bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthetic spatial patterning in bacteria: advances based on novel diffusible signals
Authors: Oliver Huidobro Martina , Tica Jure , Wachter Georg K. A. , Isalan Mark
Published: November 2021

Engineering multicellular patterning may help in the understanding of some fundamental laws of pattern formation and thus may contribute to the field of developmental biology. Furthermore, advanced spatial control over gene expression may revolutionize fields such as medicine, through organoid or tissue engineering. To date, foundational advances in spatial synthetic biology have often been made in prokaryotes, using artificial gene circuits. In this review, engineered patterns are classified into four levels of increasing complexity, ranging from spatial systems with no diffusible signals to systems with complex multi‐diffusor interactions. This classification highlights how the field was held back by a lack of diffusible components. Consequently, we provide a summary of both previously characterized and some new potential candidate small‐molecule signals that can regulate gene expression in Escherichia coli. These diffusive signals will help synthetic biologists to successfully engineer increasingly intricate, robust and tuneable spatial structures.
Dark side of cyanobacteria: searching for strategies to control blooms
Authors: Huertas María José , Mallén‐Ponce Manuel J.
Published: November 2021

Cyanobacteria are ecologically one of the most prolific groups of photosynthetic prokaryotes in marine and freshwater habitats. They are primary producer microorganisms and are involved in the production of important secondary metabolites, including toxic compounds such as cyanotoxins. Environmental conditions promote massive growth of these microbes, causing blooms that can have critical ecological and public health implications. In this highlight, we discuss some of the approaches being addressed to prevent these blooms, such as control of nutrient loading, treatments to minimize growth or monitoring interactions with other species.
Divide and conquer in two‐sided markets: A potential‐game approach
Authors: Chan Lester T.
Published: November 2021

Network effects typically generate multiple equilibria in two‐sided markets. To overcome the methodological challenge of selecting an appropriate equilibrium, this article shows that many two‐sided market models are weighted potential games, and therefore, a refinement of Nash equilibrium justified by many theoretical and experimental studies, potential maximization, pins down an equilibrium. Under potential maximization, platforms often subsidize one side and charge the other, that is, divide and conquer. The primary determinant of which side to subsidize/monetize is cross‐side network effects. This divide‐and‐conquer strategy implies that platforms are often designed to favor the money side much more than the subsidy side.
Genomic selection for meat quality traits in Pekin duck
Authors: Zhang F. , Zhu F. , Yang F.‐X. , Hao J.‐P. , Hou Z.‐C.
Published: November 2021

Genomic selection uses genome‐wide molecular marker data to predict an animal's genetic value in the breeding program. This study's objective was to present heritability estimates and accuracy of genomic prediction using different methods for meat quality traits in Pekin duck. There were two kinds of ducks in the genomic selection training population: 639 fat‐type ducks and 540 lean‐type ducks. A single‐trait animal model was used to estimate heritability and adjust the phenotype. GBLUP and BayesR methods were performed to estimate the SNP effects. The accuracy of genomic prediction was calculated using 5‐fold cross‐validation. The accuracy varied from 0.235 to 0.501 with the lowest accuracy estimated for traits associated with abdominal fat weight in the combined population and the most remarkable accuracy observed for abdominal fat percentage traits in the lean‐type duck population. Overall, BayesR can achieve the highest prediction accuracy, while the combined population strategy could be used to increase the accuracy of prediction only when the two populations have the same breeding aim for a certain trait.
Effects of quercetin on ovarian function and regulation of the ovarian PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a signalling pathway and oxidative stress in a rat model of cyclophosphamide‐induced premature ovarian failure
Authors: Zheng Shaoyan , Ma Mingying , Chen Yanxia , Li Miaoxia
Published: November 2021

To investigate the ability of quercetin to improve ovarian function and inhibit ovarian oxidative stress through the PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a signalling pathway in a rat model of premature ovarian failure (POF), we constructed a POF rat model with cyclophosphamide (CTX) and treated it with quercetin. Haematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E staining) was used to observe the morphological changes of the ovaries. The serum levels of AMH, E2, FSH, SOD, GSH‐Px and MDA were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The expression of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) and their phosphorylated forms AMH, FSH and their receptors in the ovary were detected by western blots. The mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt, FOXO3a, AMH, FSH and their receptors was detected by qRT‐PCR. Our results showed that quercetin could significantly increase the expression of AMH, E2, SOD and GSH‐Px, upregulate the protein expression of AMH, FSH and its receptor and decrease the expression ratio of phosphorylated PI3K, Akt, FOXO3a and the unphosphorylated forms. Moreover, quercetin inhibited the mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt and FOXO3a. These results suggest that quercetin can restore ovarian function and inhibit oxidative stress by regulating the PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a signalling pathway.
Evident but context‐dependent mortality of fish passing hydroelectric turbines
Authors: Radinger Johannes , van Treeck Ruben , Wolter Christian
Published: November 2021

Globally, policies aiming for conservation of species, free‐flowing rivers, and promotion of hydroelectricity as renewable energy and as a means to decarbonize energy systems generate trade‐offs between protecting freshwater fauna and development of hydropower. Hydroelectric turbines put fish at risk of severe injury during passage. Therefore, comprehensive, reliable analyses of turbine‐induced fish mortality are pivotal to support an informed debate on the sustainability of hydropower (i.e., how much a society is willing to pay in terms of costs incurred on rivers and their biota). We compiled and examined a comprehensive, global data set of turbine fish‐mortality assessments involving >275,000 individual fish of 75 species to estimate mortality across turbine types and fish species. Average fish mortality from hydroelectric turbines was 22.3% (95% CI 17.5–26.7%) when accounting for common uncertainties related to empirical estimates (e.g., handling‐ or catch‐related effects). Mortality estimates were highly variable among and within different turbine types, study methods, and taxa. Technical configurations of hydroelectric turbines that successfully reduce fish mortality and fish‐protective hydropower operation as a global standard could balance the need for renewable energy with protection of fish biodiversity.
22‐gauge fine‐needle biopsy needles: Primary workhorse for endoscopic ultrasound‐guided tissue acquisition
Authors: Bang Ji Young , Varadarajulu Shyam
Published: November 2021

This Editorial refers to the article by T. Tomoda et al., p 596‐603 of this issue.
Neighbour‐based bag‐of‐samplings for person identification through handwritten dynamics and convolutional neural networks
Authors: de Rosa Gustavo H. , Roder Mateus , Papa João P.
Published: November 2021

Biometric recognition provides straightforward methods to deal with the problem of identifying people under certain circumstances. Additionally, a well‐calibrated biometric system enhances security policies and prevents malicious attempts, such as fraud or identity theft. Deep learning has arisen to foster the problem by extracting high‐level features that compose the so‐called ‘user fingerprint’, that is, digital identification of a particular individual. Nevertheless, personal identification is not a trivial task, as many traits might define an individual, varying according to the task's domain. An exciting way to overcome such a problem is to employ handwritten dynamics, which are hand‐ and motor‐based signals from an individual's writing style and obtained through a biometric smartpen. In this work, we propose using such signals to identify an individual through convolutional neural networks. Essentially, the proposed work uses a neighbour‐based bag‐of‐samplings procedure to sample the signals to a fixed size and feeds them into a neural network responsible for extracting their features and further classifying them. The experiments were conducted over two handwritten dynamic datasets, NewHandPD and SignRec, and established new fruitful state‐of‐the‐art concerning these particular datasets and the corresponding context.
Investigations on optimization techniques for stabilized clinical images
Authors: Raveena Judie Dolly D. , Dinesh Peter J. , Jagannath D. J.
Published: November 2021

Clinical imaging is the most vital part for precise medical analysis by physicians. Huge number of researcher's explore various possibilities to come up with an optimal solution. Innumerable innovative progressions aligned to medical images are radically growing. This article emphasizes on the various optimization techniques which helps the clinicians to have a clear picture on the region of interest. Unique modalities provide detailed information on a specific area, such sequences are made to stabilize to reduce the artefacts and they are allowed to pass through the processing stage for fusing so that the doctors can envisage the common features of CT and MRI. Further, Registration of the images is initialized to effectively align and overlay for appropriate determination by the physicians. To ensure the quality, essential optimization is performed and the assessments are performed subjectively and objectively. The proposed method is instigated with appropriate optimization procedures and is found that it outperforms the existing approaches subjectively and objectively. The proposed approach is also statistically investigated to prove its predominance. Quantum computation is being extensively used for research in medical applications. The computation complexity becomes less while adopting quantum processing.
Variable changes in zooplankton phenology associated with the disappearance of the spring phytoplankton bloom in Lake Michigan
Authors: Pothoven Steven A. , Vanderploeg Henry A.
Published: November 2021

Changes in seasonal cycles (i.e., phenology), can cause mismatches throughout aquatic food webs and often are used as the primary indicator of zooplankton response to environmental changes. However, zooplankton phenology has been largely overlooked in Lake Michigan despite the altered phenology of phytoplankton, including the disappearance of the offshore spring phytoplankton bloom following Dreissena mussel invasions.

Multiple measures of phenology were evaluated for the major zooplankton groups in offshore southeastern Lake Michigan both before the loss of the spring bloom (1983–2003), and after the spring bloom had disappeared (2007–2019). Water temperatures in spring did not differ between time periods.

Standardised biomass declined between time periods for all zooplankton groups in spring and for total zooplankton and the cladoceran Daphnia in the summer. Changes in zooplankton phenology varied across groups and depended on the phenological measures used. Month of peak biomass shifted later for all groups, but the central point of the growing season did not change for any group between time periods. The onset of population development was delayed only for the copepod Limnocalanus.

Spring chlorophyll concentrations combined with spring water temperatures provided the best predictions of population onset for Limnocalanus and Daphnia. The central point of the growing season varied with spring chlorophyll concentrations for Limnocalanus, but with spring water temperature for Daphnia.

Changes in zooplankton phenology were relatively subtle compared to the large changes observed for spring chlorophyll concentrations. By contrast, there were fairly consistent declines in zooplankton biomass across groups that were associated with the declines in spring chlorophyll either alone or in combination with spring water temperature. This may mean that food limitation has a stronger influence on zooplankton biomass or production than on zooplankton phenology in offshore Lake Michigan.

Based on our results from Lake Michigan, alterations such as nutrient reduction or invasive dreissenid mussel filtering that lead to declines in spring phytoplankton blooms in other large freshwater lakes could result in subtle delays in zooplankton phenology for some groups along with stronger declines in zooplankton biomass.
Battered South‐Asian diasporic women: Culture, secrets and work
Authors: Pio Edwina , Moore Vikashni
Published: November 2021

Research indicates that women's experiences of domestic violence (DV), perpetrated by intimate male partners, impacts their work and workplaces (e.g., Showalter, 2016). South‐Asian diasporic (SAD) battered women tend to keep their DV experiences secret (e.g., Tonsing, 2014). Workplaces may be one of the few places where women experiencing DV disclose secrets (e.g., Murray & Powell, 2007). Utilizing a transnational feminist perspective, we carried out an integrative review process on scholarship from 2000 to 2020 pertaining to workplace implications of DV for SAD women. We make three contributions: we synthesize the cultural norms surrounding SAD women and DV to illuminate why these women keep their experiences secret; next, we braid these threads into a Cultural sensitivity, Organizational preparedness, Recognition and Engagement framework to highlight how workplaces can mitigate the experiences of SAD battered women employees; and finally we highlight how workplaces may support other ethnic minority migrant and refugee women experiencing DV.
Comparison of flow cytometry with other modalities in the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Pembroke John S. , Joseph Joanne E. , Smith Sandy A. B. C. , Parker Andrew J. C. , Jiang Wei , Sewell William A.
Published: November 2021

Introduction

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are heterogeneous myeloid malignancies, conventionally diagnosed by cytomorphology and cytogenetics, with an emerging role for flow cytometry. This study compared the performance of a 4‐parameter flow cytometry scoring system, the Ogata Score, with other modalities in the diagnosis of MDS.

Methods

Bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsies from 238 patients performed to assess for possible MDS were analysed, and the flow cytometry score was retrospectively applied. The sensitivity and specificity of the flow cytometry score, the aspirate microscopy, the trephine microscopy with immunohistochemistry, and cytogenetic and molecular results were determined relative to the final diagnosis.

Results

The medical records of the 238 patients were reviewed to determine the final clinical diagnosis made at the time of the bone marrow examination. This final diagnosis of MDS, possible MDS or not MDS, was based on clinical features and laboratory tests, including all parameters of the bone marrow investigation, except for the flow cytometry score, which was only determined for this study. The flow cytometry score was 67.4% sensitive and 93.8% specific. Aspirate microscopy had higher sensitivity (83.7%) and similar specificity (92.0%), whereas trephine microscopy had similar sensitivity (66.3%) and specificity (89.4%) to flow cytometry. Although the flow cytometry score had a lower sensitivity than aspirate microscopy, in 18 patients (7.6% of the total) the flow cytometry score was positive for MDS, whereas aspirate microscopy was negative or inconclusive.

Conclusion

The flow cytometry score and trephine microscopy exhibited reasonable sensitivity and high specificity, and complement aspirate microscopy in the assessment of MDS.
Targeted care navigation to reduce hospital readmissions in ‘at‐risk’ patients
Authors: Pang Rebecca K. , Srikanth Velandai , Snowdon David A. , Weller Carolina D. , Berry Belinda , Braun Gary , Edwards Iain , McGee Fergus , Azzopardi Ruth , Andrew Nadine E.
Published: November 2021

Background

Care navigation is commonly used to reduce preventable hospitalisation. The use of Electronic Health Record‐derived algorithms may enable better targeting of this intervention for greater impact.

Aims

To evaluate if community‐based Targeted Care Navigation, supported by an Electronic Health Record‐derived readmission risk algorithm, is associated with reduced rehospitalisation.

Methods

A propensity score matching cohort (5 comparison to 1 intervention cohort ratio) study was conducted in an 850‐bed Victorian public metropolitan health service, Australia, from May to November 2017. Admitted acute care patients with a non‐surgical condition, identified as at‐risk of hospital readmission using an Electronic Health Record‐derived readmission risk algorithm provide by the state health department, were eligible. Targeted Care Navigation involved telephone follow‐up support provided for 30 days post‐discharge by a registered nurse. The hazard ratio for hospital readmission was calculated at 30, 60 and 90 days post‐discharge using multivariable Cox Proportional Hazards regression.

Results

Sixty‐five recipients received care navigation and were matched to 262 people who did not receive care navigation. Excellent matching was achieved with standardised differences between groups being <0.1 for all 11 variables included in the propensity score, including the readmission risk score. The Targeted Care Navigation group had a significantly reduced hazard of readmission at 30 days (hazard ratio 0.34; 95% confidence interval: 0.12, 0.94) compared with the comparison group. The effect size was reduced at 60 and 90 days post‐discharge.

Conclusion

We provide preliminary evidence that Targeted Care Navigation supported by an Electronic Health Record‐derived readmission risk algorithm may reduce 30‐day hospital readmissions.
Mixed financing scheme in a capital‐constrained supply chain: bank credit and e‐commerce platform financing
Authors: Yang Honglin , Zhen Zhiyuan , Yan Qiang , Wan Hong
Published: November 2021

This paper studies a three‐echelon supply chain consisting of a commercial bank, an e‐commerce platform, and a capital‐constrained online retailer. Due to limited creditworthiness, the retailer can only obtain a restricted bank loan, while the remaining needs to resort to the e‐commerce platform to fund its business. We formulate a three‐echelon Stackelberg game in which the bank is a leader, the e‐commerce platform is a subleader, and the retailer is a follower. We analytically derive the optimal interest rates of the bank and the e‐commerce platform and the optimal order quantity of the retailer. Compared with the nonfinancing case, we characterize the regions of the interest rates charged by the bank and the e‐commerce platform under which Pareto improvement can be achieved. We also present the retailer's financing preference under equilibrium and show how the initial capital affects the retailer's financing selection. Numerical examples demonstrate that the retailer's order quantity and expected profit increase with the bank's loan ratio.
SMAD4 contributes to chondrocyte and osteocyte development
Authors: Pakravan Katayoon , Razmara Ehsan , Mahmud Hussen Bashdar , Sattarikia Fatemeh , Sadeghizadeh Majid , Babashah Sadegh
Published: November 2021

Different cellular and molecular mechanisms contribute to chondrocyte and osteocyte development. Although vital roles of the mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (also called ‘SMAD4’) have been discussed in different cancers and stem cell‐related studies, there are a few reviews summarizing the roles of this protein in the skeletal development and bone homeostasis. In order to fill this gap, we discuss the critical roles of SMAD4 in the skeletal development. To this end, we review the different signalling pathways and also how SMAD4 defines stem cell features. We also elaborate how the epigenetic factors—ie DNA methylation, histone modifications and noncoding RNAs—make a contribution to the chondrocyte and osteocyte development. To better grasp the important roles of SMAD4 in the cartilage and bone development, we also review the genotype‐phenotype correlation in animal models. This review helps us to understand the importance of the SMAD4 in the chondrocyte and bone development and the potential applications for therapeutic goals.
Familiarity reduces aggression but does not modify acoustic communication in pairs of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and black‐chinned tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron)
Authors: Akian Dieudonné Djétouan , Yao Kouakou , Parmentier Eric , Clota Frédéric , Baroiller Jean‐François , Bégout Marie‐Laure
Published: November 2021

Reproduction involves multiple complex behaviours, and the effects of familiarity on such social interactions are seldom described in fish. This is particularly true for sound production and communication within aggressive or non‐aggressive context. This study explores the effects of a common garden rearing without parental care of two closely related cichlid species (Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and black‐chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron) on their sound production features and social interactions. After 9 months in common garden rearing, from embryonic stage to first maturity, sound production and associated behaviours were recorded on specimens of the two species in intraspecific and interspecific pairings. The authors found that fish were able to produce the same kind of sounds as those recorded in similar context for their parents. Drum sounds were associated to chasing, lateral attack and courtship in O. niloticus and only to fleeing or avoidance in S. melanotheron. Specific grunts were produced in chasing, after biting and in nest building by O. niloticus, and specific rolling sounds were associated to courtship in S. melanotheron. Sound production and behaviours were not correlated to sex steroid levels, but the number of sounds recorded in aggressive context was correlated to dominance in O. niloticus. The authors conclude that one generation of common garden rearing does not modify sound features, which remain specific and innate in the two cichlids. Despite the familiarity, O. niloticus remained dominant on S. melanotheron, but the aggressiveness between the two species decreased.
Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of oregano essential oil against Shewanella putrefaciens
Authors: Lan Weiqing , Zhao Xinyu , Chen Mengling , Xie Jing
Published: November 2021

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial mechanism of oregano essential oil (OEO) against Shewanella putrefaciens. Antimicrobial activity of OEO against Shewanella putrefaciens was investigated by the agar disc diffusion method. The change of growth curve, electric conductivity, the integrity of cell membrane, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured to evaluate its antibacterial mechanism. The morphology of bacterial cells was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The interaction between OEO and Shewanella putrefaciens genomic DNA was measured by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, and DNA ethidium bromide adduct was analyzed by fluorescence. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of OEO against Shewanella putrefaciens was 0.09% (v/v), and OEO could inhibit the growth of Shewanella putrefacien with a dose‐dependent manner. The cell membrane and cell wall of Shewanella putrefaciens were destroyed by OEO, which led to the leakage of nucleic acid, protein, and the release of AKP and LDH. The results of SEM confirmed the damaging effect of OEO on the bacterial morphology. The results of UV–Vis and fluorescence titration indicated that binding of the complexes to DNA was an intercalative mode.
Whole egg consumption and cognitive function among US older adults
Authors: An Ruopeng , Li Danyi , McCaffrey Jennifer , Khan Naiman
Published: November 2021

Background

Eggs are an affordable food providing many shortfall nutrients with the potential to improve cognitive health. We assessed the relationship between whole egg consumption and cognitive functioning among a US nationally representative sample of older adults.

Methods

Individual‐level data (2816 adults, aged ≥ 60 years) were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 waves. Cognitive assessments included the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Word List Learning Test (CERAD‐WL), Word List Recall Test (CERAD‐DR), Animal Fluency Test (AF) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). A composite cognitive z‐score was constructed based on the individual tests to represent one's overall cognitive functioning. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were performed to examine the effect of whole egg consumption on cognitive functioning, adjusting for individual characteristics and survey design.

Results

Approximately 57% of older adults consumed whole eggs, with an average daily intake of 34 g of whole egg equivalent among consumers. The average z‐scores of the CERAD‐WL, CERAD‐DR, AF and DSST tests were −0.08, 0.23, 0.37 and 0.42, respectively, and the overall composite cognitive z‐score was 0.24 among older adults. Regression analyses found that neither whole egg consumption status, nor daily intake quantity was associated with cognitive test scores.

Conclusions

No association was found between whole egg consumption and cognitive functioning among US older adults. Study limitations included cross‐sectional study design and measurement errors. Future studies with longitudinal or experimental design are warranted to examine the possible link between egg consumption and cognition in older adults.
Evaluating nutrition education interventions for medical students: A rapid review
Authors: Patel Priya , Kassam Shireen
Published: November 2021

Background

Unhealthy diets account for 20% of all deaths globally. Most medical schools do not sufficiently teach their students the clinical application of nutrition science. Evaluating the efficacy of nutrition education interventions is therefore important for their widespread implementation.

Methods

A rapid review of the literature published between 2015 and 2020 was conducted to identify nutrition education interventions delivered to undergraduate medical students. The modified Kirkpatrick hierarchy score was used to evaluate the outcome measures. Study characteristics and outcomes were charted and discussed using narrative synthesis. Included studies were appraised using the MERSQI criteria.

Results

Fifteen nutrition education interventions met the inclusion criteria. Twelve were from the USA and most were optional rather than compulsory. Interventions involved a mixture of methods including cooking sessions, lectures, and student‐led programs. The content covered was variable and the median duration was 11 h (range 90 min to 75 h). The modified Kirkpatrick scores varied and the median MERSQI score was 12.8/18. No studies reported the use of national or standardised guidance to inform the learning objectives of the interventions.

Conclusions

The interventions reviewed are heterogenous in their nature and outcomes. This review highlights the advantages of utilising interprofessional learning, focusing on student's personal health behaviours and harnessing novel teaching methods such as hands‐on cooking. Using national guidance to develop learning outcomes will help to standardise the content taught. Future studies may aim to use validated assessment tools and investigate the long‐term impacts on delivery of care and patient outcomes.
Capacity of nurses working in long‐term care: A systematic review qualitative synthesis
Authors: Compton Roslyn M. , Hubbard Murdoch Natasha , Press Madeline M. , Lowe Marilee E. , Ottley Katherine M. , Barlow Marilyn , Gartner Michelle , Cranley Lisa C. , Shi Yining , Craswell Alison
Published: November 2021

Background

The United Nations calculates there were 703 million adults 65 years and older globally as of 2019 with this number projected to double by 2050. A significant number of older adults live with comorbid health conditions, making the role of a nurse in long‐term care (LTC) complex. Our objective was to identify the challenges, facilitators, workload, professional development and clinical environment issues that influence nurses and nursing students to seek work and continue to work in LTC settings.

Methods

Eligibility criteria included being a nurse in a LTC setting and research with a substantial qualitative component. Multiple databases (including Medline and CINAHL) were searched between 2013 and 2019 along with grey literature. Covidence was used to organise a team of 10 into a paired review of titles and abstracts to the final full text screening, extraction and appraisal with the CASP Qualitative Studies Checklist. Analysis involved a thematic synthesis approach. The Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) checklist informed the writing of the review.

Results

The search resulted in 18 articles and dissertations. Areas investigated included recruitment, resilience, employment and retention, how nurses perceived their professional work, rewards and difficulties, supervision, student preceptorship and career aspiration, nurses' perceptions of occupational status, along with leadership, education and development needs, and intentions to manage resident deteriorating health. The five themes were (1) perspectives of nursing influenced by the organisation, (2) pride in, and capacity to build relationships, (3) stretching beyond the technical skills, (4) autonomy, and (5) taking on the challenge of societal perceptions.

Discussion

This review revealed what is required to recruit nursing students to careers in LTC and retain nurses. To be explored is how staff can work to their full scope of practice and the resultant impact on resident care, including how to maximise a meaningful life for residents and their families.

Registration

National Institute for Health Research UK (Prospero ID: CRD42019125214).
Empowering or validity threat? Trainee control over workplace‐based assessments
Authors: Prentice Shaun
Published: November 2021

The author examines trainee control over workplace‐based assessments and argues that a more nuanced, contextualised approach will enhance their validity.
Discussing around a virtual fire: Citizen engagement in a shared Decision‐Making conference
Authors: Blanchette Virginie , Plourde Karine , Côté Isabelle , Poulin Guy , Légaré France
Published: November 2021

An online conference was organized to promote the Interprofessional Shared Decision‐Making model and maximize its dissemination among stakeholders (citizens, health care providers, administrative staffs, policy makers, academics) in Canada. The goal was to enhance knowledge of and engagement in shared decision‐making in a patient‐oriented research, since shared decision‐making has been hampered by reduced face‐to‐face contact, fear of infection, and overworked health professionals due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Therefore, we share a summary of what has been done to engage citizens in shared decision‐making and to inform the interprofessional community about active citizen engagement in an online conference.
Balancing security and care: Gender relations of nursing staff in forensic psychiatric care
Authors: Kumpula Esa , Ekstrand Per , Gustafsson Lena‐Karin
Published: November 2021

This study departs from the built‐in tension of the dual goals of forensic psychiatric care in Sweden, which are to protect society as well as to care for patients. The majority of violence that takes place is perpetrated by men. Therefore, the views of nursing staff on violence as a gendered phenomenon have an impact on the care provision. There is a need for further knowledge of how norms of violence are intertwined with the construction of gender. The aim of this study was to use a gender perspective to demonstrate the views of nursing staff on security and care and the consequences for their relationships with patients. The study adopts an ethnographic approach, with data consisting of field notes from participatory observations and interviews with nursing staff at two maximum‐security clinics. We show how the perceptions of nursing staff about gender relations are based on heteronormative thinking, which affects their practice. This implies that if gender is ignored in relation to the dual goals, there is a risk of perpetrating patterns of unequal conditions. Therefore, it is vital to make gender visible to counteract unequal conditions for nursing staff and address patients' individual care needs.
Human face‐off: a new method for mapping evolutionary rates on three‐dimensional digital models
Authors: Castiglione Silvia , Melchionna Marina , Profico Antonio , Sansalone Gabriele , Modafferi Maria , Mondanaro Alessandro , Wroe Stephen , Piras Paolo , Raia Pasquale
Published: November 2021

Modern phylogenetic comparative methods allow us to estimate evolutionary rates of phenotypic change, how these rates differ across clades, and to assess whether the rates remained constant over time. Unfortunately, currently available phylogenetic comparative tools express the rate in terms of a scalar dimension, and do not allow us to determine rate variations among different parts of a single, complex phenotype, or chart realized rate variation directly onto the phenotype. We present a new method which allows the mapping of evolutionary rate variation directly onto three‐dimensional phenotypes, informing on the direction and magnitude of trait change automatically. Implemented using the function rate.map embedded in the R package RRphylo, this method is based on phylogenetic ridge regression rate estimates. Since the latter represent ridge regression slopes, they possess sign and magnitude. In RRphylo, different rates are calculated for different districts of the phenotype, which can then be visualized directly onto the phenotype itself. We present the application of rate.map to the evolution of facial skeleton in Hominoidea, the primate clade inclusive of Homo and the greater apes (including living and fossil taxa). We found that the highly derived, unique shape of the face in modern humans evolved through rapid phenotypic changes affecting the nasal bones, the brow ridge and the maxillary region. The canine fossa, a facial feature unique to Homo sapiens, did not belong to a region of rapid phenotypic change, and could be seen as the by‐product of midface evolution as suggested by previous studies.
Cassava common mosaic virus infection affects growth and yield components of cassava plants (Manihot esculenta) in Argentina
Authors: Collavino Agostina , Zanini Andrea A. , Medina Ricardo , Schaller Silvia , Di Feo Liliana
Published: November 2021

Cassava is an important crop with great economic and social significance in many countries. Most of its biomass is usable: storage roots can be destined for industry or fresh consumption, leaves are a source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and stems can be used as propagation material. Due to its vegetative propagation, cassava yield is greatly constrained by viral diseases. Cassava common mosaic virus (CsCMV), one of the most widely spread viruses in Latin America, is the only cassava‐infecting potexvirus able to cause disease in a single infection: cassava common mosaic disease (CCMD). Here, we evaluated the effect of an Argentinian strain of CsCMV on several agronomic traits. Field trials were established in north‐eastern Argentina for three successive cropping seasons, 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19. CsCMV presence was confirmed by PCR or ELISA tests in mechanically inoculated cassava plants. The evaluated traits were plant height (PH), total fresh weight (TFW), shoot fresh weight (SFW), diameter and FW of tuberous root per plant (TRD and FWTR), FW of each individual tuberous root (FWiTR), length and number of tuberous roots (TRL and TRN), harvest index (HI), and estimated yield of tuberous root (EY) in both infected and noninfected plants. Significant yield losses were recorded in infected plants. The most affected traits were EY and FWTR (both showing 44.3% of losses), followed by TFW, SFW, TRN, and FWiTR (37.8%, 33.5%, 29.9%, and 24.8% of losses, respectively). These losses are extremely high for Argentina, where this crop provides food security and demand for the raw material is unsatisfied.
Is prenatal diet associated with the composition of the vaginal microbiome?
Authors: Rosen Emma M. , Martin Chantel L. , Siega‐Riz Anna Maria , Dole Nancy , Basta Patricia V. , Serrano Myrna , Fettweis Jennifer , Wu Michael , Sun Shan , Thorp John M. , Buck Gregory , Fodor Anthony A. , Engel Stephanie M.
Published: November 2021

Background

The vaginal microbiome has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but information on the impact of diet on microbiome composition is largely unexamined.

Objective

To estimate the association between prenatal diet and vaginal microbiota composition overall and by race.

Methods

We leveraged a racially diverse prenatal cohort of North Carolina women enrolled between 1995 and 2001 to conduct this analysis using cross‐sectional data. Women completed food frequency questionnaires about diet in the previous 3 months and foods were categorised into subgroups: fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains, low‐fat dairy, sweetened beverages and red meat. We additionally assessed dietary vitamin D, fibre and yogurt consumption. Stored vaginal swabs collected in mid‐pregnancy were sequenced using 16S taxonomic profiling. Women were categorised into three groups based on predominance of species: Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus miscellaneous and Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)‐associated bacteria. Adjusted Poisson models with robust variance estimators were run to assess the risk of being in a specific vagitype compared to the referent. Race‐stratified models (Black/White) were also run.

Results

In this study of 634 women, higher consumption of dairy was associated with increased likelihood of membership in the L. crispatus group compared to the L. iners group in a dose‐dependent manner (risk ratio quartile 4 vs. 1: 2.01, 95% confidence interval 1.36, 2.95). Increased intake of fruit, vitamin D, fibre and yogurt was also associated with increased likelihood of membership in L. crispatus compared to L. iners, but only among black women. Statistical heterogeneity was only detected for fibre intake. There were no detected associations between any other food groups or risk of membership in the BV group.

Conclusions

Higher consumption of low‐fat dairy was associated with increased likelihood of membership in a beneficial vagitype, potentially driven by probiotics.
Estimation of the Combined Effects of Ageing and Seasonality on Mortality Risk: An Application to Spain
Authors: Pavía Jose M. , Lledó Josep
Published: November 2021

Despite the overwhelming evidence that shows the persistence of intra-annual variations on demographic events (deaths, birth dates and migration flows), life tables are computed and provided on an annual basis. This paper develops a new estimator for estimating sub-annual death rates that, considering the exact moment of occurrence (exact age and day) of events, concurrently accounts for ageing and calendar fluctuations. This paper also shows how modelling the intra-annual variations of death rates, through specific seasonal–ageing indexes, can be used as a tool for constructing new sub-annual tables from annual tables. This new methodology is exemplified using a real database of Spain made up of 186 million demographic events (1.5 million of which are deaths), from which seasonal–ageing indexes are estimated and conclusions drawn. First, seasonal effects are, as a rule, stronger than ageing effects. For a given integer age, season has a higher impact on increasing or decreasing the average risk of death at that age than the actual age of the exposed-to-risk. Second, the intensity of the effects varies among seasons and age-quarters. Third, neither seasonal nor ageing effects are age-stationary. Their impact, be it to varying degrees, intensifies as people get older. Fourth, there is interaction between seasonal and ageing effects. In short, life expectancies and probabilities of dying/surviving not only depend on people’s age, but also on when their birthday falls within the year. This has implications, for instance, in managing pension systems or for insurance companies.
Moderation of Radical Right‐wing Populist Parties in Western European Governments – A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Capaul Raphael , Ewert Christian
Published: November 2021

More and more Western European radical right‐wing populist parties participate in the governments of their respective countries. At least some of these parties moderate—that is, become less radical—once they join the government; others, however, do not. Although the literature has addressed such moderation, the conditions that lead to it have not been analyzed comprehensively. In this paper, we use a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA, N = 14) to determine what conditions are consistently associated with moderation across cases. We find that the degree of governmental responsibility a party takes over is as important as its internal dynamic. In a ruling coalition, compromises must be found, which can create high internal tensions within the radical right‐wing populist party. Joining government can thus have its price: a crisis of party identity and a strong compulsion to moderate.
Three principles for writing an effective qualitative results section
Authors: Cristancho Sayra , Watling Christopher , Lingard Lorelei
Published: November 2021

Writing an effective qualitative results section can be a daunting task. How do you report the findings of the study and tell a compelling story? It is this delicate balance that we strive to navigate in this paper. We offer three principles—storytelling, authenticity and argument—to help writers envision the story they will tell, select the data as evidence for that story and integrate quotations to guide the reader’s interpretation. Practical advice and concrete illustrations make the principles easy to apply to your own writing. Finally, by reflecting on how historical, methodological and disciplinary elements shape their application, you will be able to use these principles to enhance the persuasiveness of your qualitative results section.
Enhancing magnetorheology with precession magnetic fields
Authors: Terkel Matthew , Tajuelo Javier , de Vicente Juan
Published: November 2021

We demonstrate a new route to enhance magnetorheology using precession-like magnetic fields. This field configuration is generated by the superposition of a 2D rotational field applied orthogonal to a uniaxial DC field. Maintaining a columnar linear chain structure when applying a precession field was determined to be integral in increasing the average cluster size of the aggregates for low precession angles and a low Mason number. A yield stress increase was experimentally observed when reapplying a uniaxial DC field following the application of a controlled low-angle precession field indicating a favorable structural evolution had taken place under the unsteady field configuration. Experimental results of small-amplitude oscillatory shear tests and shear rheograms are supported by particle-level simulation 3D models and start-up tests.
Loss of GdpP Function in Staphylococcus aureus Leads to β-Lactam Tolerance and Enhanced Evolution of β-Lactam Resistance
Authors: Poon Raymond , Basuino Li , Satishkumar Nidhi , Chatterjee Aditi , Mukkayyan Nagaraja , Buggeln Emma , Huang Liusheng , Nair Vinod , Argudín Maria A. , Datta Sandip K. , Chambers Henry F. , Chatterjee Som S.
Published: November 2021

Infections caused by
Staphylococcus aureus
are a leading cause of mortality. Treating infections caused by
S. aureus
is difficult due to resistance against most traditional antibiotics, including β-lactams. We previously reported the presence of mutations in
gdpP
among
S. aureus
strains that were obtained by serial passaging in β-lactam drugs.
Impact of Empirical Antibiotic Regimens on Mortality in Neutropenic Patients with Bloodstream Infection Presenting with Septic Shock
Authors: Chumbita Mariana , Puerta-Alcalde Pedro , Gudiol Carlota , Garcia-Pouton Nicole , Laporte-Amargós Júlia , Ladino Andrea , Albasanz-Puig Adaia , Helguera Cristina , Bergas Alba , Grafia Ignacio , Sastre Enric , Suárez-Lledó María , Durà Xavier , Jordán Carlota , Marco Francesc , Condom Maria , Castro Pedro , Martínez Jose A. , Mensa Josep , Soriano Alex , Carratalà Jordi , Garcia-Vidal Carolina
Published: November 2021

We analyzed risk factors for mortality in febrile neutropenic patients with bloodstream infections (BSI) presenting with septic shock and assessed the impact of empirical antibiotic regimens. A multicenter retrospective study (2010 to 2019) of two prospective cohorts compared BSI episodes in patients with or without septic shock.
Far Field of a Three-Dimensional Laminar Wall Jet
Authors: But I. I. , Gailfullin A. M. , Zhvick V. V.
Published: November 2021

We consider a steady submerged laminar jet of viscous incompressible fluid flowing out of a tube and propagating along a solid plane surface. The numerical solution of Navier–Stokes equations is obtained in the stationary three-dimensional formulation. The hypothesis that at large distances from the tube exit the flowfield is described by the self-similar solution of the parabolized Navier–Stokes equations is confirmed. The asymptotic expansions of the self-similar solution are obtained for small and large values of the coordinate in the jet cross-section. Using the numerical solution the self-similarity exponent is determined. An explicit dependence of the self-similar solution on the Reynolds number and the conditions in the jet source is determined.
Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in fetuses with isolated mild ventriculomegaly
Authors: Griffiths Paul David , Jarvis Deborah , Connolly Daniel J , Mooney Cara , Embleton Nicholas , Hart Anthony Richard
Published: November 2021

Background

Fetal ventriculomegaly is the the most common intracranial abnormality detected antenatally. When ventriculomegaly is mild and the only, isolated, abnormality detected (isolated mild ventriculomegaly (IMVM)) the prognosis is generally considered to be good. We aim to determine if there are features on in utero MRI (iuMRI) that can identify fetuses with IMVM who have lower risks of abnormal neurodevelopment outcome.

Methods

We studied cases recruited into the MRI to enhance the diagnosis of fetal developmental brain abnormalities in utero (MERIDIAN) study, specifically those with: confirmed IMVM, 3D volume imaging of the fetal brain and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years. We explored the influence of sex of the fetus, laterality of the ventriculomegaly and intracranial compartmental volumes in relation to neurodevelopmental outcome.

Findings

Forty-two fetuses met the criteria (33 male and 9 female). There was no obvious correlation between fetal sex and the risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcome. Unilateral IMVM was present in 23 fetuses and bilateral IMVM in 19 fetuses. All fetuses with unilateral IMVM had normal neurodevelopmental outcomes, while only 12/19 with bilateral IMVM had normal neurodevelopmental outcomes. There was no obvious correlation between measure of intracranial volumes and risk of abnormal developmental outcomes.

Interpretation

The most important finding is the very high chance of a good neurodevelopmental outcome observed in fetuses with unilateral IMVM, which is a potentially important finding for antenatal counselling. There does not appear to be a link between the volume of the ventricular system or brain volume and the risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcome.