bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic capitalism and stabilizing selection of antimicrobial resistance genotypes in Escherichia coli
Authors: Ford Colby T. , Zenarosa Gabriel Lopez , Smith Kevin B. , Brown David C. , Williams John , Janies Daniel
Published: June 2020

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogenic strains of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), adversely impacts personal and public health. In this study, we examine competing hypotheses for the evolution of AMR including (i) ‘genetic capitalism’ in which genotypes that confer antibiotic resistance are gained and not often lost in lineages, and (ii) ‘stabilizing selection’ in which genotypes that confer antibiotic resistance are gained and lost often. To test these hypotheses, we assembled a dataset that includes annotations for 409 AMR genotypes and a phylogenetic tree based on genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms from 29 255 isolates of E. coli collected over the past 134 years. We used phylogenetic methods to count the times each AMR genotype was gained and lost across the tree and used model‐based clustering of the genotypes with respect to their gain and loss rates. We demonstrate that many genotypes cluster to support the hypothesis for genetic capitalism while a few genotypes cluster to support the hypothesis for stabilizing selection. Comparing the sets of genotypes that fall under each of the hypotheses, we found a statistically significant difference in the breakdown of resistance mechanisms through which the AMR genotypes function. The result that many AMR genotypes cluster under genetic capitalism reflects that strong positive selective forces, primarily induced by human industrialization of antibiotics, outweigh the potential fitness costs to the bacterial lineages for carrying the AMR genotypes. We expect genetic capitalism to further drive bacterial lineages to resist antibiotics. We find that antibiotics that function via replacement and efflux tend to behave under stabilizing selection and thus may be valuable in an antibiotic cycling strategy.
High‐efficient generation of VCAM‐1+ mesenchymal stem cells with multidimensional superiorities in signatures and efficacy on aplastic anaemia mice
Authors: Wei Yimeng , Zhang Leisheng , Chi Ying , Ren Xiang , Gao Yuchen , Song Baoquan , Li Chengwen , Han Zhibo , Zhang Lei , Han Zhongchao
Published: June 2020

Objective

Longitudinal studies have indicated VCAM‐1+ mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) as promising resources in regenerative medicine, yet the abundance in gene expression is far from adequate in the advantaged and “discarded” hUC‐MSCs. Thus, high‐efficient preparation and systematic dissection of the signatures and biofunctions of the subpopulation is the prerequisite for large‐scale clinical applications.

Materials and methods

We primarily took advantage of a cytokine‐based programming strategy for large‐scale VCAM‐1+ hUC‐MSC generation (III‐MSCs). Thereafter, we conducted multifaceted analyses including cytomorphology, immunophenotype, cell vitality, multilineage differentiation, whole‐genome analysis, tube formation and Matrigel plug assay, lymphocyte activation and differentiation, and systemic transplantation for aplastic anaemia (AA) treatment.

Results

III‐MSCs with high‐proportioned VCAM‐1 expression were obtained by combining IL‐1β, IL‐4 with IFN‐γ, which exhibited comparable immunophenotype with untreated hUC‐MSCs (NT‐MSCs) but revealed multidimensional superiorities both at the cellular and molecular levels. Simultaneously, systemic infusion of III‐MSCs could significantly ameliorate clinicopathological features and finally help facilitate haematopoietic reconstruction and immunoregulation in AA mice.

Conclusions

We have established a high‐efficient procedure for large‐scale generation of III‐MSCs with preferable signatures and efficacy upon aplastic anaemia in mice. Our findings suggested that III‐MSCs were advantageous sources with multifaceted characteristics for regenerative medicine.
Changes in capture rates and body size among vertebrate species occupying an insular urban habitat reserve
Authors: Stanley Thomas R. , Clark Rulon W. , Fisher Robert N. , Rochester Carlton J. , Root Stephanie A. , Lombardo Keith J. , Ostermann‐Kelm Stacey D.
Published: June 2020

Long‐term ecological monitoring provides valuable and objective scientific information to inform management and decision‐making. In this article, we analyze 22 years of herpetofauna monitoring data from the Point Loma Ecological Conservation Area (PLECA), an insular urban reserve near San Diego, CA. Our analysis showed that counts of individuals for one of the four most common terrestrial vertebrates declined, whereas counts for other common species increased or remained stable. Two species exhibited declines in adult body length, whereas biomass pooled over the five most common species increased over time and was associated with higher wet season precipitation. Although the habitat and vegetation at PLECA have remained protected and intact, we suspect that changes in arthropod communities may be driving changes in the abundance, growth, and development of insectivorous lizards. This study underscores the value of long‐term monitoring for establishing quantitative baselines to assess biological changes that would otherwise go undetected.
Identification of Critical Windows of Metabolic Programming of Metabolism and Lung Function in Male Offspring of Obese Dams
Authors: Dinger Katharina , Koningsbruggen‐Rietschel Silke v. , Dötsch Jörg , Alejandre Alcazar Miguel A.
Published: June 2020

Perinatal nutritional determinants known as metabolic programming could be either detrimental or protective. Maternal obesity in the perinatal period determines susceptibility for diseases, such as obesity, metabolic disorders, and lung disease. Although this adverse metabolic programming is well‐recognized, the critical developmental window for susceptibility risk remains elusive. Thus, we aimed to define the vulnerable window for impaired lung function after maternal obesity; and to test if dietary intervention protects. First, we studied the impact of high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced maternal obesity during intrauterine (HFDiu), postnatal (HFDpost), or perinatal (i.e., intrauterine and postnatal (HFDperi) phase on body weight, white adipose tissue (WAT), glucose tolerance, and airway resistance. Although HFDiu, HFDpost, and HFDperi induced overweight in the offspring, only HFDperi and HFDiu led to increased WAT in the offspring early in life. This early‐onset adiposity was linked to impaired glucose tolerance in HFDperi‐offspring. Interestingly, these metabolic findings in HFDperi‐offspring, but not in HFDiu‐offspring and HFDpost‐offspring, were linked to persistent adiposity and increased airway resistance later in life. Second, we tested if the withdrawal of a HFD immediately after conception protects from early‐onset metabolic changes by maternal obesity. Indeed, we found a protection from early‐onset overweight, but not from impaired glucose tolerance and increased airway resistance. Our study identified critical windows for metabolic programming of susceptibility to impaired lung function, highlighting thereby windows of opportunity for prevention.
A thousand pleasures are not worth a single pain: The compensation argument for Schopenhauer's pessimism
Authors: Simmons Byron
Published: June 2020

Pessimism is, roughly, the view that life is not worth living. In chapter 46 of the second volume of The World as Will and Representation, Arthur Schopenhauer provides an oft‐neglected argument for this view. The argument is that a life is worth living only if it does not contain any uncompensated evils; but since all our lives happen to contain such evils, none of them are worth living. The now standard interpretation of this argument (endorsed by Kuno Fischer and Christopher Janaway) proceeds from the claim that the value—or rather valuelessness—of life's goods makes compensation impossible. But this interpretation is neither philosophically attractive nor faithful to the text. In this article, I develop and defend an alternative interpretation (suggested by Wilhelm Windelband and Mark Migotti) according to which it is instead the actual temporal arrangement of life's goods and evils that makes compensation impossible.
Associations Between Marital Discord and Depressive Symptoms: A Cross‐Cultural Analysis
Authors: Salinger Julia M. , Whisman Mark A. , Randall Ashley K. , Hilpert Peter
Published: June 2020

The objectives of this study were to investigate actor and partner effects of the association between marital discord and depressive symptoms in a sample of 4,779 couples from 11 European countries that were divided into three groups (i.e., Northern, Central, Southern Europe), and evaluate the potential gender and cross‐cultural invariance of this association. Actor–partner interdependence models were used to analyze the cross‐sectional associations between self‐reported perceived marital conflict and depressive symptoms. Marital conflict was significantly and positively associated with self‐reported depressive symptoms for husbands and wives (actor effects), as well as with partner‐reported depressive symptoms (partner effects). Pooling across cultural groups, no significant difference in the magnitude of actor or partner effects based on gender was found. The magnitude of the actor effects varied across cultural groupings only for women: a significantly weaker association existed for women residing in Northern Europe relative to women in Central or Southern Europe. These results suggest that marital discord is a reliable correlate of depressive symptoms for European couples and that the magnitude of the positive association varies by culture for women. Should these results be replicated longitudinally, couple‐based interventions may be indicated to reduce marital discord and prevent and treat depression in Europe.
Functional and structural characterization of PII‐like protein CutA does not support involvement in heavy metal tolerance and hints at a small‐molecule carrying/signaling role
Authors: Selim Khaled A. , Tremiño Lorena , Marco‐Marín Clara , Alva Vikram , Espinosa Javier , Contreras Asunción , Hartmann Marcus D. , Forchhammer Karl , Rubio Vicente
Published: June 2020

The PII‐like protein CutA is annotated as being involved in Cu2+ tolerance, based on analysis of Escherichia coli mutants. However, the precise cellular function of CutA remains unclear. Our bioinformatic analysis reveals that CutA proteins are universally distributed across all domains of life. Based on sequence‐based clustering, we chose representative cyanobacterial CutA proteins for physiological, biochemical, and structural characterization and examined their involvement in heavy metal tolerance, by generating CutA mutants in filamentous Nostoc sp. and in unicellular Synechococcus elongatus. However, we were unable to find any involvement of cyanobacterial CutA in metal tolerance under various conditions. This prompted us to re‐examine experimentally the role of CutA in protecting E. coli from Cu2+. Since we found no effect on copper tolerance, we conclude that CutA plays a different role that is not involved in metal protection. We resolved high‐resolution CutA structures from Nostoc and S. elongatus. Similarly to their counterpart from E. coli and to canonical PII proteins, cyanobacterial CutA proteins are trimeric in solution and in crystal structure; however, no binding affinity for small signaling molecules or for Cu2+ could be detected. The clefts between the CutA subunits, corresponding to the binding pockets of PII proteins, are formed by conserved aromatic and charged residues, suggesting a conserved binding/signaling function for CutA. In fact, we find binding of organic Bis‐Tris/MES molecules in CutA crystal structures, revealing a strong tendency of these pockets to accommodate cargo. This highlights the need to search for the potential physiological ligands and for their signaling functions upon binding to CutA.

Databases

Structural data are available in Protein Data Bank (PDB) under the accession numbers 6GDU, 6GDV, 6GDW, 6GDX, 6T76, and 6T7E.
Wild bee declines linked to plant‐pollinator network changes and plant species introductions
Authors: Mathiasson Minna E. , Rehan Sandra M.
Published: June 2020

The mutualistic interactions of plant‐pollinator networks provide myriad economic, ecological, and cultural constituents without which there would be severe environmental and societal consequences. Plant‐pollinator networks are becoming increasingly vulnerable to disturbance through intensifying anthropogenic land use and climate change.

Wild bees are central to pollination and documenting unique regional interactions between wild bees and floral hosts provides powerful insights into local ecology and biodiversity in addition to the potential to detect temporal network variation.

This study characterises the changes in a northern New England wild bee plant‐pollinator network over the past 125 years and reveals a striking increase in exotic bee and plant taxa over time. Here we document that declining wild bee species have historic ties to threatened and endangered plant species. These data provide a rare insight into the fragile nature of plant‐pollinator networks.

Notable specialist interactions between native taxa that were recorded in historical networks have been lost, most likely due to local extirpation of these now threatened and endangered plant species. Subsequent monitoring and conservation efforts focused on habitat restoration for declining wild bee and plant taxa are fundamental to the future preservation of regional native diversity.
Economic distress and health: A fixed effects analysis of low‐income persons in Singapore
Authors: Ng Irene Y.H. , Tan Jian Qi
Published: June 2020

Using fixed effects regressions, this study examined the transactional effects of different types of economic status on the physical and mental health of low‐income persons in Singapore. Among the economic variables considered, unemployment and arrears had the most significant effects. This signals the physical and psychological distress of being out of work and possessing arrears while income is low. The insignificant effects of poor health on household earnings suggest possible earnings supplementation by other household members. The findings imply the fruitfulness of dually improving employment prospects and health, work activation that takes into consideration mental health effects, increasing affordability of health services in liberal welfare systems, improving mental bandwidth through reducing arrears accounts, and short lag time from application to receipt of assistance. These implications point to a larger question on health and welfare systems in an increasingly uncertain economic environment for households in poverty.

Key Practitioner Message: • Employment and health are inter‐related: employment assistance incorporating physical and mental health interventions and vice versa can be more effective than either alone; • Compared with decreasing arrears amounts, reducing the number of arrears can more effectively relieve mental distress; • Effects between economic distress and health materialise quickly; minimising the lag time between application and receipt of assistance will provide great relief.
HDAC1‐mediated deacetylation of LSD1 regulates vascular calcification by promoting autophagy in chronic renal failure
Authors: Zhou Jiajun , Zhou Han , Liu Caixin , Huang Lin , Lu Dongmei , Gao Chaoqing
Published: June 2020

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is commonly associated with various adverse consequences including pathological vascular calcification (VC), which represents a significant clinical concern. Existing literature has suggested the involvement of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the progression of CRF‐induced VC. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with HDACs remain largely unknown. Therefore, we established the adenine‐induced CRF rat model and in vitro VC models based on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to examine HDAC1/lysine demethylase 1A (LSD1)/SESN2 as a novel molecular pathway in CRF‐induced VC. Our initial results demonstrated that HDAC1 reduced the formation of VC in vivo and in vitro. HDAC1 was found to deacetylate LSD1, which subsequently led to impaired transcriptional activity in CRF‐induced VC. Moreover, our results illustrated that LSD1 diminished the enrichment of H3K4me2 at the SESN2 promoter. Autophagy was identified as a vasculo‐protective element against calcification in VC. Finally, we found that the inhibitory effects of HDAC1 overexpression on VC were partially abolished via over‐expressed LSD1 in adenine‐induced CRF model rats and in high phosphate‐induced VSMCs. Taken together, these results highlight the crucial role of HDAC1 as an antagonistic factor in the progression of VC in CRF, and also revealed a novel regulatory mechanism by which HDAC1 operates. These findings provide significant insight and a fresh perspective into promising novel treatment strategies by up‐regulating HDAC1 in CRF.
Novel evidence for oncogenic piRNA‐823 as a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in colorectal cancer
Authors: Feng Junlan , Yang Muqing , Wei Qing , Song Feifei , Zhang Youhua , Wang Xiaodong , Liu Bin , Li Jiyu
Published: June 2020

piRNA‐823 as a member of the piRNA family is reported to promote tumour cell proliferation in multiple myeloma and hepatocellular cancer. However, few studies on the function of piRNA‐823 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Our present study data showed that piRNA‐823 plays an oncogene role in CRC cells. Inhibition of piRNA‐823 can significantly inhibit the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis resistance of CRC cells. Mechanism studies have shown that piRNA‐823 inhibits the ubiquitination of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 alpha (HIF‐1α) by up‐regulating the expression of Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and ultimately up‐regulates the glucose consumption of carcinoma cells and inhibits the content of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, we speculate piRNA‐823 promotes the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis resistance of CRC cells by regulating G6PD/HIF‐1α pathway. In this study, we set up the cancer‐promoting function recovery experiment of piRNA‐823 by silencing G6PD gene to confirm the dominance of the above‐mentioned pathways. Using clinical samples, we found that overexpression of piRNA‐823 correlated with poor overall survival and predicted a poor response to adjuvant chemotherapy of patients with CRC. In a word, our research has further enriched the theory of piRNA‐823 promoting the progression of CRC, and laid a solid foundation for the development of piRNA‐823‐based gene therapy for CRC and its use as a promising prognostic biomarker in CRC patients.
Effect of zirconia decontamination protocols on bond strength and surface wettability
Authors: Noronha Mayara dos Santos , Fronza Bruna Marin , André Carolina Bosso , de Castro Eduardo Fernandes , Soto‐Montero Jorge , Price Richard Bengt , Giannini Marcelo
Published: June 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effects of human saliva decontamination protocols on bond strength of resin cement to zirconia (Y‐PSZ), wettability, and microbial decontamination.

Materials and methods

Zirconia plates were sandblasted and divided into (a) not contaminated, (b) contaminated with human saliva and: (c) not cleaned, (d) cleaned with air‐water spray, (e) cleaned with 70% ethanol, (f) cleaned with Ivoclean, or (g) cleaned with nonthermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP). The wettability and microbial decontamination of the surfaces were determined after saliva contamination or cleaning. Monobond Plus (Ivoclar Vivadent) was applied after cleaning, followed by Variolink LC (Ivoclar Vivadent). The samples were stored 1 week before shear bond strength (SBS) testing, and data (SBS and wettability) were analyzed by one‐way analysis of variance and Tukey test (α = .05).

Results

Saliva contamination reduced SBS to zirconia compared to not contaminated. Both Ivoclean and NTAP produced higher SBS compared to not cleaned and were not significantly different from the not contaminated. Ivoclean produced the highest contact angle, and NTAP the lowest. With the exception of using just water‐spray, all cleaning protocols decontaminated the specimens.

Conclusions

Both Ivoclean and NTAP overcame the effects of saliva contamination, producing an SBS to zirconia comparable to the positive control.

Clinical significance

Dental ceramics should be cleaned prior to resin cementation to eliminate the effects of human saliva contamination, and Ivoclean and NTAP are considered suitable materials for this purpose.
Can the U.S. Interbank Market Be Revived?
Authors: KIM KYUNGMIN , MARTIN ANTOINE , NOSAL ED
Published: June 2020

The U.S. interbank market essentially disappeared as the reserve supply dramatically increased after the 2007–2008 crisis. We build a model to study whether the interbank market can revive if the reserve supply decreases sufficiently. The market may not revive due to balance sheet costs associated with recent banking regulations. Although interbank volume may initially increase as reserves decline from abundant levels, the balance sheet costs may engender changes in market structure that completely replace interbank trading by nonbank lending to banks. This nonmonotonic response could lead to misleading forecasts about future interbank volumes.
Melatonin restores neutrophil functions and prevents apoptosis amid dysfunctional glutathione redox system
Authors: NaveenKumar Somanathapura K. , Hemshekhar Mahadevappa , Jagadish Swamy , Manikanta Kurnegala , Vishalakshi Gopalapura J. , Kemparaju Kempaiah , Girish Kesturu S.
Published: June 2020

Melatonin is a chronobiotic hormone, which can regulate human diseases like cancer, atherosclerosis, respiratory disorders, and microbial infections by regulating redox system. Melatonin exhibits innate immunomodulation by communicating with immune system and influencing neutrophils to fight infections and inflammation. However, sustaining redox homeostasis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in neutrophils are critical during chemotaxis, oxidative burst, phagocytosis, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Therefore, endogenous antioxidant glutathione (GSH) redox cycle is highly vital in regulating neutrophil functions. Reduced intracellular GSH levels and glutathione reductase (GR) activity in the neutrophils during clinical conditions like autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, diabetes, and microbial infections lead to dysfunctional neutrophils. Therefore, we hypothesized that redox modulators like melatonin can protect neutrophil health and functions under GSH and GR activity–deficient conditions. We demonstrate the dual role of melatonin, wherein it protects neutrophils from oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis by reducing ROS generation; in contrast, it restores neutrophil functions like phagocytosis, degranulation, and NETosis in GSH and GR activity–deficient neutrophils by regulating ROS levels both in vitro and in vivo. Melatonin mitigates LPS‐induced neutrophil dysfunctions by rejuvenating GSH redox system, specifically GR activity by acting as a parallel redox system. Our results indicate that melatonin could be a potential auxiliary therapy to treat immune dysfunction and microbial infections, including virus, under chronic disease conditions by restoring neutrophil functions. Further, melatonin could be a promising immune system booster to fight unprecedented pandemics like the current COVID‐19. However, further studies are indispensable to address the clinical usage of melatonin.
Growth, income distribution and unemployment in a two‐sector economy
Authors: Chattopadhyay Subhasankar
Published: June 2020

We build a two‐sector general equilibrium growth model with capital‐intensive consumption goods and a labour‐intensive investment goods sector to investigate the coexistence of growth and unemployment. The model uses heterogeneity in saving behaviour, introduces an effective demand problem, has full employment of capital with input non‐substitutability and shows that the aggregate labour employment is determined by available capital along with commodity market equilibrium. The long‐run growth may not be balanced, and under biased growth, the level of unemployment may monotonically increase or decrease over time, or may first increase (decrease) and then decrease (increase). Such possible unemployment paths help us tightly define “jobless growth”.
Dimensional Changes of Lumbar Intervertebral Foramen in Direct Anterior Approach‐Specific Hyperextension Supine Position
Authors: Liu Ming‐yang , Wang Hai‐bo , Liu Shi‐wei , Zhang Guan‐peng , Liu Jian‐guo , Yang Chen
Published: June 2020

Objective

To investigate the changes in the lumbar intervertebral foramen (LIVF) dimensions from neutral supine to direct anterior approach (DAA)‐specific hyperextension supine position through a standardized three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction computerized tomography (CT) method.

Methods

A total of 35 healthy volunteers (18 men and 17 women) were included in this retrospective study. The mean age of enrolled subjects was 28.9 ± 5.0 years. In September 2018, all the individuals underwent a 3D CT scan of the lumbar spine in neutral and 30° hyperextension supine positions, which mimicked the patient’s position in DAA total hip arthroplasty (THA). The dimensions of the LIVF, including foraminal area, height, and width, were measured on 3D reconstructed CT models at all lumbar foraminal levels. Foraminal area was defined as the area bounded by the adjacent superior and inferior vertebral pedicles, the posterosuperior boundary of the inferior vertebral body, the surface of the intervertebral disc posteriorly, the posteroinferior boundary of the superior vertebral body, and the surface of the ligamentum flavum anteriorly. Foraminal height was defined as the longest distance between the border of the superior and the inferior pedicle. Foraminal width was defined as the shortest distance between the posteroinferior edge of the superior vertebrae and the opposing boundary. Subgroup analysis and multiple linear regression were used to evaluate the relationship between percentage changes of the LIVF dimensions and side, sex, and age.

Results

The LIVF dimensions varied significantly between the two positions at all levels (P < 0.05). From neutral to hyperextension supine position, the foraminal area reduced by 20.1% at lumbar 1–2 (L1–2), 22.6% at L2–3, 19.9% at L3–4, 18.1% at L4–5, and 12.0% at lumbar 5–sacral 1 (L5–S1) level, respectively; the foraminal height reduced by 9.5% at L1–2, 10.5% at L2–3, 9.5% at L3–4, 9.6% at L4–5, and 6.1% at L5–S1 level, respectively; the foraminal width reduced by 12.8% at L1–2, 14.5% at L2–3, 13.0% at L3–4, 10.4% at L4–5, and 8.4% at L5–S1 level, respectively. The changes in LIVF dimensions were biggest at L2–3 level and smallest at L5–S1 level. Subgroup analysis showed that there were no significant differences in the percentage changes of LIVF dimensions between the sexes and sides (P > 0.05). Multiple linear analysis showed that the percentage changes of LIVF dimensions were not related to side, sex, and age (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The dimensions of the LIVF showed significant decrease at all levels in the DAA‐specific hyperextension supine position compared with the neutral supine position, and the percentage changes of LIVF dimensions were not influenced by side, sex, and age.
Loneliness, eating, and body mass index in parent–adolescent dyads from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating study
Authors: Mason Tyler B.
Published: June 2020

Loneliness is a salient risk factor for obesity, emotional eating, and poor diet. Because adolescents and parents are embedded within a family unit, their experiences of loneliness may be associated with both their own and one another's behaviors. To examine the extent to which parent and child loneliness predict body mass index (BMI) and eating in parents and adolescents, an actor–partner interdependence model of loneliness, eating, and BMI in adolescent–parent dyads was analyzed. There were actor effects among adolescents such that greater loneliness was positively associated with emotional eating and BMI‐z, and there was an actor effect among parents such that higher loneliness was positively related to emotional eating. There was a partner effect among adolescents such that greater parental loneliness was positively associated with adolescent emotional eating, and there was a partner effect among parents such that higher adolescent loneliness was positively associated with parental emotional eating. There were several actor–partner effects for loneliness and junk food in dyads with boys. Findings highlight the importance of dyadic models of loneliness in adolescent–parent dyads.
The effect of the disaster management training program among nursing students
Authors: Koca Bennur , Arkan Gulcihan
Published: June 2020

Objective

This study investigated the effect of the Jennings Disaster Nursing Management Model‐based and learning management system‐assisted six‐module training programme on nursing students’ disaster preparedness perceptions and response self‐efficacy.

Design and sample

This randomized controlled trial used a two group comparison design, experimental group (n = 127), and control group (n = 108), carried out with third‐year nursing students in a city in the west of Turkey.

Measures

Data included a socio‐demographic form, the Disaster Preparedness Perception Scale in Nurses (DPPSN) and the Disaster Response Self‐Efficacy Scale (DRSES).

Results

After the training, disaster preparedness perceptions and the response self‐efficacy of the EG increased significantly (p < .05). This study had a moderate effect on participants’ knowledge and self‐efficacy.

Conclusion

Public health nurses are health professionals with important roles and responsibilities in the stages of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery that is all stages of disaster management. This theoretical‐based program can be considered for both students and nursing professionals.
Hypericin Accumulation as a Determinant of PDT Efficacy
Authors: Kessel David
Published: June 2020

Efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with hypericin was compared using two cell lines in monolayer culture. Photokilling was substantially impaired in the A549 (human‐derived lung tumor) when compared with the 1c1c7 murine hepatoma. The efficacy of PDT with regard to photokilling was correlated with the steady‐state intracellular hypericin concentration. There was otherwise no difference in subcellular targets or the pathway to cell death: paraptosis. In a prior study involving cell lines derived from patients with head and neck cancer, differences in response to PDT had shown no correlation with photosensitizer uptake.
Could 2021–2030 be the decade to couple new human values with ecological restoration? Valuable insights and actions are emerging from the Colombian Amazon
Authors: Ceccon Eliane , Rodríguez León Carlos H. , Pérez Daniel R.
Published: June 2020

Looking ahead to the United Nations' 2021–2030 Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, we would like to ponder and discuss two fundamental goals to improve, mainstream, and scale up ecological restoration. The first is to cultivate alternative visions of the human dimension in relation to ecological restoration and other restorative activities. The second is to develop shared protocols for planning, revamping, and monitoring the progress of social goals related to ecological restoration within the social construction theoretical framework, based on three interrelated dimensions: stakeholder‐based problem definition, social representations, and legitimation. We draw on ongoing work in Caquetá (Colombian Amazonia) to consider how these dimensions may be incorporated into tangible restoration practices. Caquetá is facing the highest deforestation rates in the Amazonian region due to a highly volatile sociopolitical context and recent armed conflicts that have claimed thousands of victims to date. We conclude that the work in Caquetá demonstrates a process of social construction that effectively couples new human values with ecological restoration. Our work also provides evidence that the human dimension of restoration is a central issue in the restoration of human, social, and ecosystem health and must be integrated into the framework of the coming Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
The Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2020: A critical review in light of global environmental goals
Authors: Heyl Katharine , Döring Tobias , Garske Beatrice , Stubenrauch Jessica , Ekardt Felix
Published: June 2020

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is currently undergoing a reform process which is embedded in a political context that is required to effectively and urgently respond to climate change and biodiversity loss. The CAP beyond 2020 has to be in line with the international goals of the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity and at the same time foster mitigation strategies for increasingly challenging natural conditions to secure food security in the long term. Yet, despite the fact that the above‐mentioned objectives call for a complete reorientation of the subsidy scheme, this article shows that the reform proposal does not provide the instruments needed to adequately address these objectives, although a few promising approaches (e.g. ‘eco‐schemes’) have been put on the reform agenda.
Gender‐related differences in the facial aging of Chinese subjects and their relations with perceived ages
Authors: Flament Frederic , Abric Aurelie , Amar David
Published: June 2020

Objective

To describe the progressing severity of facial signs and their links with perceived age, of Chinese men and women.

Methods

Full‐face photographs of 438 Chinese subjects (220 men, 218 women) differently aged (18‐80 years) were taken. These photographs afforded a zoom on 5 facial signs of aging: forehead and crow's feet wrinkles, nasolabial fold, marionette lines and ptosis of the lower face. A panel of 15 experts graded each sign, using the Asian skin aging atlas reference. A naïve panel of 80 Chinese women (20‐60 years) was asked to attribute an apparent age.

Results

Despite slight differences in severity between genders, men and women share in common a rather regular progression rate, correlated with perceived ages. 15% of men were judged older by more than 10 years, and all 5 signs were found more severe than the means of the other 85%. Forehead and Crow's feet wrinkles appear more pronounced in men. Ptosis is slightly more pronounced in women. Nasolabial fold does not differ. Marionette lines show distinct changes: those of men show a lessened severity and a slower rate of progression. In contrast with changes in facial signs with real ages, the upper face seems privileged in the perception of ages in women whereas the latter seems more focusing on its lower part in men.

Conclusion

The facial skin aging process in Chinese subjects presents an almost linear progression with perceived ages, common to both genders, at the exception of marionette lines that are more marked and more rapidly progressing in women.
Different techniques for high‐throughput amplicon sequencing of the soil bacterial community structure after spring maize cultivation
Authors: Yang Yue , Tong Yan‐an , Chadwick Dave , Liang Lian‐you , Li Hong‐chang , Yan Yu‐mei , Han Wen‐she
Published: June 2020

The present study was a six‐year long‐term positioning experiment to explore the microbial community structure in the soil of spring maize under different cultivation techniques in rainfed areas. Five treatments were designed as follows: no fertilizer (CK); 135 kg ha‐1 N and 90 kg ha‐1 P under straw mulching (SM); plastic mulching (PM); ridge‐furrow with plastic film mulching (RFPFM) and green manure (GM). The results revealed that Actinobacteria (24%‐33%), Proteobacteria (23.6%‐33.4%), Acidobacteria (12.8%‐18%) and Firmicutes (0.6%‐3%) were the dominant phyla in different soil layers. The relative abundance (RA) of Actinobacteria in the surface soil layer (0–20 cm) of CK and GM (33.48% and 32.08%) was higher than that in the other treatments. Proteobacteria was richer at 0–20 cm than at 20–40 cm in all treatments. The RA of Proteobacteria in RFPFM (33.43%) was significantly (p < .05) greater than that in the other treatments, and the RA of Firmicutes (3.0%) in the RFPFM treatment at 20–40 cm was significantly (p < .05) greater. Chryseobacterium, Lactobacillus, Bacillus and Altererythrobacter were the dominant genera in PM, SM, GM and RFPFM, respectively. Solirubrobacter preferred soil with stable aggregates and was the dominant genus in the control treatment. The findings of this study demonstrated that changes in soil bacterial RA and community composition were significantly affected by mulching treatment.
Efficacy and safety of high‐dose intravenous iron as the first‐choice therapy in outpatients with severe iron deficiency anemia
Authors: Jericó Carlos , Beverina Ivo , Quintana‐Diaz Manuel , Salvadori Ugo , Melli Cristina , Rondinelli Maria Beatrice , Recasens Valle , Brando Bruno , Garcia‐Erce José Antonio
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Asymptomatic severe iron deficiency anemia is a common finding in subjects admitted to the outpatient anemia clinic. Although the condition can be easily be reversed with intravenous iron (IVI) therapy and several guidelines have suggested a restrictive threshold for using transfusion in hemodynamically stable patients, transfusion is often the rule in clinical practice. This study describes clinical practice results of IVI therapy without transfusion.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

In this multicenter retrospective observational study, data of severely anemic outpatients treated only with high‐dose IVI with ferric carboxymaltose were collected. Inclusion criteria were hemoglobin (Hb) level of less than 7.0 g/dL and ferritin level of less than 30 ng/mL or mean corpuscular volume of less than 75 fL.

RESULTS

Overall, 303 patients referred to the anemia clinic mainly from primary health care centers (46.2%) or the emergency department (28.7%) met the inclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 47 (37‐62) years and 84.5% were female. The median (IQR) Hb concentration at first visit was 6.5 (6.1‐6.8) g/dL, 64 patients (21.1%) presented with a Hb level of less than 6.0 g/dL at diagnosis, and 11 of them (3.6%) had extreme anemia (Hb ≤ 5 g/dL). Gynecologic and gastroenteric bleeding were the main cause. After a mean IV administration of 1500 mg of iron, the Hb increased by a median of 5.7 g/dL. Thirteen patients experienced only mild side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

In chronic very severe sideropenic anemias, third‐generation IVI is effective and safe for quick correction and avoidance of red blood cell transfusion. These results suggest that more specific guidelines for this clinical setting are warranted.
A Study on the Ideological Basis of the CPC's Leadership in Literary and Artistic Work during the New Democratic Revolution
Authors: Zheng Wei
Published: June 2020

The leadership of literary and artistic work is an important part of the revolutionary cause led by the Communist Party of China (hereinafter referred to as “the CPC”). During the new democratic revolution, the ideological basis for the CPC's leadership in literary and artistic work included the literary and artistic thoughts of Marx and Engels, Lenin and Stalin, as well as the traditional Chinese literary and artistic thoughts. These ideological resources provided theoretical guidance for the CPC to lead literary and artistic work in the period of the new democratic revolution, and also provided basic guidelines for the CPC to formulate policies on literary and artistic work. The study of the ideological basis of the CPC's leadership in literary and artistic work during the new democratic revolution is of great historical significance for promoting the development of Chinese literary and artistic undertakings in the new era.
Relaciones entre las desigualdades sociales y la Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2
Authors: Ortiz Ruiz Nicolas
Published: June 2020

La diabetes mellitus tipo 2 es una enfermedad de alto impacto en la morbilidad y la mortalidad en el mundo, pues afecta grupos sociales e individuos, según las jerarquías y diferencias sociales. El propósito de este trabajo es identificar las evidencias que muestran relaciones entre desigualdades sociales en los procesos de padecimiento, tratamiento y atención de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Para responder al objetivo de este estudio se realizó una revisión integrativa de la literatura, a través de la búsqueda de artículos en revistas indexadas en el período 2016-2018. En general, los resultados mostraron que las desigualdades sociales medidas principalmente por la condición étnico/racial y socioeconómica tiene efectos sobre la incidencia y el tratamiento de la diabetes, en cambio, respecto al género, se observa un comportamiento variable entre hombres y mujeres.
Risk Factors Associated to Obesity in Cycle-Taxi Drivers of Mexico City’s Historic Downtown
Authors: Berrones Sanz Luis David , Dios Bravo María Guadalupe de , González Peña Exiquio Cesar , Muro Báez Victoria Alejandra
Published: June 2020

From the perspective of social reproduction, the focus of this study is placed on the collective practice of diet in bike taxi drivers (or rickshaws) of Mexico City’s historic downtown, analyzed as key element in a characteristic pathologic profile observed in health/disease conditions, particularly as the cause for overweight, obesity, dyslipidemias, and factors associated to metabolic syndrome. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 (90.2%) drivers. A survey was used to collect data on diet habits, working conditions and lifestyle. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were taken to analyze biochemical parameters in order to assess the subjects’ health status and establish obesity-related risk factors. The results reveal that average daily soda consumption is 1.6 liters (54 fl. oz.), an equivalent of 629 kilocalories per day. Vegetables are consumed 3.1 times per week and 65.7 kilograms (145 pounds) of corn tortillas are consumed per year. Obesity is associated to the number of years a person has been driving a bike taxi [χ2(2, N = 99) = 6.747, p = 0.034]. 69.1% is overweight or obese, 63.3% has hypertriglyceridemia and 49.1% meet three or more criteria to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Drivers’ intake of sugary drinks and junk food is high, while recommended food intake like vegetables, fruits, legumes and white meat is low. Ongoing campaigns are recommended to promote healthy food intake, avoid sugary drinks intake and facilitate water consumption.
Shallow and Deep Artificial Neural Networks for Structural Reliability Analysis
Authors: Gomes Wellison José de Santana
Published: June 2020

Surrogate models are efficient tools which have been successfully applied in structural reliability analysis, as an attempt to keep the computational costs acceptable. Among the surrogate models available in the literature, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been attracting research interest for many years. However, the ANNs used in structural reliability analysis are usually the shallow ones, based on an architecture consisting of neurons organized in three layers, the so-called input, hidden, and output layers. On the other hand, with the advent of deep learning, ANNs with one input, one output, and several hidden layers, known as deep neural networks, have been increasingly applied in engineering and other areas. Considering that many recent publications have shown advantages of deep over shallow ANNs, the present paper aims at comparing these types of neural networks in the context of structural reliability. By applying shallow and deep ANNs in the solution of four benchmark structural reliability problems from the literature, employing Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and adaptive experimental designs (EDs), it is shown that, although good results are obtained for both types of ANNs, deep ANNs usually outperform the shallow ones.
Overview of the ultrasonography techniques in the diagnosis of appendicitis – elaboration of a novel anatomy scanning method
Authors: Ge Huiyu , Miao Liying , Zhang Fan , Lin Zhuohua , Zhang Lulu , Dou Ruixue , Fang Nanning , Song Kexin
Published: June 2020

This article aims to introduce a novel anatomical scanning method which requires scanning according to varied anatomic positions of the appendix based on the widely used graded compression method. We suggest placing the probe longitudinally in the region of the terminal cecum and moving it laterally to explore the sub-cecal appendix. The probe should be placed transversely on the medial side of the cecum to explore the pre-ileal appendix or post-ileal appendix. Placing the probe perpendicularly along external iliac vessels can help explore the pelvic appendix. The probe should be placed transversely on the paracolic sulci, and moved along the paracolic sulci to observe the extra-peritoneal appendix. Using the cephalic end of the probe as a pivot, push and squeeze the cecum to make it move bilaterally as much as possible, in order to expose the retrocecal appendix behind the air-filled cecum. It is our belief that this anatomical scanning method will greatly improve appendix detection rate and diagnostic accuracy, and provide guidance for surgical localization.
Changing from Clinician-Collected to Self-Collected Throat Swabs for Oropharyngeal Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Screening among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Authors: Chow Eric P. F. , Bradshaw Catriona S. , Williamson Deborah A. , Hall Shauna , Chen Marcus Y. , Phillips Tiffany R. , Fortune Ria , Maddaford Kate , Fairley Christopher K.
Published: June 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led many clinics to move from clinician-collected to self-collected oropharyngeal swabs for the detection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Before this change, however, self-collection was used primarily for genital and anorectal infections, with only limited studies on the performance of self-collection of oropharyngeal swabs for oropharyngeal STI detection. The Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) changed from clinician-collected to self-collected oropharyngeal swabs for oropharyngeal gonorrhea and chlamydia screening on 16 March 2020 in order to reduce health care worker risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Neutrally Charged Diarylurea Compound PQ401 Kills Antibiotic-Resistant and Antibiotic-Tolerant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kim Wooseong , Zou Guijin , Pan Wen , Fricke Nico , Faizi Hammad A. , Kim Soo Min , Khader Rajamohammed , Li Silei , Lee Kiho , Escorba Iliana , Vlahovska Petia M. , Gao Huajian , Ausubel Frederick M. , Mylonakis Eleftherios
Published: June 2020

Membrane-damaging antimicrobial agents have great potential to treat multidrug-resistant or multidrug-tolerant bacteria against which conventional antibiotics are not effective. However, their therapeutic applications are often hampered due to their low selectivity to bacterial over mammalian membranes or their potential for cross-resistance to a broad spectrum of cationic membrane-active antimicrobial agents. We discovered that the diarylurea derivative compound PQ401 has antimicrobial potency against multidrug-resistant and multidrug-tolerant
Staphylococcus aureus
. PQ401 selectively disrupts bacterial membrane lipid bilayers in comparison to mammalian membranes. Unlike cationic membrane-active antimicrobials, the neutral form of PQ401 rather than its cationic form exhibits maximum membrane activity. Overall, our results demonstrate that PQ401 could be a promising lead compound that overcomes the current limitations of membrane selectivity and cross-resistance. Also, this work provides deeper insight into the design and development of new noncharged membrane-targeting therapeutics to combat hard-to-cure bacterial infections.