bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sexual harassment and psychological complaints: student- and class-level associations
Authors: Brolin Låftman S , Bjereld Y , Modin B , Löfstedt P
Published: October 2020

Background

Students who are subjected to sexual harassment at school report lower psychological well-being than those who are not exposed. Yet, it is possible that the occurrence of sexual harassment in the school class is stressful also for those who are not directly targeted, with potential negative effects on well-being for all students. The aim was to examine whether sexual harassment at the student- and at the class-level was associated with students' psychological complaints.

Methods

Data from the Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) of 2017/18 was used, with information from students aged 11, 13 and 15 years (n = 3,720 distributed across 209 classes). Psychological complaints were constructed as a summative index of four items capturing how often the student had felt low, felt irritable or bad tempered, felt nervous, or had difficulties to fall asleep, during the past six months (Cronbach's alpha=0.78). Sexual harassment at the student-level was measured by one item concerning bullying at school: “Other students have exposed me to sexual jokes”. Students who reported that this had happened at least “2 or 3 times a month” were classified as exposed to sexual harassment at school. Sexual harassment at the class-level was defined as the school class proportion of students exposed to sexual harassment, reported in per cent. Two-level linear regression analysis was applied.

Results

Students who had been exposed to sexual harassment had higher levels of psychological complaints (b = 2.74, p < 0.001). The proportion of students in the school class who had been exposed to sexual harassment was also associated with higher levels of psychological complaints, even when adjusting for sexual harassment at the student-level, gender and grade (b = 0.03, p = 0.015).

Conclusions

Sexual harassment is harmful for those who are exposed, but may also affect other students negatively. Thus, a school climate free from sexual harassment will profit all students.

Key messages

Using data collected among students aged 11, 13 and 15 years, this study showed that sexual harassment at the student- and class-level was associated with higher levels of psychological complaints. Sexual harassment is harmful for those who are exposed, but may also affect other students negatively. Thus, a school climate free from sexual harassment will profit all students.
Implications of violence experience in postpartum depression
Authors: Fraga D , Marabotti F , Leite Costa , de Cássia R , Lima Duarte , Carvalho Andrade M A , de Fátima E , Almei daLima M V , da Silva Cordeiro , de Brito Martins G , Ferreira B Heintze , Pacheco J , Barbosa Moreira , FernandesMagalhães F Bersot
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The violence against women is an exacerbating factor in public health that affects a third of the world's female population, and the intimate partner is the main perpetrator. Researches show the impact of violence in the victims' health, such as: postpartum depression (PPD). In this context, considering the importance and magnitude of the experience of violence and its impact on health, as well as depression negatively impacted on the health of the mother and baby, justify it to carry out this study.

Objective

To identify the prevalence of symptoms of PPD among puerperal women and to examine the association with violence experience.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study, performed with 330 puerperal women admitted to a municipal maternity hospital in Cariacica - State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Data collection was conducted by duly trained interviewers, using a form containing data on socioeconomic, behavioral and clinical characterization. In order to track violence acts, in life and in pregnancy, practiced by the intimate partner, we applied the World Health Organization instrument, which enables the identification of psychological, physical and sexual violence acts. The identification of the outcome under study, postpartum depression, was obtained by means of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The data collected were analyzed through the Stata 13.0 program, where the following tests were performed: Pearson chi-squared test and Poisson regression.

Results

a rate of 36.7% of participants (95% CI: 31.6-42.0) showed symptoms of postpartum depression. Women who experienced violence from their partners throughout their lives had 1.9 times more prevalence of symptoms of depression. Those who experienced aggression during pregnancy showed an increase of 38.0% of this illness (p = 0.037).

Conclusions

The data presented reveal the high prevalence of women with symptoms of PPD and that violence experience was associated with higher frequencies of this event.

Key messages

Women who experienced violence from their partners throughout their lives had 1.9 times more prevalence of symptoms of depression. The data presented reveal the high prevalence of women with symptoms of postpartum depression and that violence experience was associated with higher frequencies of this event.
The experiences of maternity in front of hospitalization in high risk pregnances
Authors: Ciciliotti da Silva M , Ferreira B Heintze , Santos D Fraga , Fernandes F , Magalhães Bersot , de Brito Martins G , Pacheco J , Barbosa Moreira , Ribeiro M , Riquieri Lira , da Cordeiro Silva M V , Duarte Lima R C , Carvalho Andrade M A
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The pregnancy-puerperal cycle is defined as a moment that involves physical, psychological and social changes. There are pregnancies that require specialized care and attention due to the presence of risk factors that may be prior to pregnancy and / or that may be associated with the pregnancy condition itself, which characterize them as high-risk pregnancies. Currently, prenatal care with risk stratification is the main care strategy for pregnant women, once the risk classification is identified, it is possible to promote interventions according to the health needs of each pregnant woman. For this, the risk assessment is carried out at each prenatal consultation, so that, depending on the course of pregnancy, hospitalization becomes necessary. The diagnosis of high-risk pregnancies accompanied by hospitalization has impacts on the woman's life, such as loss of autonomy, a sense of failure and the incidence of greater care and interventions by the health team and the family that can configure practices to control their bodies.

Objective

This work aims to identify the hospitalization process during high-risk pregnancy as a space for the production of projects, resistance and protagonism through the protocols and regulations that configure the hospital context.

Methodology

This is an exploratory analysis of a qualitative approach in public health. A reference maternity hospital in high-risk pregnancy located in a teaching hospital in Greater Vitória was chosen. It will be used to define sampling for convenience. The data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and on-site observations by the researcher. The data analysis methodology used will be content analysis.

Expected Results

It is expected to understand the various practices of protagonism and resistance that permeate the care of hospitalized pregnant women.

Key messages

This work has an impact on the improvement of the maternal and child care network of the public health system in Brazil. This work allows to evaluate the quality of the assistance provided in the public maternity.
Neural tube defects: how many cases could have been prevented in Portugal?
Authors: Braz P , Machado A , Kislaya I , Dias C M
Published: October 2020

Neural tube defects (NTD) occurs when the neural tube does not close properly until the 28th day of foetal life. About 70% of NTD can be prevent if women start folic acid (FA) before pregnancy and until the end of 1st trimester. Portugal has this primary prevention since 1998, however the secondary prevention of NTD with TOPFA is still high (80%). The aim of this study is to describe when FA intake was started and estimate the number of cases that would have be prevented if FA intake started before pregnancy as recommended.

A cross-sectional study using data from the National Registry of Congenital Anomalies between 2004-2017 was performed. The temporal evolution of the beginning of FA intake was analysed with Cochran-Armitage test for proportions. The proportion of preventable cases was estimated considering the 70% prevention fraction and the number of NTD cases registered in RENAC that occurred in pregnancies without the recommended FA supplementation.

On average, 13.8% of all women started FA before pregnancy, 46.2% during 1st trimester and 6.1% did not take folic acid. A statistically significant trend (p < 0.001) was observed in the group that started before pregnancy with increase from 6.8% in 2004 to 17.9% in 2017. The prevalence of NTD was 4.2 cases / 10,000 births, ranging from 2 cases / 10,000 births (2007) to 7 cases / 10,000 births (2014). Between women who had a pregnancy with NTD, 16.8% started FA before pregnancy, 42.2% in the 1st trimester and 9.7% did not take the supplement. If all women had started FA before pregnancy, an estimated 202 NTD cases could have been prevented.

In Portugal, the proportion of women who adhere to this measure is very low, similarly to other European countries, compromising the primary prevention of NTD. Perhaps due to the high percentage of TOPFA, the idea that this anomalies continue to affect our children has been lost. Primary prevention of NTDs should be encouraged with measures that promote FA supplementation.

Key messages

Primary prevention of NTD is possible. Proportion of women who adhere to primary prevention is low.
Maternal psychological distress during and after pregnancy and atopic dermatitis in children
Authors: Kawaguchi C , Murakami K , Obara T , Ishikuro M , Ueno F , Noda A , Kuriyama S
Published: October 2020

Background

Previous studies reported the association between maternal psychological distress (PD) during or after pregnancy and atopic dermatitis in children. However, studies examining the association from both pre- and post-natal aspects are limited.

Methods

We analysed data from 6,366 mother-child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study in Japan. Mothers were categorised into four groups of PD (K6 scores ≥5) during early pregnancy and one year after delivery; no PD in both periods, prenatal PD only, postnatal PD only, and PD in both periods. Mothers reported on their children's atopic dermatitis at age two using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between maternal PD and atopic dermatitis in children adjusting for maternal age at delivery, maternal education, maternal smoking during early pregnancy, maternal history of atopic diseases, paternal history of atopic diseases, preterm birth, parity, and child's sex.

Results

The study population included 51.9% without PD in both periods, 14.6% with prenatal PD only, 14.0% with postnatal PD only, and 19.4% with PD in both periods. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children at age two was 18.8%. Mothers with postnatal PD only and mothers with PD in both periods had higher risks of children's atopic dermatitis compared with mothers without PD in both periods; the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.37 (1.14-1.65) and 1.38 (1.17-1.63), respectively. The corresponding odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of mothers with prenatal PD only was 1.08 (0.89-1.31).

Conclusions

Postnatal PD was associated with an increased risk of atopic dermatitis in children. This finding suggests the importance for monitoring mental health among postpartum women.

Key messages

Postnatal PD has significant effects on atopic dermatitis in children. This study is a first study to examine the association between maternal PD and children’s atopic dermatitis in Japan. Improvements of postnatal care including social support might be effective in preventing atopic dermatitis in children.
A picture of the adolescents dietary habits in Tunisia
Authors: Sahli J , Limam M , Ghardallou M , Mellouli M , Mtiraoui A , Zedini C , Ajmi T
Published: October 2020

Background

Adolescence is one of the main growth periods of life during which dietary needs are specific and where diet quality is important for healthy development. Nonetheless, unhealthy eating behaviours are common among adolescents including over consumption of unhealthy fast food, sugar and fat and skipping meals. Exposure to unhealthy eating can lead to chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. In this context, we conducted this study to describe the quality of the diet of middle school students in the Region of Kairouan in Tunisia.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 among middle school students in the Region of Kairouan. Data collection was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

In this study, 494 students were included. In terms of food type, fast food meals (sandwiches) were the most preferred type of food (52.6%). Daily consumption of vegetables and fruit was reported by 48.8% of students. Among the participants, 46.8% reported daily consumption of olive oil. Daily water consumption was less than one liter for 32% of the college students. Daily coffee and/or tea consumption concerned 53.8% of respondents. In the current study, 39.3% of the students reported that they consume more than three meals per day and 26.7% declared that they often skip the breakfast. In our study, 62.8% of the participants had reported their dissatisfaction with their nutrition education, 54.9% sought to know the food composition and 57.9% reported that they have a willingness to adopt a healthy eating.

Conclusions

A quality and diversified diet can cover the specific nutritional needs of adolescents. A diet inspired by the Mediterranean food is to be encouraged. Further studies should be conducted among adolescents to evaluate the impact of a healthy and balanced diet on health and school achievement.

Key messages

The quality of diet of Tunisian adolescents is to be improved. Effective comprehensive programs for healthy lifestyle promotion are needed to improve the eating behaviour among Tunisian adolescents.
Differences for managing mother’s own milk for very preterm infants across 11 European countries
Authors: Rodrigues C , Zeitlin J , Wilson E , Toome L , Cuttini M , Maier R F , Pierrat V , Barros H
Published: October 2020

Background

There is an ongoing debate about the best practices to handle mother's own milk (MOM) for infants born very preterm (VPT, ≤32 weeks of gestation), specifically to prevent the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) transmission and bacterial contamination of expressed MOM. Thus, we aimed to compare practices for managing MOM for VPT infants in European neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods

Data were collected as part of the EPICE (Effective Perinatal Intensive Care in Europe) study which explored the use of evidence-based practices for the care of VPT infants in 11 European countries. Structured questionnaires were sent to the head of all participating NICUs with at least 10 VPT admissions. Of the eligible 135 NICUs, 134 replied.

Results

A written protocol for breastfeeding/human milk use was available in 91% of the NICUs. Overall, 34% used human bank milk for all VPT infants whose mothers did not express and 56% reported using fresh MOM without restrictions regarding minimum gestational age, birth weight or risk of HCMV transmission (country range: 0-100%). In 22% of units all VPT infants received MOM pasteurized (country range: 0-73%). HCMV serology on all mothers who express their milk was not required in 71% of units (country range: 7-100%). Among NICUs that performed HCMV serology, 3% provided untreated fresh MOM and 23.5% formula in the case of positive mothers. Systematic bacteriological analyses of MOM were not performed in 76% NICUs (country range: 29-100%) while less than 10% did it for the first milk feeding, 7% every week and 8% with another frequency.

Conclusions

There are large variations in managing MOM across countries, which could reflect differences in regulations or guidelines, and among the same country NICUs, revealing that different options can operate locally. This variability suggests substantial differences in attitudes about what constitutes best practices among European neonatologists.

Key messages

We found significant differences across and within European countries for managing MOM for VPT infants suggesting lack of strong recommendations at the international and national level. There is wide variation in what European neonatologists consider best practices. To guide practice and not jeopardise VPT infants from MOM we need strong evidence-based data.
Positive deviance in child malnutrition of urban poor of Mumbai, India: A longitudinal analysis
Authors: Yaddanapudi L , Dalal R , Agnihotri S B
Published: October 2020

Background

Maharashtra has the largest share of urban population in India (13.5%) and is home to the largest slums. Malnutrition rates in these settlements are very high due to insufficient feeding, poverty, poor water quality and sanitation. The Foundation for Mother and Child Health (FMCH) has been working on reducing malnutrition in the urban slums of Mumbai for about 14 years now. Longitudinal data (2014-2019) collected by them was used in this analysis.

Objectives

To analyze the nutritional status of children before and after the intervention of FMCH and identify underlying factors associated with positive deviance in them.

Methods

NFHS-4 urban data of the lowest wealth quintile was used to analyze nutritional status of urban poor in India. Primary data of 4634 children (age 0-5) from the slums of Mumbai was analyzed for nutritional status during baseline and end line using ENA software. Descriptive statistical methods and binary logistic regression model were applied on selected 1583 cases using SPSS.

Results

Malnutrition rates in these children were lesser than national averages until 2 years of age. From baseline to end line, 48% reduction was observed in wasting within the first 6 months of age. Binary logistic regression reveals that age at registration (Odds ratio, OR = 0.94, p-value=0.04) and area of residence (p-value=0.00) are two most significant factors contributing to positive deviance in the child's nutritional status. Another univariate logistic regression on categorized breastfeeding score reveals that a higher score results in higher odds (OR = 1.561, p-value=0.01) of positive deviance in nutritional status of the child.

Conclusions

Since the strategy in each area is different, the most successful strategy is thus identified. The importance of early identification and intervention for effective tackling of malnutrition is highlighted through this analysis. Also, the role of effective breastfeeding techniques has emerged to be extremely significant.

Key messages

Impacting over 4000 children, the right nutrition in the first 1000 days and regular monitoring resulted in almost 50% reduction in wasting. Effective breastfeeding techniques were found to be extremely significant in the improvement of child's nutritional status.
Equitable perinatal healthcare for migrants, Portugal: Comparative analysis of a self-assessment tool
Authors: Doetsch J , Almendra R , Carrapatoso M , Teixeira C , Barros H
Published: October 2020

Migration is seen as a common risk factor in obstetric management. Migrants often have a higher risk of experience worse pregnancy outcomes, higher rates of operative delivery, and a higher likelihood to receive less adequate postpartum care when compared to native women. This study evaluates self-perceived assessment of migrant women and hospital directors on equitable migrant friendly perinatal healthcare quality and access during intrapartum and postpartum period at public maternity units across Portuguese mainland between 2017-2019.

This cross-sectional study analyses perinatal health data from migrant women over 18 years giving birth in public maternity units from between April 2017 and March 2019 as part of the baMBINO project. Data on the assessments of maternity units' directors on equitable migrant friendly healthcare was collected in a self-assessment tool. Two standards on healthcare access and on healthcare quality were developed by: 1) scoring 25 and 30 questions, respectively, from 0 (worst) to 5 (best); 2) calculating the average of each score. The One-Sample Wilcoxon Test (non-parametric) was applied to compare the assessment of hospital directors with the migrant mothers and the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance to test for regional differences.

Significant differences between migrant woman and healthcare directors' assessments on migrant friendly healthcare access and quality of care were found. Directors rated healthcare access with a median score of 2.4, twice as good as migrant women (1.3). Migrant women rated healthcare quality with a median score of 4.0 (directors: 3.2). Significant differences between the regions for quality of care and healthcare access were found. Statistically significant difference between migrants from Portuguese and non-Portuguese speaking countries was identified for healthcare access (p-value < 0.001) and healthcare quality (p-value < 0.05).

Key messages

The need to guarantee equitable healthcare access and quality contemplates as a first step to overcome health inequalities for migrant women in Portugal. The comparison between patients and healthcare providers’ assessments assists in the understanding of existent barriers in access to health care and improves quality assurance.
Geometric decomposition, potential-based representation and integrability of non-linear systems
Authors: Guay M , Hudon N , Höffner K
Published: October 2020

This paper considers the problem of representing a sufficiently smooth non-linear dynamical [system] as a structured potential-driven system. The proposed method is based on a decomposition of a differential one-form associated to a given vector field into its exact and anti-exact components, and into its co -exact and anti-coexact components. The decomposition method, based on the Hodge decomposition theorem, is rendered constructive by introducing a dual operator to the standard homotopy operator. The dual operator inverts locally the co-differential operator, and is used in the present paper to identify the symplectic structure of the dynamics. Applications of the proposed approach to gradient systems, Hamiltonian systems and generalized Hamiltonian systems are given to illustrate the proposed approach. Finally, integrability conditions for generalized Hamiltonian systems are established using the proposed decomposition.
Use of machine learning in geriatric clinical care for chronic diseases: a systematic literature review
Authors: Choudhury Avishek , Renjilian Emily , Asan Onur
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Geriatric clinical care is a multidisciplinary assessment designed to evaluate older patients’ (age 65 years and above) functional ability, physical health, and cognitive well-being. The majority of these patients suffer from multiple chronic conditions and require special attention. Recently, hospitals utilize various artificial intelligence (AI) systems to improve care for elderly patients. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to understand the current use of AI systems, particularly machine learning (ML), in geriatric clinical care for chronic diseases.

Materials and Methods

We restricted our search to eight databases, namely PubMed, WorldCat, MEDLINE, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley, and ERIC, to analyze research articles published in English between January 2010 and June 2019. We focused on studies that used ML algorithms in the care of geriatrics patients with chronic conditions.

Results

We identified 35 eligible studies and classified in three groups: psychological disorder (n = 22), eye diseases (n = 6), and others (n = 7). This review identified the lack of standardized ML evaluation metrics and the need for data governance specific to health care applications.

Conclusion

More studies and ML standardization tailored to health care applications are required to confirm whether ML could aid in improving geriatric clinical care.
Associations between piglet umbilical blood hematological criteria, birth order, birth interval, colostrum intake, and piglet survival
Authors: Gourley Kiah M , DeRouchey Joel M , Tokach Mike D , Dritz Steve S , Goodband Robert D , Woodworth Jason C
Published: October 2020

A total of 656 pigs (623 live-born and 33 stillborn) from 43 sows were used to evaluate hematological criteria at birth and their association with piglet survival. At birth of each piglet, birth time and order within the litter, weight, umbilical cord status (intact or ruptured) and whether the pig was live-born or stillborn were recorded. A 200µL sample of blood from the umbilical cord was collected and immediately analyzed for concentrations of glucose, oxygen partial pressure (pO2), carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2), pH, base excess (BE), bicarbonate (HCO3), saturated oxygen (sO2), total carbon dioxide (TCO2), sodium, potassium, ionized calcium (iCa), hematocrit (Hct), and hemoglobin (Hb) on a hand held iStat portable clinical analyzer (iStat Alinity, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Princeton, NJ). Piglets were categorized into quartiles based on birth order and cumulative birth interval (CumBI). Live-born pigs had higher (P < 0.01) umbilical cord blood pH, HCO3, BE, sO2, TCO2, and birth weight compared with stillborn pigs, but lower (P < 0.01) pCO2, K, iCa, and glucose compared with stillborn pigs. Pigs with intact umbilical cords at birth were associated with higher (P < 0.01) blood pH, HCO3, BE, and TCO2 compared with piglets born with a ruptured umbilical cord. Pigs with intact umbilical cords were associated with lower (P < 0.01) Hct and Hb concentrations and born earlier (P < 0.01) in the birth order compared with pigs born with a ruptured umbilical cord. Pigs that did not survive to weaning had lower (P < 0.01) umbilical cord blood pH, HCO3, BE, sO2, TCO2, Na, glucose, and birth weight, and 24 hr weight compared with pigs alive at weaning. Pigs born in the first quartile for CumBI had higher (P <0.05) pH compared with pigs in the other three quartiles. Umbilical cord blood HCO3, BE, and TCO2 decreased (P <0.05) with each change in CumBI quartile from first to last. Blood glucose was lowest (P <0.05) in pigs born before 44 min and highest in pigs born after 164 min. Umbilical cord blood pH, HCO3, BE, TCO2, Na, glucose, Hct, and Hb were positively associated (P <0.001) with colostrum intake, indicating increased blood values resulted in higher colostrum intake. Although a pig may be live-born, their survival to 24 hr and to weaning is reduced when blood pH, HCO3, BE, and sO2 are lower reiterating the importance of management practices that can reduce the birth interval between pigs and the number of pigs experiencing moderate to severe hypoxia.
Trapping Failure Leads to Discovery of Potent Semiochemical Repellent for the Walnut Twig Beetle
Authors: Audley Jackson P , Dallara Paul L , Nelson Lori J , Hamud Shakeeb M , Bostock Richard M , Seybold Steven J
Published: October 2020

The walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis Blackman, and its associated fungal pathogen that causes thousand cankers disease, currently threaten the viability of walnut trees across much of North America. During a 2011 assessment of seasonal flight patterns of P. juglandis with yellow sticky traps baited with the male-produced aggregation pheromone component, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, dramatically reduced catches were recorded when Tree Tanglefoot adhesive was used to coat the traps. In summer 2011, two trap adhesives were tested for potential repellency against P. juglandis in a field trapping bioassay. SuperQ extracts of volatiles from the most repellent adhesive were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and limonene and α-pinene were identified as predominant components. In field-based, trapping experiments both enantiomers of limonene at a release rate of ~700 mg/d conferred 91–99% reduction in trap catches of P. juglandis to pheromone-baited traps. (+)- and (‒)-α-Pinene reduced trap catch by 40 and 53%, respectively, at the highest release rate tested. While a combination of R-(+)-limonene and (+)-α-pinene resulted in a 97% reduction in the number of P. juglandis caught, the combination did not consistently result in greater flight trap catch reduction than individual limonene enantiomers. The repellent effect of limonene may be valuable in the development of a semiochemical-based tool for management of P. juglandis and thousand cankers disease.
Low-Dose Aspirin in High-Risk Individuals With Screen-Detected Subsolid Lung Nodules: A Randomized Phase II Trial
Authors: Bonanni Bernardo , Serrano Davide , Maisonneuve Patrick , Veronesi Giulia , Johansson Harriet , Aristarco Valentina , Varricchio Clara , Cazzaniga Massimiliano , Lazzeroni Matteo , Rampinelli Cristiano , Bellomi Massimo , Vecchi Manuela , Spaggiari Lorenzo , Vornik Lana , Brown Powel H , Beavers Therese , Guerrieri-Gonzaga Aliana , Szabo Eva
Published: October 2020

Lung cancer screening by helical low-dose computed tomography detects nonsolid nodules that may be lung adenocarcinoma precursors. Aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties make it an attractive target for prevention of multiple cancers, including lung cancer. Therefore, we conducted a phase IIb trial (NCT02169271) to study the efficacy of low-dose aspirin to reduce the size of subsolid lung nodules (SSNs). A total of 98 current or former smokers (67.3% current) undergoing annual low-dose computed tomography screening with persistent SSNs were randomly assigned to receive aspirin 100 mg/day or placebo for 1 year. There was no difference in change in the sum of the longest diameters of target nodules in the placebo and aspirin arm after 12 months of treatment (-0.12 mm [SD = 1.55 mm] and +0.30 mm [SD= 2.54 mm], respectively; 2-sided P = .33 primary endpoint). There were no changes observed in subgroup analyses by individual characteristics or nodule type. One year of low-dose aspirin did not show any effect on lung SSNs. SSNs regression may not be the proper target for aspirin, and/or longer duration may be needed to see SSNs modifications.
Online psychosocial group intervention for parents: Positive effects on anxiety and depression
Authors: Douma Miriam , Maurice-Stam Heleen , Gorter Bianca , Krol Yvette , Verkleij Marieke , Wiltink Lianne , Scholten Linde , Grootenhuis Martha A
Published: October 2020

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of an online psychosocial group intervention for parents of children with a chronic illness, in terms of anxiety and depression, and disease-related coping skills.

Methods

Parents (N = 73) participated in a parallel multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing an intervention group to a waitlist control group. In the group intervention Op Koers Online (English: On Track Online) parents learned how to use adaptive coping strategies taught with cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy techniques. Assessments (online questionnaires) took place at baseline (T0), 6-months (T1), and 12-months (T2) follow-up. Mixed-model analyses were performed to test the difference in change in outcomes between intervention (N = 34) and waitlist control group (N = 33).

Results

When compared with the waitlist control group, the intervention had a significant positive effect (p < .05) on changes in anxiety, depression, and total score T1 versus T0 (β = −.47 to −.51) and T2 versus T0 (β = −.39 to −.46), the coping skills open communication, relaxation, social support, acceptance, predictive control (β = .42–.88) and helplessness (β = −.47) T1 versus T0 and relaxation and positive thinking T2 versus T0 (β = .42–.53).

Conclusions

Parental anxiety and depression decreased, and use of adaptive coping skills improved after the intervention. The online character, the focus on parents themselves instead of on their child and the possibility for parents of children with rare illnesses to participate, are innovative and unique aspects of Op Koers Online for parents. The next step is to implement the intervention in clinical practice.
Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Caused by Maternal Autoantibody with Mimicking Anti-E Specificity
Authors: Chen Xueni , Feng Jing , Jiang Yongmei
Published: October 2020

Objective

There are few reports of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) caused by maternal autoantibodies.

Methods

We describe the case of a pregnant patient aged 26 years with systemic lupus erythematosus without any transfusion history who developed autoantibody with mimicking anti-E specificity. Her newborn developed HDFN caused by the maternal autoantibody.

Results

The clinical symptoms of the newborn were not serious. After bilirubin light phototherapy and other symptomatic supportive treatment, the baby was discharged with a good prognosis.

Conclusion

This is the first reported case of HDFN caused by maternal autoantibody with mimicking anti-E specificity. However, the real antigenic target of the autoantibody was not clear.
Dark matter simulations with primordial black holes in the early Universe
Authors: Tkachev Maxim V , Pilipenko Sergey V , Yepes Gustavo
Published: October 2020

Primordial black holes (PBH) with masses of order $10\!-\!30 \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ have been proposed as a possible explanation of the gravitational waves emission events recently discovered by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). If true, then PBHs would constitute a sizeable fraction of the dark matter component in the Universe. Using a series of cosmological N-body simulations that include both dark matter and a variable fraction of PBHs ranging from fPBH = 10−4 to fPBH = 1, we analyse the processes of formation and disruption of gravitationally bound PBH pairs, as well as the merging of both bound and unbound pairs, and estimate the probabilities of such events. We show that they are in good agreement with the constrains to the PBH abundance obtained by the LIGO and other research groups. We find that pair stability, while being a main factor responsible for the merger rate, is significantly affected by the effects of dark matter halo formation and clustering. As a side result, we also evaluate the effects of numerical errors in the stability of bound pairs, which can be useful for future research using this methodology.
Ancient DNA Suggests Single Colonization and Within-Archipelago Diversification of Caribbean Caviomorph Rodents
Authors: Woods Roseina , Barnes Ian , Brace Selina , Turvey Samuel T
Published: October 2020

Reconstructing the evolutionary history of island biotas is complicated by unusual morphological evolution in insular environments. However, past human-caused extinctions limit the use of molecular analyses to determine origins and affinities of enigmatic island taxa. The Caribbean formerly contained a morphologically diverse assemblage of caviomorph rodents (33 species in 19 genera), ranging from ∼0.1 to 200 kg and traditionally classified into three higher-order taxa (Capromyidae/Capromyinae, Heteropsomyinae, and Heptaxodontidae). Few species survive today, and the evolutionary affinities of living and extinct Caribbean caviomorphs to each other and to mainland taxa are unclear: Are they monophyletic, polyphyletic, or paraphyletic? We use ancient DNA techniques to present the first genetic data for extinct heteropsomyines and heptaxodontids, as well as for several extinct capromyids, and demonstrate through analysis of mitogenomic and nuclear data sets that all sampled Caribbean caviomorphs represent a well-supported monophyletic group. The remarkable morphological and ecological variation observed across living and extinct caviomorphs from Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and other islands was generated through within-archipelago evolutionary radiation following a single Early Miocene overwater colonization. This evolutionary pattern contrasts with the origination of diversity in many other Caribbean groups. All living and extinct Caribbean caviomorphs comprise a single biologically remarkable subfamily (Capromyinae) within the morphologically conservative living Neotropical family Echimyidae. Caribbean caviomorphs represent an important new example of insular mammalian adaptive radiation, where taxa retaining “ancestral-type” characteristics coexisted alongside taxa occupying novel island niches. Diversification was associated with the greatest insular body mass increase recorded in rodents and possibly the greatest for any mammal lineage.
GIMICA: host genetic and immune factors shaping human microbiota
Authors: Tang Jing , Wu Xianglu , Mou Minjie , Wang Chuan , Wang Lidan , Li Fengcheng , Guo Maiyuan , Yin Jiayi , Xie Wenqin , Wang Xiaona , Wang Yingxiong , Ding Yubin , Xue Weiwei , Zhu Feng
Published: October 2020

Besides the environmental factors having tremendous impacts on the composition of microbial community, the host factors have recently gained extensive attentions on their roles in shaping human microbiota. There are two major types of host factors: host genetic factors (HGFs) and host immune factors (HIFs). These factors of each type are essential for defining the chemical and physical landscapes inhabited by microbiota, and the collective consideration of both types have great implication to serve comprehensive health management. However, no database was available to provide the comprehensive factors of both types. Herein, a database entitled ‘Host Genetic and Immune Factors Shaping Human Microbiota (GIMICA)’ was constructed. Based on the 4257 microbes confirmed to inhabit nine sites of human body, 2851 HGFs (1368 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 186 copy number variations (CNVs), and 1297 non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs)) modulating the expression of 370 microbes were collected, and 549 HIFs (126 lymphocytes and phagocytes, 387 immune proteins, and 36 immune pathways) regulating the abundance of 455 microbes were also provided. All in all, GIMICA enabled the collective consideration not only between different types of host factor but also between the host and environmental ones, which is freely accessible without login requirement at: https://idrblab.org/gimica/
LitCovid: an open database of COVID-19 literature
Authors: Chen Qingyu , Allot Alexis , Lu Zhiyong
Published: October 2020

Since the outbreak of the current pandemic in 2020, there has been a rapid growth of published articles on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2, with about 10 000 new articles added each month. This is causing an increasingly serious information overload, making it difficult for scientists, healthcare professionals and the general public to remain up to date on the latest SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 research. Hence, we developed LitCovid (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/coronavirus/), a curated literature hub, to track up-to-date scientific information in PubMed. LitCovid is updated daily with newly identified relevant articles organized into curated categories. To support manual curation, advanced machine-learning and deep-learning algorithms have been developed, evaluated and integrated into the curation workflow. To the best of our knowledge, LitCovid is the first-of-its-kind COVID-19-specific literature resource, with all of its collected articles and curated data freely available. Since its release, LitCovid has been widely used, with millions of accesses by users worldwide for various information needs, such as evidence synthesis, drug discovery and text and data mining, among others.
La Franja d’Aragó and Sigena: Ecclesiastical Property Disputes in Spain
Authors: Zambrana-Tévar Nicolás
Published: October 2020

The disputes of La Franja and Sigena oppose various ecclesiastical entities as well as several Spanish regional authorities, span several centuries, and concern ecclesiastical goods of enormous cultural value. The dispute has led to numerous rulings by ecclesiastical courts and Spanish courts, including civil courts, administrative courts, and the Constitutional Court. The different proceedings are a good example of the interaction between canon law norms and state law norms, as well as of the relevance of ecclesiastical court rulings within a state legal system. The dispute also shows the sensitivity with which cultural property disputes must be dealt with for religious as well as for political reasons and why it is not wise to let internal disputes within a religious group be handled by secular authorities.
The Middle East and Peaceful Change
Authors: Kacowicz Arie M. , Press-Barnathan Galia
Published: October 2020

The Middle East is often considered a war zone, and it rarely comes to mind as a region that includes cases of peaceful change. Yet several examples of peaceful change can be identified at different levels of analysis: international, regional, interactive, and domestic. This chapter first critically examines the impact of the broader global/systemic level of analysis on the prospects for peaceful change. It then moves to examine the regional level of analysis, exploring the Kurdish question and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a central axis of change, the role of the Arab League, and the case of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The chapter then examines the interactive, bilateral level of analysis, exploring peaceful territorial change in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, with reference to the successful Israeli-Egyptian negotiations of 1977–1979 and the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process since 1993. Next, it explores the domestic level of analysis, focusing on domestic politics, the nature of ruling coalitions, and the implications of the domestic turmoil of the Arab Spring. The last section draws conclusions from each level of analysis, with implications about the prospects for peaceful change in the region.
Ritual Objects and Artifacts
Authors: Bonfiglio Ryan P.
Published: October 2020

This chapter surveys material objects in the Old Testament associated with worship and ritual activities, including the ark, altars, wash basins, tables, lampstands, and items deemed to be illicit (idols, sacred poles, pillars, and the bronze serpent). Special emphasis is given to the material form of these objects as well as how they function in ritual processes, activate sensory experience, and/or make available the presence and power of the deity. Attention is also given to the theological systems that undergird the material dimensions of Israelite religion, including aniconism, Deuteronomistic cult reforms, and the construction and operation of the tabernacle and temple.
Envisioning Pedagogical Possibilities of Social Media and Sonic Participatory Cultures
Authors: Tobias Evan S.
Published: October 2020

Contemporary society is rich with diverse musics and musical practices, many of which are supported or shared via digital and social media. Music educators might address such forms of musical engagement to diversify what occurs in music programs. Realizing the possibilities of social media and addressing issues that might be problematic for music learning and teaching calls for conceptualizing social media in a more expansive manner than focusing on the technology itself. Situating people’s social media use and musical engagement in a larger context of participatory culture that involves music and media may be fruitful in this regard. We might then consider the potential of social media and musical engagement in participatory cultures for music learning and teaching. This chapter offers an overview of how people are applying aspects of participatory culture and social media in educational contexts. Building on work in media studies, media arts, education, and curricular theory, the chapter develops a framework for translating and recontextualizing participatory culture, musical engagement, and social media in ways that might inform music pedagogy and curriculum. In this way, it may help music educators move from an awareness of how people engage with and through music and social media in participatory culture to an orientation of developing related praxis.
Sociopolitical Cleavages in Israel
Authors: Ram Uri
Published: October 2020

This chapter sketches the evolution of the cleavages perspective in Israel and offers a sociohistorical overview of four major cleavages in Israeli society: the national one between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs, the cultural one between secular and religious Jews, the socioeconomic (or class) one between rich and poor, and the ethnic one between Ashkenazi Jews and Mizrahi Jews (or “Westerners” versus “Orientals”). The discussion highlights the measure of coalescence among the cleavages and their compound political impact. It underscores the role played by the cleavages in the “upheaval” transition of governmental power in 1977, from Left (Labor) to Right (Likud), and in the consolidation of a neoliberal and a neocolonial political culture in Israel since that time.
The Integrated Stress Response in Memory and Cognitive Disorders
Authors: Mays Jacqunae L. , Costa-Mattioli Mauro
Published: October 2020

The integrated stress response (ISR) is an evolutionarily conserved intracellular signaling network that responds to proteostasis defects and stress conditions by tuning protein synthesis rates. While it has been long recognized that long-term memory formation requires new protein synthesis, our understanding of the central translational control mechanisms that regulate memory formation has advanced vastly. Indeed, novel causal and convergent evidence across different species and model systems shows that the ISR serves as a universal regulator of long-term memory formation. This chapter discusses the evidence explaining how inhibition of the ISR enhances long-term memory formation while activation of the ISR prevents it. In addition, it highlights the role of the ISR in different forms of long-lasting synaptic plasticity in the brain. Finally, the chapter addresses how dysregulated ISR signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of a wide range of cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders and discusses the future prospects for therapeutically targeting the ISR for the treatment of cognitive disorders.
RNA-Binding Proteins and Translation in Neurodegenerative Disease
Authors: Duncan Kent E.
Published: October 2020

Both RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and translation are increasingly implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, but their specific roles in promoting disease are not yet fully defined. This chapter critically evaluates the evidence that altered translation of specific mRNAs mediated by RNA-binding proteins plays an important role in driving specific neurodegenerative diseases. First, diseases are discussed where a causal role for RNA-binding proteins in disease appears solid, but whether this involves altered translation is less clear. The main foci here are TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Subsequently, diseases are presented where altered translation is believed to contribute, but involvement of RNA-binding proteins is less clear. These include Huntington’s and other repeat expansion disorders such as fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), where repeat-induced non-AUG-initiated (RAN) translation is a focus. The potential contribution of both canonical and non-canonical RBPs to altered translation in Parkinson’s disease is discussed. The chapter closes by proposing key research frontiers for the field to explore and outlining methodological advances that could help to address them.