treatments. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of this population detected multiple QTL for leaf ionic concentration (Na+, K+ and Cl−) under both treatments. Of these, seven QTL were detected under salt treatment, including three for leaf K+:Na+ (qK:Na‐S‐1, qK:Na‐S‐2 and qK:Na‐S‐3) and one each for Na+ accumulation (qNa‐S), K+ accumulation (qK‐S), Cl− accumulation (qCl‐S) and Na+:K+ (qNa:K‐S). An important region was identified on linkage group I.A/III/V, which contained three co‐located QTL (qNa‐S, qCl‐S and qK:Na‐S‐3) for leaf Na+, Cl− and K+:Na+ accumulation. Potential candidate genes within these QTL intervals were shortlisted using the Medicago truncatula genome. These findings are expected to facilitate the breeding of new salt tolerant faba bean cultivars.
In and out of revolving doors in European Union financial regulatory authorities
Authors: Chalmers Adam William , Klingler‐Vidra Robyn , Puglisi Alfio , Remke Lisa
Published: July 2021

Although the idea of revolving doors evokes the dynamic image of moving in and out of public and private sector jobs, most scholars take a static view of the revolving door phenomenon, looking mainly at entrances, sometimes at exits, but almost never at both. This is a serious oversight given that normative concerns about revolving doors turn mainly on assumptions about how individuals become socialized through their multiple interactions working on both sides of the revolving door. Our study seeks to revive a bidirectional picture of revolving doors. To this end, we use financial regulatory politics in the European Union (EU) as our case and a unique dataset of nearly 200 regulators from three EU financial regulatory bodies as of 2018. We first describe the extent to which these multiple movements are happening and, second, we explain differences between those who make zero revolving door movements and those who make multiple movements. Our central argument is that previous job experience in the regulated industry (finance) generates valuable expertise and network ties that in turn lead to more movements. Experience in industries outside of finance, however, diminishes this expertise and loosens network ties and hence leads to fewer movements. Our results support these arguments. We also find those making multiple movements are not in the business of finance (traders or those leading sales or marketing teams) but instead have careers on both sides of the revolving doors focused on law, policy, and government affairs.
Analysing Cause-Specific Mortality Trends using Compositional Functional Data Analysis
Authors: Stefanucci Marco , Mazzuco Stefano
Published: July 2021

We study the dynamics of cause-specific mortality rates among countries by considering them as compositions of functions. We develop a novel framework for such data structure, with particular attention to functional PCA. The application of this method to a subset of the WHO mortality database reveals the main modes of variation of cause-specific rates over years for men and women and enables us to perform clustering in the projected subspace. The results give many insights of the ongoing trends, only partially explained by past literature, that the considered countries are undergoing. We are also able to show the different evolution of cause of death undergone by men and women: for example, we can see that while lung cancer incidence is stabilizing for men, it is still increasing for women.
The US COVID Atlas: A dynamic cyberinfrastructure surveillance system for interactive exploration of the pandemic
Authors: Kolak Marynia , Li Xun , Lin Qinyun , Wang Ryan , Menghaney Moksha , Yang Stephanie , Anguiano Vidal
Published: July 2021

Distributed spatial infrastructures leveraging cloud computing technologies can tackle issues of disparate data sources and address the need for data‐driven knowledge discovery and more sophisticated spatial analysis central to the COVID‐19 pandemic. We implement a new, open source spatial middleware component (libgeoda) and system design to scale development quickly to effectively meet the need for surveilling county‐level metrics in a rapidly changing pandemic landscape. We incorporate, wrangle, and analyze multiple data streams from volunteered and crowdsourced environments to leverage multiple data perspectives. We integrate explorative spatial data analysis (ESDA) and statistical hotspot standards to detect infectious disease clusters in real time, building on decades of research in GIScience and spatial statistics. We scale the computational infrastructure to provide equitable access to data and insights across the entire USA, demanding a basic but high‐quality standard of ESDA techniques. Finally, we engage a research coalition and incorporate principles of user‐centered design to ground the direction and design of Atlas application development.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials testing the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19): Evidence‐base for practise and implications for research
Authors: Gupta Tejpal , Kannan Sadhana , Kalra Babusha , Thakkar Prafulla
Published: July 2021

Background

Despite scientific advances, there is no effective medical therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in COVID‐19.

Methods

This review was carried out in accordance with Cochrane methodology including risk of bias assessment and grading of the quality of evidence. Only prospective clinical trials randomly assigning COVID‐19 patients to convalescent plasma plus standard of care therapy (test arm) versus placebo/standard of care (control arm) were included. Two reviewers independently read each preprint/publication and extracted relevant data from individual studies. Data were pooled using the random‐effects model and expressed as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

A total of 13 206 patients from 12 randomised controlled trials were included. There was no significant difference in clinical improvement rate (RR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98–1.02, p = 0.96) or time to clinical improvement (median difference of 1.08 days with 95% CI ranging from −0.15 to +2.30 days) between convalescent plasma versus placebo/standard of care therapy. The use of convalescent plasma was not associated with significantly reduced risk of death (RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.65–1.02, p = 0.08). Reassuringly, overall incidence of infusion‐related serious adverse events was low (3.25%) and not significantly different (RR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.93–1.40, p = 0.22) for convalescent plasma transfusion compared to placebo/standard of care therapy.

Conclusions

There is low to moderate certainty evidence that the addition of convalescent plasma to current standard of care therapy is generally safe but, does not result in any significant clinical benefit or reduction of mortality in COVID‐19.
Predicting the Past
Authors: Boyden Michael
Published: July 2021

Drawing from the social theories of Niklas Luhmann and Mary Douglas, Predicting the Past advocates a reflexive understanding of the paradoxical institutional dynamic of American literary history as a professional discipline and field of study. Contrary to most disciplinary accounts, Michael Boyden resists the utopian impulse to offer supposedly definitive solutions for the legitimation crises besetting American literature studies by “going beyond” its inherited racist, classist, and sexist underpinnings. Approaching the existence of the American literary tradition as a typically modern problem generating diverse but functionally equivalent solutions, Boyden argues how its peculiarity does not, as is often supposed, reside in its restrictive exclusivity but rather in its massive inclusivity which drives it to constantly revert to a self-negating “beyond” perspective. Predicting the Past covers a broad range of both well-known and lesser known literary histories and reference works, from Rufus Griswold’s 1847 Prose Writers of America to Sacvan Bercovitch’s monumental Cambridge History of American Literature. Throughout, Boyden focuses on particular themes and topics illustrating the selfinduced complexity of American literary history such as the early “Anglocentric” roots theories of American literature; the debate on contemporary authors in the age of naturalism; the plurilingual ethnocentrism of the pioneer Americanists of the mid-twentieth century; and the genealogical misrepresentation of founding figures such as Jonathan Edwards, Emily Dickinson, and Robert Lowell.
Theory into practice
Authors: Cook Nicholas , Johnson Peter , Zender Hans
Published: July 2021

'Theory into Practice. Composition, Performance and the Listening Experience' is the second publication in the series 'Collected Writings of the Orpheus Institute'. The series comprises articles concerning the activities of the Orpheus Institute. The centrale theme of this book is the relationship between the reflections about and the relization of a musical composition. In his paper Words about Music, or Analysis versus Performance, Nicholas Cook states that words and music can never be aligned exactly with one another. He embarks on a quest for models of the relationship between analytical conception and performance that are more challenging than those in general currency. Peter Johnson's article Performance and the Listening Experience: Bach's 'Erbarme dich' shows that a performance is an element within the intentionality of the work itself. He looks for scientific methods capable of proving the artisticity of a performance. The composer Hans Zender, in his A Road Map for Orpheus?, states that a composer must be capable of questioning obvious basic principles (such as equal temperament) and finding creative solutions.
Development and Application of an Internal Heat Transfer Measurement Technique for Cooled Real Engine Components
Authors: Ali Asif , Cocchi Lorenzo , Picchi Alessio , Facchini Bruno , Cubeda Simone
Published: July 2021

The aim of this work is to present the development and application of a measurement technique that allows to record internal heat transfer features of real components. In order to apply this method, based on similar approaches proposed in previous literature works, the component is initially heated up to a steady temperature, then a thermal transient is induced by injecting cool air in the internal cooling system. During this process, the external temperature evolution is recorded by means of an infrared (IR) camera. Experimental data are then exploited to run a numerical procedure, based on a series of transient finite element analyses of the component. In particular, the test duration is divided into an appropriate number of steps and, for each of them, the heat flux on internal surfaces is iteratively updated as to target the measured external temperature distribution. Heat flux and internal temperature data for all the time steps are eventually employed in order to evaluate the convective heat transfer coefficient via linear regression. This technique has been successfully tested on a cooled high-pressure vane of a Baker Hughes heavy-duty gas turbine, which was realized thanks to the development of a dedicated test rig at the University of Florence, Italy. The obtained results provide sufficiently detailed heat transfer distributions in addition to allowing to appreciate the effect of different coolant mass flow rates. The methodology is also capable of identifying defects, which is demonstrated by inducing controlled faults in the component.
Numerical and Experimental Analysis of 3D Micro-Corrugated Wing in Gliding Flight
Authors: Chitsaz Nasim , Siddiqui Kamran , Marian Romeo , Chahl Javaan S.
Published: July 2021

In this study, computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed on a three-dimensional model of a Libellulidae wing to determine aerodynamic performance in gliding flight. The wing is comprised of various corrugated features alongside the spanwise and chordwise directions, as well as twist. The detailed features of real 3D dragonfly wing models, including all the corrugations through both span and chord, have not been considered in the past for a detailed aerodynamic analysis. The simulations were conducted by solving the Navier-Stokes equations to demonstrate gliding performance over a range of angles of attack at low Reynolds numbers. The numerical model was validated against experimental data obtained from a fabricated corrugated wing model using particle image velocimetry. The numerical results demonstrate that bio-inspired wings with corrugations compared to flat profile wings generate more lift with lower drag, trapping the vortices in the valleys of wing corrugation leading to delayed flow separation and delayed stall. The experimental and numerical results demonstrate that the methodology presented in this study can be used to measure bio-inspired 3D wing flow characteristics, including the influence of complex corrugations on aerodynamic performance. These findings contribute to the advancement of knowledge required for designing an optimized bioinspired micro air vehicle.
Ultrasonographic characteristics and outcome of Type III umbilical-portal-systemic venous shunt
Authors: Zhu Linlin , Wu Haifang , Cong Xiang , Ma Zhe , Tao Guowei
Published: July 2021

Aims: According to a novel in-utero classification termed “umbilical-portal-systemic venous shunt (UPSVS)” recently proposed for an abnormal umbilical, portal and ductal venous system, the portal-systemic shunt belongs to type III UPSVS. This study was designed to examine the ultrasonographic characteristics and outcome of type III UPSVS.Material and methods: All cases of Type III UPSVS diagnosed at our department from April 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively studied.Results: Seventeen patients with type III UPSVS including 12 type IIIa and 5 IIIb cases were identified. Sonography showed a shunt between the inferior left portal vein and the left hepatic vein in all type IIIa cases. Three cases of type IIIb had a combination of another shunt (2 with type I and one with type IIIa). Integrate intrahepatic portal vein system was not seen in those 2 cases of type IIIb combined with type I UPSVS, leading to termination of pregnancy (TOP). TOP occurred in 4 patients with type IIIa as requested by the parents. Two cases (type IIIa and type IIIb each) underwent surgical procedure for the closure of the shunt. Spontaneous complete closure in 4 type IIIa cases and partial closure in one type IIIb case occurred during a period of 3-16 months.Conclusions: The majority of patients had type IIIa UPSVS presenting a good outcome. The lack of integrate intrahepatic portal vein system was the main reason for TOP in patients with type IIIb UPSVS. These data suggest the UPSVS classification is a useful tool for a prognosis prediction of type III UPSVS.
‘Dragon Man’ may be an elusive Denisovan
Authors: Gibbons Ann
Published: July 2021

Paleoanthropologists are both excited and puzzled by "wonderful skull" from China.
Ship gauges potential for catastrophic earthquake
Authors: Voosen Paul
Published: July 2021

Fault structures could reveal whether next rupture in Pacific Northwest will be a repeat of megaquake in 1700.
A voice for the river
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: July 2021

Jack Schmidt tells hard truths about how climate change will shrink the Colorado River, a lifeline for the Southwest. Will officials listen?
Nontopological zero-bias peaks in full-shell nanowires induced by flux-tunable Andreev states
Authors: Valentini Marco , Peñaranda Fernando , Hofmann Andrea , Brauns Matthias , Hauschild Robert , Krogstrup Peter , San-Jose Pablo , Prada Elsa , Aguado Ramón , Katsaros Georgios
Published: July 2021

A Majorana look-alike

Most experimental claims of Majorana bound states, unusual quasiparticles that may become the cornerstone of topological quantum computing, rest on the observation of a persistent zero bias peak (ZBP) in tunneling spectra. In semiconductor–superconductor heterostructures, this feature may also be caused by the topologically trivial Andreev bound states. Valentini
et al.
provide comprehensive evidence that the ZBPs observed in their experiments with semiconductor nanowires fully coated with a superconducting shell are indeed of this topologically trivial origin, in contrast to the interpretation of similar earlier experiments. The researchers identify the length of the tunnel junction in their devices as a crucial experimental parameter.

Science
, abf1513, this issue p.
82
Plastic ingestion as an evolutionary trap: Toward a holistic understanding
Authors: Santos Robson G. , Machovsky-Capuska Gabriel E. , Andrades Ryan
Published: July 2021

Human activities are changing our environment. Along with climate change and a widespread loss of biodiversity, plastic pollution now plays a predominant role in altering ecosystems globally. Here, we review the occurrence of plastic ingestion by wildlife through evolutionary and ecological lenses and address the fundamental question of why living organisms ingest plastic. We unify evolutionary, ecological, and cognitive approaches under the evolutionary trap theory and identify three main factors that may drive plastic ingestion: (i) the availability of plastics in the environment, (ii) an individual’s acceptance threshold, and (iii) the overlap of cues given by natural foods and plastics.
New insight from an old concept for zeolites
Authors: Xie Dan
Published: July 2021

Two supercage-based large-pore zeolites are potentially useful for industrial applications
Small RNAs on the move in male germ cells
Authors: Mosher Rebecca A.
Published: July 2021

DNA in plant male meiocytes is methylated by intercellular small interfering RNAs
Implications of defective immune responses in SARS-CoV-2–vaccinated organ transplant recipients
Authors: Heeger Peter S. , Larsen Christian P. , Segev Dorry L.
Published: July 2021

Organ transplant patients have poor immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines; thus, designing vaccine strategies to protect this vulnerable population from SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial.
Complete Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas syringae BIM B-268, a Plant Pathogen Strain Used for
In Vitro
Testing of Agricultural Bacteriophage Efficiency
Authors: Buzikov Rustam M. , Pilipchuk Tatsiana A. , Valentovich Leonid N. , Kalamiyets Emilia I. , Shadrin Andrey M.
Published: July 2021

Pseudomonas syringae
BIM B-268 is the strain used for
in vitro
testing of the efficiency of Multiphage, a bacteriophage-based biopesticide produced in Belarus. The genome sequence of this strain consists of a single circular chromosome harboring the genes encoding the ice nucleation protein, syringopeptin biosynthesis, and types III and VI secretion systems.
Five Metagenome-Assembled Genomes of the Rare Phylum CSSED10-310 from Zodletone Spring (Oklahoma, USA)
Authors: Yadav Archana , Hahn C. Ryan , Elshahed Mostafa S. , Youssef Noha H.
Published: July 2021

We analyzed five metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) belonging to the rare, yet-uncultured phylum CSSED10-310 recovered from the anoxic sediments of Zodletone Spring (Oklahoma, USA). Our analysis suggests their potential involvement in sulfite respiration.
Giant coronary artery aneurysm as a feature of coronavirus-related inflammatory syndrome
Authors: Richardson Kerrie Louise , Jain Ankita , Evans Jennifer , Uzun Orhan
Published: July 2021

A 5-month-old female infant was admitted to hospital with a history of fever and rash during the recent coronavirus pandemic. She had significantly elevated inflammatory markers and the illness did not respond to first line broad spectrum antibiotics. The illness was later complicated by coronary artery aneurysms which were classified as giant despite treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids and immunomodulators. The infant had COVID-19 antibodies despite an initial negative COVID-19 PCR test. This case highlights the association of atypical Kawasaki like illness and paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome-temporarily associated with COVID-19 infection.
Turicella otitidis: a rare agent causing microbial keratitis
Authors: Priyadarshini Smruti Rekha , Behera Himanshu Sekhara , Sahu Srikant , Dutta Anirban
Published: July 2021

A 10-year-old boy treated for alkali injury with multiple interventions presented with a perforated corneal ulcer with clinically suspected bacterial aetiology. Cornea scraping and tissue adhesive application were planned. During surgery, an eyelash was found embedded at the perforated site. Gram staining of corneal scraping revealed the presence of Gram-positive bacilli on the first day which later was identified asTuricella otitidiswith culture followed by VITEK V.2.0 (Biomerieux) identification. The bacterium was found to be sensitive to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, cefazolin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin and vancomycin antibiotics as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Coryneform bacteria is a rare cause of keratitis, and this is the first reported case of microbial keratitis caused by one of the rare corynebacterium speciesT. otitidisto the best of our knowledge. Literature search does not reveal any specific ocular features typical to this organism. This case supports the growing evidence for pathogenicity ofT. otitidisin ocular samples. This study demonstrates the utility of VITEK for the identification of rare pathogen and may facilitate the use of certain antibiotics in the treatment regimen ofT. otitidisinfections.
Prospective randomised controlled trial of adults with perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease and optimised therapeutic infliximab levels: PROACTIVE trial study protocol
Authors: Gu Bonita , De Gregorio Michael , Pipicella Joseph Louis , Vande Casteele Niels , Andrews Jane M , Begun Jakob , Connell William , D’Souza Basil , Gholamrezaei Ali , Hart Ailsa , Liew Danny , Radford-Smith Graham , Rimola Jordi , Sutherland Tom , Toong Catherine , Woods Rodney , Wu Yang , Xuan Wei , Williams Astrid-Jane , Ng Watson , Ding Nik Sheng , Connor Susan
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease (pfCD) can be somewhat treatment refractory. Higher infliximab trough levels (TLIs) may improve fistula healing rates; however, it remains unclear whether escalating infliximab therapy to meet higher TLI targets using proactive, or routine, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) improves outcomes. This randomised controlled trial aimed to assess whether infliximab therapy targeting higher TLIs guided by proactive TDM improves outcomes compared with standard therapy.

Methods and analysis

Patients with active pfCD will be randomised 1:1 to either the proactive TDM arm or standard dosing arm and followed up for 54 weeks. Patients in the proactive TDM arm will have infliximab dosing optimised to target higher TLIs. The targets will be TLI ≥ 25 µg/mL at week 2, ≥ 20 µg/mL at week 6 and ≥ 10 µg/mL during maintenance therapy. The primary objective will be fistula healing at week 32. Secondary objectives will include fistula healing, fistula closure, radiological fistula healing, patient-reported outcomes and economic costs up to 54 weeks. Patients in the standard dosing arm will receive conventional infliximab dosing not guided by TLIs (5 mg/kg at weeks 0, 2 and 6, and 5 mg/kg 8 weekly thereafter). Patients aged 18–80 years with pfCD with single or multiple externally draining complex perianal fistulas who are relatively naïve to infliximab treatment will be included. Patients with diverting ileostomies or colostomies and pregnant or breast feeding will be excluded. Fifty-eight patients per arm will be required to detect a 25% difference in the primary outcome measure, with 138 patients needed to account for an estimated 6.1% primary non-response rate and 10% dropout rate.

Ethics and dissemination

Results will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. Ethics approval has been granted by the South Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee in Australia.

Trial registration number

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000023853); Pre-results.
Cross-sectional hospital-based study on the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among healthcare workers, NWR, Cameroon
Authors: W Akazong Etheline , Tume Christopher , Ayong Lawrence , Njouom Richard , Kenmoe Sebastien , Njankouo Ripa , Kuiate Jules-Roger
Published: July 2021

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health issue worldwide, with about 257 million people reported to be chronic carriers by the WHO fact sheet updated in 2018. HBV can be contracted via direct contact with infected body fluid and infection is almost always asymptomatic. Although healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of HBV infection, little is known about the prevalence of the various HBV markers among HCWs in Cameroon. The present study was taken to evaluate the prevalence of different HBV serological markers among HCWs in the North-West Region of Cameroon.

Methods

This cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out between April and September 2017 during which 395 HCWs were recruited. The serum of the HCWs were tested for the presence of HBV core antibody, hepatitis B surface antibody, hepatitis B e antibody and hepatitis B surface antigen using Monalisa ELISA kits produced by BIO-RAD laboratories. Data were analysed using SPSS V.20.0.

Results

Among the 395 participants, 270 (68.4%) of them were females, 187 (47.3%) had been exposed to HBV, 145 (36.7%) had resolved the infection, 42 (10.6%) were current HBV carriers, 10 (2.5%) were infective, 36 (9.1%) were vaccinated and 172 (43.5%) were still susceptible. Exposure to HBV, past infection and susceptibility were significantly associated with age while the rate of vaccination was significantly associated with the job of the HCW in the health facilities.

Conclusion

The prevalence of HBV exposure and infection among HCWs obtained in this study was high while the level of vaccination in this at-risk population was low. Adequate steps should be taken to sensitise this population on HBV and the vaccination procedure.
Development and evaluation of self-care intervention to improve self-care practices among people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Gupta Saurabh Kumar , Lakshmi P V M , Rastogi Ashu , Kaur Manmeet
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The management of diabetes mellitus (DM) depends on medication adherence, self-care and regular follow-up to prevent complications and premature mortality. This study aims to develop and implement the behavioural change theory and model based diabetes self-care intervention package to improve self-care practices among people living with type 2 DM.

Methods and analysis

An exploratory sequential mixed-method study design wherein, quantitative follows qualitative will be used to develop, implement and evaluate the effect of diabetes self-care intervention package among people living with type 2 diabetes. The qualitative research method will be used to identify barriers and facilitators for self-care practices among people living with type 2 DM and will also provide the basis for the development of the diabetes self-care intervention package. The quasi-experimental with control study design will be used to evaluate the developed intervention package among 220 randomly selected people living with type 2 diabetes in both intervention and control arms. Baseline, follow-ups and endline data will be collected using same prevalidated and structured questionnaire for each self-care activity. Difference-in-difference analysis will be used to measure for changes in the proportion of people living with type 2 DM doing different component of self-care practices, preintervention and postintervention in both arms.

Ethics and dissemination

Permission for conducting the study has been taken from Institutional Ethical Committee of PGIMER, Chandigarh (Ref no. NK/4538/PhD/226, Dated 18.08.18). The findings of the trial will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

CTRI/2018/10/016108; Pre-results.
Identifying adults with acute rhinosinusitis in primary care that benefit most from antibiotics: protocol of an individual patient data meta-analysis using multivariable risk prediction modelling
Authors: Venekamp Roderick P , Hoogland Jeroen , van Smeden Maarten , Rovers Maroeska M , De Sutter An I , Merenstein Daniel , van Essen Gerrit A , Kaiser Laurent , Liira Helena , Little Paul , Bucher Heiner CC , Reitsma Johannes B
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is a prime reason for doctor visits and among the conditions with highest antibiotic overprescribing rates in adults. To reduce inappropriate prescribing, we aim to predict the absolute benefit of antibiotic treatment for individual adult patients with ARS by applying multivariable risk prediction methods to individual patient data (IPD) of multiple randomised placebo-controlled trials.

Methods and analysis

This is an update and re-analysis of a 2008 IPD meta-analysis on antibiotics for adults with clinically diagnosed ARS. First, the reference list of the 2018 Cochrane review on antibiotics for ARS will be reviewed for relevant studies published since 2008. Next, the systematic searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase of the Cochrane review will be updated to 1 September 2020. Methodological quality of eligible studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. The primary outcome is cure at 8–15 days. Regression-based methods will be used to model the risk of being cured based on relevant predictors and treatment, while accounting for clustering. Such model allows for risk predictions as a function of treatment and individual patient characteristics and hence gives insight into individualised absolute benefit. Candidate predictors will be based on literature, clinical reasoning and availability. Calibration and discrimination will be evaluated to assess model performance. Resampling techniques will be used to assess internal validation. In addition, internal–external cross-validation procedures will be used to inform on between-study differences and estimate out-of-sample model performance. Secondarily, we will study possible heterogeneity of treatment effect as a function of outcome risk.

Ethics and dissemination

In this study, no identifiable patient data will be used. As such, the Medical Research Involving Humans Subject Act (WMO) does not apply and official ethical approval is not required. Results will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020220108.
Detection of cancers and advanced adenomas in asymptomatic participants in colorectal cancer screening: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Schult Anna Lisa , Botteri Edoardo , Hoff Geir , Randel Kristin R , Dalén Eirin , Eskeland Sigrun Losada , Holme Øyvind , de Lange Thomas
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To assess detection rates for colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced adenomas in asymptomatic CRC screening participants and bowel symptoms in association with CRC and advanced adenoma.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Two screening centres.

Participants

42 554 men and women, aged 50–74 years, participating in a randomised CRC screening trial. 36 059 participants underwent a sigmoidoscopy (and follow-up colonoscopy if positive sigmoidoscopy) and 6495 underwent a colonoscopy after a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Proportion of asymptomatic participants diagnosed with CRC or advanced adenomas. Prevalence of bowel symptoms (rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, alternating bowel habits, general symptoms, other bowel symptoms) recorded by the endoscopist and their association with CRC and advanced adenomas.

Results

Among sigmoidoscopy participants, 7336 (20.3%) reported at least one symptom. 120 (60%) out of 200 individuals with screen-detected CRC and 1301 (76.5%) out of 1700 with advanced adenoma were asymptomatic. Rectal bleeding was associated with detection of CRC and advanced adenoma (OR 4.3, 95% CI 3.1 to 6.1 and 1.8, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.1, respectively), while change in bowel habits only with CRC detection (OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.4 to 6.1). Among the FIT positives, 2173 (33.5%) reported at least one symptom. Out of 299 individuals with screen-detected CRC and 1639 with advanced adenoma, 167 (55.9%) and 1 175 (71.7%) were asymptomatic, respectively. Detection of CRC was associated with rectal bleeding (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.3), change in bowel habits (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.5) and abdominal pain (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.7).

Conclusions

Some bowel symptoms increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with CRC or advanced adenoma. However, the majority of individuals with these findings were asymptomatic. Asymptomatic individuals should be encouraged to participate in CRC screening.

Trial registration number

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01538550.
Implications of cancer prior to and after heart transplantation
Authors: Mudigonda Parvathi , Berardi Cecilia , Chetram Vishaka , Barac Ana , Cheng Richard
Published: July 2021

Cancer and cardiovascular disease share many risk factors. Due to improved survival of patients with cancer, the cohort of cancer survivors with heart failure referred for heart transplantation (HT) is growing. Specific considerations include time interval between cancer treatment and HT, risk for recurrence and risk for de novo malignancy (dnM). dnM is an important cause of post-HT morbidity and mortality, with nearly a third diagnosed with malignancy by 10 years post-HT. Compared with the age-matched general population, HT recipients have an approximately 2.5-fold to 4-fold increased risk of developing cancer. HT recipients with prior malignancy show variable cancer recurrence rates, depending on years in remission before HT: 5% recurrence if >5 years in remission, 26% recurrence if 1–5 years in remission and 63% recurrence if <1 year in remission. A myriad of mechanisms influence oncogenesis following HT, including reduced host immunosurveillance from chronic immunosuppression, influence of oncogenic viruses, and the cumulative intensity and duration of immunosuppression. Conversely, protective factors include acyclovir prophylaxis, use of proliferation signal inhibitors (PSI) and female gender. Management involves reducing immunosuppression, incorporating a PSI for immunosuppression and heightened surveillance for allograft rejection. Cancer treatment, including immunotherapy, may be cardiotoxic and lead to graft failure or rejection. Additionally, there exists a competing risk to reduce immunosuppression to improve cancer outcomes, which may increase risk for rejection. A multidisciplinary cardio-oncology team approach is recommended to optimise care and should include an oncologist, transplant cardiologist, transplant pharmacist, palliative care, transplant coordinator and cardio-oncologist.
Chromatin remodeling factor CECR2 forms tissue-specific complexes with CCAR2 and LUZP1
Authors: Niri Farshad , Terpstra Alaina N. , Lim Kenji Rowel Q. , McDermid Heather E.
Published: July 2021

Chromatin remodeling complexes alter chromatin structure to control access to DNA and therefore control cellular processes such as transcription, DNA replication, and DNA repair. CECR2 is a chromatin remodeling factor that plays an important role in neural tube closure and reproduction. Loss-of-function mutations in Cecr2 result primarily in perinatal lethal neural tube defect exencephaly, with non-penetrant mice that survive to adulthood exhibiting subfertility. CECR2 forms a complex with ISWI proteins SMARCA5 and (or) SMARCA1; however, further information on the structure and function of the complex is not known. Therefore, we identified candidate components of the CECR2-containing remodeling factor (CERF) complex in embryonic stem (ES) cells using mass spectroscopy. Both SMARCA5 and SMARCA1 were confirmed to be present in the CERF complexes in ES cells and testes. However, the novel proteins CCAR2 and LUZP1 are CERF components in ES cells, but not in the testis. This tissue specificity in mice suggests that these complexes may also have functional differences. Furthermore, LUZP1, the loss of which is also associated with exencephaly, appears to play a role in stabilizing the CERF complex in ES cells.