bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analgesic Effect of Intrathecal Fentanyl vs Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvants to Bupivacaine Following Abdominal Surgery for Cancer in Children, a Randomized Trial
Authors: Fares Khaled Mohamed , Mohamed Sahar Abdel-Baky , Abd El-Rahman Ahmad Mohammad , AbdeLemam Rania Mohammed , Osman Amira Mahmoud Mohamed
Published: July 2020

Background

Intrathecal fentanyl in spinal anesthesia improves intra- and postoperative analgesia. Dexmedetomidine is a fascinating adjuvant with regards to neuraxial anesthesia in children experiencing surgery for abdominal malignancy.

Patients and Methods

After endorsement by the institutional reviewing board (IRB) and guardians’ written informed consent, this research was carried out on 60 pediatric malignancy patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery. Children were randomly distributed into three groups (20 patients each): Group C: given 2 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% (0.4 mg/kg) intrathecally, injected gradually over 20 seconds. Group F: the same as group C, plus fentanyl 0.2 μg/kg. Group D: the same as group C, plus dexmedetomidine 0.2 μg/kg. Pain at zero, two, four, six, 12, 18, and 24 hours postoperatively was evaluated by Face, Legs, Activity, Crying, and Consolability (FLACC) score. First analgesic request and postoperative unfavorable effects were recorded for 24 hours postoperatively.

Results

A significant decrease was recognized in the mean FLACC score in groups D and F at six, eight, and 12 hours postoperatively, in contrast to group C (P ≤ 0.05). First analgesic request was significantly prolonged in group D (7.67 ± 0.57 hours), in contrast to groups F and C (5.40 ± 1.09 hours and 4.23 ± 3.27 hours, respectively, P < 0.04). Paracetamol utilization was significantly decreased in group D (316.67 ± 28.86 mg), in contrast to group C (391.00 ± 52.00 mg, P < 0.03), without a significant difference between group F (354.44 ± 46.67 mg) and groups D and C (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Adding dexmedetomidine and fentanyl to intrathecal bupivacaine improved postoperative analgesia following abdominal surgery for cancer in children, with better overall analgesia of dexmedetomidine compared with fentanyl.
Effectiveness of Multimodal Pain Therapy on Reducing Opioid Use in Surgical Geriatric Hip Fracture Patients
Authors: Girardot Kellie , Hollister Lisa , Zhu Thein Hlaing , Hoeppner Sarah , Opoku Dazar , Heisler Jason , Bane Tabitha
Published: July 2020

Background:

There is a need for appropriate pain control in the geriatric hip fracture population to prevent diminished function, increased mortality, and opioid dependence. Multimodal pain therapy is one method for reducing pain postoperatively while also decreasing opioid use in the geriatric hip fracture patient. This study aimed to determine whether multimodal pain therapy could decrease opioid use without increasing pain scores in surgical geriatric hip fracture patients.

Methods:

This was a before-and-after cohort study. The hospital implemented multimodal pain control order sets with a standardized pain regimen and performed retrospective chart review pre- and postorder set implementation for analysis.

Results:

A total of 248 patients were enrolled in the study: 131 in the preorder set group and 117 in the postorder set group. The mean postoperative oral morphine equivalent (OME) was significantly lower in the postorder set group than in the preorder set group (45.1 mg vs. 63.4 mg, respectively, p = .03). Compared with the preorder set group, total OME and postoperative OME were decreased by 22.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] −44.9, −3.8), 1-tailed p < .01, and 53.6% (95% CI −103.4, −16.1), 1-tailed p <.01 respectively, in the postorder set group. There was not a statistically significant difference in mean pain scores at 6, 24, and 48 hr postoperatively (p = .53, .10, and .99), respectively.

Conclusion:

Implementing a multimodal approach to pain management may help reduce opioid use and may be a critical maneuver in averting the national opioid epidemic.
Risk factors for pneumonia caused by antimicrobial drug-resistant or drug-sensitive Acinetobacter baumannii infections
Authors: Wu Feng , Hu Renjing
Published: July 2020

Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is one of the major types of infection in hospitalized patients. The development of AB resistance is becoming a global clinical challenge. To assist in the clinical management of AB-induced pneumonia, we designed the present retrospective observational study to investigate the risk factors for antimicrobial drug-resistant/-sensitive AB infections.

A total of 214 individuals were reviewed, in which 100 and 55 pneumonia patients were infected with drug-resistant and drug-sensitive AB, respectively. Fifty-nine pneumonia patients without AB infection served as a control group. Age, sex, duration of hospital stay, prior surgery history, the presence of coinfection and companion diseases, routine blood test results, and immunogenicity were recorded. Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors of AB infections.

Multivariate analysis revealed that long duration of hospital stay (odds ratio = 1.091 [95% CI: 1.010–1.178], P = .027) and the absence of coinfection (odds ratio = 0.507 [95% CI: 0.265–0.970], P = .040) were independent risk factors for AB infections. Same pattern of risk factors was identified for the drug-sensitive group (long duration of hospital stay: odds ratio = 1.119 [95% CI: 1.016–1.232], P = .022; absence of coinfection: odds ratio = 0.328 [95% CI: 0.135–0.797], P = .014), while high blood urea nitrogen (odds ratio: 1.382 [95% CI: 1.042–1.833], P = .025) was the only significant risk factor for drug-resistant AB infection.

Long duration of hospital stay and the absence of coinfection might predict AB infections in hospitalized patients. Antimicrobial drug-resistant and drug-sensitive AB infections possess different risk factor profiles. A poor kidney function may be predictive of drug-resistant AB infection. Further prospective studies are required to validate our findings.
Central retinal artery occlusion combined with posterior ciliary artery occlusion after preoperative embolization of the middle meningeal artery for intracranial meningioma
Authors: Feng Kathy Ming , Liang Chang-Min , Pao Shu-I
Published: July 2020

Rationale:

Preoperative embolization of brain tumors has been widely used to minimize hemorrhaging during surgery, but anastomosis between vessels is sometimes overlooked and complications can occur. Herein we describe a case of rare complications of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and posterior ciliary artery occlusion after embolization of the middle meningeal artery.

Patient concerns:

A 48-year-old woman experienced acute, painless loss of vision in her left eye during embolization of the middle meningeal artery for meningioma.

Diagnosis:

The patient was diagnosed with CRAO and posterior ciliary artery occlusion based on indirect ophthalmoscopy, optical computed tomography of the macula, and fundus angiography.

Interventions:

Ocular massage, oral acetazolamide, and topical brimonidine eyedrops were administered.

Outcomes:

Visual acuity decreased from hand motion to no light perception within 2 months. Optic disc atrophy with retinal thinning was evident after 2 to 4 months.

Lessons:

The blood supply and any collateral vessels of the ophthalmic artery should be vigilantly scrutinized to prevent complications during embolization of the middle meningeal artery that may lead to a poor visual outcome.
Comprehensive rehabilitation in a patient with corpus callosum syndrome after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Wu Xiao-li , Liu Li-xu , Yang Ling-yu , Zhang Tong
Published: July 2020

Rationale:

Corpus callosum syndrome is a rare consequence of traumatic brain injuries. We provide a case of a patient with typical corpus callosum syndrome following a traumatic brain injury, and demonstrate neural reorganization and significant neural regeneration after comprehensive rehabilitation, using diffusion tensor imaging fiber bundle tracking.

Patient concerns:

We found typical clinical manifestations of damage to the corpus callosum.

Diagnoses, Interventions, and Outcomes:

We diagnosed a Traumatic Brain Injury (diffuse axonal injury and rupture of corpus callosum). The patient underwent a comprehensive multifaceted rehabilitation program including drug therapy, integrated physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, music therapy, computer-aided cognitive rehabilitation training, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This rehabilitation program resulted in greatly improved physical and communication ability.

Lessons:

Comprehensive rehabilitation can significantly improve the function of patients with corpus callosum syndrome and may cause neural remodeling, as seen on diffusion tensor imaging.
A Novel Standard for Systematic Reporting of Neuroblastoma Surgery: The International Neuroblastoma Surgical Report Form (INSRF)
Authors: Matthyssens Lucas E. , Nuchtern Jed G. , Van De Ven Cees P. , Gabra Hany O. S. , Bjornland Kristin , Irtan Sabine , Stenman Jakob , Pio Luca , Cross Kate M. , Avanzini Stefano , Inserra Alessandro , Chacon Javier Gomez , Dall’igna Patrizia , Von Schweinitz Dietrich , Holmes Keith , Fuchs Jorg , Squire Roly , Valteau-Couanet Dominique , Park Julie R. , Eggert Angelika , Losty Paul D. , La Quaglia Michael P. , Sarnacki Sabine ,   on behalf of the Surgical and Medical Committees of SIOPEN∗, COG∗∗ and GPOH∗∗∗
Published: July 2020

Objective:

To create the first structured surgical report form for NBL with international consensus, to permit standardized documentation of all NBL-related surgical procedures and their outcomes.

Summary of Background Data:

NBL, the most common extracranial solid malignant tumor in children, covers a wide spectrum of tumors with significant differences in anatomical localization, organ or vessel involvement, and tumor biology. Complete surgical resection of the primary tumor is an important part of NBL treatment, but maybe hazardous, prone to complications and its role in high-risk disease remains debated. Various surgical guidelines exist within the protocols of the different cooperative groups, although there is no standardized operative report form to document the surgical treatment of NBL.

Methods:

After analyzing the treatment protocols of the SIOP Europe International Neuroblastoma Study Group, Children's Oncology Group, and Gesellschaft fuer Paediatrische Onkologie und Haematologie – German Association of Pediatric Oncology and Haematology pediatric cooperative groups, important variables were defined to completely describe surgical biopsy and resection of NBL and their outcomes. All variables were discussed within the Surgical Committees of SIOP Europe International Neuroblastoma Study Group, Children's Oncology Group, and Gesellschaft fuer Paediatrische Onkologie und Haematologie – German Association of Pediatric Oncology and Haematology. Thereafter, joint meetings were organized to obtain intercontinental consensus.

Results:

The “International Neuroblastoma Surgical Report Form” provides a structured reporting tool for all NBL surgery, in every anatomical region, documenting all Image Defined Risk Factors and structures involved, with obligatory reporting of intraoperative and 30 day-postoperative complications.

Conclusion:

The International Neuroblastoma Surgical Report Form is the first universal form for the structured and uniform reporting of NBL-related surgical procedures and their outcomes, aiming to facilitate the postoperative communication, treatment planning and analysis of surgical treatment of NBL.
Ultrastructure of exospore formation inStreptomycesrevealed by cryo-electron tomography
Authors: Sexton Danielle L. , Tocheva Elitza I.
Published: July 2020

Many bacteria form spores in response to adverse environmental conditions. Several sporulation pathways have evolved independently and occur through distinctive mechanisms. Here, using cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), we examine all stages of growth and exospore formation in the model organismStreptomyces albus. Our data reveal the native ultrastructure of vegetative hyphae, including the polarisome and filaments of ParA or FilP. In addition, we observed septal junctions in vegetative septa, likely involved in effector translocation between neighbouring cells. During sporulation, the cell envelope undergoes dramatic remodeling, including the formation of a spore cortex and two protective proteinaceous layers. Mature spores reveal the presence of a continuous spore coat and an irregular rodlet sheet. Together, these results provide an unprecedented examination of the ultrastructure inStreptomycesand further our understanding of the structural complexity of exospore formation.
Protocol for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisition, Quality Assurance, and Quality Check for the Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain Disorders using Stem Cells
Authors: Parekh Pravesh , Bhalerao Gaurav Vivek , Rao Rashmi , Sreeraj Vanteemar S. , Holla Bharath , Saini Jitender , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , John John P. , Jain Sanjeev ,   ADBS consortium
Published: July 2020

Objective

The Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain Disorders using Stem Cells (ADBS) is a longitudinal study focused on collecting and analysing clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and multimodal neuroimaging data from five cohorts of patients with major psychiatric disorders from genetically high-risk families, their unaffected first-degree relatives, and healthy subjects. Here, we present a complete description of the acquisition of multimodal MRI data along with the quality assurance (QA) and quality check (QC) procedures that we are following in this study.

Methods

The QA procedure consists of monitoring of different quantitative measurements using an agar gel and a geometrical phantom. For the already acquired data from human subjects, we describe QC steps for each imaging modality. To quantify reliability of outcome measurements, we perform test-retest reliability on human volunteers.

Results

We have presented results from analysis of phantom data and test-retest reliability on a human volunteer. Results show consistency in data acquisition and reliable quantification of different outcome measurements.

Conclusion

The acquisition protocol and QA-QC procedures described here can yield consistent and reliable outcome measures. We hope to acquire and eventually release high quality longitudinal neuroimaging dataset that will serve the scientific community and pave the way for interesting discoveries.
Regulation of the one carbon folate cycle as a shared metabolic signature of longevity
Authors: Annibal Andrea , Tharyan Rebecca George , Schonewolff Maribel Fides , Tam Hannah , Latza Christian , Auler Markus Max Karl , Antebi Adam
Published: July 2020

The metabolome represents a complex network of biological events that reflects the physiologic state of the organism in heath and disease. Additionally, specific metabolites and metabolic signaling pathways have been shown to modulate animal ageing, but whether there are convergent mechanisms uniting these processes remains elusive. Here, we used high resolution mass spectrometry to obtain the metabolomic profiles of canonical longevity pathways inC. elegansand identify metabolites regulating life span. By leveraging the metabolomic profiles across pathways, we found that one carbon metabolism and the folate cycle were pervasively regulated in common. We observed similar changes in long lived mouse models of reduced insulin/IGF signaling. Genetic manipulation of pathway enzymes and supplementation with one carbon metabolites reveal that regulation of the folate cycle represents a shared causal mechanism of longevity and proteoprotection.
Understanding the Functional Properties of Lipid Heterogeneity in Pulmonary Surfactant Monolayers at the Atomistic Level
Authors: Liekkinen Juho , de Santos Moreno Berta , Paananen Riku O. , Vattulainen Ilpo , Monticelli Luca , de la Serna Jorge Bernardino , Javanainen Matti
Published: July 2020

Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of lipids and proteins lining the interior of the alveoli, and constitutes the first barrier to both oxygen and pathogens as they progress toward blood circulation. Despite decades of study, the behavior of the pulmonary surfactant is poorly understood on the molecular scale, which hinders the development of effective surfactant replacement therapies, useful in the treatment of several lung-related diseases. In this work, we combined all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, Langmuir trough measurements, and AFM imaging to study synthetic four-component lipid monolayers designed to model protein-free pulmonary surfactant. We characterized the structural and dynamic properties of the monolayers with a special focus on lateral heterogeneity. Remarkably, simulations reproduce almost quantitatively the experimental data on pressure–area isotherms and the presence of lateral heterogeneities highlighted by AFM. Quite surprisingly, the pressure–area isotherms do not show a plateau region, despite the presence of liquid-condensed nanometer–sized domains at surface pressures larger than 20 mN/m. In the simulations, the domains were small and transient, but they did not coalesce to yield a separate phase. The liquid–condensed domains were only slightly enriched in DPPC and cholesterol, and their chemical composition remained very similar to the overall composition of the monolayer membrane. Instead, they differed from liquid-expanded regions in terms of membrane thickness (in agreement with AFM data), diffusion rates, acyl chain packing, and orientation. We hypothesize that such lateral heterogeneities are crucial for lung surfactant function, as they allow both efficient packing, to achieve low surface tension, and sufficient fluidity, critical for rapid adsorption to the air–liquid interface during the breathing cycle.
Evidence of selection, adaptation and untapped diversity in Vietnamese rice landraces
Authors: Higgins Janet , Santos Bruno , Khanh Tran Dang , Trung Khuat Huu , Duong Tran Duy , Doai Nguyen Thi Phuong , Khoa Nguyen Truong , Ha Dang Thi Thanh , Diep Nguyen Thuy , Dung Kieu Thi , Phi Cong Nguyen , Thuy Tran Thi , Tuan Nguyen Thanh , Tran Hoang Dung , Trung Nguyen Thanh , Giang Hoang Thi , Nhung Ta Kim , Tran Cuong Duy , Lang Son Vi , Nghia La Tuan , Giang Nguyen Van , Xuan Tran Dang , Hall Anthony , Dyer Sarah , Ham Le Huy , Caccamo Mario , Vega Jose De
Published: July 2020

Vietnam possesses a vast diversity of rice landraces due to its geographical situation, latitudinal range, and a variety of ecosystems. This genetic diversity constitutes a highly valuable resource at a time when the highest rice production areas in the low-lying Mekong and Red River Deltas are enduring increasing threats from climate changes, particularly in rainfall and temperature patterns.

We analysed 672 Vietnamese rice genomes, 616 newly sequenced, that encompass the range of rice varieties grown in the diverse ecosystems found throughout Vietnam. We described four Japonica and five Indica subpopulations within Vietnam likely adapted to the region of origin. We compared the population structure and genetic diversity of these Vietnamese rice genomes to the 3,000 genomes of Asian cultivated rice. The named Indica-5 (I5) subpopulation was expanded in Vietnam and contained lowland Indica accessions, which had with very low shared ancestry with accessions from any other subpopulation and were previously overlooked as admixtures. We scored phenotypic measurements for nineteen traits and identified 453 unique genotype-phenotype significant associations comprising twenty-one QTLs (quantitative trait loci). The strongest associations were observed for grain size traits, while weaker associations were observed for a range of characteristics, including panicle length, heading date and leaf width. We identified genomic regions selected in both Indica and Japonica subtypes during the breeding of these subpopulations within Vietnam and discuss in detail fifty-two selected regions in I5, which constitute an untapped resource of cultivated rice diversity.

Our results highlight traits and their associated genomic regions, which were identified by fine phenotyping and data integration. These are a potential source of novel loci and alleles to breed a new generation of sustainable and resilient rice.
The Broken Window: An algorithm for quantifying and characterizing misleading trajectories in ecological processes
Authors: Bahlai Christie A. , White Easton R. , Perrone Julia D. , Cusser Sarah , Whitney Kaitlin Stack
Published: July 2020

A core issue in temporal ecology is the concept of trajectory—that is, when can ecologists have reasonable assurance that they know where a system is going? In this paper, we describe anon-random resamplingmethod to directly address the temporal aspects of scaling ecological observations by leveraging existing data. Findings from long-term research sites have been hugely influential in ecology because of their unprecedented longitudinal perspective, yet short-term studies more consistent with typical grant cycles and graduate programs are still the norm. We use long-term insights to create ‘broken windows,’ that is, reanalyze long-term studies from short-term observational perspectives to examine discontinuities in trends at differing temporal scales.

The broken window algorithm connects our observations between the short-term and the long-term with an automated, systematic resampling approach: in short, we repeatedly ‘sample’ moving windows of data from existing long-term time series, and analyze these sampled data as if they represented the entire dataset. We then compile typical statistics used to describe the relationship in the sampled data, through repeated samplings, and then use these derived data to gain insights to the questions: 1)how often are the trends observed in short-term data misleading, and2)can characteristics of these trends be used to predict our likelihood of being misled?We develop a systematic resampling approach, the ‘broken_window algorithm, and illustrate its utility with a case study of firefly observations produced at the Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research Site (KBS LTER). Through a variety of visualizations, summary statistics, and downstream analyses, we provide a standardized approach to evaluating the trajectory of a system, the amount of observation required to find a meaningful trajectory in similar systems, and a means of evaluating our confidence in our conclusions.

Highlights

Trends identified in short-term ecology studies can be misleading.

Non-random resampling can show how prone different systems are to misleading trends

The Broken Window algorithm is a new tool to help synthesize temporal data

This tool helps to understand how much data is needed for forecasting to be reliable It can also be used to quantify how likely it is that an observed trend is spurious.
Risk Factors Prediction, Clinical Outcomes, and Mortality of COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Alizadehsani Roohallah , Alizadeh sani Zahra , Behjati Mohaddeseh , Roshanzamir Zahra , Hussain Sadiq , Abedini Niloofar , Hasanzadeh Fereshteh , Khosravi Abbas , Shoeibi Afshin , Roshanzamir Mohamad , Moradnejad Pardis , Nahavandi Saeid , Khozeimeh Fahime , Zare Assef , Panahiazar Maryam , Acharya U. Rajendra , Shariful Islam Sheikh Mohammed
Published: July 2020

Background: Preventing communicable diseases requires understanding the spread, epidemiology, clinical features, progression, and prognosis of the disease. Early identification of risk factors and clinical outcomes might help to identify critically ill patients, provide proper treatment and prevent mortality.
Methods: We conducted a prospective study in patients with flu-like symptoms referred to the imaging department of a tertiary hospital in IRAN between 3 March 2020 and 8 April 2020. Patients with COVID-19 were followed up to check their health condition after two months. The categorical data between groups were analyzed by Fisher exact test and continuous data by Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test.
Findings: 319 patients (mean age 45.48 years, 177 women) were enrolled. Fever, dyspnea, weakness, shivering, C-reactive protein (CRP), fatigue, dry cough, anorexia, anosmia, ageusia, dizziness, sweating and age were the most important symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Traveling in past three months, asthma, taking corticosteroids, liver disease, rheumatological disease, cough with sputum, eczema, conjunctivitis, tobacco use, and chest pain did not have any relationship with COVID-19.
Interpretation: Finding clinical symptoms for early diagnosis of COVID-19 is a critical part of prevention. These symptoms can help in the assessment of disease progression. To the best of our knowledge, some of the effective features on the mortality due to COVID-19 are investigated for the first time in this research.
Funding: None
B cells and HSV-specific antibodies respond to HSV-2 reactivation in skin
Authors: Ford Emily S. , Sholukh Anton M. , Boytz RuthMabel , Carmack Savanna S. , Klock Alexis , Phasouk Khamsone , Shao Jason , Rossenkhan Raabya , Edlefsen Paul T. , Peng Tao , Johnston Christine , Wald Anna , Zhu Jia , Corey Lawrence
Published: July 2020

Tissue-based T cells increasingly have been shown to be important effectors in the control and prevention of mucosal viral infections – less is known about tissue-based B cells. We demonstrate that B cells and antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) are present in skin biopsies of persons with symptomatic HSV-2 reactivation. CD20+B cells are observed in inflammatory infiltrates at greatest density at the time of symptomatic reactivation; HSV-2-specific antibodies to HSV-2 surface antigens are also detected. The concentrations of HSV-2-specific antibodies in tissue biopsies vary over the course of HSV-2 reactivation and healing, unlike serum where concentrations remain static over time. B cells and HSV-specific antibody were rarely present in biopsies of unaffected skin. Investigation of serial biopsies over the course of lesion healing suggests that B cells follow a more migratory than resident pattern of infiltration in HSV-affected genital skin, in contrast to T cells. Together, these observations may suggest a functional and distinct role of tissue-based B cells in the local immune response to HSV-2.
The Toll-Like Receptor 5 agonist flagellin preventsNon-typeable Haemophilus influenzae-induced exacerbations in cigarette smoke-exposed mice
Authors: Pérez-Cruz Magdiel , Koné Bachirou , Porte Rémi , Carnoy Christophe , Tabareau Julien , Gosset Pierre , Trottein François , Sirard Jean-Claude , Pichavant Muriel , Gosset Philippe
Published: July 2020

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The major bacterial cause of COPD exacerbations is non-typeableHaemophilus influenzae(NTHi). This susceptibility to infection involves a defective production of interleukin (IL)-22 which plays an important role in mucosal defense. Prophylactic administration of flagellin, a Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist, protects healthy mice against respiratory pathogenic bacteria. We hypothesized that TLR5-mediated stimulation of lung immunity might prevent COPD exacerbations due to NTHi. Mice were chronically exposed to cigarette smoke and then infected with NTHi. According our preventive or therapeutic protocol, flagellin was administered intraperitoneally. Cigarette smoke-exposed mice treated with flagellin showed a lower bacterial load in the airways, the lungs and the blood. This protection was associated with an early neutrophilia, a lower production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increased IL-22 production. Flagellin treatment decreased the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the lung damages related to exacerbation. Protective effect of flagellin against NTHi was altered by treatment with anti-IL-22 blocking antibodies in cigarette smoke-exposed mice and inIl22−/−mice. Flagellin treatment also amplified the production of the β-defensin2 anti-bacterial peptides. This study shows that stimulation of innate immunity by a TLR5 ligand is a potent antibacterial treatment in cigarette smoke exposed mice, suggesting innovative therapeutic strategies against acute exacerbation in COPD.
Plasma neurofilament light protein correlates with diffusion tensor imaging metrics in frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Nicola Spotorno , Olof Lindberg , Christer Nilsson , Maria Landqvist Waldö , Danielle van Westen , Karin Nilsson , Susanna Vestberg , Elisabet Englund , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Lätt Jimmy , Markus Nilsson , Lars-Olof Wahlund , Alexander Santillo
Published: July 2020

Neurofilaments are structural components of neurons and are particularly abundant in highly myelinated axons. The levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma have been related to degeneration in several neurodegenerative conditions including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and NfL is currently considered as the most promising diagnostic and prognostic fluid biomarker in FTD. Although the location and function of filaments in the healthy nervous system suggests a link between increased NfL and white matter degeneration, such a claim has not been fully elucidatedin vivo, especially in the context of FTD. The present study provides evidence of an association between the plasma levels of NfL and white matter involvement in behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) by relating plasma concentration of NfL to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics in a group of 20 bvFTD patients. The results of both voxel-wise and tract specific analysis showed that increased plasma NfL concentration is associated with a reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) in a widespread set of white matter tracts including the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the fronto-occipital fasciculus the anterior thalamic radiation and the dorsal cingulum bundle. Plasma NfL concentration also correlated with cortical thinning in a portion of the right medial prefrontal cortex and of the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex. These results support the hypothesis that blood NfL levels reflect the global level of neurodegeneration in bvFTD and help to advance our understanding of the association between this blood biomarker for FTD and the disease process.
Rats remember: Lack of drug-induced post-retrieval amnesia for auditory fear memories
Authors: Luyten Laura , Schnell Anna Elisabeth , Schroyens Natalie , Beckers Tom
Published: July 2020

When retrieved under specific circumstances, consolidated fear memories are thought to return to a labile state, thereby opening a window for modification (e.g., attenuation) of the memory. Several interventions during a critical time frame after this destabilization seem to be able to alter the retrieved memory, for example through pharmacological interference with the restabilization process, either by direct protein synthesis inhibition or indirectly, using drugs that can be safely administered in patients (e.g., propranolol).

In a series of well-powered auditory fear conditioning experiments (four with propranolol, 10 mg/kg, two with rapamycin, 20-40 mg/kg, one with anisomycin, 150 mg/kg and cycloheximide, 1.5 mg/kg), we found no evidence for reduced cued fear memory expression during a drug-free test in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats that had previously received a systemic drug injection upon retrieval of the tone fear memory. All experiments used standard fear conditioning and reactivation procedures with freezing as the behavioral read-out (conceptual or exact replications of published reports) and common pharmacological agents. Additional tests confirmed that the applied drug doses and administration routes were effective in inducing their conventional effects on expression of fear (propranolol, acutely), body weight (rapamycin, anisomycin, cycloheximide) and consolidation of extinction memories (cycloheximide).

Thus, in contrast with most published studies, we did not find evidence for drug-induced post-retrieval amnesia, underlining that this effect, as well as its clinical applicability, may be considerably more constrained and less readily reproduced than what the current literature would suggest.

Highlights

We aimed to replicate post-retrieval amnesia for auditory fear memories in rats

We performed a series of well-powered pharmacological interference experiments

Propranolol, rapamycin, anisomycin or cycloheximide was injected upon retrieval

Bayesian stats found substantial evidence for the absence of post-retrieval amnesia

The effect is less reproducible and generalizable than what the literature suggests
NREM sleep stages specifically alter dynamical integration of large-scale brain networks
Authors: Tarun Anjali , Wainstein-Andriano Danyal , Sterpenich Virginie , Bayer Laurence , Perogamvros Lampros , Solms Mark , Axmacher Nikolai , Schwartz Sophie , Van De Ville Dimitri
Published: July 2020

Functional dissociations in the brain observed during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep have been mainly associated with reduced information integration and impaired consciousness that accompany increasing sleep depth. Most of the studies that evaluated this relation have mostly been focused onspatialalterations of brain networks across various vigilance states. Here, we explored thedynamicalproperties of large-scale functional brain networks derived fromtransientsor moments of activity changes in fMRI using two complementary studies of simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings of sleep. Our results revealed distinct alterations in the individual network’s dynamical characteristics across wakefulness and NREM sleep. Positive activations of visual-sensory areas simultaneously deactivate focal subcortical regions known to be involved with arousal regulation. The cerebellum is also found to dissociate into posterior and anterior regions, with the former being predominantly present during wakefulness than in the deep sleep. Most surprisingly, we found that global network activity and pair-wise network interactions increased significantly in NREM stage 2 before an abrupt loss of communication is observed in NREM stage 3. Thus, by providing a spatiotemporal and more accurate network-level representation of brain organization, we were able to capture new features of information integration of consciousness during sleep, and provide concrete evidence for the presence of unstable yet distributed global synchronization in NREM stage 2.
Using Metacognitive Strategies to Improve Academic Performance in Biochemistry
Authors: Miller Heather B. , Srougi Melissa C.
Published: July 2020

Growing evidence suggests that students’ self-beliefs about the ability to alter their academic abilities can directly influence long-term achievement. These self-beliefs or mindsets can either be fixed (unchangeable) or growth oriented. Students with growth mindsets believe their academic abilities can change, which leads to higher grades and academic persistence in contrast to students with fixed mindsets. However, less is known about how these attributes affect student learning, particularly in college level biochemistry courses. In this study, we utilized social-psychological interventions to promote growth mindset among third and fourth year undergraduate students enrolled in a one semester Biochemistry survey course. Using a mixed-methods study design we evaluated student mindset, attitudes towards learning, and academic performance over four semesters. Our results suggest that although students’ mindsets did not change as a result of metacognitive interventions, their positive perceptions about learning vs performance did increase. Furthermore, students receiving growth mindset interventions significantly outperformed students who did not receive interventions on the final cumulative exam that assessed critical thinking skills. These results suggest that metacognitive interventions can be an effective tool to improve student academic performance in a biochemistry course.
How employers are rising to the 20% challenge: increasing the uptake of degree apprentices from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds
Authors: Mutlib Isa
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper outlines the UK Government's move to increase the numbers of apprentices. It explores how employers are looking to increase take up of apprenticeships with focus on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, the solutions they have identified and the role of higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

This is the viewpoint of the BAME Apprenticeship Alliance and its Director through engaging with BAME apprentices and collecting a variety of research to show the benefit of recruiting from BAME backgrounds for individuals and organisations. Examples of good practices are included.

Findings

This paper shows there has been an increased effort from UK Government to increase apprenticeship representation from BAME communities. The UK Government has supported the role of apprentices in raising awareness of apprenticeships through recognition of their work.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to the last five years from when the first degree apprenticeship was announced in 2015. Its real impact must be measured after a degree apprentice graduates finding what influence this has on job role, salary and subsequently promoting it to prospective apprentices from under-represented communities.

Practical implications

Practical implications include promoting apprentices as role models for the community and engaging with regional and stakeholder networks between HEIs, employers and the Government to share best practice.

Originality/value

Initiatives mentioned within this paper are original to the BAME Apprenticeship Alliance.
Loaded with knowledge, yet green with envy: leader–member exchange comparison and coworkers-directed knowledge hiding behavior
Authors: Weng Qingxiong , Latif Kashmala , Khan Abdul Karim , Tariq Hussain , Butt Hirra Pervez , Obaid Asfia , Sarwar Naukhez
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore an interpersonal predictor of coworkers-directed knowledge hiding behavior – the leader–member exchange social comparison (LMXSC). This study integrates leader–member exchange literature with social comparison theory to hypothesize that an individual’s upward LMXSC is positively correlated with coworkers-directed knowledge hiding and that an individual’s feelings of envy are mediated by the relationship between upward LMXSC and coworkers-directed knowledge hiding behavior. Also, this study proposes two-way and three-way interaction patterns of goal interdependence, which can influence LMXSC–envy relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Two independent studies are conducted to test the hypothesized relationships. In Study 1, the authors collected multi-wave data from a large public sector university in China (N = 1,131). The authors then replicated the Study 1 findings by collecting multi-source and multi-wave data from a telecom company based in China (n = 379).

Findings

The authors found support across both studies for the idea that upward LMXSC is a possible interpersonal predictor of coworkers-directed knowledge hiding behavior. More specifically, it was found that feelings of envy ensue from upward LMXSC, resulting in further coworkers-directed knowledge hiding behavior. Further, this study shows that the influence of upward LMXSC on knowledge hiding behavior via feelings of envy was weaker (stronger) when employees have high (low) cooperative goal interdependence with coworkers, respectively, and when employees have low (high) competitive goal interdependence with the coworkers, respectively.

Originality/value

This study extends current knowledge management literature by introducing LMXSC as an interpersonal predictor of coworkers-directed knowledge hiding behavior. This will help practitioners to curb such counterproductive behavior.
Information technology-enabled explorative learning and competitive performance in industrial service SMEs: a configurational analysis
Authors: Raymond Louis , Bergeron François , Croteau Anne-Marie , Ortiz de Guinea Ana , Uwizeyemungu Sylvestre
Published: July 2020

Purpose

As purveyors of knowledge-based and high value-added services to the manufacturing sector, industrial service small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must develop the information technology (IT) capabilities that, in combination with other non-IT capabilities, enable their capacity for organizational learning (OL) and for explorative learning in particular. In this context, this study aims to identify the different causal configurations that account for the nonlinear complex interplay of IT capabilities for exploration and strategic capabilities for explorative learning as they affect these firms’ competitive performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data obtained from 92 industrial service SMEs were analyzed with a configurational approach, using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

As it allows for equifinality, the fsQCA analysis identified two sets of causal configurations that characterize the sampled firms’ explorative learning capability as it relates to competitive performance. In the first set, two configurations were equally associated with high innovation performance, whereas in the second set, four configurations were equally associated with high productivity.

Originality/value

By viewing explorative learning as a dynamic capability that is enabled by the firm’s IT and strategic capabilities, the study contributes to OL theory by providing a more concrete or “operational” grounding, which allows for a greater practical applicability of this theory. By taking both the configurational and capability-based views of the OL-IT-performance causal framework, the authors provide an empirical basis for unraveling, explaining and understanding the complex non-linear relationships embedded within this framework.
High‐involvement HRM, job satisfaction and productivity: A two wave longitudinal study of a Spanish retail company
Authors: Garmendia Alaine , Elorza Unai , Aritzeta Aitor , Madinabeitia‐Olabarria Damian
Published: July 2020

The strategic human resource management literature lacks longitudinal studies, and the causal associations between human resource management (HRM) and organisational performance (OP) remain underexplored. We tested cross‐lagged relationships between high‐involvement work systems (HIWS), job satisfaction, and store productivity based on a large longitudinal dataset from the retail sector comprising two waves of data. The first wave (2011) included 6,016 employee responses from 104 stores, and the second wave (2015) included 5,842 employee responses from 94 stores. The quantitative study suggested counterintuitive negative associations. A subsequent qualitative study indicated that the association may have been conditioned by the recessionary action taken by the company in response to financial difficulties. The longitudinal research design, the compilation of data during difficult economic situations, and in a relatively unexplored sector such as the retail industry help to shed some light on the universalism of the HRM‐OP relationship and its boundary conditions.
Red bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Optimization of drying conditions and preparation of functional bread
Authors: Kaur Ramandeep , Kaur Kamaljit , Wagh Rajesh V. , Kaur Amarjeet , Aggarwal Poonam
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to optimize the drying conditions (pretreatments and drying temperatures) of red bell pepper to obtain red bell pepper powder (RBP) with maximum bioactive retention and assess its potential use as a functional ingredient in bread. The RBP pretreated (blanching + dipping in ascorbic and citric acid solution) and dried at 60 °C retained the highest bioactive compounds. Wheat flour blends were prepared with RBP at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% level of incorporation and among hydration properties, water absorption increased with increasing levels. The prepared breads were assayed for physical, nutritional, bioactive, and sensory characteristics. Bread supplementation with RBP improves its color, mineral, fiber, and bioactive properties. However, the texture of bread becomes hard with the increased level of RBP due to a decrease in specific volume. The significant increment was recorded for bioactive compounds, such as total phenols, antioxidant activity, flavonoids, and carotenoids as the level of powder increased. Bread enriched with 6% RBP showed highest sensory scores (8.45) and index of acceptability (87.83%) as compared to other breads. Thus, RBP acts as a valuable supplement for developing bread with improved nutritional and bioactive constituents.

Practical Application

This study describes the effect of different pretreatments and drying temperatures for processing of RBP as a functional ingredient in bread, being a staple food around the world. RBP powder is a novel ingredient that improved the nutritional, bioactive, and appearance of bread. Hence, it will be helpful in the utilization of perishable crops like bell pepper and will demonstrate its commercial viability to improve the nutritive value of bakery products.
Outcomes and factors associated with early mortality in pediatric postcardiotomy veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Jin Yu , Feng Zhengyi , Zhao Ju , Hu Jinxiao , Tong Yuanyuan , Guo Shengwen , Zhang Peiyao , Bai Liting , Li Yixuan , Liu Jinping
Published: July 2020

Mortality and morbidity of children received veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO) support after cardiac surgery remain high despite remarkable advances in medical management and devices. The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes and risk factors of applying VA‐ECMO in the surgical pediatric population. We retrospectively analyzed 85 consecutive pediatric patients (aged <18 years) who received postcardiotomy VA‐ECMO from January 2010 to December 2018. Median (IQR) age at ECMO implantation in this cohort was 12.7 (6.4, 43.2) months, median weight was 8.5 (6.0, 12.8) kg, mean ECMO duration was 143.2 ± 81.6 hours and mean hospital length of stay was 48.4 ± 32.4 days. Seventy‐five patients (88.2%) were indicated for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. The successful ECMO weaning rate was 70.6% and in‐hospital mortality was 52.9%. The most common diagnosis was transposition of great arteries (n = 18, 21.2%), while acute kidney injury occurred most often (n = 64, 75.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, and nosocomial infection were positively correlated with in‐hospital mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis presented that thrombocytopenia significantly increased the 180‐day mortality in patients with successful weaning. Therefore, multiple factors had adverse effects on prognosis. Patient selection and procedures from ECMO implantation to weaning need to be closely monitored and performed in a timely manner to improve outcome.