bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changing writing/writing for change
Authors: Beavan Katie , Borgström Benedikte , Helin Jenny , Rhodes Carl
Published: February 2021

The political potential of unconventional and even transgressive forms of writing in management and organization studies has been invigorated in recent years through an explicit connection with feminist theories, ideas, and practices. The results have been a new wave of scholarship that brings together the personal, the political, and the theoretical as a means to intervene in masculine orthodoxy of organizational writing. This intervention seeks to change what and how we understand organizational phenomena, with an ultimate goal of transforming practice toward a more equal and egalitarian future. We introduce five papers that responded to a call to explore the intersections between change and academic writing, as well as an exploration of alternatives to dominant masculine academic writing styles. Such writing, we aver, might facilitate change not just in the academy, but also in organizations and by extension, society.
A survey of health information source use in rural communities identifies complex health literacy barriers
Authors: Obaremi Oluseyi Daniel , Olatokun Wole Michael
Published: February 2021

Background

Access to health information is critical for good health. However, residents of rural communities may face more difficulties in accessing health information than residents in rural areas. Problems may be structural, socio‐economic and cultural.

Objectives

The study assessed sources and challenges concerning health information access and use among residents of five rural communities in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods

Descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were elicited from forty respondents through focus group discussions (FGD). Elicited data were thematically analysed.

Results

Several informal and primary information sources were often used. Residents used the radio to access health information, and they also visited hospitals/health centres, asked doctors, participated in health sensitisation programmes and consulted traditional herbalists. However, the barriers included financial problems, infrastructure problems (bad road network, unreliable electricity supplies), living far from health centres and finding suitable health information in their own language. These are individual and systemic/structural challenges.

Discussion

The focus group participants were aware of the importance of reliable health information sources, but often had to use a mixture of sources. Traditional herbalists were valued sources (more available and affordable). Health literacy problems concern education and language.

Conclusions

Service provision could be improved to make health information more efficient and effective for rural communities, by building on what works (e.g. health sensitisation programmes, radio programmes providing health education) and providing more multi‐lingual services. The study also confirmed the importance of evaluating traditional herbal medicine.
The incidence of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia in patients undergoing general anesthesia and an examination of risk factors
Authors: Sari Suleyman , Aksoy Semsi Mustafa , But Abdulkadir
Published: February 2021

Background

Unintended perioperative hypothermia, defined as core body temperature less than 36°C, is closely related to many complications such as cardiovascular diseases, peroperative hemorrhagic diathesis and impairment of drug metabolism. Determination of the incidence of perioperative hypothermia and examination of risk factors may help to prevent hypothermia and its complications.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, observational study of 2015 patients who underwent various operations under general anesthesia, and the risk factors of developing hypothermia were analysed.

Results

The incidence of perioperative hypothermia was 78.6%. The incidence of hypothermia within 2 hours was 56.6%, and after 2 hours, it was 100%. Mean age was 49.36 ± 16.10, and 17.8% were over 65 years old. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.96 ± 3.94 kg/m2; 60.8% of the patients had American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I score, 33.4% had ASA II and 5.8% had ASA III; 35.8% of the patients had co‐morbidities. Intravenous and irrigation fluids were unwarmed; 99.9% of the patients were warmed passively, and only 0.1% of patients received active heating intraoperatively. The incidence of hypothermia was higher in overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2), elderly (>65 years) patients and those with co‐morbidities. High American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, grade 3‐4 surgery, endoscopic surgery, duration of anesthesia >2 hours, infusion or irrigation >1000 mL significantly increased the incidence of hypothermia.

Conclusion

The incidence of perioperative hypothermia found was high. Important risk factors were found as prolonged duration of anesthesia and surgery, advanced age, overweight, high ASA scores, major surgeries, endoscopic operations and unwarmed fluid administration. High incidence may be reduced by raising awareness, considering fossible risk factors and following the recommendations of the guidelines on prevention of perioperative hypothermia.
Insights into the nutritional value and bioactive properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa): past, present and future prospective
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed Isam A. , Al Juhaimi Fahad , Özcan Mehmet Musa
Published: February 2021

In recent years, quinoa gained increased attention due to its great adaptability to harsh environmental conditions, high nutritional values and high preference as ingredients of gluten‐free and functional foods. In order to improve the diet and direct the population to a better health, the search for new foodstuffs suitable for a healthy lifestyle and proper diet is still ongoing and quinoa seeds are one of these food raw materials. It is a promising variety for human consumption and nutrition in the world, as it has higher nutritional and health values than traditional cereal grains, such as high concentration of protein, fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, phenolic compounds, and low glycaemic index and gluten‐free nature. Its consumption is not spread worldwide due to lack of knowledge regarding nutritional and health benefits of quinoa among consumers. This review summarises the nutritional values, bioactive properties, antinutritional factors, and uses of quinoa seeds and oils.
Development and psychometric testing of Reasoning Skills test for nursing student selection: An item response theory approach
Authors: Vierula Jonna , Talman Kirsi , Hupli Maija , Laakkonen Eero , Engblom Janne , Haavisto Elina
Published: February 2021

Aims

To develop and psychometrically test the Reasoning Skills (ReSki) test assessing undergraduate nursing applicants' reasoning skills for student selection purposes.

Design

A methodological cross‐sectional design was applied for the psychometric testing.

Methods

The ReSki test was developed as part of a wider electronic entrance examination. The ReSki test included a case followed by three question sections assessing nursing applicants' reasoning skills according to the reasoning process. Item response theory was used for psychometric testing to assess item discrimination, difficulty and pseudoguessing parameters. The ReSki test was taken by 1056 nursing applicants in six Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (28 May 2019).

Results

In the development process, the expert evaluations indicated acceptable content validity. In the psychometric testing, the test reliability was supported by item variance, the theoretical structure was supported by the correlation coefficients and the applicant mean performance supported an acceptable overall test difficulty. The item response theory indicated variance between the items’ difficulty and discrimination ranges. However, most of the wrong items failed at being functional distractors.

Conclusion

The ReSki test is a new and valid objective assessment of undergraduate nursing applicants' reasoning skills. The item response theory provided item‐level information that can be used for further development of the test, especially related to the revisions needed for the distractor items to achieve the desired level of difficulty.

Impact

What problem did the study address? The assessment of nursing applicants' reasoning skills is suggested, but there is a lack of admission tools. What were the main findings? The results provided support for the reliability and validity of the ReSki test. Item response theory indicated the need for further item‐level improvement. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? The results may benefit higher education institutions and researchers when developing a test and/or student selection processes.
Mixed‐methods systematic review: Cultural attitudes, beliefs and practices of internationally educated nurses towards end‐of‐life care in the context of cancer
Authors: Balante Jay , van den Broek Diane , White Kate
Published: February 2021

Aim

To identify and analyse the cultural attitudes, beliefs and practices of internationally educated nurses towards end‐of‐life care in the context of cancer.

Background

Cultural heritage shape beliefs and practices about cancer and end of life, which complicates nursing care delivery. While previous studies centred on diverse patients’ perspectives and cultural competence of healthcare professionals, little analysis available focusing on the cultural attitudes and beliefs of care providers from diverse backgrounds.

Design

Mixed methods systematic review.

Data sources

CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO and Scopus were searched between January and March 2020. No date limit was applied.

Review methods

Quality appraisal was conducted using the mixed‐method appraisal tool. Convergent segregated synthesis was undertaken. Findings were thematically synthesised with the final synthesis presented narratively.

Results

Seven studies were included: three qualitative, two quantitative and two mixed methods. None of the studies focused on the end‐of‐life care experiences of IENs in the context of cancer. One study reported views on cancer, with all studies analysing the cultural attitudes, beliefs and practices of internationally educated nurses towards end‐of‐life care. Three main themes were identified: the philosophy of care, approaches to care and perceptions of death and dying.

Conclusion

The distinct gap in research on understanding the cultural attitudes and beliefs of internationally educated nurses in end‐of‐life care in the context of cancer demands further research. Several aspects of end‐of‐life care were in conflict with internationally educated nurses’ cultural attitudes, beliefs and practices. As these nurses are integral in achieving culturally competent care, further understanding of this phenomenon is required to advance the delivery of culturally sensitive care to patients.

Impact

Stakeholders, including the nursing workforce, need to play an active role in providing a culturally inclusive workplace. Support measures are necessary to reduce the impact of cultural conflicts experienced by internationally educated nurses.
Genetic, social and maternal contributions to Mycobacterium bovis infection status in European badgers (Meles meles)
Authors: Marjamäki Paula H. , Dugdale Hannah L. , Delahay Richard , McDonald Robbie A. , Wilson Alastair J.
Published: February 2021

Within host populations, individuals can vary in their susceptibility to infections and in the severity and progression of disease once infected. Though mediated through differences in behaviour, resistance or tolerance, variation in disease outcomes ultimately stems from genetic and environmental (including social) factors. Despite obvious implications for the evolutionary, ecological and epidemiological dynamics of disease traits, the relative importance of these factors has rarely been quantified in naturally infected wild animal hosts. Here, we use a long‐term capture–mark–recapture study of group‐living European badgers (Meles meles) to characterize genetic and environmental sources of variation in host infection status by Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). We find that genetic factors contribute to M. bovis infection status, whether measured over a lifetime or across repeated captures. In the latter case, the heritability (h2) of infection status is close to zero in cubs and yearlings but increases in adulthood. Overall, environmental influences arising from a combination of social group membership (defined in time and space) and maternal effects appear to be more important than genetic factors. Thus, while genes do contribute to among‐individual variation, they play a comparatively minor role, meaning that rapid evolution of host defences under parasite‐mediated selection is unlikely (especially if selection is on young animals where h2 is lowest). Conversely, our results lend further support to the view that social and early‐life environments are important drivers of the dynamics of bTB infection in badger populations specifically, and of disease traits in wild hosts more generally.
Deep learnt grading of almond kernels
Authors: Vidyarthi Sriram K. , Singh Samrendra K , Xiao Hong‐Wei , Tiwari Rakhee
Published: February 2021

Four deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) models, including Inception‐V3, ResNet50, VGG‐16, and a custom model were proposed to perform almond classification in five categories based on the adulteration of whole almond kernels with 0, 5, 15, 25, and 35% of broken almonds. Their performances were compared by statistical measures, including recall, specificity, precision, accuracy, and F1‐score. The results revealed that the models demonstrated great classification accuracies with the highest value achieved by ResNet50 (99%) and the minimum by the custom model (92.2%) while classifying different categories of almonds. However, compared to the three established models, the custom model had significantly lower precision and specificity values (minimum values 77.6 and 81%, respectively). Though, Inception‐V3, ResNet50, and VGG‐16 showed higher promises in overall almond classification compared to the custom model, their structures were bulker and more complex and required higher processing power and training time. The models attained good training and validation accuracy curves, showing a good fitting of the models for almond classification. The loss curves of the custom model were slightly underfit.

Practical Application

California is the largest producer and supplier of almonds in the world. Despite technological advances, the grading of almond kernels is still a labor intensive and tedious process in California, let alone rest of the almond producers worldwide. The grading of almond kernels through machine learning algorithm using image processing and DCNN in this study can be extremely valuable for a rapid and automated grading of almond kernels on industrial scale.
From genes to networks: The genetic control of leaf development
Authors: Wang Hongfeng , Kong Fanjiang , Zhou Chuanen
Published: February 2021

Substantial diversity exists for both the size and shape of the leaf, the main photosynthetic organ of flowering plants. The two major forms of leaf are simple leaves, in which the leaf blade is undivided, and compound leaves, which comprise several leaflets. Leaves form at the shoot apical meristem from a group of undifferentiated cells, which first establish polarity, then grow and differentiate. Each of these processes is controlled by a combination of transcriptional regulators, microRNAs and phytohormones. The present review documents recent advances in our understanding of how these various factors modulate the development of both simple leaves (focusing mainly on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana) and compound leaves (focusing mainly on the model legume species Medicago truncatula).
Facial attraction: an exploratory study of the judgements made by people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Donnachie M. , Jones B. , Jahoda A.
Published: February 2021

Background

Although romantic or sexual attraction is a major research topic in the general population, little is known about people with intellectual disabilities' (ID) views of attractiveness.

Methods

Fifty‐eight participants (16–40 years) took part in this exploratory study, 29 with ID and 29 without ID. Participants were shown 50 images of men or women's faces and asked to rate how attractive they thought the faces were.

Results

A strong association was found between what men and women with ID and those without ID considered attractive in romantic partners. However, people with ID were more likely to consider themselves desirable to others.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that people with mild ID make the same subtle judgements about facial attraction as other individuals.
Melatonin‐dependent changes in neurosteroids are associated with increased aggression in a seasonally breeding rodent
Authors: Munley Kathleen M. , Trinidad Jonathan C. , Deyoe Jessica E. , Adaniya Catherine H. , Nowakowski Andrea M. , Ren Clarissa C. , Murphy Grace V. , Reinhart John M. , Demas Gregory E.
Published: February 2021

Aggression is a complex social behaviour that allows individuals to compete for access to limited resources (eg, mates, food and territories). Excessive or inappropriate aggression, however, has become problematic in modern societies, and current treatments are largely ineffective. Although previous work in mammals suggests that aggressive behaviour varies seasonally, seasonality is largely overlooked when developing clinical treatments for inappropriate aggression. Here, we investigated how the hormone melatonin regulates seasonal changes in neurosteroid levels and aggressive behaviour in Siberian hamsters, a rodent model of seasonal aggression. Specifically, we housed males in long‐day (LD) or short‐day (SD) photoperiods, administered timed s.c. melatonin injections (which mimic a SD‐like signal) or control injections, and measured aggression using a resident‐intruder paradigm after 9 weeks of treatment. Moreover, we quantified five steroid hormones in circulation and in brain regions associated with aggressive behaviour (lateral septum, anterior hypothalamus, medial amygdala and periaqueductal gray) using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. SD hamsters and LD hamsters administered timed melatonin injections (LD‐M) displayed increased aggression and exhibited region‐specific decreases in neural dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone and oestradiol, but showed no changes in progesterone or cortisol. Male hamsters also showed distinct associations between neurosteroids and aggressive behaviour, in which neural progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were positively correlated with aggression in all treatment groups, whereas neural testosterone, oestradiol and cortisol were negatively correlated with aggression only in LD‐M and SD hamsters. Collectively, these results provide insight into a novel neuroendocrine mechanism of mammalian aggression, in which melatonin reduces neurosteroid levels and elevates aggressive behaviour.
A model of nurses’ intention to care of patients with COVID‐19: Mediating roles of job satisfaction and organisational commitment
Authors: Sharif Nia Hamid , Arslan Gökmen , Naghavi Navaz , Sivarajan Froelicher Erika , Kaveh Omolhoda , Pahlevan Sharif Saeed , Rahmatpour Pardis
Published: February 2021

Aim and Objectives

This study aims to test the hypothesis that job satisfaction and organisational commitment might play a mediating roles between workload, quality of supervision, extra‐role behaviour, pay satisfaction and intention to care of patients with COVID‐19.

Background

Given the high incidence of coronavirus and shortage of nurses in Iranian hospitals, learning about nurses’ intention to care for patients with COVID‐19 is important.

Design

In this cross‐sectional study, 648 Iranian nurses were surveyed during March 2020. The online questionnaire consisted of two parts. The mediating role was explored for the following: job satisfaction and commitment in the association of workload, quality of supervisor, extra‐role behaviours, and pay satisfaction with the intention to care. The study adhered to STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies.

Results

The results of this study show that job satisfaction and organisational commitment mediated the relationship of nurses’ workload, quality of supervisor, extra‐role behaviours, and pay satisfaction with the intention to care for patients with COVID‐19.

Conclusion

The results of the study indicate the importance of job satisfaction and organisational commitment as mechanisms that help to understand the association of nurses’ workload, quality of supervisor, extra‐role behaviours and pay satisfaction with the intention to care during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Relevance to clinical practice

Hospital managers need to attend to the role of nurses’ job satisfaction and other organisational factors to ensure that they can cope with the challenges of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Living with the risk of being infected: COPD patients' experiences during the coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Mousing Camilla Askov , Sørensen Dorthe
Published: February 2021

Aims

To explore the existential significance of living with the risk of being infected with coronavirus in patients with COPD.

Background

Distancing measures aim to break the coronavirus transmission chains. Physical separation from social networks and social isolation are correlated with anxiety and depression. People with a chronic obstructive lung disease are particularly vulnerable due to the increased risk of a serious course of illness, so therefore many of them choose self‐isolation to protect themselves from COVID‐19.

Design

A qualitative exploratory study using individual semi‐structured interviews.

Methods

From June–September 2020, 13 participants were recruited through advertisements on Facebook as a convenience sample for semi‐structured individual interviews. The interviews took place through virtual platforms or in physical meetings. Data were analysed using Ricoeur's phenomenological approach, involving naïve reading, a structural analysis and a critical interpretation strategy. The study has been reported in line with COREQ guidelines.

Findings

Living with the threat of being infected with coronavirus has greatly affected everyday life for patients with COPD. The nagging fear of coronavirus as a death threat was a dominant feeling, together with anxiety, loneliness and hope. With self‐isolation, followed concerns of being forgotten and thoughts of the future, balancing between fearing the worst, and hoping the best.

Conclusions

Patients with moderate to severe COPD feel compelled to self‐isolate, as they fear dying from COVID‐19. The study revealed a need for proactive contact with health professionals to calm the patients' feelings of deprivation, loneliness, hopelessness and anxiety.

Relevance to clinical practice

Information about the patient's perspective may be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at giving adequate information, supporting hope, implementing digital or virtual solutions to keep in contact and avoid the feeling of being alone and forgotten during a pandemic crisis.
Validation of the FIGO 2018 staging system of cervical cancer: Retrospective analysis of FIGO 2009 stage IB1 cervical cancer with tumor under 2 cm
Authors: Takahashi Mio , Sakai Kensuke , Iwasa Naomi , Wada Michiko , Hino Makiko , Kurahashi Takashi , Ueno Mari , Nakagawa Hiroyuki
Published: February 2021

Aim

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revised the cervical cancer staging system in 2018. This study aims to validate the revised staging system in patients with tumors <2 cm in size who were classified as FIGO 2009 stage IB1.

Methods

We evaluated 62 women with stage IB1 cervical cancer (FIGO 2009) who underwent radical hysterectomy as the initial treatment between November 2004 and August 2018 in our institution. The patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB1 and tumors <2 cm in size were enrolled. We reclassified their stage according to the FIGO 2018 staging system and analyzed their clinicopathological data retrospectively.

Results

Twenty‐five patients met the inclusion criteria. According to the FIGO 2018 classification, 9 (36.0%) patients were classified as stage IA, 13 (52.0%) as stage IB1, and 3 (12.0%) as stage IIIC, respectively. One (11.1%), six (46.2%), and three (100%) patients with lymphovascular space invasion were classified as stage IA, IB1, and IIIC, respectively. No significant differences were found in the 5‐year overall survival or progression‐free survival among the three stages.

Conclusions

As many as 36.0% of patients classified as FIGO 2009 stage IB1 with a tumor <2 cm in size were classified as stage IA in the FIGO 2018 classification. For these cases, a treatment less invasive than radical hysterectomy or radiotherapy might be sufficient. Our results suggest that cervical cancer patients with tumors <2 cm should be carefully diagnosed by performing cervical conization and assessed the pathological findings before hysterectomy.
Small in Size but Powerful in Parliament? The Legislative Performance of Minority Governments
Authors: Thürk Maria
Published: February 2021

Minority cabinets do not control a legislative majority and are thus vulnerable to parliamentary defeat. Consequently, the legislative performance of minority cabinets has been often brought into question. In this article, I argue that minority cabinets do not perform generally worse than majority cabinets. I hypothesize that only substantive minority cabinets which do not enjoy formal majority support by noncabinet parties work significantly worse than majority ones. The empirical analysis is based on a large new dataset that combines original information on minority‐cabinet attributes and legislative data for 197 governments in 21 parliamentary democracies since the 1980s. The results of a fractional logit analysis support my theoretical expectations and show that not all types of minority cabinets perform worse than majority governments. My findings provide a comparative insight into the functioning of minority governments and have important implications for our understanding of legislative politics, party competition, and policymaking.
Trends and cycles in U.S. job mobility
Authors: Stijepic Damir
Published: February 2021

Recent studies document a decline in U.S. labor‐market fluidity from as early as the 1970s on. Making use of the Annual Social and Economic supplement to the Current Population Survey, I uncover a pronounced increase in job‐to‐job mobility from the 1970s to the 1990s, i.e. the annual share of continuously employed job‐to‐job movers rises from 5.9% of the labor force in 1975–1979 to 8.8% in 1995–1999. Job‐to‐job mobility exhibits a downward trend only since the turn of the millennium. In order to provide a formal economic interpretation, I additionally estimate the parameters of the random on‐the‐job search model. Furthermore, I document that job‐to‐job mobility has an unconditional correlation of −0.86 with the unemployment rate at business‐cycle frequencies in 1975–2017, varying by around 3 percentage points over the business cycle.
Octree‐based point cloud simulation to assess the readiness of highway infrastructure for autonomous vehicles
Authors: Gouda Maged , Mirza Jehanzeb , Weiß Jonas , Ribeiro Castro Augusto , El‐Basyouny Karim
Published: February 2021

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are anticipated to supersede human drivers with an expectation of improved safety and operation. Since current infrastructure is designed based on the constraints caused by human drivers, it must be reassessed for autonomous driving compatibility. Recently, representatives from the infrastructure owners/operators (IOOs), automotive industry, and academia have advocated for new approaches to prepare roadways for the deployment of AVs over the next decade. Following these recommendations, this paper proposes a novel, simulation‐based approach for the assessment of highways "readiness" for AVs using 3D point cloud data. The proposed method uses octrees to perform volumetric queries for potential obstructions within an AV sensory field. The proposed approach is compared to a state‐of‐the‐art raycasting approach. Consequently, available sight distances and maximum safe speed limits based on road and AV characteristics are proposed. Finally, a discussion of the potential mitigation measures at the locations with limited sight distances is presented.
Incidence of post‐induction hypoxemia in children and the effect of induction gas composition
Authors: Cumin David , Baker Paul A. , Anderson Brian J.
Published: February 2021

Background

Pediatric preoxygenation and inhalation induction of anesthesia can include a mixture of gases. In children, the clinical impact on oxygenation while using other gases with oxygen during an inhalation induction is unknown.

Aim

We aimed to determine the impact of oxygen, nitrous oxide, and air concentrations added to the volatile agent by recording the incidence of hypoxemia following an inhalation gaseous induction in children.

Method

Records from an Automated Information Management System were used to find the incidence of hypoxemia following an inhalation induction of anesthesia. Episodes of hypoxemia (SaO2 < 90% sustained for at least 120 s) were recorded in the 10 min after the 3‐min induction period. Nitrous oxide and oxygen concentrations were recorded and nitrogen concentration was deduced. We also considered patient sex, age, and ASA status as covariates.

Results

A total of 27 258 cases were included in the analysis. The overall incidence of hypoxemia following an inhalation induction of anesthesia was 5.08% (95% CI 4.83 5.35). Hypoxemia was more common in younger patients and those with higher ASA scores. Controlling for those factors and sex, the incidence of hypoxemia increased 1.2‐fold when inspired oxygen concentration was less than 60% and hypoxemia was 2.37 times greater than the overall incidence when the inspired oxygen concentration was less than 40%. There was no clear effect of different concentrations of nitrous oxide or nitrogen when those were factored into the model.

Conclusion

The risk of hypoxemia following an inhalation induction of anesthesia in children is minimized when the inspired concentration of oxygen is greater than 60%.
The rainbow protocol: A sequential method for quantifying pigments, sugars, free amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids and MDA from a small amount of sample
Authors: López‐Hidalgo Cristina , Meijón Mónica , Lamelas Laura , Valledor Luis
Published: February 2021

The elucidation of plant health status requires quantifying multiple molecular metabolism markers. Until now, the extraction of these biomarkers is performed independently, with different extractions and protocols. This approach is inefficient, since it increases laboratory time, amount of sample, and could introduce biases or difficulties when comparing data. To limit these drawbacks, we introduce a versatile protocol for quantifying seven of the most commonly analysed biomarkers (photosynthetic pigments, free amino acids, soluble sugars, starch, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and malondialdehyde) covering substantial parts of plant metabolism, requiring only a minimum sample amount and common laboratory instrumentation. The procedures of this protocol rely on classic methods that have been updated to allow their sequential use, increasing reproducibility, sensibility and easiness to obtain quantitative results. Our method has been tested and validated over an extended diversity of organisms (Arabidopsis thaliana, Solanum lycopersicum, Olea europaea, Quercus ilex, Pinus pinaster and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), tissues (leaves, roots and seeds) and stresses (cold, drought, heat, ultraviolet B and nutrient deficiency). Its application will allow increasing the number of parameters that can be monitored at once while decreasing sample handling and consequently, increasing the capacity of the laboratory.
Multistrain probiotics use in main commercially cultured freshwater fish: a systematic review of evidence
Authors: Melo‐Bolívar Javier Fernando , Ruiz Pardo Ruth Yolanda , Hume Michael E. , Villamil Díaz Luisa Marcela
Published: February 2021

This review aims to explore developments in the usage of multistrain probiotics in commercial freshwater‐cultured fish and to address factors that affect the efficacies of multistrain probiotics to enhance growth parameters, survival after bacterial infection and immune modulation in comparison to monostrain probiotics. From bibliographic searches in Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed, it was possible to select 81 articles that evaluated multistrain probiotics supplementation during in vivo trials in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and roho labeo (Labeo rohita). Most of the articles showed different benefits, including enhancement of fish growth performance, immune response and resistance against some pathogenic bacteria, such as Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus iniae. However, only 13 journal articles included a monostrain probiotic as a control that would allow direct comparison with a probiotic bacterial mixture to determine if the mixture offered higher benefits in comparison to a monostrain probiotic and a control group without probiotic supplementation. Here we explain the main findings, including the best probiotic mixtures, and some perspectives on multistrain probiotics research and use on a commercial scale.
Somatic symptoms of helplessness and hopelessness
Authors: Ejdemyr Ivan , Hedström Fredrik , Gruber Michael , Nordin Steven
Published: February 2021

Helplessness and hopelessness are transdiagnostic and aggravating factors of mental ill health, but their relation with somatization is not well documented. The main objectives were to identify somatic symptoms that are particularly associated with helplessness, referred to as somatic symptoms of helplessness (SS‐He), and hopelessness, referred to as somatic symptoms of hopelessness (SS‐Ho), determine increased risk of helplessness and hopelessness if having these symptoms and a certain number of these symptoms, and determine sensitivity and specificity in identifying helplessness and hopelessness based on number of these symptoms in a general Swedish sample. Population‐based data from validated questionnaire instruments were used from 3,210 participants who constituted case groups of helplessness and hopelessness, and corresponding reference groups. Among 15 common somatic symptoms, five SS‐He (e.g., feeling tired/having low energy) and five SS‐Ho (e.g., dizziness) were identified, showing increased risk of helplessness and hopelessness that ranged from the factor 1.73 to 2.58 and from 1.44 to 1.92, respectively, which decreased considerably when controlled for depression and anxiety. The risk of helplessness increased by the factor 1.49 for each additional SS‐He, and by 1.38 for each SS‐Ho. A cutoff of two/three or more SS‐He showed a sensitivity of 81.7/63.7% and a specificity of 40.6/61.4% in identifying helplessness, and 77.4/54.6% and 40.4/66.1%, respectively, in identifying hopelessness based on two/three or more SS‐Ho. Primary care clinicians may consider further investigation of helplessness and hopelessness as well as depression and anxiety if presenting with these symptoms.
Unchurched Christian Nationalism and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election*
Authors: Stroope Samuel , Froese Paul , Rackin Heather M. , Delehanty Jack
Published: February 2021

Prior research found that Christian nationalism was strongly associated with voting for Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. However, the effects of Christian nationalism may depend on voters’ religiosity. Using national data, we assess whether the association between Christian nationalism and Trump support differed for churchgoers and nonchurchgoers and find that Christian nationalism is not significantly associated with Trump support among churchgoing voters. Instead, Christian nationalism is only significantly associated with Trump support among unchurched voters. These results suggest that while religious sentiments remain key correlates of political attitudes and behavior in the United States, these ties may have less to do with embeddedness in traditional religious organizations and more to do with the ways people use religious narratives in everyday life to construct and defend symbolic boundaries. At a time when fewer Americans attend religious services, religious narratives about Christian nationhood may have their strongest political effects when, and perhaps because, they are detached from religious institutions.
Successful percutaneous drainage of a refractory caudal mediastinal paraesophageal abscess in a dog
Authors: Breheny Craig R. , Thomas Emily K. , Hall Jon L. , Thierry Florence
Published: February 2021

Objective

To describe a novel technique for paraesophageal abscess drainage in a dog.

Case summary

A 6‐year‐old dog presented for pyrexia of unknown origin, subsequently confirmed to be due to a paraesophageal abscess. This was managed by the ultrasound‐guided placement of a thoracostomy tube into the abscess, allowing drainage to be performed. This led to clinical resolution and, at an 8‐month follow‐up, the dog continued to do well.

New or unique information provided

Paraesophageal abscessation is typically managed with surgical intervention, which carries inherent risks and complications. This report describes a novel technique that did not require general anesthesia or invasive surgical intervention, achieving clinical remission without any adverse effects. It also summarizes the current literature available on this condition.
Double drape tectonic patch with cyanoacrylate glue for surgical repair of corneal defects: 8 cases
Authors: Rodriguez Elena N. , Townsend Wendy M. , Stiles Jean
Published: February 2021

Objective

To describe the use of a double drape tectonic patch with cyanoacrylate glue technique for the treatment of deep or penetrating corneal defects in cats and dogs.

Animals studied

Eight client‐owned animals of which five were cats and three were dogs.

Procedure

Eight cases: Four with descemetoceles, three with corneal perforations, and one with a deep stromal ulcer were treated with a double layer of plastic drape material adhered to the cornea with a cyanoacrylate (2‐octyl or 2‐octyl, N‐butyl)‐based tissue adhesive. The patch was then covered with a third eyelid flap.

Results

Seven of the eight eyes healed uneventfully with a median time to healing time of 20 days (range 14–28 days). After healing, the glue patch had loosened and was removed. One eye of one cat developed bacterial keratitis with an iris prolapse adjacent to the patch and was subsequently enucleated. Only two of the eight eyes had increased corneal neovascularization.

Conclusion

Treatment of deep or penetrating corneal defects with a double drape tectonic patch and cyanoacrylate glue is a viable option which may be a faster and less expensive alternative to other globe sparing surgical options.
Candicidin Isomer Production Is Essential for Biocontrol of Cucumber
Rhizoctonia
Rot by Streptomyces albidoflavus W68
Authors: Yao Xueyan , Zhang Zhenying , Huang Jun , Wei Shiping , Sun Xianyun , Chen Yihua , Liu Hongwei , Li Shaojie
Published: February 2021

This study reports that candicidin-like secondary metabolites produced by microbial cells in natural soil environments can effectively control soilborne fungal diseases, revealing a novel mechanism of microbial biocontrol agents. We demonstrated that the main antifungal activity and biocontrol activity of
Streptomyces albidoflavus
strain W68 are attributable to the production of candicidin isomers, suggesting that gene clusters for candicidin-like compound biosynthesis might be used as molecular markers to screen and breed microbial strains for biocontrol agent development.
A Bacterial Toxin Perturbs Intracellular Amino Acid Balance To Induce Persistence
Authors: Zhou Xiaofeng , Eckart Michael R. , Shapiro Lucy
Published: February 2021

To overcome various environmental challenges, bacterial cells can enter a physiologically quiescent state, known as dormancy or persistence, which balances growth and viability. In this study, we report a new mechanism by which a toxin-antitoxin system responds to harsh environmental conditions or nutrient deprivation by orchestrating a dormant state while preserving viability.
Phospholipid Metabolism Is Associated with Time to HIV Rebound upon Treatment Interruption
Authors: Giron Leila B. , Papasavvas Emmanouil , Yin Xiangfan , Goldman Aaron R. , Tang Hsin-Yao , Palmer Clovis S. , Landay Alan L. , Li Jonathan Z. , Koethe John R. , Mounzer Karam , Kostman Jay R. , Liu Qin , Montaner Luis J. , Abdel-Mohsen Mohamed
Published: February 2021

The likelihood of HIV rebound after stopping antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of the size of HIV reservoirs that persist despite ART and the host immunological and inflammatory factors that control these reservoirs. Therefore, there is a need to comprehensively understand these host factors to develop a strategy to cure HIV infection and prevent viral rebound post-ART.
Prime-Pull Immunization with a Bivalent M-Protein and Spy-CEP Peptide Vaccine Adjuvanted with CAF®01 Liposomes Induces Both Mucosal and Peripheral Protection from
covR/S
Mutant Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Ozberk Victoria , Reynolds Simone , Huo Yongbao , Calcutt Ainslie , Eskandari Sharareh , Dooley Jessica , Mills Jamie-Lee , Rasmussen Ida S. , Dietrich Jes , Pandey Manisha , Good Michael F.
Published: February 2021

A vaccine to control
S. pyogenes
infection is desperately warranted.
S. pyogenes
colonizes the upper respiratory tract (URT) and skin, from where it can progress to invasive and immune-mediated diseases.
The Parker Quarry Lagerstätte of Vermont—The first reported Burgess Shale–type fauna rediscovered
Authors: Pari Giovanni , Briggs Derek E.G. , Gaines Robert R.
Published: February 2021

Soft-bodied fossils of Cambrian age, now known as Burgess Shale–type biotas, were first described from the Parker Slate of the northwest Vermont (USA) slate belt in the late 19th century, 25 years before the discovery of the Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada. Here, we report the rediscovery of fossiliferous horizons at Parker's Cobble, the site of the original quarry, which was thought to have been exhausted by excavation. New discoveries include a radiodont, multiple specimens of a new bivalved arthropod, a priapulid, and other undescribed forms. Pervasive soft-sediment deformation suggests accumulation near the toe of a steep unstable slope, similar to the setting of the Burgess Shale. Although fossils are rare, the exceptional preservation of some soft-bodied taxa suggests that recovered diversity was limited by transport into an inhospitable benthic setting rather than by decay, and this implies a potential for future discoveries of new taxa.
Extreme Quaternary plate boundary exhumation and strike slip localized along the southern Fairweather fault, Alaska, USA
Authors: Lease Richard O. , Haeussler Peter J. , Witter Robert C. , Stockli Daniel F. , Bender Adrian M. , Kelsey Harvey M. , O’Sullivan Paul B.
Published: February 2021

The Fairweather fault (southeastern Alaska, USA) is Earth’s fastest-slipping intracontinental strike-slip fault, but its long-term role in localizing Yakutat–(Pacific–)North America plate motion is poorly constrained. This plate boundary fault transitions northward from pure strike slip to transpression where it comes onshore and undergoes a <25°, 30-km-long restraining double bend. To the east, apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) ages indicate that North America exhumation rates increase stepwise from ∼0.7 to 1.7 km/m.y. across the bend. In contrast, to the west, AHe age-depth data indicate that extremely rapid 5–10 km/m.y. Yakutat exhumation rates are localized within the bend. Further northwest, Yakutat AHe and zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) ages gradually increase from 0.3 to 2.6 Ma over 150 km and depict an interval of extremely rapid >6–8 km/m.y. exhumation rates that increases in age away from the bend. We interpret this migration of rapid, transient exhumation to reflect prolonged advection of the Cenozoic–Cretaceous sedimentary cover of the eastern Yakutat microplate through a stationary restraining bend along the edge of the North America plate. Yakutat cooling ages imply a long-term strike-slip rate (54 ± 6 km/m.y.) that mimics the millennial (53 ± 5 m/k.y.) and decadal (46 mm/yr) rates. Fairweather fault slip can account for all Pacific–North America relative plate motion throughout Quaternary time and indicates stability of highly localized plate boundary strike slip on a single fault where extreme rock uplift rates are persistently localized within a restraining bend.
Abrasion regimes in fluvial bedrock incision
Authors: Beer Alexander R. , Lamb Michael P.
Published: February 2021

River incision into bedrock drives landscape evolution and couples surface changes to climate and tectonics in uplands. Mechanistic bedrock erosion modeling has focused on plucking—the hydraulic removal of large loosened rock fragments—and on abrasion—the slower fracturing-driven removal of rock due to impacts of transported sediment—which produces sand- or silt-sized fragments at the mineral grain scale (i.e., wear). An abrasion subregime (macro-abrasion) has been hypothesized to exist under high impact energies typical of cobble or boulder transport in mountain rivers, in which larger bedrock fragments can be generated. We conducted dry impact abrasion experiments across a wide range of impact energies and found that gravel-sized fragments were generated when the impact energy divided by squared impactor diameter exceeded 1 kJ/m2. However, the total abraded volume followed the same kinetic-energy scaling regardless of fragment size, holding over 13 orders of magnitude in impact energy and supporting a general abrasion law. Application to natural bedrock rivers shows that many of them likely can generate large fragments, especially in steep mountain streams and during large floods, transporting boulders in excess of 0.6 m diameter. In this regime, even single impacts can cause changes in riverbed topography that may drive morphodynamic feedbacks.
Pyoderma gangrenosum following an unplanned caesarean section: a patient revisited
Authors: Ghumra Waseem , Gold Adam , Azurdia Richard Michael
Published: February 2021

A 35-year-old woman was referred urgently to the dermatology department because of significant wound breakdown 3 weeks following an emergency caesarean section. Examination revealed a full thickness, undermined ulcer spanning the width of the patient’s caesarean scar, exposing the patient’s uterus. Clinical appearances were consistent with pyoderma gangrenosum. The patient has a history of complicated pyoderma gangrenosum, having undergone skin grafts 14 years prior, for ulcers on her lower legs. That episode was the subject of a case report, published in theBMJ, in 2007. On this occasion, the patient was treated with oral corticosteroids, and ciclosporin based on its efficacy during her previous episode, which in conjunction with negative pressure wound therapy, resulted in complete re-epithelialisation of her ulcer within 6 months.
Incidental appendiceal mass as the only manifestation of endometriosis
Authors: Yaghi Marita , Nassar Hussein , Zadeh Catherina , Faraj Walid
Published: February 2021

Appendiceal endometriosis is a rare condition that remains difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Herein, we present a case of appendiceal endometriosis presenting as a neuroendocrine tumor. A 34-year-old Caucasian woman was found to have an appendiceal mass with a small fluid collection on routine transvaginal ultrasound. The patient denied any symptoms. Features were consistent with those of a neuroendocrine tumour of the appendix. Laparoscopic appendectomy followed by histopathology revealed endometriosis with negative cytology for malignant cells. Preoperative characteristics of appendiceal tumours in women of childbearing age should be further investigated. Establishing clinical and surgical guidelines is the key to avoid invasive procedures and related adverse outcomes.