bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of the learning curve on paravalvular aortic regurgitation and mid‐term mortality in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Istrate Mihnea , Dregoesc Mihaela I. , Bolboacă Sorana D. , Botiș Cătălin , Ștef Adrian , Bindea Dan I. , Oprea Alexandru , Trifan Cătălin A. , Moț Ștefan D. C. , Molnar Adrian , Iancu Adrian C.
Published: January 2022

Objective

Paravalvular aortic regurgitation is an important independent mortality predictor in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Our study evaluated the association between paravalvular aortic regurgitation and mid‐term mortality in relation with the learning curve, in patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transfemoral TAVI in the first 3 years since the establishment of the program.

Methods

Patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transfemoral TAVI between 2017 and 2020 were included in the analysis. Paravalvular aortic regurgitation was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at 48 hours after the procedure. All‐cause mortality was evaluated after 30 days and at mid‐term follow‐up.

Results

Paravalvular aortic regurgitation ≥grade II was associated with mid‐term all‐cause mortality (OR 4.4; 95%CI 1.82–11.55; p < 0.001), their prevalence declining after the first 60 cases. Baseline characteristics did not significantly differ in the first 60 patients from the rest of the cohort. Male sex (p = 0.006), advanced age (p = 0.04), coronary artery disease (p = 0.003), or elevated STS Score (p = 0.02) influenced mid‐term survival. When adjusting for the presence of these factors, only age (OR 1.1; 95%CI 1.0–1.2), paravalvular aortic regurgitation ≥grade II (OR 3.9; 95%CI 1.3–12.9), and the number of days spent in the intensive care unit (OR 1.4; 95%CI 1.1–1.8) were independent predictors of mid‐term all‐cause mortality.

Conclusions

In a group of patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transfemoral TAVI in the first 3 years since the establishment of the program, paravalvular aortic regurgitation ≥grade II was associated with mid‐term mortality, both declining after the first 60 cases.
Evidence‐based dentistry: Knowledge, Practice, Confidence and Attitude amongst Malaysian dental undergraduate students: A Multi‐institutional study
Authors: Rath Avita , Wong Li Zheng Melissa , Hesarghatta Ramamurthy Priyadarshini , Sidhu Preena , Pannuti Claudio Mendes , Fernandes Bennete , Termizi Bin Zamzuri Ahmad
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Evidence‐based dental practice provides patient‐centred, compatible and efficient interventions and forms the basis for health profession education. So far, there is a paucity of data about Malaysian undergraduate dental education and the role of evidence‐based dentistry in it. The current research aimed to study the level of knowledge, attitude, practice and confidence of dental undergraduate students in Malaysia towards evidence‐based dental practice.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included final‐year undergraduate dental students (N = 645) who completed a pre‐tested self‐administered questionnaire that analysed the domains of perceived knowledge, practice, critical appraisal and attitude towards evidence‐based dentistry. We further explored the association between these domains with the type of curriculum, sex, prior research experience and EBD training.

Results

A total of (n = 526) students participated (response rate of 81.55%). About 92% knew about evidence‐based dentistry. Whilst 58% had undergone formal training in evidence‐based dentistry, 90% of the respondents showed an overall positive attitude towards evidence‐based dentistry. However, only 45% of them practised it most of the time. Schools with an integrated curriculum showed more willingness and practised evidence‐based dentistry more frequently (p < 0.001). More than 50% of the participants rated their confidence in appraisal as moderate.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that Malaysian dental undergraduate students who are well aware of evidence‐based dentistry displayed a positive attitude towards it. The type of dental curriculum had a significant association with practice and attitude towards evidence‐based dental knowledge and practice.
Predictors of perceived stress and quality of life amongst dental master and doctoral students
Authors: Meira Thiago Martins , Ronsani Maiara Medeiros , Ignácio Sérgio Aparecido , Miyoshi Caio Seiti , Pithon Matheus Melo , Tanaka Orlando Motohiro
Published: January 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to identify predictors of perceived stress and quality of life (QoL) amongst dental master and doctoral students.

Materials and Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study with Brazilian students as participants (n = 707). The following instruments were administered: Perceived stress scale (PSS), the WHOQOL‐BREF and a socio‐demographic questionnaire. A linear regression model was estimated.

Results

The results showed that female was associated with higher scores of PSS and lower scores of QoL. A negative correlation was observed between PSS and all four domains of QoL. Multivariate analysis revealed that the set of selected variables partially explained the variability of PSS score (28%) and the four QoL domains: physical (52%), psychological (62%), social relationships (25%) and environment (37%). The variable number of children, hours of sleep, concurrent work and study, leisure time and physical activity practice were associated with positive changes on QoL, whilst PSS and medication intake with negative. Lower PSS score was associated with the variables age, hours of sleep, leisure time and physical activity.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that perceived stress and medication intake due to study are important predictors of lower QoL in dental master and doctoral students, especially in the psychological domain. More hours of sleep, leisure time and physical activity improved both QoL and perceived stress scores and might be feasible coping strategies for these outcomes in this population.
Phenotypic plasticity is aligned with phenological adaptation on both micro‐ and macroevolutionary timescales
Authors: De Lisle Stephen P. , Mäenpää Maarit I. , Svensson Erik I.
Published: January 2022

In seasonally variable environments, phenotypic plasticity in phenology may be critical for adaptation to fluctuating environmental conditions. Using an 18‐generation longitudinal dataset from natural damselfly populations, we show that phenology has strongly advanced. Individual fitness data suggest this is likely an adaptive response towards a temperature‐dependent optimum. A laboratory experiment revealed that developmental plasticity qualitatively matches the temperature dependence of selection, partially explaining observed advance in phenology. Expanding our analysis to the macroevolutionary level, we use a database of over 1‐million occurrence records and spatiotemporally matched temperature data from 49 Swedish Odonate species to infer macroevolutionary dynamics of phenology. Phenological plasticity was more closely aligned with adaptation for species that have recently colonised northern latitudes, but with higher phenological mismatch at lower latitudes. Our results show that phenological plasticity plays a key role in microevolutionary dynamics within a single species, and such plasticity may have facilitated post‐Pleistocene range expansion in this insect clade.
Can Scharpf be proved wrong? Modelling the EU into a competitive social market economy for the next generation
Authors: Crespy Amandine
Published: January 2022

Criticism of the EU’s social deficit has become more vivid than ever following the socially regressive handling of the 2008–10 financial and debt crisis. In 2010, Fritz Scharpf famously argued that the EU ‘cannot be a social market economy’ owing to its institutional architecture, legal features, and collective action issues. The COVID‐19 pandemic has nevertheless led to a new agenda combining investment, social concerns, the green transition and more fiscal solidarity. However, a lot remains to be done, it is argued, to bridge the social gap. A three‐pronged model is outlined to conceive of the EU’s role in enhancing national, inter‐national and transnational social cohesion. The paper furthermore points to where the EU’s action must be intensified to make significant progress on the way to a competitive and social market economy. In many respects, the hard political battles remain to be fought.
How to ensure that national parliaments (truly) ‘contribute actively to the good functioning of (tomorrow's) EU’?
Authors: Fromage Diane
Published: January 2022

National parliaments have long been neglected in the European integration process, although the Lisbon Treaty significantly improved their status. Nonetheless, this article argues that there is still some margin for improvement. This article explains why this situation must be urgently remedied and proposes some pragmatic solutions to this end. It is argued that national parliaments should receive more information directly, that mechanisms to guarantee the collective accountability of the Council and the European Council should be introduced, and that certain safeguards are needed to ensure a level playing field among national parliaments in their relationship to EU institutions and bodies. This would help to address the existing imbalance between the way in which today's EU operates, and national parliaments' limited possibility to participate at the EU level.
Shark teeth can resist ocean acidification
Authors: Leung Jonathan Y. S. , Nagelkerken Ivan , Pistevos Jennifer C. A. , Xie Zonghan , Zhang Sam , Connell Sean D.
Published: January 2022

Ocean acidification can cause dissolution of calcium carbonate minerals in biological structures of many marine organisms, which can be exacerbated by warming. However, it is still unclear whether this also affects organisms that have body parts made of calcium phosphate minerals (e.g. shark teeth), which may also be impacted by the ‘corrosive’ effect of acidified seawater. Thus, we examined the effect of ocean acidification and warming on the mechanical properties of shark teeth (Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni), and assessed whether their mineralogical properties can be modified in response to predicted near‐future seawater pH (–0.3 units) and temperature (+3°C) changes. We found that warming resulted in the production of more brittle teeth (higher elastic modulus and lower mechanical resilience) that were more vulnerable to physical damage. Yet, when combined with ocean acidification, the durability of teeth increased (i.e. less prone to physical damage due to the production of more elastic teeth) so that they did not differ from those raised under ambient conditions. The teeth were chiefly made of fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F), with increased fluoride content under ocean acidification that was associated with increased crystallinity. The increased precipitation of this highly insoluble mineral under ocean acidification suggests that the sharks could modulate and enhance biomineralization to produce teeth which are more resistant to corrosion. This adaptive mineralogical adjustment could allow some shark species to maintain durability and functionality of their teeth, which underpins a fundamental component of predation and sustenance of the trophic dynamics of future oceans.
A Borehole Test for Chlorinated Solvent Diffusion and Degradation Rates in Sedimentary Rock
Authors: Allen‐King Richelle M. , Kiekhaefer Rebecca L. , Goode Daniel J. , Hsieh Paul A. , Lorah Michelle M. , Imbrigiotta Thomas E.
Published: January 2022

We present a new field measurement and numerical interpretation method (combined termed “test”) to parameterize the diffusion of trichloroethene (TCE) and its biodegradation products (DPs) from the matrix of sedimentary rock. The method uses a dual‐packer system to interrogate a low‐permeability section of the rock matrix adjacent to a previously contaminated borehole and uses the borehole monitoring history to establish the pretest condition. TCE and its DPs are removed from the groundwater between the packers at the onset of the testing. The parameters estimated by fitting a radial diffusion model to the concentration history and borehole concentration data, also termed back diffusion, are the tortuosity factor and sorption coefficients of TCE and DPs in the rock matrix and the TCE and DP biodegradation rate coefficients in the borehole. We demonstrate the equipment design and the interpretive method using a borehole accessing the gray mudstone at a TCE contaminated site in the Newark Basin. In this test, both nonreactive (bromide) and reactive (trichlorofluoroethene) tracers are used to constrain the estimated parameters; however, the bromide tracer was not needed to estimate the parameters in this test. The parameters estimated from the field test are consistent with values measured independently in laboratory experiments using field samples of similar lithology. From the interpretation, we compute the TCE and DP concentration distributions in the rock matrix prior to the test to illustrate how the results can be used to enhance understanding of contaminant distribution in the rock matrix.
PETTY CORRUPTION AND CITIZEN REPORTS
Authors: Angelucci Charles , Russo Antonio
Published: January 2022

When offering incentive schemes to low‐ranking officials, a tension exists between the dual goals of enforcing regulations and preventing corruption. Recent efforts to curb abuses have inspired government interest in using new communication technologies to collect information directly from citizens. We propose a model where a corruptible official is tasked with recommending the government to grant or deny the permit an entrepreneur needs to undertake production. The government tolerates corruption when it does not communicate directly with the entrepreneur. A simple scheme whereby the entrepreneur can report her own noncompliance to the government deters corruption and improves regulatory enforcement.
Fluoride‐mediately solvothermal synthesis and tunable photocatalytic selectivity of urchin‐like ZrO2 hollow microspheres
Authors: Jing Wenjia , Hou Baoqiang , Wang Jinxiao , Zhi Qiang , Yang Jianfeng , Wang Bo
Published: January 2022

Photocatalysts often show excellent performances on the basis of their surface state of exposed faces with high reactivity, but unfortunately surfaces of this type are usually concealed into the interior of crystals for their high surface energy. We report here a possibility that for fluorine‐terminated surfaces of monoclinic ZrO2, these higher‐energy surfaces could be retained and exposed. Urchin‐like ZrO2 hollow microspheres (UZHS) composed of nanoribbons with exposed (010) facets are obtained through a fluoride mediately solvothermal method. We prove the stabilization effect of fluorine adsorption on (010) facets by density functional theory calculations. More interestingly, UZHS exhibit tunable photocatalytic selectivity in dye degradation. The fluorinated UZHS exhibit good performances both on decomposing Congo red (CR) and methylene blue, while the surface‐modified UZHS by calcination only favor decomposition of CR.
Reactive flash sintering and electrical transport properties of high‐entropy (MgCoNiCuZn)1‐xLixO oxides
Authors: Ma Baisheng , Zhu Yan , Wang Kewei , Sun Zhenzhong , Ren Ke , Wang Yiguang
Published: January 2022

In this paper, high‐entropy (MgCoNiCuZn)1‐xLixO oxides (x = 0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.3) were synthesized via reactive flash sintering (RFS), and the effect of RFS process on the microstructure and electrical property of the materials were studied. The Li‐doped materials exhibited a mixed ionic–electronic transport behavior. The oxidation of Co2+ into Co3+ upon Li incorporation into the materials synthesized via the conventional solid‐state reaction route was not evidenced in the flash sintered materials. Instead, the charge unbalance in the Li‐doped materials synthesized via RFS was compensated by oxygen vacancies and holes in the valence band of the oxides, which were accounted for the ionic conduction and electronic conduction, respectively. The ionic conductivity increased upon increasing the Li concentration as more oxygen vacancies were formed. The attraction between defects with different charges (LiM/ and VO••), which formed defect complexes, led to a decrease in the mobility of the defects, thus resulting in a less pronounced increase in the ionic conductivity at high Li concentrations. The change in the charge compensation mechanism of the materials indicates that the microstructure of such kind of oxides could be altered through RFS, and thus the property may be manipulated.
The association between type 2 diabetes and anhedonic subtype of major depression in hypertensive individuals
Authors: Willame Hadrien , Wacquier Benjamin , Point Camille , Dosogne Marjorie , Al Faker Mohammed , Loas Gwenolé , Hein Matthieu
Published: January 2022

Given the limited data in the literature, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between type 2 diabetes and anhedonic subtype of major depression in hypertensive individuals. Demographic and polysomnographic data from 323 hypertensive individuals recruited from the database of the Erasme Hospital Sleep Laboratory were analysed. Only individuals with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes according to the diagnostic criteria of the American Diabetes Association at admission were included in the “diabetes group”. Logistic regression analyses were used to study the association between type 2 diabetes and anhedonic subtype of major depression in hypertensive individuals. The rate of type 2 diabetes was 18.9% in our sample of hypertensive individuals. After adjusting for major confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that unlike the non‐anhedonic subtype of major depression, only the anhedonic subtype of major depression was significantly associated with higher likelihood of having type 2 diabetes in hypertensive individuals. In this study, the authors demonstrated that the anhedonic subtype of major depression is significantly associated with type 2 diabetes in hypertensive individuals, which could potentially open up new perspectives for the development of therapeutic strategies complementary to conventional treatments for type 2 diabetes in this subpopulation at high risk of complications related to the co‐occurrence of this metabolic disorder.
Hyperlipidemic plasma molecules bind and inhibit adiponectin activity
Authors: Zhang Yan‐Qing , Fan Sen , Wang Wen‐Qing , Lau Wayne Bond , Dai Jian‐Li , Zhang Hai‐Feng , Wang Xiao‐Ming , Liu Xiao‐Gang , Li Rong
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Adiponectin is a potent vascular protective molecule. Recent findings have suggested adiponectin resistance during early diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible remain unidentified. Here, we took an unbiased approach to identify whether hyperlipidemic plasma molecules exist that bind and inhibit adiponectin function, contributing to adiponectin resistance and diabetic vascular injury.

Methods

Adult rats were randomly assigned to receive either a normal or a high‐fat diet for 8 weeks. Plasma was co‐immunoprecipitated with anti‐APN antibody and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The APN binding molecules and their effect upon APN biological activity were determined.

Results

As expected, the high‐fat‐diet increased plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein. Importantly, the circulating APN level was significantly increased at this time point. Mass spectrometry identified 18 proteins with increased APN binding in hyperlipidemic plasma, among which four proteins critical in lipid metabolism, including apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1), APOA4, APOC1, and paraoxonase 1, were further investigated. Incubating recombinant APN with APOA1 markedly (P < 0.01), and incubating with APOC1 significantly (P < 0.05), inhibited APN activity as evidenced by the reduced AMPK activation in HUVECs. APOA4 and paraoxonase 1 incubation had no effect upon APN activity. Finally, plasma APOA1 was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in hyperlipidemic plasma compared with the control plasma.

Conclusions

It was demonstrated for the first time that increased APOA1 and APOC1 in hyperlipidemic plasma binds and inhibits APN activity. This result not only identifies a novel molecular mechanism responsible for adiponectin resistance during early stage diabetes, but also provides additional new insight into the diverse/controversial (protective and harmful) functions of high‐density lipoprotein.
Development of a new machine vision algorithm to estimate potato's shape and size based on support vector machine
Authors: Shen Dili , Zhang Shengfei , Ming Wuyi , He Wenbin , Zhang Guojun , Xie Zhuobin
Published: January 2022

Development of a new machine vision‐based algorithm, to estimate potato's shape and size, will have great significance to agricultural industry in developing countries. Machine vision, one of hot technique, uses machines to execute measurement, calculating, and judgment instead of human eyes. In this study, a new machine vision algorithm, based on support vector machine, was proposed for estimating potato's shape and size. After captured the square RGB image with 512 × 512 pixels, the original image was processed by gray scale and linear transformation, filtering, entity, and boundary detecting. Then, geometric characteristics, image wavelet moment, and fractal dimension of boundary were extracted for marking the potato's characteristic. In addition, the effect of four kind of support vector machine (SVM) kernel function was comparing by several experiments with 64 potato samples. By experimental confirmation, SVM based on the polynomial kernel is more suitable for discriminating potato's shape with an accuracy of 88.89%; SVM based on the linear kernel is more suitable for estimating potato's size with an accuracy of 87.41%.

Practical applications

Potato is a high‐yield, nutrient‐rich crop with high nutritional value. This study proposes a potato shape and size estimation algorithm based on machine vision. Through experimental verification, the detection accuracy of the algorithm initially meets the actual engineering application. The shape and size of potatoes can be detected to classify potatoes. In the process of food processing such as potato chips, the classification of potatoes is conducive to improving the quality of food processing.
How do Intermediaries Build Inclusive Markets? The Role of the Social Context
Authors: Bhatt Babita , Qureshi Israr , Sutter Christopher
Published: January 2022

Intermediaries – organizations that connect actors who could not otherwise transact – play an important role in building inclusive markets. However, we know little about how the specific characteristics of the social context influence the effectiveness of intermediary activities. The purpose of this study is to unpack how the fit between intermediaries’ activities and the social context shapes the success of efforts to build inclusive markets. Using an in‐depth qualitative study in India, we examine how intermediaries’ activities fit with two central features of the social context – inequality and dependence. Our study contributes to the literature by suggesting a contingent view of the process by which intermediaries build inclusive markets.
Effects of melatonin on intestinal function and bacterial compositions in sucking piglets
Authors: Xia Siting , Gao Wei , Li Yunxia , Ma Jie , Gong Saiming , Gao Zhipeng , Tang Wenjie , Tian Wen , Tang Shengguo
Published: January 2022

Melatonin has been reported to affect intestinal function by targeting microbiome, morphological structure, barrier integrity and nutrient absorptive system. While the effect of melatonin on intestinal development in newborn infants is obscure, thus, this study firstly attempted to investigate the hypothesis that melatonin treatment improves intestinal development in sucking piglets. 14 healthy newborn piglets received 10 ml melatonin solution (1 mg/ml) or drinking water (n = 7) for 21 days. The results showed that oral administration of melatonin increased liver relative weight (p < 0.05) but failed to affect growth performance in sucking piglets (p > 0.05). Immunostaining jejunal samples from melatonin group showed high expressions of nnos and claudin1, indicating that melatonin improved intestinal neural development and barrier integrity. Also, melatonin promoted intestinal absorptive function evidenced by the increased serum proline concentration in melatonin‐treated piglets compared with the control (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota compositions were tested by 16S rDNA sequencing and the results showed that melatonin increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria compared with the control (p < 0.05) at the phylum level. However, Selenomonadales was markedly reduced compared with the control at the order level (p < 0.05). Gut and faecal volatile fatty acids were tested to evaluate the microbiota metabolism, but no difference was noticed in volatile fatty acid concentrations (p > 0.05). Melatonin improved intestinal development by affecting neural development, barrier integrity, nutrient absorption and microbiota in sucking piglets.
When the master’s tools fail: Racial euphemism in Shakespeare appropriation, or, the activist value of Premodern Critical Race Studies
Authors: Corredera Vanessa I.
Published: January 2022

As premodern studies continues to develop tools for anti‐racist scholarship and pedagogy, this essay establishes the stakes of adaptation/appropriation studies especially committing to these efforts. Turning to the novel The Serpent of Venice, I demonstrate how appropriations that engage with race too often employ what I frame as racial euphemism: palliative engagements with race that sidestep questions of power and inequity. This is especially true for those attempting to maintain distance between Shakespeare and questions of race, and especially racism, often under the guise of historical accuracy. This racially euphemistic approach, therefore, disseminates to especially wide audiences white supremacist approaches to race. Premodern Critical Race Studies provides a vital activist framework, and with it, important conceptual and methodological tools, that help adaptation/appropriation scholars identify racial euphemism in premodern retellings, while at the same time offering appropriators scholarship that can help them craft anti‐racist appropriations that resist the idea of a race‐neutral past.
Stochastic lattice discrete particle modeling of fracture in pervious concrete
Authors: Fascetti Alessandro , Ichimaru Sonoko , Bolander John E.
Published: January 2022

This article presents a stochastic modeling approach for simulating the mechanical behavior of pervious concrete, based on novel extensions of the lattice discrete particle model. Selected digital images of the internal mesostructure, obtained from physical specimens, are used to survey material features and produce statistically representative descriptions of the pore networks. A procedure for estimating the statistical features of the mesostructure is proposed, and samples of a spatially correlated random field are utilized to numerically reproduce the distribution of the large, connected pores in the material. The numerical samples are linked to the topology of the lattice network by means of two novel techniques proposed herein: (1) a random placement procedure for the poly‐sized spheres representing coarse aggregate and (2) a ray tracing technique, which is used to evaluate the effective distributions of mass, stiffness, and strength of each lattice element according to the local distribution of porosity. Numerical results demonstrate how the proposed model is capable of simulating both the large scatter in strength and the variety of failure modes that are observed when testing physical specimens of pervious concrete. The proposed procedure is generally applicable to different types of materials with varying porosity, opening up new possibilities for the simulation of porous media by means of lattice discrete particle modeling techniques.
A case of Epstein–Barr virus‐associated smooth muscle tumor of the posterior interosseous nerve mimicking schwannoma
Authors: Bourhis Amélie , Roussel‐Robert Valérie , Viard Jean‐Paul , Peyre Matthieu , Bielle Franck
Published: January 2022

Here we report a case of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated smooth muscle tumor (SMT) of the peripheral nerve in a young man seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Initially, the lesion was clinically and radiologically confused with a schwannoma of the forearm's posterior interosseous nerve. The diagnosis was corrected by histological examination, which revealed a well‐defined tumor consisting of eosinophilic spindle cells, positive for α‐smooth muscle actin on immunohistochemistry and positive for EBV‐encoded early RNA (EBER) on in situ hybridization. EBV‐associated SMTs are well described in the literature; they are frequently multiple and arise in many organs. They occur preferentially in young adults with poorly controlled and chronic HIV infection. The prognosis is influenced by the complications of immunodeficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a peripheral nerve location. Because EBV‐associated SMT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a tumor in the peripheral or central nervous systems in immunocompromised patients, EBV should be tested in these locations. Thus, a cause of immunodeficiency should be identified when the diagnosis of EBV‐associated SMT is made.
Familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification with a heterozygous missense variant (c.902C>T/p.P307L) in SLC20A2 showing widespread cerebrovascular lesions
Authors: Sakai Kenji , Ishida Chiho , Hayashi Koji , Tsuji Naotaka , Kannon Takayuki , Hosomichi Kazuyoshi , Takei Nobuyuki , Kakita Akiyoshi , Tajima Atsushi , Yamada Masahito
Published: January 2022

We describe a postmortem case of familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (FIBGC) in a 72‐year‐old Japanese man. The patient showed progressive cognitive impairment with a seven‐year clinical course and calcification of the basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellar dentate nuclei. A novel heterozygous missense variant in SLC20A2 (c.920C>T/p.P307L), a type III sodium‐dependent phosphate transporter (PiT‐2), was subsequently identified, in addition to typical neuropathological findings of FIBGC, such as capillary calcification of the occipital gray matter, confluent calcification of the basal ganglia and cerebellar white matter, widespread occurrence of vasculopathic changes, cerebrovascular lesions, and vascular smooth muscle cell depletion. Immunohistochemistry for PiT‐2 protein revealed no apparent staining in endothelial cells in the basal ganglia and insular cortex; however, the immunoreactivity in endothelial cells of the cerebellum was preserved. Moreover, Western blot analysis identified preserved PiT‐2 immunoreactivity signals in the frontal cortex and cerebellum. The variant identified in the present patient could be associated with development of FIBGC and is known to be located at the large intracytoplasmic part of the PiT‐2 protein, which has potential phosphorylation sites with importance in the regulation of inorganic phosphate transport activity. The present case is an important example to prove that FIGBC could stem from a missense variant in the large intracytoplasmic loop of the PiT‐2 protein. Abnormal clearance of inorganic phosphate in the brain could be related to the development of vascular smooth muscle damage, the formation of cerebrovascular lesions, and subsequent brain calcification in patients with FIBGC with SLC20A2 variants.
Therapeutic music interventions with people with dementia living in residential aged care: Perspectives of residents, family members and care home staff from a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lee Young‐Eun C. , Stretton‐Smith Phoebe A. , Tamplin Jeanette , Sousa Tanara Vieira , Baker Felicity A.
Published: January 2022

Background

Despite growing support for the benefits of music interventions in dementia care, the perspectives of people with dementia, their families and carers are often missing from the research. This study explored multiple perspectives and first‐person experiences of group music interventions delivered within a large cluster randomised controlled trial examining the effectiveness of group music therapy (GMT) and recreational choir singing (RCS) with people with dementia living in residential‐aged care (RAC) settings.

Methods

Focus group and individual interviews with residents with dementia (n = 4), family members (n = 5) and care home staff (n = 15) were conducted following completion of the 6‐month GMT and/or RCS intervention and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

Three main themes were identified as follows: (1) direct and indirect intrapersonal benefits, (2) direct and indirect interpersonal benefits and (3) therapeutic music interventions versus entertainment. GMT and RCS supported residents' mood, enjoyment, engagement and connectedness to self and others within and post‐sessions, with flow‐on effects to family members, care staff and the care home environment. Participants differentiated GMT and RCS from other forms of music engagement in the RAC facilities and described feelings of post‐programme loss, highlighting ongoing meaning in active therapeutic music interventions.

Conclusion

This research highlights the need for increased access to sustainable and meaningful activities, such as purposefully designed therapeutic music interventions in RAC. Improving knowledge about the distinct benefits of therapeutic music interventions compared with other forms of music engagement in RAC may assist nursing staff to make appropriate treatment planning decisions regarding therapeutic music programmes to meet the complex needs of residents with dementia.
The relationship between retinal structure and visual function in non‐immuno‐compromised people living with HIV without retinitis on antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Munsamy Alvin J , Brautaset Rune L , Moodley Anandan A
Published: January 2022

Background

This study sought to establish the association between retinal morphology, visual function and linear parameters of cerebral atrophy in non‐immunocompromised people living with HIV (NIPLHIV).

Methods

Sixty participants (30 NIPLHIV, 30 controls), aged 18–45 years, were sourced from an outpatient clinic in South Africa. NIPLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) had elevated CD4 counts and low viral loads. Macula thickness and volume measurements were obtained using the Spectralis optical coherence tomographer. Contrast sensitivity (CS), colour vision and visual‐evoked potentials (VEP) were also obtained. Linear parameters of cerebral atrophy (Sylvian fissure ratio, SFR) and bicaudate nucleus ratio (BCR) were all acquired from computed tomography (CT) scans. Associations between retinal thickness and volume and visual function were established by principal component factor analysis.

Results

CS scores were indirectly associated with the Inner Nuclear Layer (INL)‐ETDRS thickness and volume subfields (co‐efficient = −0.07; p = 0.02 and −0.11; p = 0.001), respectively. F100 total error scores (TES) were directly associated with the thicknesses of Ganglion Cell Layer‐ETDRS subfields (co‐efficient = 6.06; p = 0.04) but indirectly associated with INL‐ETDRS subfields (co‐efficient = −5.49; p = 0.04). F100‐TES were indirectly associated with volumes of RNFL (Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer)‐ETDRS subfields (co‐efficient = −5.54; p = 0.02) and inner retina ‐ETDRS subfields (co‐efficient = −6.70; p = 0.02). P100 latency was directly associated with RNFL‐ETDRS subfield thickness (co‐efficient = 2.90; p = 0.02) and volumes of outer retina subfields (co‐efficient = 2.72; p = 0.04). CS scores were directly associated with SFR (co‐efficient = −0.04; p = 0.01). F100‐TES were directly associated with BCR (co‐efficient = 0.003; p = 0.004) and SFR (co‐efficient = 0.002; p = 0.02). P100 latency was indirectly associated with BCR (co‐efficient = −0.001; p = 0.03).

Conclusion

The recognition of associations may be the first step in the proposal to develop a framework for the surveillance of vision in patients with NIPLHIV. We recommend a study of the sample population to track the stability of these observations before general recommendations for clinical care.
Early Detection of Pneumonia with the Help of Dementia in Geriatric Hip Fracture Patients
Authors: Tang Miao‐tian , Li Shang , Liu Xiao , Huang Xiang , Zhang Dian‐ying , Lei Ming‐xing
Published: January 2022

Objective

To investigate the role of dementia in pneumonia among geriatric patients with hip fracture and further develop an algorithm for stratifying risk of developing postoperative pneumonia.

Methods

The algorithm was developed after retrospectively analyzing 1344 hip fracture patients in the National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation from 1992 to 2012. Twenty‐eight variables were analyzed for evaluating the ability to predict postoperative pneumonia. The validation of the algorithm was performed in the MIMIC‐III database after enrolling 235 patients.

Results

One thousand five hundred and seventy‐nine patients were enrolled, 4.69% patients had postoperative pneumonia in our hospital, and 17.02% suffered pneumonia in the MIMIC‐III database. Dementia patients had more postoperative pneumonia (12.68%vs4.24%,P = 0.0075), as compared with patients without dementia. The algorithm included nine predictors: dementia, age, coronary heart disease, the American Society of Anesthesiologists score, surgical method, mechanical ventilation, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and high creatinine. Internal validation showed the algorithm with dementia could improve predictive performance, while external validation found the algorithm with or without dementia both had similar and good predictive ability.

Conclusions

The algorithm has the potential to be a pragmatic risk prediction tool to calculate risk of pneumonia in clinical practice and it may also be applicable in critically ill hip fracture patients with dementia.
Prospective study of disease persistence and lung function trajectories of childhood asthma
Authors: Tang Man Fung , Leung Agnes Sze Yin , Ngai Noelle Anne , Chan Oi Man , Wong Gary Wing Kin , Leung Ting Fan
Published: January 2022

Background

A proportion of asthmatic children outgrow their disease by adulthood, but there are limited data on predictors for asthma persistence. This prospective study characterized the trajectory of spirometric indices and identified predictors for the persistence of childhood asthma.

Methods

Chinese asthmatic children aged 6–15 years from pediatric allergy clinic underwent annual visits for ≥5 years and until their adulthood. Pre‐bronchodilator spirometry and anti‐asthma medications were recorded at baseline and then at least annually. Asthma resolution was defined when patients were free from asthma symptoms and use of anti‐asthma drugs for ≥2 years. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors for asthma persistence. Generalized estimating equation was used to analyze longitudinal changes in lung function parameters in relation to asthma persistence.

Results

181 asthmatic children aged [mean (SD)] 10.0 (2.7) years were followed for [mean (SD)] 12.5 (2.8) years. One third of them outgrew asthma during follow‐up. Female was 3.36 times more likely to have persistent asthma. Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment ever and frequent asthma exacerbation (AE) predicted asthma persistence with respective odds ratios of 3.19 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–7.09) and 3.05 (95% CI 1.39–6.68). Persistent asthma was inversely associated with baseline forced expiratory volume in 1‐second (FEV1%) with an odds ratio of 0.96 (95% CI 0.93–1.00). Throughout follow‐up, patients with persistent asthma had generally lower forced expiratory indices than those with asthma resolution. Children with persistent asthma experienced poorer lung function growth.

Conclusions

Female, ICS ever, and frequent AE predicted persistent asthma. Patients with persistent asthma had lower forced expiratory indices and poorer lung function growth into adulthood.
Ammonium and nitrate affect sexually different responses to salt stress in Populus cathayana
Authors: Liu Miao , Zhao Yang , Liu Xiucheng , Korpelainen Helena , Li Chunyang
Published: January 2022

Nitrogen (N) fertilization is a promising approach to improve salt tolerance. However, it is poorly known how plant sex and inorganic N alter salt stress‐induced Na+ uptake, distribution and tolerance. This study employed Populus cathayana Rehder females and males to examine sex‐related mechanisms of salt tolerance under nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) nutrition. Males had a higher root Na+ efflux, lower root‐to‐shoot translocation of Na+, and higher K+/Na+, which enhanced salt tolerance under both N forms compared to females. On the other hand, decreased root Na+ efflux and K+ retention, and an increased ratio of Na+ in leaves relative to shoots in females caused greater salt sensitivity. Females receiving NH4+ rather than NO3− had greater net root Na+ uptake, K+ efflux, and translocation to the shoots, especially in leaves. In contrast, males receiving NO3− rather than NH4+ had increased Na+ translocation to the shoots, especially in the bark, which may narrow the difference in leaf damage by salt stress between N forms despite a higher shoot Na+ accumulation and lower root Na+ efflux. Genes related to cell wall synthesis, K+ and Na+ transporters, and denaturized protein scavenging in the barks showed differential expression between females and males in response to salt stress under both N forms. These results suggested that the regulation of N forms in salt stress tolerance was sex‐dependent, which was related to the maintenance of the K+/Na+ ratio in tissues, the ability of Na+ translocation to the shoots, and the transcriptional regulation of bark cell wall and proteolysis profiles.
Forest restoration by direct seeding: a global bibliometric analysis
Authors: de Souza Diego C.
Published: January 2022

Direct seeding has been suggested to be a highly cost‐efficient system for forest restoration but is still not applied on a large scale worldwide. Thus, to improve the knowledge surrounding the application of this system, I conducted a global bibliometric analysis about forest restoration by direct seeding. Based on a literature search of three online databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar), I found 81 peer‐reviewed articles related to field experiments testing direct seeding for forest restoration. Each article was analyzed according to the following aspects: publication years, countries, continents, forest types, stages of restoration, journals, and authors. The results showed an increase in the number of articles published in recent years but a still low number of studies conducted to test the application of the system. These included field studies from a number of tropical and temperate countries worldwide, with a concentration of studies in Brazil and United States. Monitoring forests established by direct seeding is rare. A few researchers have paid special attention to the development of the field, and a few journals have published three or more articles on this topic. Overall, this study concludes that the application of direct seeding for forest restoration is a promising area for research, as the field is still little studied and has great potential to help achieve restoration goals. Furthermore, the results show trends and gaps that should be considered in future research to improve the application of direct seeding around the world.
Practical recommendations for considering culture, race, and ethnicity in personality psychology
Authors: Arshad Memoona , Chung Joanne M.
Published: January 2022

Personality science is the study of the individual. It aims to understand what makes people similar to others, different from some, and unique to themselves. However, there is room for research in personality to more thoughtfully consider culture, race, and ethnicity in order to better understand individual differences in people’s patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. High impact personality journals rarely include such factors into the interpretation of results, and cross‐cultural and ethnic minority publications are limited within the discipline. This article offers a brief, non‐exhaustive overview of how culture, race, and ethnicity are examined in relation to personality, showing that: (1) social structures continue to be neglected in the research, (2) we can learn from research being conducted in neighboring areas, and (3) valuable work is already being done within personality psychology. We offer recommendations that emphasize community based participatory research methods, combined etic‐emic approaches, and contextualizing research findings to improve the consideration of culture, race, and ethnicity in personality research.
A case for a national registry of red blood cell antibodies
Authors: Mathur Gagan , Wilkinson Matthew B. , Island Eddie R. , Menitove Jay E. , Tilzer Lowell
Published: January 2022

Background and Objectives

Red blood cell (RBC) antibody levels diminish over time and negative antibody screen are commonly seen in patients with a history of antibodies. Most hospitals do not have access to a shared registry of antibodies previously detected at other hospitals.

Materials and Methods

We describe a case where the patient was found to be at high risk of bleeding during liver transplantation. Antibody screen on admission was negative but a history of anti‐Jka was identified on reviewing patient's history in local registry of RBC antibodies. The surgery was pushed back to arrange for antigen‐negative units. The patient received a total of 16 Jk(a−) RBC units during the admission.

Results

No acute or delayed transfusion adverse reactions were seen. However, if the history of anti‐Jka identified at another local hospital was not known, approximately three‐quarters of the units transfused would have been Jk(a+). Transfusing Jk(a+) units could have potentially exposed the patient to risk of developing an acute and/or delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction which could have led to significant morbidity and perhaps mortality.

Conclusion

With this case report, we build a case for developing a national registry of RBC antibodies to help improve patient safety and outcomes.
Teaching evidence‐based practice: Knowledge to implementation in a BSN program, part 1
Authors: Ruppel Kelly J. , Bone Beverley A.
Published: January 2022

Background

Despite increased recognition for the importance of evidence‐based practice (EBP), nurses still identify a need for more education and skill‐building in the process used to provide evidence‐based care. Nurse educators play a vital role in addressing these needs. This article is part 1 of a two‐part series.

Aims

To describe an interactive learning process regarding EBP taught over two courses that allow students to not only appraise evidence but also implement evidence on a clinical unit. Part 1 focuses on course one, Evidence‐Based Practice, which takes place during junior year.

Methods

In course one, students learn about EBP steps 1–3. Faculty assign students to teams of three to four for an evidence‐based project. Project scenarios are written ahead of time by faculty, and student teams are given class time for project completion. After course completion, an anonymous survey was distributed to measure the student perceived achievement for the EBP learning objectives. Students responded to statements using a 5‐point Likert scale for level of agreement (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree) regarding achieving course objectives.

Results

The evidence‐based project culminated with a PowerPoint presentation to the class with recommendations for nursing practice based on the best evidence for the scenario they were provided. Eighty students responded to the evaluation survey, and mean scores were 4.0 or higher. This finding indicates that students had a high degree of perceived achievement.

Linking Evidence to Action

Interactive learning in teams promotes discussion and understanding of EBP and mimics real‐life EBP implementation. Implementing EBP steps should be tied to clinical scenarios or clinical situations to enhance student learning.