bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patch test results in terms of the recently recommended allergens in children and adolescents: A retrospective cohort study over 22 years from Turkey
Authors: Yılmaz Zeynep , Özkaya Esen
Published: March 2021

Background

A European pediatric patch test series was suggested recently.

Objectives

To evaluate the patch test results in children (<10‐years‐old) and adolescents (10‐ to 18‐years‐old) in Turkey, focusing on the clinical/occupational relevance and the diagnostic value of the recently suggested series.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective cohort study on 317 consecutively patch tested patients ≤18 years of age, between 1996 and 2017.

Results

The contact sensitization rate was 46.1%. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) was diagnosed in 30.9%, comprising non‐occupational (84.7%) and occupational (15.3%) ACD. Nickel was the leading allergen in almost every age group. Methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) was the clinically most relevant allergen, followed by p‐phenylenediamine (PPD), ammonium persulfate, fragrance mix I, nickel sulfate, and mercury/mercury(II)amidochloride. Occupational ACD was most frequently seen in hairdresser apprentices (adolescents only) who were sensitized with PPD ± ammonium persulfate. ACD from MCI/MI increased to 5‐fold, ammonium persulfate and mercurial compounds to 2‐fold, and PPD to 1.7‐fold after 2007. Almost one third of patients would be missed by testing only with the recommended allergens.

Conclusions

For patch testing in Turkish children and adolescents, we suggest additionally testing with ammonium persulfate, mercury/mercury(II)amidochloride, toluenesulfonamide formaldehyde resin, and polyethylene glycol, the latter as a marker for nitrofurazone allergy, in appropriate patients.
Approaches to ‘vulnerability’ in eight European disaster management systems
Authors: Orru Kati , Hansson Sten , Gabel Friedrich , Tammpuu Piia , Krüger Marco , Savadori Lucia , Meyer Sunniva Frislid , Torpan Sten , Jukarainen Pirjo , Schieffelers Abriel , Lovasz Gabriella , Rhinard Mark
Published: March 2021

While social vulnerability in the face of disasters has received increasing academic attention, relatively little is known about the extent to which that knowledge is reflected in practice by institutions involved in disaster management. This study charts the practitioners’ approaches to disaster vulnerability in eight European countries: Belgium; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Hungary; Italy; Norway; and Sweden. It draws on a comparative document analysis and 95 interviews with disaster managers and reveals significant differences across countries in terms of the ontology of vulnerability, its sources, reduction strategies, and the allocation of related duties. To advance the debate and provide conceptual clarity, we put forward a heuristic model to facilitate different understandings of vulnerability along the dimensions of human agency and technological structures as well as social support through private relations and state actors. This could guide risk analysis of and planning for major hazards and could be adapted further to particular types of disasters.
Testing effects of invasive fire ants and disturbance on ant communities of the longleaf pine ecosystem
Authors: Roeder Karl A. , Penuela Useche Viviana , Levey Douglas J. , Resasco Julian
Published: March 2021

1. Invasive species and habitat disturbance are among the most important drivers of biodiversity loss and ecological change. Their individual effects, however, are difficult to disentangle because invasion and disturbance are often intimately linked. Here we test alternative hypotheses to determine if the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a ‘driver’ or simply a ‘passenger’ of ecological change in a longleaf pine ecosystem.

2. We randomly assigned treatments of (1) unmanipulated, (2) soil disturbance, (3) fire ant removal and (4) soil disturbance + fire ant removal to experimental blocks and measured how ant communities changed over 2 years in thirty‐six 15‐m2 plots.

3. Fire ant abundance in removal plots averaged 42% lower in pitfall traps and 95% lower on baits compared to unmanipulated, control plots. Species richness of co‐occurring ants also decreased 42% in removal plots, with significant changes in community composition. Soil disturbance alone did not affect ant communities. Fire ant diet breadth—measured using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes—increased up to 4.7‐fold in soil disturbance + removal plots (i.e. 0.84‰2 to 3.94‰2).

4. While non‐target impacts of the fire ant removal treatment complicate interpretation, our results suggest fire ants follow an alternative ‘interacting drivers’ model in which partial recovery of some species occurs when populations of an invasive species are reduced. Further recovery of native ants may be limited by persisting, landscape‐level effects of fire ants suppressing co‐occurring ants below historical levels.
Striatal transcriptome changes linked to drug‐induced repetitive behaviors
Authors: Crittenden Jill R. , Gipson Theresa A. , Smith Anne C. , Bowden Hilary A. , Yildirim Ferah , Fischer Kyle B. , Yim Michael , Housman David E. , Graybiel Ann M.
Published: March 2021

Disruptive or excessive repetitive motor patterns (stereotypies) are cardinal symptoms in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders. Stereotypies are also evoked by psychomotor stimulants such as amphetamine. The acquisition of motor sequences is paralleled by changes in activity patterns in the striatum, and stereotypies have been linked to abnormal plasticity in these reinforcement‐related circuits. Here, we designed experiments in mice to identify transcriptomic changes that underlie striatal plasticity occurring alongside the development of drug‐induced stereotypic behavior. We identified three schedules of amphetamine treatment inducing different degrees of stereotypy and used bulk RNAseq to compare striatal gene expression changes among groups of mice treated with the different drug‐dose schedules and vehicle‐treated, cage‐mate controls. Mice were identified as naïve, sensitized, or tolerant to drug‐induced stereotypy. All drug‐treated groups exhibited expression changes in genes that encode members of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) cascades known to regulate psychomotor stimulant responses. In the sensitized group with the most prolonged stereotypy, we found dysregulation of 20 genes that were not changed in other groups. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated highly significant overlap with genes regulated by neuregulin 1 (Nrg1). Nrg1 is known to be a schizophrenia and autism susceptibility gene that encodes a ligand for Erb‐B receptors, which are involved in neuronal migration, myelination, and cell survival, including that of dopamine‐containing neurons. Stimulant abuse is a risk factor for schizophrenia onset, and these two disorders share behavioral stereotypy phenotypes. Our results raise the possibility that drug‐induced sensitization of the Nrg1 signaling pathway might underlie these links.
Haemodynamic impairment along the Alzheimer’s disease continuum
Authors: Diomedi Marina , Rocco Alessandro , Bonomi Chiara Giuseppina , Mascolo Alfredo Paolo , De Lucia Vincenzo , Marrama Federico , Sallustio Fabrizio , Koch Giacomo , Martorana Alessandro
Published: March 2021

Background and purpose

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is considered a clinical and biological continuum identified via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or imaging biomarkers. Chronic hypoperfusion is held as one of the main features of Alzheimer's disease, as part of the processes causing neuronal degeneration. The mechanism responsible for such condition is still debated, although recently a direct connection with amyloid peptides has been shown. Here the aim was to investigate whether measures of hypoperfusion change along the AD continuum.

Methods

Seventy patients with mild AD were recruited and stratified according to their CSF biomarker profile—as indicated by the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer’s Association research framework—into patients with either isolated amyloid pathology (A+T−) or full‐blown AD (A+T+), and further layered according to apolipoprotein E genotype. After evaluation of vascular risk factors, a transcranial Doppler was performed on each patient, to evaluate mean flow velocity and pulsatility index in the middle cerebral artery, and to calculate the breath‐holding index. Patients were compared to a cohort of 17 healthy controls.

Results

The breath‐holding index was reduced in the AD continuum and was inversely correlated to CSF amyloid β42 levels. Such correlation was stronger in the A+T+ than in the A+T− group, and unexpectedly reached statistical significance only in the E3 and not in the E4 genotype carriers.

Conclusions

These results suggest a tight and effective relationship between amyloid β42, vascular hypoperfusion, cerebrovascular reactivity and epsilon genotype.
Size does matter: The role of decompressive craniectomy extent for outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Jabbarli Ramazan , He Shi‐Qing , Darkwah Oppong Marvin , Herten Annika , Chihi Mehdi , Pierscianek Daniela , Dammann Philipp , Sure Ulrich , Wrede Karsten H.
Published: March 2021

Background and purpose

In previous studies in patients with traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke, the size of decompressive craniectomy (DC) was reported to be paramount with regard to patient outcomes. We aimed to identify the impact of DC size on treatment results in individuals with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods

The extent of DC in 232 patients with SAH who underwent bifrontal or hemicraniectomy between January 2003 and December 2015 was analyzed using semi‐automated surface measurements. The study endpoints were course of intracranial pressure (ICP) treatment after DC, occurrence of cerebral infarcts, in‐hospital mortality, and unfavorable outcome at 6 months (defined as modified Rankin scale score >3). The associations of DC size with the study endpoints were adjusted for DC timing, patient age, clinical and radiographic severity of SAH, aneurysm location, and treatment modality.

Results

The mean DC surface area was 100.9 (±45.8) cm2. In multivariate analysis, a large DC (>105 cm2) was independently associated with a lower risk of cerebral infarcts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16–0.56), in‐hospital mortality (aOR 0.28, 95% CI 0.14–0.56) and unfavorable outcome (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27–0.98). Moreover, SAH patients with a small DC size (<75 cm2) were more likely to require prolonged (>3 days, aOR 3.60, 95% CI 1.37–9.42) and enhanced (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.12–4.74) postoperative ICP treatment.

Conclusion

This is the first study showing the impact of DC size on postoperative ICP control and patient outcome in the context of SAH; specifically, a large craniectomy flap (>105 cm2) might lead to better outcomes in SAH patients requiring decompressive surgery.
Delineating the Spatio‐Temporal Pattern of House Price Variation by Local Authority in England: 2009 to 2016
Authors: Chi Bin , Dennett Adam , Oléron‐Evans Thomas , Morphet Robin
Published: March 2021

Housing is a major source of inequality in England, but most house price variation studies are conducted at national or regional scale or, conversely, in a specific city. Detailed research at sub‐regional level is missing, especially for the period after the global financial crisis. This research addresses this gap with an analysis of variation at local authority level across England between 2009 and 2016. A novel house price per square meter (HPM) dataset is used to control for property size effects in transaction price variation. The effects of two spatial levels (local authority (LA)—and Middle Layer Super Output) together with three time categorizations (quarterly, half‐yearly, and yearly) is systematically explored using multilevel models. Results show that the time categorization effects are essentially identical and extremely small, in comparison with the LA effects. As annual effects provide the best model fit, LA annual house price trajectories are explored further. Overall higher HPM LAs grew faster over the 8‐year period than lower HPM LAs. [Corrections made on 05 May 2022, after first online publication: '80‐year' in the previous sentence has been corrected to '8‐year' in this version.] More locally the spatial pattern shows some variation in the overall pattern, with some LAs near London or Bristol exhibiting higher relative percentage HPM increases with a relatively lower initial HPM compared with their neighbors.
We have never been so bounded: Pandemic, territoriality, and mobility
Authors: Yip Maurice
Published: March 2021

In this intervention, I examine the bordering dynamics in the nomosphere configured by the global pandemic crisis and their territorial consequences, drawing on an autoethnography of the impact of bordering on everyday life and academic practices. On the one hand, I rely on my observation of Switzerland, and Europe in general, to discuss the bodily and everyday experiences with borders at different scales; on the other, as a British National (Overseas) passport holder in an attempt to get access to Taiwan for doing fieldwork, I document the difficulties in dealing with the border control, showing how the influence of geopolitics and contested identities on the research praxis is complicated by bordering during the pandemic. These legal geographies of territoriality demonstrate that borders are not only constantly becoming and fluid, but also more discursively present and materially visible during the pandemic than other times. The work of bordering, I argue, produces an uneven geography which deserves our attention.
Reimagining climate‐informed development: From “matters of fact” to “matters of care”
Authors: Tozzi Arianna
Published: March 2021

This paper is concerned with the impasse climate‐informed development practices currently find themselves in. This is represented by the fact that while “solutions” to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance capacities for adaptation and resilience are increasingly adopted around the world, we have enough evidence to suggest that strategies adopted “from above” have been unable to engender transformations towards more just and liveable futures. Situating the paper within recent calls for a “post‐adaptation” turn in the field, I propose a generative critique of climate‐informed development through the lens of care as a place from where to begin thinking and practicing development differently. The aim of this critique is not to discard or discredit development practices as necessarily tainted or flawed but to make them accountable to a whole set of concerns and cares going into their stories of success or failures. Throughout the paper, I therefore speculatively ask the reader to think though the possibilities that may be opened when we stop treating climate‐informed development projects as neutral and undisputable “matters of fact,” engaging with them instead as necessary and non‐innocent “matters of care.” Thinking through a tryptic notion of “matters of care,” as at the same time a neglected doing necessary for the sustenance of life, an affective state, and an ethico‐politics, I look at examples from semi‐arid areas of India to give visibility to those practices, relations, and emotions of care that have been marginalised by mainstream development circles. Through this shift in perception, a deeper understanding of vulnerability as a state of shared fragility emerges, one that grounds an ethico‐politics of climate‐informed development to concrete circumstances and becomes the foundation upon which more inclusive practices can be built upon.
Involving people with type 2 diabetes in facilitating participation in a cardiovascular screening programme
Authors: Dahl Marie , Søndergaard Susanne Friis , Diederichsen Axel , Søndergaard Jens , Thilsing Trine , Lindholt Jes S.
Published: March 2021

Background

Knowledge is lacking about how to increase uptake among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) invited to preventive initiatives like cardiovascular screening.

Aim

To explore how to improve participation of people with T2D in cardiovascular screening using patient and public involvement (PPI).

Methods

Patient and public involvement was included in a qualitative research design. From April to October 2019, we invited 40‐ to 60‐year‐old people with T2D (n = 17) to individual consultative meetings, using an interviewing approach. Before the interviews, participants were asked to read a proposed invitation letter to be used in a cardiovascular screening programme. Inductive content analysis was undertaken.

Results

Participants considered cardiovascular screening important and beneficial from both a personal and social perspective. We found that the relational interaction between the person with T2D and the health‐care professional was key to participation and that nudging captured through the design of the screening programme and the wording of the invitation letter was requested.

Conclusion

In preventive initiatives perceived as meaningful by the invitee, a focus on recruitment is crucial to facilitate participation. This study contributed with knowledge about how to promote participation by involving health‐care professionals in recruitment initiatives and through nudging. This knowledge may assist researchers, policymakers and ethicists' understanding and assessment of the ethical appropriateness and public acceptability of nudging in cardiovascular screening.

Patient or public contribution

By consulting 17 people with T2D, we are now in a position to suggest how a screening initiative should be altered because tools to improve uptake have been identified.
Kaolinite‐based clay ceramics blended with residual fique fibers for potential plastic soil applications
Authors: García Edwin F. , Pérez Andrea C. , Colorado Henry A.
Published: March 2021

The high content of clay minerals within the soil has a significant effect on its engineering behavior; water affects the interaction of their minerals, which influences their plasticity and deformability. Structures made with or on plastic materials can experience problems due to the high deformations presented in soil. Therefore, decreasing the deformability of plastic soils contributes to the stability and serviceability of the structures supported by this kind of soils. This investigation is about the effect of fique fibers contents in the mechanical behavior of a plastic soil based on a kaolinite‐type clay. Fique fiber is natural fiber from Colombia. Soil with additions of 0.0 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.7 wt%, and 1.0 wt% of fique fibers was fabricated. The goals by adding the fibers are to increase the compressive strength of the soil and to add a green reinforcement to the soil targeting a circular economy solution. Density, optimal water content, and unconfined compression tests were conducted. The microstructure was characterized with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Results showed that fique fibers improved not only the compressive strength by almost three times for sample with 1.0 wt% of fibers with respect to the reference soil without fibers but also the ductility increased.
Dried fruits: phytochemicals and their fate during in vitro digestion
Authors: Panagopoulou Eirini A. , Chiou Antonia , Bismpikis Minas , Mouraka Panagiota , Mangiorou Eleni , Karathanos Vaios T.
Published: March 2021

Mediterranean dried fruits that are cultivated and produced in Greece; that is, Corinthian currants, figs, prunes, cherries, apricots and peaches were evaluated in terms of total polar phenols, individual simple phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity in vitro. The potential release of dried fruit polar phenols among the different fractions of an in vitro digestion model was also determined. Total polar phenol, flavanol, flavone/flavonol content and antioxidant capacity was in the range 86–551 mg GAE/100g, 0.2–57 mg CE/100g, 9–71 mg RE/100g and 6–47 mg AAE/100g, respectively. A 12–82% release of total phenolics was observed post‐mastication, which further increased post‐gastric digestion. The same trend was also followed in the case of total flavanols and flavones/flavonols. Total polar phenols and flavones/flavonols were found to enter the simulated epithelial cell wall. Simple polar phenolics and anthocyanins were identified and quantified in all dried fruit extracts and in some of the digestion fractions.
Effectiveness of music on anxiety and pain among cardiac surgery patients: A quantitative systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Chandrababu Ramesh , Ramesh Jyothi , Sanatombi Devi Elsa , Nayak Baby S. , George Anice
Published: March 2021

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of music on anxiety and pain among patients following cardiac surgery.

Background

Cardiac surgery affects patients physically, psychologically and socially. Anxiety and pain are the usual problems among patients following cardiac surgery.

Design

The study design is a systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Data sources

The Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials from January 2000 to December 2017.

Review methods

The Cochrane collaboration guidelines were followed and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach was used to summarize the quality of evidence.

Results

Fourteen studies were included in systematic review and 13 in meta‐analysis. The meta‐analysis revealed that there was a significant reduction in anxiety and pain among patients who received musical intervention compared with those who did not.

Conclusion

Music has positive benefits on anxiety and pain. However, well‐designed and high‐quality trials are needed to generate higher quality evidence.
Optical properties of novel oxyfluoride glasses on the systems of LaF3–LaO3/2–NbO5/2 and LaF3–LaO3/2–NbO5/2–AlO3/2
Authors: Chung Jaeyeop , Inoue Hiroyuki , Yoshimoto Kohei , Masuno Atsunobu , Watanabe Yasuhiro
Published: March 2021

Oxyfluoride glasses of xLaF3–(60 − x)LaO3/2–40NbO5/2 (x = 0, 5, 10, 35) and xLaF3–(60 − x)LaO3/2–30NbO5/2–10AlO3/2 (x = 0, 10, 20, 30) were prepared using a levitation technique. Both the glass‐transition temperature, Tg, and onset crystallization temperature, Tc, were lowered by substituting a part of the oxygen with fluorine in the glasses. An appropriate amount of fluorine maximized the difference between the temperatures, ΔT (= Tc − Tg), indicating the improvement in the glass‐forming ability. The atomic packing densities of the glasses were approximately 60%, which gradually increased with the fluorine content. The absorption edge of the glasses shifted toward the shorter wavelength region in the ultraviolet spectra and toward the longer region in the infrared spectra by fluorine substitution. In addition, in one of the oxyfluoride glasses, a wide transparency from 307 nm to 9.2 µm was realized. Furthermore, the glass exhibited superior optical properties, with a combination of a high refractive index, nd, of 2.020 and low wavelength dispersion, vd, of 30.1. The effect of fluorine substitution on the nd and its vd was analyzed using the Lorentz–Lorenz dispersion formula.
Parental styles and attitudes of fathers of children and adolescents with intellectual disability: Do parental styles and attitudes impact children’s adaptive behaviour?
Authors: Sabat Camila , Burke Meghan M. , Arango Paulina
Published: March 2021

Background

There is little literature that has explored the paternal role among children with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the study is to characterise parental attitudes and styles of fathers of children with intellectual disabilities, and to analyse their relation to the children's adaptive behaviour.

Method

Eighty‐three families (fathers and mothers) answered self‐report questionnaires, which assessed parenting styles and attitudes, as well as an adaptive behaviour questionnaire about their children with intellectual disabilities between 4 and 18 years of age.

Results

Both parents have a tendency towards an authoritative style of parenting. Fathers (versus mothers) perceive greater parental support but are less involved in their children's lives.

Among fathers, the authoritative style was a significant contributor to the child's adaptive behaviour, above and beyond the mother's contribution.

Conclusions

Studies about parenting should include both mothers and fathers, as paternal parenting styles and attitudes are related to children's adaptive behaviour.
Metformin attenuates synergic effect of diabetes mellitus and Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric cancer cells proliferation by suppressing PTEN expression
Authors: Lu Huibin , Han Xinwei , Ren Jianzhuang , Ren Kewei , Li Zongming , Zhang Quanhui
Published: March 2021

It has been reported that CagA of Helicobacter pylori reduced PTEN expression by enhancing its promoter methylation. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus (DM) may also promote the methylation status of PTEN, a tumour suppressor gene in gastric cancer (GC). It is intriguing to explore whether DM may strengthen the tumorigenic effect of H pylori (HP) by promoting the methylation of PTEN promoter and whether the administration of metformin may reduce the risk of GC by suppressing the methylation of PTEN promoter. In this study, we enrolled 107 GC patients and grouped them as HP(−)DM(−) group, HP(+)DM(−) group and HP(+)DM(+) group. Bisulphite sequencing PCR evaluated methylation of PTEN promoter. Quantitative real‐time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and MTT assay were performed accordingly. DNA methylation of PTEN promoter was synergistically enhanced in HP(+)DM(+) patients, and the expression of PTEN was suppressed in HP(+)DM(+) patients. Cell apoptosis was decreased in HP(+)DM(+) group. Metformin showed an apparent effect on restoring CagA‐induced elevation of PTEN promoter methylation, thus attenuating the PTEN expression. The reduced PTEN level led to increased proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of HGC‐27 cells. In this study, we collected GC tumour tissues from GC patients with or without DM/HP to compare their PTEN methylation and expression while testing the effect of metformin on the methylation of PTEN promoter. In summary, our study suggested that DM could strengthen the tumorigenic effect of HP by promoting the PTEN promoter methylation, while metformin reduces GC risk by suppressing PTEN promoter methylation.
Commentary: Let’s get digital: a commentary on Halldorsson et al.'s call for more rigorous development and evaluation of immersive digital interventions for children and young people's mental health
Authors: Davies E. Bethan , Bergin Aislinn Dawn
Published: March 2021

In the JCPP Annual Research Review for 2021, Halldorsson and colleagues (2021) present a systematic review of applied games and virtual reality interventions for treating mental health problems in children and young people, looking at the effectiveness of interventions upon mental health outcomes but also on the experience of using such interventions. In this commentary, we highlight a number of considerations in understanding what research has been achieved so far, and ideas for what needs to be looked at next in further advancing this field.
Exploring non‐host plant‐based management strategy with lemongrass, garlic and guava volatiles for the African citrus triozid
Authors: Antwi‐Agyakwa Akua K. , Yusuf Abdullahi A. , Pirk Christian W. W. , Mohamed Samira Abuelgasim , Ekesi Sunday , Torto Baldwyn
Published: March 2021

The African citrus triozid (ACT), Trioza erytreae, is an important pest of citrus. Both nymphs and adults damage the plant by feeding on the sap causing young shoots to die. Trioza erytreae also vectors Candidatus Liberibacter africanus, the bacteria that cause citrus greening disease. Since certain non‐host plants are known to repel insect pests, it is important to investigate how such plants can be exploited to manage T. erytreae. Here, we screened effects of odours of three non‐host plants namely guava (Psidium guajava), garlic (Allium sativum) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) against T. erytreae's location of a common host plant, rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) and showed that repellence varied interspecifically with the plants. Using cage assays, we found that guava and garlic decreased the attraction of females but not males of T. erytreae to rough lemon volatiles. Chemical analysis by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) showed that volatiles of three of the plants were dominated by terpenoids; guava (69% comprised of limonene, 34%, (E)‐β‐ocimene, 29% and (Z)‐β‐Ocimene, 6%), lemongrass (56% comprised of geranial, 26%, neral, 19% and myrcene, 11%) and rough lemon (74% comprised of limonene, 53%, sabinene, 11% and (E)‐β‐ocimene, 10%). On the other hand, the volatile profile of garlic was dominated by benzenoids and saturated compounds (85% comprised of benzaldehyde, 12%, benzyl alcohol, 17%, nonanal, 31%, decanal, 13% and hexadecane, 12%). Our results suggest that non‐host plant volatile composition and richness in specific compounds may contribute to influencing T. erytreae response to its host, with garlic and guava as potential non‐host plants that can be exploited in the management of the pest.
Observations of growth changes during the embryonic‐larval‐transition of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) under near‐natural conditions
Authors: Franz George P. , Lewerentz Lars , Grunow Bianka
Published: March 2021

Sander lucioperca is an organism of growing importance for the aquaculture industry. Nonetheless, the rearing of S. lucioperca larvae is proving to be a difficult task as it is facing a high mortality rate during hatching and the change to exogenous feeding. To gain insight into growth patterns during this period, the authors analysed pikeperch embryos and larvae from 9 days before hatching to 17 days after hatch. Hereby they were able to describe a natural development by using close to natural conditions based on using a direct flow‐through supply of lake fresh water on specimens from a local wild population. The results show that between the early embryonic stages a steady growth was visible. Nonetheless, in between hatching and the start of exogenous feeding, a phase of growth stagnation took place. In the following larval stages, an increased growth with large size variations between individual specimens appeared. Both factors are conspicuous as they can indicate a starting point for cannibalism. With this analysis, the authors can provide a fundament to support the upcoming research on S. lucioperca and aid to optimize size‐sorting procedures for a higher survival of pikeperch stock in aquaculture.
Spatial pattern of distribution and reproductive strategy of vermiculate electric‐raysNarcine vermiculatus
Authors: Torres‐Huerta Ana María , Cruz‐Martínez Alicia , Ramírez‐Chávez Eduardo Juventino
Published: March 2021

In the study, the authors evaluate the spatial distribution pattern of vermiculate electric‐rayNarcine vermiculatususing geostatistical techniques to predict its spatial distribution and indicate its reproduction strategy. From January 2008 to December 2009, 3333 specimens of vermiculate electric‐ray were caught. Total length (LT), sex, maturity stage, catch location and depth were recorded for each specimen. TheLTof vermiculate electric‐ray ranged from 6.7–24.6 cm. The authors estimate an irregular spatial structure, with a high‐density patch (53 ind. ha−1) located on the east coast, which concentrates 65.2% of the specimens. The high‐density patch consists mainly of large juveniles (13.3–19.5 cmLT), sub‐adults (14.0–19.8 cmLT) and young adults (14.7–21.3 cmLT). Data indicate that adults migrate to the high‐density patch to reproduce. Males reached maturity at 14.5 cmLT, whereas females reached maturity at 19.3 cmLT. Vitellogenesis in female vermiculate electric‐ray begins in June; ovulation, mating, fertilization and gestation in October and birth begins in February. This indicates an annual cycle with vitellogenesis and consecutive gestation, in females synchronized in reproduction. Fecundity was 1–8 (4), and the sex ratio of embryos was 1:1. The birth occurred between February and April, with an average size at parturition of 6.3 cmLT. Incidental capture of sub‐adults and adults of N. vermiculatus by bottom trawls threatens the survival of this species.
In vitro growth‐inhibitory effect of essential oils and supercritical carbon dioxide extracts from Cinnamomum spp. barks and fruits against food bacterial pathogens in liquid and vapor phase
Authors: Vihanova Katerina , Houdkova Marketa , Promgool Trinop , Urbanova Klara , Kanokmedhakul Somdej , Kokoska Ladislav
Published: March 2021

Foodborne microbial diseases constitute major health concern and therefore it is necessary to preserve food products to prolong their shelf life and safety. Promising method of food preservation is application of volatile natural agents into modified atmosphere in food packaging. Spices and condiments containing volatile oils could potentially be used. Antimicrobial effect of three essential oils (EOs) and three supercritical carbon dioxide extracts (CO2 extracts) from Cinnamomum barks and fruits was evaluated using broth‐microdilution volatilization method against common foodborne pathogens, namely Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium. All samples exhibited significant inhibitory effect with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 256 to 1,024 μg/ml in both liquid and vapor phase. EO from immature fruits of Cinnamomum cassia, known as cassia buds, was the most effective agent against all tested microorganisms with MIC values ranging from 256 to 512 μg/ml in both phases. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, E‐cinnamaldehyde has been detected as the most abundant constituent in all samples. Subsequently, the time series headspace analysis of vapors above the mixture of growth medium and C. cassia fruits EO was performed. Decreasing content of E‐cinnamaldehyde in the headspace was gradually replaced by δ‐cadinene and γ‐muurolene. Proposed mechanism behind this is ability of E‐cinnamaldehyde to pass from the headspace back to the liquid medium. Obtained results suggest that EOs and CO2 extracts from Cinnamomum spp. could be used in food industry as natural food preservatives. In addition, broth‐microdilution volatilization method has been validated for development of food applications.
Clinicians’ perceived barriers and enablers to the dietary management of adults with type 2 diabetes in primary care: A systematic review
Authors: Boocock Ruth C. , Lake Amelia A. , Haste Anna , Moore Helen J.
Published: March 2021

Background

Dietary management of type 2 diabetes is considered as a key remission and management strategy. This review explored clinicians’ perceived barriers and enablers to the dietary management of adults with type 2 diabetes in primary care.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and ASSIA were searched from 1980 to 16 June 2020.

Results

Of 2021 records, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria, describing the 14 domains of the refined Theoretical Domains Framework. The data synthesised to the domains of environmental context and resources, intentions and beliefs about capabilities were considered most trustworthy, closely followed by knowledge, behavioural regulation and beliefs about consequences. Two‐thirds of studies cited time for staff training or patient education as major constraints to type 2 diabetes management. Clinicians also identified lack of patient engagement and poor dietary adherence as issues. Despite this, clinician confidence about giving dietary advice to patients was high. With further exploration, knowledge gaps were apparent and feelings of despondency as a result of poor outcomes were visible.

Conclusions

This review revealed four clinician behaviours: (2) the perception of the dietitian; (2) the definition of a clinician qualified to give dietary advice; (3) clinician belief in dietary management as a treatment; and (4) clinician belief in a patient's capability to change dietary behaviour. These behaviours, if challenged and changed, have the potential to improve dietary management and outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes in primary care.
How children with autism spectrum disorder perceive themselves: A narrative research
Authors: Yamamoto Mami
Published: March 2021

Aim

The purpose of this article is, through a dialog between the child and the author, to clarify how children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perceive themselves.

Methods

The qualitative study's participants were nine children with ASD. Their ages were 8–18 years. Data were collected through two sessions of dialog between the child and the author. Data were analyzed through a qualitative inductive approach based on the perspectives of narrative analysis.

Results

There were eight categories of how the children perceive themselves. The children talked about themselves as follows. The children with ASD wished to share feelings with others, sensitively read between the lines, and talked about the belief to cherish their friends. They were able to anticipate that repetitive behavior or interest in one thing would end someday. And they then made an effort to deal with problematic matters in social life.

Conclusion

This article proposes to understand the experience of “increasing alienation” in children with ASD. As a type of support to understand the child, this article proposed a dialog that elicits communication arrangements, specifically a dialog that focuses on forming a profound relationship of being able to share and communicate with each other.
Application of omics technologies in dermatological research and skin management
Authors: He Jianbiao , Jia Yan
Published: March 2021

Background

"Omics" are usually based on the use of high‐throughput analysis methods for global analysis of biological samples and the discovery of biomarkers, and may provide new insights into biological phenomena. Over the last few years, the development of omics technologies has considerably accelerated the pace of dermatological research.

Aims

The purpose of this article was to review the development of omics in recent decades and their application in dermatological research.

Methods

An extensive literature search was conducted on omics technologies since the first research on omics.

Results

This article summarizes the history and main research methods of the six omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and microbiomics. Their application in certain skin diseases and cosmetics research and development are also summarized.

Conclusions

This information will help to understand the mechanism of some skin diseases and the discovery of potential biomarkers, and provide new insights for skin health management and cosmetics research and development.
Academic failure and its predictors in Baccalaureate nursing students: A longitudinal study
Authors: Bulfone Giampiera , De MARIA Maddalena , Maurici Massimo , Macale Loreana , Sili Alessandro , Vellone Ercole , Alvaro Rosaria
Published: March 2021

Aims and objectives

To describe the sociodemographic and academic characteristics of nursing students who report academic failure and to identify the determinants of academic failure (no degree on time) in a population of nursing students.

Background

Although prior studies have shown that academic failure is influenced by multiple factors, the studies mentioned have mostly focused on specific single variables associated with academic failure, and they have reported inconsistent results.

Design

A prospective follow‐up study design was used in an Italian Baccalaureate Nursing Degree program. A total sample of 2,040 at baseline and a random subsample of 753 students were considered for academic failure determinants. The study followed the recommendations of STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology).

Methods

We included in the model academic background, self‐efficacy, sociodemographic variables and self‐efficacy in psychomotor skills and motivation. We used the Academic Nurse Self‐Efficacy Scale (ANSEs), the Nursing Self‐Efficacy in Psychomotor Skill Scale (NSE‐PS) and the Motivation Nursing Students' Scale (MNSS) which have been validated on nursing students. For the assessment of predictors of academic failure, a two‐stage hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results

Students who had academic failure were 69.4% of the sample. Predictors of academic failure were the secondary school certification grade, the university pre‐admission test score; the academic self‐efficacy, self‐efficacy in psychomotor skills and clinical training examination grades were additional predictors.

Conclusions

The secondary school certification grade, the University pre‐admission test score, low academic self‐efficacy, low self‐efficacy in psychomotor skills and low clinical training examination grades were predictors of academic failure in nursing students.

Relevance to clinical practice

Our findings suggest that the universities could consider a cut‐off in the pre‐admission test score as a critical value for identifying students who are likely to fail. In addition, nursing faculty staff should consider strategies for developing self‐efficacy and motivation.
Nurses' exposure to violence and their professional commitment during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Özkan Şat Sultan , Akbaş Pınar , Yaman Sözbir Şengül
Published: March 2021

Aims and Objectives

This study aimed to determine the relationship between nurses' exposure to violence and their professional commitment during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background

Violence against nurses is a common problem that persists worldwide.

Design

This was a descriptive cross‐sectional study.

Methods

An online questionnaire form and the Nursing Professional Commitment Scale were used to collect the data. The study was carried out online during the COVID‐19 pandemic between October–December 2020. A total of 263 nurses agreed to participate in the study. The STROBE checklist was followed for observational studies.

Results

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, 8.4% of the nurses stated that they were exposed to physical violence, 57.8% to verbal violence, 0.8% to sexual violence and 61.6% to mobbing. 52.1% of the nurses stated that they thought of quitting the profession during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The mean total Nursing Professional Commitment Scale score was 71.33 ± 15.05.

Conclusions

This study revealed that nurses' exposure to physical, verbal and sexual violence during the COVID‐19 pandemic decreased compared to before the pandemic. Nurses' exposure to mobbing during the pandemic was found to increase. A statistically significant difference was found between the status of the nurses' exposure to physical violence, verbal violence, and mobbing, working hours, number of patients given care, and their thoughts of quitting the profession. It was found that the status of exposure to physical violence, thinking of quitting the profession and working hours decreased professional commitment.

Relevance to clinical practice

In the light of these results, it is recommended that measures to prevent violence should be addressed in a multifaceted way. In managing the pandemic process, the decisions and practices should not be left to the managers' initiative to prevent mobbing. Initiatives that will increase nurses' professional commitment during the pandemic process should be planned and implemented.
Biochemical and physiological changes in maize plants supplied with silicon and infected by Exserohilum turcicum
Authors: Silveira Patricia Ricardino , Aucique‐Pérez Carlos Eduardo , Cruz Maria Fernanda Antunes , Rodrigues Fabrício Ávila
Published: March 2021

Northern leaf blight (NLB), caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is one of the most important diseases affecting maize production worldwide. The effect of silicon (Si) on maize resistance against NLB was investigated through an in‐depth analysis of physiological and biochemical changes (measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters, activities of host defence enzymes and those involved in the antioxidative metabolism, and the determination of other metabolites) on plants non‐supplied (−Si) or supplied (+Si) with Si and inoculated with E. turcicum. Higher foliar Si concentration contributed to reducing the foliar NLB symptoms in +Si plants. Both antioxidant (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase) and host defence (chitinase, β‐1,3‐glucanase, polyphenoloxidase and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase) enzymes had their activities greater for +Si plants compared to −Si plants. Lower levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde were obtained for +Si plants in contrast to −Si plants. Net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance to water vapour, transpiration rate and internal CO2 concentration had their values significantly increased for +Si plants compared to −Si plants from 5 to 20 days after inoculation. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, effective quantum yield of the photosystem, quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation and quantum yield of non‐regulated energy dissipation were less impacted on the leaves of +Si plants compared to −Si plants. The Chl a concentration was kept higher for +Si plants than for −Si plants. Taken together, this study brings biochemical and physiological pieces of evidence that a more robust antioxidative metabolism, great activities of host defence‐related enzymes and the preservation of the photosynthetic machinery were all potentiated by Si contributing, therefore, for less NLB symptoms.
Melatonin multifaceted pharmacological actions on melatonin receptors converging to abrogate COVID‐19
Authors: Reynolds Jessica L. , Dubocovich Margarita L.
Published: March 2021

Data indicate that controlling inflammatory responses to COVID‐19 may be as important as antiviral therapies or could be an important adjunctive approach. Melatonin possesses anti‐inflammation, antioxidation, and immune‐enhancing features directly and/or indirectly through its own receptor signaling and is therefore well suited to reduce the severity of COVID‐19. Studies have proposed that melatonin regulates COVID‐19–associated proteins directly through regulation of molecules such as calmodulin (CALM) 1 and CALM 2, calreticulin (CalR), or myeloperoxidase (MPO) and/or indirectly through actions on GPCR (eg, MTNR1A, MTNR1B) and nuclear (eg, RORα, RORβ) melatonin receptor signaling. However, the exact mechanism(s) and doses by which melatonin reduces the severity of COVID‐19 is still open for debate, warranting the need for further testing of melatonin in placebo‐controlled randomized clinical trials for COVID‐19.