bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Liver‐Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide 2 antagonizes the insulinostatic effect of ghrelin in rat isolated pancreatic islets
Authors: Bayle Morgane , Péraldi‐Roux Sylvie , Gautheron Guillaume , Cros Gérard , Oiry Catherine , Neasta Jérémie
Published: August 2021

The hormone ghrelin is the endogenous agonist of the G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) termed growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). Ghrelin inhibits glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion by activating pancreatic GHSR. Recently, Liver‐Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide 2 (LEAP2) was recognized as an endogenous GHSR ligand that blocks ghrelin‐induced actions. Nonetheless, the effect of LEAP2 on glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic islets is unknown. We aimed at exploring the activity of LEAP2 on glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. Islets of Langerhans isolated from rat pancreas were exposed to glucose in the presence or in the absence of LEAP2 and ghrelin and then insulin secretion was assayed. LEAP2 did not modulate glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. However, LEAP2 blocked the insulinostatic action of ghrelin. Our data show that LEAP2 behaves as an antagonist of pancreatic GHSR.
Process of energy conservation in the extremely haloalkaliphilic methyl‐reducing methanogen Methanonatronarchaeum thermophilum
Authors: Steiniger Fabian , Sorokin Dimitry Y. , Deppenmeier Uwe
Published: August 2021

The recently isolated methanogen Methanonatronarchaeum thermophilum is an extremely haloalkaliphilic and moderately thermophilic archaeon and belongs to the novel class Methanonatronarchaeia in the phylum Halobacteriota. The knowledge about the physiology and biochemistry of members of the class Methanonatronarchaeia is still limited. It is known that M. thermophilum performs hydrogen or formate‐dependent methyl‐reducing methanogenesis. Here, we show that the organism was able to grow on all tested C1‐methylated substrates (methanol, trimethylamine, dimethylamine, monomethylamine) in combination with formate or molecular hydrogen. A temporary accumulation of intermediates (dimethylamine or/and monomethylamine) in the medium occurred during the consumption of trimethylamine or dimethylamine. The energy conservation of M. thermophilum was dependent on a respiratory chain consisting of a hydrogenase (VhoGAC), a formate dehydrogenase (FdhGHI), and a heterodisulfide reductase (HdrDE) that were well adapted to the harsh physicochemical conditions in the natural habitat. The experiments revealed the presence of two variants of energy‐conserving oxidoreductase systems in the membrane. These included the H2: heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system, which has already been described in Methanosarcina species, as well as the novel formate: heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system. The latter electron transport chain, which was experimentally proven for the first time, distinguishes the organism from all other known methanogenic archaea and represents a unique feature of the class Methanonatronarchaeia. Experiments with 2‐hydroxyphenazine and the inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium chloride indicated that a methanophenazine‐like cofactor might function as an electron carrier between the hydrogenase/ formate dehydrogenase and the heterodisulfide reductase.
Measuring and characterizing land use mix patterns of China’s megacities: A case study of Shanghai
Authors: Zheng Hongyu , Zhuo Yuefei , Xu Zhongguo , Wu Cifang , Huang Jianhong , Fu Qi
Published: August 2021

Land use mix (LUM) is a key part of urban form, but the definitions and measures of LUM are debated. This study aims to reveal the spatial characteristics of LUM patterns by using a sample of 216 streets in Shanghai, a megacity of China. Firstly, a systematic quantitative framework for sustainable LUM is proposed. Then, an LUM degree index (LMDI) that integrates diversity, proximity and compatibility is developed to address the possible bias of a single dimension. Results suggest that areas with high diversity are not necessarily mixed, due to inaccessibility or negative externalities of land uses. Subsequently, spatial characteristics of LUM patterns that combine LMDI with dominant mix‐typologies are analyzed. Results show that residential & service‐dominated streets tend to exhibit higher mix, and are mainly distributed in the city center or the administrative core area. However, 44.4% of the streets with residential & industrial‐dominated or equally distributed mix have lower mix degree and are generally located in the outskirts. More optimized policies for urban periphery areas should be considered. LUM patterns present a detailed perspective to measure and depict the spatial features of LUM, and have the potential to assist urban planners in making decisions.
Dynamic scheduling of a picking robot with limited buffer and rejection: an industrial case study
Authors: Thevenin Simon , Mebarki Nasser , Chatellier Pauline
Published: August 2021

This paper addresses the pick‐and‐place robot scheduling problem with rejection and compatibility (PPRC) encountered in a major French mail delivery provider. The problem arises on a shop floor where boxes arrive dynamically (in an unknown order), and a robot or some operators place these boxes in packages according to their destinations. As the company invested in a pick‐and‐place robot to relieve the operators, the problem aims to maximize the workload of the robots. We provide a mathematical formulation of the PPRC, identify special cases solvable in polynomial time, and propose different online heuristics. Based on real data from our industrial case study, we study the performance of these heuristics, and we provide sensitivity analysis. The results show that the heuristic performs well when compared with the optimal off‐line solution.
Potential importance of the ear as a post‐anthesis carbon source to improve drought tolerance in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Kashiwagi Junichi , Yoshioka Yuichiro , Nakayama Suzu , Inoue Yoshiko , An Ping , Nakashima Taiken
Published: August 2021

It is important to explore and propose a potential source for further improvements in drought tolerance in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The present study aimed to evaluate the significance of ear as a post‐anthesis carbon source under drought conditions in wheat genotypes with different sink–source balances. Field trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018 for four spring wheat genotypes (T. aestivum L.) with different sink–source balances in two different soil water conditions, irrigated and drought. The relative importance of a post‐anthesis carbon gain and dry matter remobilization as source functions for grain filling was evaluated in both environments. Digital infrared thermal imagery analysis was undertaken to analyse the contribution of the photosynthetic source to the leaf canopy and ear parts. In irrigated conditions, carbon assimilation was the major source for grain filling in all genotypes, whereas the contribution of dry matter remobilization was up to 20%. This was supported by a larger leaf area index (LAI) with a lower canopy temperature as the soil water stress alleviated. The ear temperature was always maintained below the canopy temperature, irrespective of irrigation treatment. When the drought intensity became more severe, very small leaf area was insufficient as the photosynthetic source organ for grain filling. Under severe drought condition, especially for genotypes with a larger sink capacity, carbon supply from ear itself appeared to play a significant role in grain filling. This study suggested that enhancing ear photosynthesis could be potential target for improving drought tolerance for high‐yielding modern wheat genotypes with larger sink and smaller biomass.
The ectomycorrhizal fungal communities react differently to climatic, edaphic and spatial variables depending on their host species
Authors: Sugiyama Yoriko , Matsuoka Shunsuke , Osono Takashi
Published: August 2021

Aim

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community structures can vary across sites at a regional scale (>1,000 km), affected by abiotic and biotic environments, dispersal abilities of the fungi, or ecological drift, even among forests of the same host tree species. The spatial patterns of such variation may differ among associated host species and their growth environments, but our knowledge about this remains limited. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether the ECM fungal community structures (i.e. species richness and species composition) at the regional scale and their driving factors vary across hosts.

Location

Japan.

Taxon

ECM fungi associated with Fagus crenata and Castanopsis sieboldii.

Methods

Using DNA metabarcoding of fine roots, the ECM fungal communities of 15 Fagus crenata forests across their distribution range were characterised. The resultant community structure of ECM fungi, as well as the relative effects of edaphic, climatic and spatial factors on community composition were compared with those of 12 Castanopsis sieboldii forests investigated in a previous study.

Results

ECM fungal community composition differed between the two Fagaceae hosts. The spatial pattern of ECM fungal community composition also differed between hosts. Specifically, the spatial variation in community composition across sites was smaller in F. crenata forests than in C. sieboldii forests. The spatial pattern of ECM fungal communities of F. crenata forests was explained by climatic and edaphic factors, while that of C. sieboldii forests was explained by spatial and edaphic factors.

Main conclusions

On a regional scale in Japan, the spatial pattern of ECM fungal communities and its driving factors varied between two Fagaceae host species. Our results provide an example that the difference in associated host leads to the difference in environmental response among ECM fungal communities.
Adolescent Adjustment During COVID‐19: The Role of Close Relationships and COVID‐19‐related Stress
Authors: Campione‐Barr Nicole , Rote Wendy , Killoren Sarah E. , Rose Amanda J.
Published: August 2021

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, adolescents’ typical social support systems have been disrupted. The present study examined adolescent adjustment during the pandemic (summer, 2020) while controlling for pre‐pandemic adjustment (2017–2018) in 170 youth (ages 12–20) from Missouri and Florida. We also examined whether positive and negative relationship qualities with four close others (i.e., mothers, fathers, siblings, and best friends) interacted with COVID‐related stress to impact adolescent adjustment. In general, we found that close relationships impacted adolescent adjustment in expected directions (i.e., positive relationships better for adjustment, negative relationships more detrimental), but while mothers and fathers impacted adolescent adjustment in largely similar ways to pre‐pandemic studies, influences of relationships with best friends and sibling were more impacted by COVID‐related stress.
Prepandemic Risk Factors of COVID‐19‐Related Concerns in Adolescents During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: van Loon Amanda W. G. , Creemers Hanneke E. , Vogelaar Simone , Miers Anne C. , Saab Nadira , Westenberg P. Michiel , Asscher Jessica J.
Published: August 2021

To identify adolescents who may be at risk for adverse outcomes, we examined the extent of COVID‐19‐related concerns reported by adolescents and investigated which prepandemic risk and protective factors predicted these concerns during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Dutch adolescents (N = 188; Mage = 13.49, SD = .81) were assessed before the pandemic and at eight and ten months into the pandemic. Results demonstrated that adolescents’ most frequently reported COVID‐19‐related concerns were about social activities and getting delayed in school. Adolescents that have specific vulnerabilities before the pandemic (i.e., higher stress, maladaptive coping, or internalizing problems) experience more concerns during the pandemic, stressing the importance of guiding and supporting these adolescents in order to prevent adverse developmental outcomes.
Altered structure of bat–prey interaction networks in logged tropical forests revealed by metabarcoding
Authors: Hemprich‐Bennett David R. , Kemp Victoria A. , Blackman Joshua , Struebig Matthew J. , Lewis Owen T. , Rossiter Stephen J. , Clare Elizabeth L.
Published: August 2021

Habitat degradation is pervasive across the tropics and is particularly acute in Southeast Asia, with major implications for biodiversity. Much research has addressed the impact of degradation on species diversity; however, little is known about how ecological interactions are altered, including those that constitute important ecosystem functions such as consumption of herbivores. To examine how rainforest degradation alters trophic interaction networks, we applied DNA metabarcoding to construct interaction networks linking forest‐dwelling insectivorous bat species and their prey, comparing old‐growth forest and forest degraded by logging in Sabah, Borneo. Individual bats in logged rainforest consumed a lower richness of prey than those in old‐growth forest. As a result, interaction networks in logged forests had a less nested structure. These network structures were associated with reduced network redundancy and thus increased vulnerability to perturbations in logged forests. Our results show how ecological interactions change between old‐growth and logged forests, with potentially negative implications for ecosystem function and network stability.
Evaluation of a self‐care education program for older adults in Iran using a lifestyle improvement model
Authors: Tavakkoli Oskuei Mehrnaz , Barzanjeh Atri Shirin , Davoodi Arefeh , Van Son Catherine , Asghari‐Jafarabadi Mohammad , Hosseinzadeh Mina
Published: August 2021

Background

Older adults and their caregivers often believe it is either too late or too difficult to make health‐focused lifestyle changes. However, this is inaccurate, as older adults can make health promotion focused lifestyle changes thereby improving their health. This study developed and evaluated a self‐care education program using Pender's Health Promotion Model and its influence on health‐focused behaviour changes among older Iranians.

Method

This was a quasi‐experimental study with a convenience sample of 136 community‐living older adults from Tabriz, Iran. The participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 69) or control (n = 67) group. Chi‐square test, independent t tests and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) statistical methods were used to compare pre‐ and post‐intervention data, control and intervention groups and changes over time. The intervention was an eight‐week educational program with pre‐ and post‐intervention data collected using the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) questionnaire.

Results

The mean difference and confidence limits of the older adults' health behaviours pre‐ and post‐intervention scores were 2.228 (−5.450 – 9.916) and ‐ 35.820 (−32.051 – 39.588). The covariance analysis adjusting for the baseline values showed significant differences post‐intervention (p<0.0001) in the areas of interpersonal communication, physical activity, nutrition, stress management and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

The health promotion education intervention illustrated that older Iranians could improve their health outcomes in several areas. Thus, culturally tailored intervention programs can be successful in challenging the opinion that older adults cannot make behaviour changes supporting their health.
Interculturalism as a strategy to manage diversity: Moving psychological research beyond colorblindness and multiculturalism
Authors: Yogeeswaran Kumar , Gale Jessica , Verkuyten Maykel
Published: August 2021

The 21st century has highlighted major dilemmas on how to best manage diversity in our increasingly plural societies. Various strategies for managing diversity have been promoted to address this challenge including assimilation, colorblindness, and multiculturalism. However, empirical evidence has revealed that each poses weaknesses for intergroup relations. As a result, policy‐makers and political theorists have promoted interculturalism as an alternate strategy that addresses new and emerging realities revolving around superdiversity, cultural fusions, and mixed forms of identity. In the current paper, we explore interculturalism as a pro‐diversity ideology that takes a more dynamic view of cultural identity where individuals belonging to different social groups are supported to interact and influence each other leading to new and complex self‐understandings. We consider the meaning and conceptualization of interculturalism, its psychological correlates, its implications for intergroup relations, and how minority group members perceive interculturalism. Given that empirical research on interculturalism is in its infancy, we further consider gaps in our understanding of the topic and suggest avenues for future research.
Backward Running on a Negative Slope as a Treatment for Achilles Tendinopathy in Runners: A Feasibility Pilot Study
Authors: Hammer Shlomo , Spitzer Elad , Springer Shmuel
Published: August 2021

Context: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common musculoskeletal injury among runners. Eccentric exercises are considered first-line treatment. However, during the early stages of rehabilitation, patients are usually instructed to stop running. Backward running (BR) on a negative slope provides a similar eccentric load while enabling ongoing physical activity; thus, it may be suggested as an alternative treatment. Objectives: To determine the feasibility of a BR program as a treatment option for AT in runners. Design: Prospective, single-arm feasibility study. Setting: Outpatient clinic. Patients: Recreational runners diagnosed with AT and referred to the Meuhedet Health Services Physical Therapy Clinic in Jerusalem, Israel, from September 2019 to February 2020. Intervention: The patients completed a 5-week (9 sessions) rehabilitation program of supervised BR on a negatively inclined treadmill. Main Outcome Measures: Compliance with the program was evaluated by calculating the percentage of patients who completed the full protocol with no adverse events. Personal running-related goals were set before the program and were assessed following rehabilitation using the goal attainment scaling method. Forward-running time until the onset of relevant Achilles tendon pain, and the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment Scale-Achilles were measured at baseline (T0), before treatment session 6 (T1), and after the last session (T2). Results: Among the 15 patients recruited, 14 (93%), average age 48.8 (10.4) years (86% males), completed the full protocol with no adverse events. Almost all participants (85.7%) achieved their running-related functional goals. Postintervention, the median forward-running time increased from 52.5 (92.5) to 900 (522.5) seconds (P = .008, effect size = .858), and the median Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment Scale-Achilles score improved by 28 points (P = .003, effect size = .881). Conclusions: BR on a negative slope may be a feasible treatment method for runners suffering from AT. Future randomized control trials are required to further validate the efficacy of this method.
Collective Memory and Social Movements: Football Sites of Memory in Supporters’ Activism
Authors: Numerato Dino , Svoboda Arnošt
Published: August 2021

This paper examines the role of collective memory in the protection of “traditional” sociocultural and symbolic aspects of football vis-à-vis the processes of commodification and globalization. Empirical evidence that underpins the analysis is drawn from a multisite ethnographic study of football fan activism in the Czech Republic, Italy, and England, as well as at the European level. The authors argue that collective memory represents a significant component of the supporters’ mobilization and is related to the protection of specific football sites of memory, including club names, logos, colors, places, heroes, tragedies, and histories. The authors further explain that collective memory operates through three interconnected dimensions: embedded collective memory, transcendent collective memory, and the collective memory of contentious politics.
Honesty study was based on fabricated data
Authors: O’Grady Cathleen
Published: August 2021

Made-up data set raises questions about behavioral scientist Dan Ariely
IF/THEN ambassadors find innovative ways to connect
Authors: Ham Becky
Published: August 2021

Ambassadors are role models for middle-school girls—and each other
Empowering the crowd: feasible strategies for epidemic management in high-density informal settlements. The case of COVID-19 in Northwest Syria
Authors: Pascual-García Alberto , Klein Jordan D , Villers Jennifer , Campillo-Funollet Eduard , Sarkis Chamsy
Published: August 2021

More than 1 billion people live in informal settlements worldwide, where precarious living conditions pose unique challenges to managing a COVID-19 outbreak. Taking Northwest Syria as a case study, we simulated an outbreak in high-density informal Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps using a stochastic Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model. Expanding on previous studies, taking social conditions and population health/structure into account, we modelled several interventions feasible in these settings: moderate self-distancing, self-isolation of symptomatic cases and protection of the most vulnerable in ‘safety zones’. We considered complementary measures to these interventions that can be implemented autonomously by these communities, such as buffer zones, health checks and carers for isolated individuals, quantifying their impact on the micro-dynamics of disease transmission. All interventions significantly reduce outbreak probability and some of them reduce mortality when an outbreak does occur. Self-distancing reduces mortality by up to 35% if contacts are reduced by 50%. A reduction in mortality by up to 18% can be achieved by providing one self-isolation tent per eight people. Protecting the most vulnerable in a safety zone reduces the outbreak probability in the vulnerable population and has synergistic effects with the other interventions. Our model predicts that a combination of all simulated interventions may reduce mortality by more than 90% and delay an outbreak’s peak by almost 2 months. Our results highlight the potential for non-medical interventions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Similar measures may be applicable to controlling COVID-19 in other informal settlements, particularly IDP camps in conflict regions, around the world.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on unmet healthcare needs in Seoul, South Korea: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kim Jungah , You Myoungsoon , Shon Changwoo
Published: August 2021

Objectives

This study investigated the factors influencing unmet healthcare needs of people during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Seoul, South Korea. The findings help to identify people who have difficulty accessing healthcare services during a pandemic situation.

Design

We conducted a cross-sectional study using a proportionate quota sampling method according to five major districts, sex and age, using an online survey. We analysed the key characteristics of influencing factors of unmet healthcare needs based on the Andersen behavioural model of healthcare utilisation: predisposing factors (eg, sex, age), need factors (eg, health status, illness) and enabling factors (eg, income, efficacy belief).

Setting

The questionnaire was sent via email and mobile text messages from the end of April to the beginning of May 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants

A sample of 813 respondents was used, and the respondent information was anonymised in the analysis process.

Results

For the predisposing factors, sex, age, education level and occupational cluster were associated with unmet needs for healthcare. Chronic diseases and mental health were the influencing factors as an enabling factor that exerted an influence on the unmet need for healthcare in South Korea. Women, younger persons, those with lower education and persons with white-collar jobs were more likely to experience unmet healthcare needs. In addition, the more chronic diseases people had, the more COVID-19 negatively affected them mentally; and the more people felt fear of COVID-19, the higher chances they experienced unmet healthcare needs.

Conclusion

Government and policymakers are guided to draw out measures such as health communication and telemedicine to reduce the unmet healthcare needs during the pandemic and to recognise the different influencing factors.
SurgiCal Obesity Treatment Study (SCOTS): a prospective, observational cohort study on health and socioeconomic burden in treatment-seeking individuals with severe obesity in Scotland, UK
Authors: Mackenzie Ruth M , Greenlaw Nicola , Ali Abdulmajid , Bruce Duff , Bruce Julie , Grieve Eleanor , Lean Mike , Lindsay Robert , Sattar Naveed , Stewart Sally , Ford Ian , Logue Jennifer
Published: August 2021

Objectives

There is a lack of evidence to inform the delivery and follow-up of bariatric surgery for people with severe obesity. The SurgiCal Obesity Treatment Study (SCOTS) is a national longitudinal cohort of people undergoing bariatric surgery. Here, we describe characteristics of the recruited SCOTS cohort, and the relationship between health and socioeconomic status with body mass index (BMI) and age.

Participants/Methods

445 participants scheduled for bariatric surgery at any of 14 centres in Scotland, UK, were recruited between 2013 and 2016 for this longitudinal cohort study (1 withdrawal); 249 completed health-related preoperative patient-reported outcome measures. Regression models were used to estimate the effect of a 10-unit increase in age or BMI, adjusting for sex, smoking and socioeconomic status.

Results

Mean age was 46 years and median BMI was 47 kg/m2. For each 10 kg/m2higher BMI, there was a change of −5.2 (95% CI −6.9 to –3.5; p<0.0001) in Rand 12-item Short Form Survey Physical Component Summary (SF-12 PCS), −0.1 (95% CI −0.2 to –0.1; p<0.0001) in EuroQoL 5-level EQ-5D version index score and 14.2 (95% CI 10.7 to 17.7; p<0.0001) in Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite Physical Function Score. We observed a 3.1 times higher use of specialist aids and equipment at home (OR: 3.1, 95% CI 1.9 to 5.0; p<0.0001). Broadly, similar results were seen for each 10-year higher age, including a change of −2.1 (95% CI −3.7 to –0.5; p<0.01) in SF-12 PCS.

Conclusions

A higher BMI combined with older age is associated with poor physical functioning and quality of life in people seeking bariatric surgery treatment. Policy-makers must consider the health and care needs of these individuals and invest to provide increased access to effective weight management.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN47072588.
Associations between aortic regurgitation severity and risk of incident myocardial infarction and stroke among patients with degenerative aortic valve disease: insights from a large Chinese population-based cohort study
Authors: Li Guangxiao , Li Tan , Chen Yanli , Guo Xiaofan , Li Zhao , Zhou Ying , Yang Hongmei , Yu Shasha , Sun Guozhe , Zheng Liqiang , Sun Yingxian
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Few studies have explored whether the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke varies among patients with degenerative aortic valve disease (DAVD) with different severity of aortic regurgitation (AR) or not. Thus, a prospective study was conducted to elucidate the causal relationship between AR severity and risk of incident MI and stroke among patients with DAVD recruited from a general population in Northeast China.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Community-based study carried out in rural areas of Northeast China.

Methods

There were 3675 patients with DAVD aged ≥45 years eligible for the prospective study. During a median follow-up time of 4.64 years, 99 participants lost to follow-up. Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the association between baseline AR severity and the risk of incident MI or stroke.

Results

In the final cohort of 3576 patients with DAVD, there were 3153 patients without AR (88.2%), 386 patients with mild AR (10.8%) and 37 patients with moderate or severe AR (1.0%). Multivariate analyses showed that, compared with participants without AR, those with moderate/severe AR were associated with 8.33 and 6.22-fold increased risk of MI and MI mortality, respectively. However, no significant associations between AR and the risk of stroke or stroke mortality were observed.

Conclusions

As compared with no AR, moderate/severe AR but not mild AR was an independent predictor for the risk of MI and MI mortality. AR was not significantly associated with stroke or stroke mortality, irrespective of AR severity. Secondary prevention strategies should be taken to delay the progression of DAVD and thus reduce the incidence of MI.
Food insecurity and the nutritional health and well-being of women and children in high-income countries: protocol for a qualitative systematic review
Authors: Bell Zoe , Scott Steph , Visram Shelina , Rankin Judith , Bambra Clare , Heslehurst Nicola
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Since the global financial crises of 2008, there has been a rise in the number of people experiencing food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this. Many more are unable to afford or access food of sufficient quality and quantity to enable good health and well-being. Particularly vulnerable are mothers with young children, pregnant women and lone parents (the majority of whom are women). This review aims to understand experiences of food insecurity and how it affects women and children’s nutritional health and well-being, focusing on experiences explicitly related to nutrition. Findings will help guide health policy and practice to support food-insecure women and children from high-income countries.

Methods and analysis

A systematic review and meta-ethnography exploring (1) food-insecure women’s own accounts of their nutritional health and (2) food-insecure household’s accounts of their children’s nutritional health. Six major databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL and ASSIA), grey literature databases and relevant stakeholder websites will be searched from 1 January 2008 to 30 March 2021. Reference list and citation searches will supplement electronic database searches. Outcomes of interest are accounts of nutrition and nutritional health, including diet, food practices, infant feeding practices and physical and mental health. The review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol guidelines, but as this is a meta-ethnography it will adhere to eMERGe Reporting Guidance for synthesis and writing findings of the final report. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist will assess the quality of studies. A meta-ethnographic analysis will be conducted for all included studies.

Ethics and dissemination

As a qualitative systematic review, without primary data collection, ethical approval will not be required. Findings will be submitted for peer-reviewed publication.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020214159.
Organising polypharmacy: unpacking medicines, unpacking meanings—an ethnographic study
Authors: Swinglehurst Deborah , Fudge Nina
Published: August 2021

Objectives

We explore how older patients affected by polypharmacy manage the ‘hidden work’ of organising their medicines, how they make sense of this work and integrate it into their lives.

Design and setting

Ethnographic study observing patients over 18–24 months in patients’ homes, general practice and community pharmacy, in England, UK.

Participants and methods

Ethnographic case study including longitudinal follow-up of 24 patients aged 65 or older and prescribed ten or more items of medication. Our dataset includes: 562 hours of ethnographic observation across patients homes, community pharmacies and general practices; 47 audio-recorded interviews with patients about their lives and medicines practices; cultural probes (photographs, body maps, diaries and imagined ‘wishful thinking’ conversations); fieldnotes from regular home visits; telephone calls, and observation/video-recording of healthcare encounters. We apply a ‘practice theory’ lens to our analysis, illuminating what is being accomplished, why and by whom.

Results

All patients had developed strategies and routines for organising medicines into their lives, negotiating medicine taking to enable acceptable adherence and make their medicines manageable. Strategies adopted by patients often involved the use of ‘do-it-yourself’ dosette boxes. This required careful ‘organising’ work similar to that done by pharmacy staff preparing multicompartment compliance aids (MCCAs). Patients incorporated a range of approaches to manage supplies and flex their regimens to align with personal values and priorities. Practices of organising medicines are effortful, creative and often highly collaborative. Patients strive for adherence, but their organisational efforts privilege ‘living with medicines’ over taking medicines strictly ‘as prescribed’.

Conclusions

Polypharmacy demands careful organising. The burden of organising polypharmacy always falls somewhere, whether undertaken by pharmacists as they prepare MCCAs or by patients at home. Greater appreciation among prescribers of the nature and complexity of this work may provide a useful point of departure for tackling the key issue that sustains it: polypharmacy.
Shunting outcomes in communicating hydrocephalus: protocol for a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Sun Tong , Cui Wenyao , Yang Jingguo , Yuan Yikai , Li Xuepei , Yu Hang , Zhou Yicheng , You Chao , Guan Junwen
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) remains the most widely used methods to treat communicating hydrocephalus. More recently, lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) has been suggested as a reasonable option in some studies. However, there is lack of high-quality studies comparing these two techniques in order to certain the benefits and harms to use one of these two methods. The purpose of the current study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of the LPS versus the VPS in patients with communicating hydrocephalus.

Methods and analysis

All eligible patients aged 18–90 years with communicating hydrocephalus will be recruited and then randomly allocated into LPS or VPS group in a ratio of 1:1. All patients will be analysed before shunt insertion, at the time of discharge, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months postoperatively. The primary outcome measure is the rate of shunt failure at a 2-year follow-up term. The secondary outcomes include Keifer’s Hydrocephalus Scale, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended, Evans index, safety endpoints and cost-effectiveness of hospital stay.

Ethics and dissemination

The study will be performed in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki (2002) of the World Medical Association. The study was approved by Institutional Review Board of West China Hospital. All patients will be fully informed the potential benefits, potential risks and responsibilities, those who will sign the informed consents once they are included. Preliminary and final results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international congresses.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR2100043839.
LINC01140 promotes the progression and tumor immune escape in lung cancer by sponging multiple microRNAs
Authors: Xia Rongmu , Geng Guojun , Yu Xiuyi , Xu Zhong , Guo Jing , Liu Hongming , Li Ning , Li Ziyan , Li Yingli , Dai Xiaofang , Luo Qicong , Jiang Jie , Mi Yanjun
Published: August 2021

Background

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1140 (LINC01140), a long non-coding RNA, is highly expressed in various cancers; however, its biological functions in lung cancer (LC) progression and immune escape are still unclear.

Methods

Here, to elucidate LINC01140 function, 79 paired LC and paracancerous tissues were collected. LINC01140 expression levels were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization and qPCR analysis. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell assays were performed. The interaction between microRNAs (miRNAs) and LINC01140 was confirmed using an RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokine secretion levels were determined by ELISA. CIK cytotoxicity was assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. Besides, xenograft tumor mouse models were used to unveil the in vivo function of LINC01140.

Results

We found that LINC01140 was highly expressed in human LC tissues and cell lines. High LINC01140 levels were associated with poor survival in patients with LC. LINC01140 upregulation promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LC cells through direct interaction with miR-33a-5p and miR-33b-5p, thereby contributing to c-Myc expression and also inhibited cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis. In subcutaneous tumor xenograft mice, LINC01140 knockdown markedly reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis. Additionally, LINC01140 directly repressed miR-377-3 p and miR-155-5 p expression levels, resulting in the upregulation of their common downstream target programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a crucial target in LC immunotherapy. Notably, we proved that LINC01140 knockdown, along with CIK administration, suppressed the growth of subcutaneous LC xenografts by decreasing PD-L1 expression in severe combined immunodeficient mice.

Conclusions

Taken together, LINC01140 overexpression protects c-Myc and PD-L1 mRNA from miRNA-mediated inhibition and contributes to the proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune escape of LC cells. These results provide a theoretical basis that LINC01140 is a promising target for LC treatment.
Would integrated Western and traditional Chinese medicine have more benefits for stroke rehabilitation? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhong Linda LD , Zheng Ya , Lau Alexander Y , Wong Norman , Yao Liang , Wu Xingyao , Shao Tengteng , Lu Zhenxing , Li Huijuan , Yuen Chun Sum , Guo Jianwen , Lo Suzanne , Chau Janita , Chan Kam Wa , Ng Bacon Fung Leung , Bian Zhaoxiang , Yu Edwin Chau-leung
Published: August 2021

Background

Stroke is a major cause of death or long-term disability worldwide. Many patients with stroke receive integrative therapy consisting of Western medicine (WM) and routine rehabilitation in conjunction with Chinese medicine (CM), such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. However, there is no available evidence on the effectiveness of the combined use of WM and CM interventions in stroke rehabilitation.

Aims

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the results of all individual studies to assess the combined use of CM and WM in stroke rehabilitation compared with WM only.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched. The included outcomes were dependency, motor function, depression and swallowing function. Subgroup analysis was performed, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots.

Summary of review

58 studies and 6339 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis revealed that combined therapy comprising both acupuncture and WM had a superior effect on improving dependency and swallowing function compared with standard WM therapy alone. Potential superiority of combined therapy comprising CM and WM in improving depression compared with standard WM therapy was also found.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the combined use of CM and WM could be more efficacious in stroke rehabilitation compared with the use of WM therapy alone. However, most studies were short in duration (2 to 4 weeks) and prone to different types of biases, which prevents making any conclusion regarding the long-term effects and raises concerns regarding true efficacy in context of high likelihood of Hawthorn bias. So, more randomised controlled trials with more rigorous design and longer duration of treatment and follow-up need to be conducted to compare WM alone versus WM and CM combined.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020152050.
Acute appendicitis severity during the early COVID-19 pandemic period
Authors: Zaikos Thomas D , Boudiab Elizabeth M , Peshel Emanuela C , Wu Annie A , Dyer Ethan , Haut Elliott R , Salimian Kevan J
Published: August 2021

Background

The early COVID-19 pandemic period significantly strained the US healthcare system. During this period, consultations and admissions for acute medical conditions decreased, which was associated with an increase in disease-specific morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we sought to determine what, if any, effect the early COVID-19 pandemic period had on the presentation, management, and histopathologic severity of acute appendicitis.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, observational study to compare the frequencies with which patients presented with acute appendicitis, the proportion of whom were managed surgically, and the distribution of histopathologic disease severity among all resected appendix specimens during the early COVID-19 pandemic period (March 6–June 30, 2020) to equivalent time periods for the 3 preceding/pre-pandemic years (2017–2019).

Results

Compared with equivalent pre-pandemic time periods, during the COVID-19 pandemic period there was no significant difference in the number of patients who presented for acute appendicitis, there was a decreased rate of surgical management (81% vs 94%; p=0.014), and there was an overall increase in the incidence of perforated appendicitis (31% vs 16%; p=0.004), including by histopathologic diagnosis (25% vs 11%; p=0.01).

Discussion

Despite potential patient hesitancy to present for care, the early COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with no significant change in the number of patients presenting with acute appendicitis; however, there was a significant increase in the incidence of perforated appendicitis. This study highlights the need to encourage patients to avoid late presentation for acute surgical conditions and for the robust planning for the medical management of otherwise surgical abnormalities during episodes of restricted or limited resources.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Staying warm is not always the norm: behavioural differences in thermoregulation of two snake species
Authors: Giacometti Danilo , Yagi Katharine T. , Abney Curtis R. , Jung Matthew P. , Tattersall Glenn J.
Published: August 2021

Thermal biology research compares field with laboratory data to elucidate the evolution of temperature-sensitive traits in ectotherms. The hidden challenge of many of these studies is discerning whether animals actively thermoregulate, since motivation is not typically assessed. By studying the behaviours involved in thermoregulation, we can better understand the mechanisms underlying body temperature control. Using an integrative approach, we assessed the thermoregulatory and thermotactic behaviours of two sympatric snake species with contrasting life histories: the generalist Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis ( Linnaeus, 1758 )) and the semi-fossorial Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata ( Storer, 1839 )). We expected that thermoregulatory behaviours would be optimized based on life history, in that T. s. sirtalis would show higher evidence for thermally oriented behaviours than S. o. occipitomaculata due to its active nature. Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis actively thermoregulated, had higher thermal preferences (29.4 ± 2.5 vs. 25.3 ± 3.6 °C), and was more active than S. o. occipitomaculata, which showed relatively low evidence for thermotaxis. Our results build on the notion that evaluating movement patterns and rostral orientation towards a heat source can help ascertain whether animals make thermally motivated choices. Our data provide insight into the thermoregulatory strategies used by snakes with different life histories and maximize the information provided by behavioural thermoregulation experiments.
Efficient Convolutional Dictionary Learning Using Preconditioned ADMM
Authors: Zhang Xuesong , Li Baoping , Jiang Jing
Published: August 2021

Given training data, convolutional dictionary learning (CDL) seeks a translation-invariant sparse representation, which is characterized by a set of convolutional kernels. However, even a small training set with moderate sample size can render the optimization process both computationally challenging and memory starving. Under a biconvex optimization strategy for CDL, we propose to diagonally precondition the system matrices in the filter learning sub-problem that can be solved by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). This method leads to the substitution of matrix inversion ([Formula: see text] and matrix multiplication ([Formula: see text] involved in ADMM with an element-wise operation ([Formula: see text], which significantly reduces the computational complexity as well as the memory requirement. Numerical experiments validate the performance advantage of the proposed method over the state-of-the-arts. Code is available at https://github.com/baopingli/Efficient-Convolutional-Dictionary-Learning-using-PADMM .
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR RADICAL INNOVATION IN THE NEW DIGITAL AGE
Authors: FISCHER DENISE , PRASUHN JACQUELINE , STRESE STEFFEN , BRETTEL MALTE
Published: August 2021

The beneficial value of leveraging external networks in the innovation process has sparked widespread attention by open innovation scholars. With the rise of novel digital technologies such as social media, the opportunity space for accessing a multitude of external knowledge outside the organisation has significantly expanded. For instance, social media is currently not only vital in monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak, but also in leveraging knowledge to find a treatment for coronavirus. Nevertheless, theory and empirical evidence on how user integration using novel technologies such as social media affects radical innovation remains scarce and inconclusive. Using data obtained from 269 senior managers in new product development departments, this study reveals that the use of social media tools for new product development positively impacts radical innovation. The positive relationship is further strengthened by higher levels of an organisation’s technology acceptance of social media. However, we also find that routinisation with social media technology weakens the positive relationship, suggesting that frequent social media users may be more vulnerable to the systemic challenges of social media tools. This study advances open innovation research and information systems literature, elevating the controversial and debated impact of customer integration and information technology for radical innovation into the digitisation era.