bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in diabetes self‐management education: where are we coming from and where are we going? A narrative review
Authors: Hermanns N. , Ehrmann D. , Finke‐Groene K. , Kulzer B.
Published: February 2020

Aims

To summarize the history, development and efficacy of diabetes self‐management education on glycaemic control and mental health in adults and children or adolescents with type 1 diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes. A further aim was to review the status of implementation of diabetes self‐management education into routine care and outline current gaps in implementation and research.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Google scholar for German‐ and English‐language articles regarding diabetes self‐management education, glycaemic control and mental health, and restricted this search to meta‐analyses.

Results

Diabetes education has evolved from a compliance‐ and knowledge‐oriented approach to an empowerment‐ and self‐management‐oriented approach. Diabetes self‐management education seems to have a greater impact on glycaemic outcomes than on mental health outcomes, but the latter are rarely assessed. Technological development and digitalization can provide chances and challenges for diabetes self‐management education. Digital solutions show promising results and great potential for improving the efficacy of diabetes self‐management education further and providing ongoing support. The implementation of diabetes self‐management education into routine clinical care frequently remains a challenge.

Conclusion

Diabetes self‐management education has been acknowledged as an essential part of diabetes therapy; however, current gaps regarding the efficacy of diabetes self‐management education on mental health, and the need for education on the use of diabetes technology, are future avenues for research.
Fatigue‐life prediction of additively manufactured material: Effects of heat treatment and build orientation
Authors: Yadollahi Aref , Mahmoudi Mohamad , Elwany Alaa , Doude Haley , Bian Linkan , Newman James C.
Published: February 2020

In this study, the crack‐growth approach is used to predict the fatigue life of 17‐4 precipitation hardening (PH) stainless steel (SS) fabricated via an additive manufacturing (AM) system in different orientations (ie, vertical and horizontal) before and after heat treatment. To perform fatigue‐life calculations, the effective stress intensity factor as a function of crack‐growth rate was obtained from testing modified compact specimens with different crack orientations in as‐built and heat‐treated conditions. The plasticity‐induced crack closure model, FASTRAN, was used to calculate fatigue lives based on the size of process‐induced defects. Results indicated that in the presence of large voids (ie, lack‐of‐fusion defects), the total fatigue life of AM 17‐4 PH SS in as‐built and heat‐treated conditions is dominated by crack growth. Effect of build orientation on fatigue life of AM 17‐4 PH SS was also captured based on the size of defects projected on a plane perpendicular to the loading direction.
Invasive species and biotic homogenization in temperate aquatic plant communities
Authors: Muthukrishnan Ranjan , Larkin Daniel J.
Published: February 2020

Aim

Biotic homogenization (BH), a reduction in the distinctness of species composition between geographically separated ecological communities in a region, is an important but underappreciated potential consequence of biological invasions. While BH theory has always considered invasions, it has generally been in a relatively narrow context that the cosmopolitan nature of invasive species increases BH because of their shared presence across many locations. We sought to evaluate this component of BH as well as broader effects of invasive species on BH through changes in native communities, including overall reductions in species richness or shifts in species composition.

Location

Minnesota, USA.

Time period

2002–2014.

Major taxa studied

Aquatic macrophytes, including both vascular plants and attached macroalgae.

Methods

We used surveys of aquatic macrophyte communities from 1,102 shallow lakes in Minnesota, USA (including 248 lakes with repeated surveys) to evaluate relationships between invasion, native species and BH.

Results

We found that the presence of invasive species was associated with BH and that this pattern was reflected in both the total community (i.e., with invasive species included) and in the composition of the native species community alone. We found that invaded lakes were more compositionally similar to each other than uninvaded lakes, but that both groups were becoming more similar over time—despite neither group exhibiting declines in species richness. This pattern was largely driven by shifts in the native community itself, with common species becoming more widespread and rare species becoming rarer.

Main conclusions

Invasive species increase measures of community similarity through their own presence in multiple locations, and also by influencing the composition of native species. These patterns have important implications for conservation and management and suggest that BH should be considered more widely in evaluating the impacts of biological invasions and developing response strategies.
Frequent emergency department use by older adults with ambulatory care sensitive conditions: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Dufour Isabelle , Chiu Yohann , Courteau Josiane , Chouinard Maud‐Christine , Dubuc Nicole , Hudon Catherine
Published: February 2020

Aim

To identify factors associated with frequent emergency department (ED) use among older adults with ambulatory care sensitive conditions.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study using databases from the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec. We included community‐dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in the Province of Quebec (Canada), who consulted in ED at least once between 2012 and 2013 (index period), and were diagnosed with at least one ambulatory care sensitive condition in the 2 years preceding and including the index date (n = 264 473). We used a multivariate logistic regression model to evaluate the association between independent variables and being a frequent geriatric ED user, defined as four or more visits during the year after the index date.

Results

Out of the total study population, 17 332 (6.6%) individuals were considered frequent ED users in the year after the index date, accounting for 38% of ED uses for this period. The main variables associated with frequent geriatric ED use were older age, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or diabetes, higher comorbidity index, common mental health disorders, polypharmacy, higher number of past ED and specialist visits, rural residence, and higher material and social deprivation. Dementia was inversely associated with frequent ED use.

Conclusions

Frequent geriatric ED users constitute a complex population whose characteristics need to be managed thoroughly in order to enhance the quality and efficiency of their care. Further studies should address their description in administrative databases so as to combine self‐perceived and professionally evaluated variables. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 317–323.
Attitudes of pharmacy and non-pharmacy students towards mental illness in Nigeria: a comparative survey
Authors: Anosike Chibueze , Ukwe Chinwe Victoria , Oparah Azuka Cyriacus
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Globally, persons with mental illness are victims of stigma, even among healthcare professionals and trainees. However, in Nigeria, little is known about the attitudes of pharmacy students towards people with mental illness. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were to assess and compare the attitudes of pharmacy and non-pharmacy students towards mental illness and explore its associated demographic factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among pharmacy and selected non-pharmacy students of a Nigerian university. The Attitude Scale for Mental Illness was used for data collection. The survey instrument was distributed to and completed by selected students in batches after normal class lectures. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and Student’s t-test were used for data analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Key findings

The key findings showed that pharmacy and non-pharmacy students generally demonstrated positive attitudes towards mental illness. Pharmacy students had more positive, less stigmatizing attitudes compared with students of non-pharmacy courses. Students' attitudes towards mental illness were significantly influenced by gender, age, a previous visit to a mental hospital and knowing a family member or friend with a mental illness.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that students' attitudes towards mental illness were positive but sub-optimal. Student pharmacists demonstrated more positive attitudes towards mental illness compared with non-pharmacy students. However, the major contributors to positive attitudes were male gender, older age, a previous visit to a mental hospital and having a close associate with a mental illness. Therefore, educational interventions addressing students’ misconceptions of mental illness are recommended.
A proximity‐based image‐processing algorithm for colloid assignment in segmented multiphase flow datasets
Authors: BRUECK C.L. , WILDENSCHILD D.
Published: February 2020

Colloidal transport and deposition are of both environmental and engineering importance. Easier access to x‐ray microtomography (XMT) coupled with improved imaging resolution has made XMT a unique and viable tool for visualizing and quantifying these processes. Currently, there is scant information in the literature addressing colloid segmentation and analysis in saturated and unsaturated porous media, in particular related to spatial partitioning of colloids. To support this need, an approach to assign segmented colloidal particles and aggregates to different partitioning classes based on their proximity to different phases is presented here. The method uses different markers for each attachment site (e.g. wetting‐nonwetting phase interfaces). An example XMT dataset from a drainage experiment is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the image processing algorithms. Flow conditions, and fluid and colloid properties, can thus be compared to the behaviour of colloids within the porous medium. This algorithm can help elucidate colloidal deposition mechanisms and the importance of different attachment sites, explore the importance of fluid properties, as well as the arrangement and shape of the colloids.
Cloning and functional testing of rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) IL‐9 and IL‐33
Authors: Sarkar Sanghita , Hessell Ann J. , Haigwood Nancy L. , Kobie James J.
Published: February 2020

Background

IL‐9 and IL‐33 can profoundly influence immune responses. As a necessary first step toward defining their impact in the rhesus macaque model, we confirmed their endogenous expression and sequence identity and generated expression vectors for the recombinant expression of rhesus IL‐9 and IL‐33.

Methods

RT‐PCR and Sanger sequencing was used to define the expression and sequences for rhesus IL‐9 and IL‐33. The resulting recombinant cytokines were tested by ELISA and proliferation assays.

Results

Full‐length rhesus IL‐9 and the mature form of rhesus IL‐33 share 78% and 73% nucleotide similarity, respectively, with humans. Both cytokines are expressed in lymphocytes, with IL‐9 expression also evident in CD4+ T cells. Recombinantly expressed rhesus IL‐9 and IL‐33 were each biologically active in vitro, including enhancing the proliferation of a rhesus B cell line.

Conclusions

The recombinant rhesus IL‐9 and IL‐33 constructs produce biologically active cytokines that can act upon rhesus B cells.
Illness Perceptions, Coping Strategies, and Quality of Life in People With Multiple Chronic Conditions
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Yang Cong‐Yan , Inder Kerry , Chan Sally Wai-Chi
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To determine whether illness perceptions, coping strategies, and sociodemographic and clinical variables are related to the quality of life (QoL) in adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) living in China.

Design

By employing a cross‐sectional design based on the transactional stress and coping theory, a convenience sample of adults with MCCs were recruited from a university‐affiliated hospital between November 2017 and May 2018 in Northern Anhui, China.

Methods

A self‐reported questionnaire, including the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced inventory, and the Short Form Survey version 2, was administered. Sociodemographic and clinical data regarding MCCs were also collected. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, standard deviations, and correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship between illness perceptions, coping, and QoL. Hierarchical multiple regression models were used to identify variables associated with physical and mental QoL.

Findings

A total of 351 participants (50% male) were recruited, with a mean age of 58.9 years (SD = 14.6). Of the participants, 83% had two chronic conditions. Participants reported impaired physical and mental QoL when compared with the general population in China. Poorer QoL was correlated with stronger illness perceptions of consequences and timeline and increased use of denial and disengagement and self‐blame. Increasing age and more chronic conditions were associated with worse QoL. A higher education level was significantly associated with better physical and mental QoL.

Conclusions

This study found that adults with MCCs living in China experienced impaired QoL. The strong relationship found between the participants’ perceptions of MCCs, coping strategies, and QoL suggested that healthcare professionals should recognize the physical and psychological impacts of MCCs and address the significance of adaptations to MCCs in future treatment programs. The findings will help healthcare professionals design more specific interventions to modify illness perceptions and enhance certain coping strategies to improve the QoL of people with MCCs. Healthcare professionals can mobilize available resources from healthcare and social systems to enhance people’s coping and adaptation to MCCs.

Clinical Relevance

With an understanding of the illness perceptions of people with MCCs, healthcare professionals could offer information related to consequences, timeline, and personal control to enable better alignment between people’s expectations and their actual situations. By knowing people’s coping strategies, healthcare professionals can offer additional support to people who prefer strategies of denial and disengagement and self‐blame.
What is the nursing time and workload involved in taking and recording patients’ vital signs? A systematic review
Authors: Dall’Ora Chiara , Griffiths Peter , Hope Joanna , Barker Hannah , Smith Gary B
Published: February 2020

Aims and objectives

To synthesise evidence regarding the time nurses take to monitor and record vital signs observations and to calculate early warning scores.

Background

While the importance of vital signs’ monitoring is increasingly highlighted as a fundamental means of maintaining patient safety and avoiding patient deterioration, the time and associated workload involved in vital signs activities for nurses are currently unknown.

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

A literature search was performed up to 17 December 2019 in CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library using the following terms: vital signs; monitoring; surveillance; observation; recording; early warning scores; workload; time; and nursing. We included studies performed in secondary or tertiary ward settings, where vital signs activities were performed by nurses, and we excluded qualitative studies and any research conducted exclusively in paediatric or maternity settings. The study methods were compliant with the PRISMA checklist.

Results

Of 1,277 articles, we included 16 papers. Studies described taking vital signs observations as the time to measure/collect vital signs and time to record/document vital signs. As well as mean times being variable between studies, there was considerable variation in the time taken within some studies as standard deviations were high. Documenting vital signs observations electronically at the bedside was faster than documenting vital signs away from the bed.

Conclusions

Variation in the method(s) of vital signs measurement, the timing of entry into the patient record, the method of recording and the calculation of early warning scores values across the literature make direct comparisons of their influence on total time taken difficult or impossible.

Relevance to clinical practice

There is a very limited body of research that might inform workload planning around vital signs observations. This uncertainty means the resource implications of any recommendation to change the frequency of observations associated with early warning scores are unknown.
Effects of the dietary inclusion of a probiotic or prebiotic on florfenicol pharmacokinetic profile in broiler chicken
Authors: Elgeddawy Samy A. , Shaheen Hazem M. , El‐Sayed Yasser S. , Abd Elaziz Magdy , Darwish Ashraf , Samak Dalia , Batiha Gaber E. , Mady Rehab A. , Bin‐Jumah May , Allam Ahmed A. , Alagawany Mahmoud , Taha Ayman E. , El‐Mleeh Amany , El‐Sayed Sabry A. A. , Abd El‐Hack Mohamed E. , Elnesr Shaaban S.
Published: February 2020

We evaluated the effect of prebiotic or probiotic as feed additives on florfenicol kinetic in broilers feed. Unsexed two hundred, thirty‐five‐day‐old broiler chickens, were put in four equal groups (n = 50). The first group was administrated florfenicol intravenous at 30 mg/kg body weight (BW) only once dosage without pre‐ or probiotic administration to determine the bioavailability. While, the second group was administrated florfenicol (intracrop routes; a dosage of 30 mg/kg BW for five progressive days) without pre‐ or probiotic co‐administration. The third and the fourth groups were administrated the same dose of florfenicol (intracrop route) for five successive days, followed by 10 days of prebiotic or probiotic treatment respectively. The plasma florfenicol % was identified by high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) after the first florfenicol administration (intravenous or intracrop routes) in all groups. Then, the residual levels of florfenicol were determined in liver, kidney and muscle tissues from the second, third and fourth groups which were exposed to florfenicol orally. Our results demonstrated that broilers pre‐treated with prebiotic or probiotic significantly increased Cmax, AUC0–t, AUC0–inf as well as AUMC values, while significant drop was recorded in V/F and CL/F. Prebiotic or probiotic influenced the cumulative effect of florfenicol in liver and kidney tissues of treated birds.
Perception of creaminess in foods
Authors: Upadhyay Rituja , Aktar Tugba , Chen Jianshe
Published: February 2020

Food texture and mouthfeel play a crucial role in product and consumer acceptability. Creaminess, enjoyed by consumers, is a complex, multimodal sensory perception involving olfactory, gustatory and tactile cues. Oral viscosity and lubrication are the key underlying physical properties that define the mechanism of creaminess perception. Thickness, smoothness, mouth‐coating, and dairy flavor can together play roles in the sensation of creaminess. The aim of this review is to present an understanding of the term” creaminess” along with different modalities involved in its perception, and to explore the oral physiological parameters and key physical properties that may be involved in the different oral modalities. An analysis of the previously examined links between food structure and composition and oral physiological parameters is presented. The review also presents a brief summary of previous models describing contributions of taste, aroma, and textural sensations. It emphasizes on the role of oral processing in testing proposed models with experimental evidence supporting those models and the future trends to enhance creaminess.
Agreement of stall‐side and laboratory major crossmatch tests with the reference standard method in horses
Authors: Fenn Melissa S. , Bortsie‐Aryee Araba D. , Perkins Gillian A. , Mann Sabine , Tomlinson Joy E. , Wood Emma M. , Mix Susan E. , Stokol Tracy
Published: February 2020

Background

Crossmatching is used to prevent life‐threatening transfusion reactions in horses. Laboratory methods are laborious and technically challenging, which is impractical during emergencies.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Evaluate agreement between a stall‐side crossmatch kit (KIT) and a laboratory method (LAB) in horses with known and unknown blood types.

Animals

Twenty‐four blood‐typed and alloantibody‐screened healthy adult horses (Aim 1) and 156 adult horses of unknown blood type (Aim 2).

Methods

Prospective, blinded study. Expected positive (n = 35) and negative (n = 36) crossmatches among 24 antibody and blood‐typed horses were used to determine sensitivity and specificity of KIT and LAB against the reference method. Agreement in 156 untyped horses was evaluated by reciprocal crossmatch (n = 156).

Results

Sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI]) for LAB and KIT compared with expected reactions was 77.1% (59.9%‐90.0%) and 91.4% (77.0%‐98.2%), and specificity 77.8% (60.9%‐89.9%) and 73.5% (55.6%‐87.1%), respectively. The KIT was 100% sensitive for Aa reactions; LAB was 100% sensitive for Qab; and both were 100% sensitive for Ca. Cohen's κ agreement for LAB and KIT with expected positive and negative reactions (n = 71) was moderate (0.55 [0.36‐0.74]) and substantial (0.65 [0.47‐0.82]), respectively. Agreement was fair comparing LAB with KIT in Aim 1 (0.30 [0.08‐0.52]) and in untyped horses in Aim 2 (0.26 [0.11‐0.41]).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Agreement between KIT and LAB with expected reactions was blood type dependent. Performance of both methods depends on blood type prevalence.
Exploratory evaluation of the effects of Kelpak® seaweed extract on cultivated kelp Saccharina spp. exposed to sublethal and lethal temperatures
Authors: Umanzor Schery , Shin Sookkyung , Yarish Charles , Augyte Simona , Kim Jang K.
Published: February 2020

Kelpak® is a seaweed extract from the phaeophyte, Ecklonia maxima, used to enhance growth and production of terrestrial plants. It is also beneficial for some red and green seaweeds. As such, we assessed if Kelpak® could enhance growth and thermal tolerance of the brown seaweeds, Saccharina latissima and S. angustissima. Juvenile sporophytes were dipped (30 or 60 min) in Kelpak® solutions of different concentrations (0.001, 0.005, 0.05, 1, and 5 ml L−1). These sporophytes were then cultivated in half‐strength PES at different temperatures (12, 16, 19, 23 and 25°C ± 1) for 20 days. The surviving sporophytes were then moved to 18 ± 1°C and cultivated for 14 additional days. Results show that temperature was the main factor driving survival and growth. Both species exposed to the temperatures of 23 and 25°C died during the first 7 days. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in growth of sporophytes at the temperatures of 12 and 16°C. Results also show that treated sporophytes exposed to 18°C, the sublethal temperature, particularly of S. angustissima showed a higher survival and overall vigor than nontreated sporophytes. These results indicate that Kelpak® may enhance thermal tolerance and growth of S. latissima and S. angustissima exposed to sublethal temperatures.
Corals in the hottest reefs in the world exhibit symbiont fidelity not flexibility
Authors: Howells Emily J. , Bauman Andrew G. , Vaughan Grace O. , Hume Benjamin C. C. , Voolstra Christian R. , Burt John A.
Published: February 2020

Reef‐building corals are at risk of extinction from ocean warming. While some corals can enhance their thermal limits by associating with dinoflagellate photosymbionts of superior stress tolerance, the extent to which symbiont communities will reorganize under increased warming pressure remains unclear. Here we show that corals in the hottest reefs in the world in the Persian Gulf maintain associations with the same symbionts across 1.5 years despite extreme seasonal warming and acute heat stress (≥35°C). Persian Gulf corals predominantly associated with Cladocopium (clade C) and most also hosted Symbiodinium (clade A) and/or Durusdinium (clade D). This is in contrast to the neighbouring and milder Oman Sea, where corals associated with Durusdinium and only a minority hosted background levels of Cladocopium. During acute heat stress, the higher prevalence of Symbiodinium and Durusdinium in bleached versus nonbleached Persian Gulf corals indicates that genotypes of these background genera did not confer bleaching resistance. Within symbiont genera, the majority of ITS2 rDNA type profiles were unique to their respective coral species, confirming the existence of host‐specific symbiont lineages. Notably, further differentiation among Persian Gulf sites demonstrates that symbiont populations are either isolated or specialized over tens to hundreds of kilometres. Thermal tolerance across coral species was associated with the prevalence of a single ITS2 intragenomic sequence variant (C3gulf), definitive of the Cladocopium thermophilum group. The abundance of C3gulf was highest in bleaching‐resistant corals and at warmer sites, potentially indicating a specific symbiont genotype (or set of genotypes) that may play a role in thermal tolerance that warrants further investigation. Together, our findings indicate that co‐evolution of host–Symbiodiniaceae partnerships favours fidelity rather than flexibility in extreme environments and under future warming.
Towards a sensorimotor approach to flavour and smell
Authors: Millar Becky
Published: February 2020

Sensorimotor enactivism takes perceptual experience to be constituted by a kind of attunement to sensorimotor contingencies – law‐like relations between sensory inputs and bodily activity. The chemical senses have traditionally been construed as especially simple and passive, and a number of philosophers have argued that flavour and smell are problem cases for the sensorimotor approach. In this article, I respond to these objections to the sensorimotor approach, and in doing so offer the beginnings of a sensorimotor account of the chemical senses.
Beyond “unwinding”: Constitutional review strategies in consociations
Authors: Gal Andras
Published: February 2020

This article contributes to the emerging literature on the role of constitutional courts in consociational democracies. While most works have approached the topic from the perspective of regime dynamics, this analysis focuses on how courts relate to the constitutions they are mandated to enforce. Beyond addressing the empirical question of what choices courts make in their balancing between universal values and stability, this article also investigates how courts do this balancing. Through the analysis of seven cases from two consociations, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland, I argue that courts embrace specific interpretive approaches (proportionality analysis, purposive interpretation, and the political question doctrine) to reconcile the ideas of constitutional supremacy and respect for political agreements. The analysis also demonstrates how—by their nature political—framework agreements establishing consociational settlements become primary reference points for interpreting constitutional documents.
Mapping nursing practices in rehabilitation units in Spain and the United Kingdom: A multiple case study
Authors: Granel Nina , Bernabeu‐Tamayo Maria Dolors
Published: February 2020

Because of the crisis in the health sector with few employment opportunities, many Spanish nurses are looking for professional development abroad. No studies have mapped nursing practices across Europe. The aim of this research was to provide a comprehensive approach to understand nursing practices and features of the context in Spain and the United Kingdom within the rehabilitation unit and to discuss those practices from a patient safety point of view. Multiple case study design with thematic analysis was applied in this study. The methods for data collection were in‐depth interviews, nonparticipant observations, and document analysis. Results were classified into six categories: resources, techniques and nursing procedures, patients' personal care, health education, documentation task, and attitudes and communication skills. This study concludes that differences exist between nursing practices despite both countries having similar nursing competences. In addition, the UK unit has a positive safety culture, recognizes that mistakes happen, and applies more barriers to avoid them. The study provides valuable information to help the decision‐making process for Spanish nurses considering working in the UK.
Combined GWAS and eQTL analysis uncovers a genetic regulatory network orchestrating the initiation of secondary cell wall development in cotton
Authors: Li Zhonghua , Wang Pengcheng , You Chunyuan , Yu Jiwen , Zhang Xiangnan , Yan Feilin , Ye Zhengxiu , Shen Chao , Li Baoqi , Guo Kai , Liu Nian , Thyssen Gregory N. , Fang David D. , Lindsey Keith , Zhang Xianlong , Wang Maojun , Tu Lili
Published: February 2020

The cotton fibre serves as a valuable experimental system to study cell wall synthesis in plants, but our understanding of the genetic regulation of this process during fibre development remains limited.

We performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and identified 28 genetic loci associated with fibre quality in allotetraploid cotton. To investigate the regulatory roles of these loci, we sequenced fibre transcriptomes of 251 cotton accessions and identified 15 330 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL).

Analysis of local eQTL and GWAS data prioritised 13 likely causal genes for differential fibre quality in a transcriptome‐wide association study (TWAS). Characterisation of distal eQTL revealed unequal genetic regulation patterns between two subgenomes, highlighted by an eQTL hotspot (Hot216) that established a genome‐wide genetic network regulating the expression of 962 genes. The primary regulatory role of Hot216, and specifically the gene encoding a KIP‐related protein, was found to be the transcriptional regulation of genes responsible for cell wall synthesis, which contributes to fibre length by modulating the developmental transition from rapid cell elongation to secondary cell wall synthesis.

This study uncovered the genetic regulation of fibre‐cell development and revealed the molecular basis of the temporal modulation of secondary cell wall synthesis during plant cell elongation.
Hot drought reduces the effects of elevated CO2 on tree water‐use efficiency and carbon metabolism
Authors: Birami Benjamin , Nägele Thomas , Gattmann Marielle , Preisler Yakir , Gast Andreas , Arneth Almut , Ruehr Nadine K.
Published: February 2020

Trees are increasingly exposed to hot droughts due to CO2‐induced climate change. However, the direct role of [CO2] in altering tree physiological responses to drought and heat stress remains ambiguous.

Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) trees were grown from seed under ambient (421 ppm) or elevated (867 ppm) [CO2]. The 1.5‐yr‐old trees, either well watered or drought treated for 1 month, were transferred to separate gas‐exchange chambers and the temperature gradually increased from 25°C to 40°C over a 10 d period. Continuous whole‐tree shoot and root gas‐exchange measurements were supplemented by primary metabolite analysis.

Elevated [CO2] reduced tree water loss, reflected in lower stomatal conductance, resulting in a higher water‐use efficiency throughout amplifying heat stress. Net carbon uptake declined strongly, driven by increases in respiration peaking earlier in the well‐watered (31–32°C) than drought (33–34°C) treatments unaffected by growth [CO2]. Further, drought altered the primary metabolome, whereas the metabolic response to [CO2] was subtle and mainly reflected in enhanced root protein stability.

The impact of elevated [CO2] on tree stress responses was modest and largely vanished with progressing heat and drought. We therefore conclude that increases in atmospheric [CO2] cannot counterbalance the impacts of hot drought extremes in Aleppo pine.
Gut microbiota‐derived metabolite trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) potentially increases the risk of obesity in adults: An exploratory systematic review and dose‐response meta‐ analysis
Authors: Dehghan Parvin , Farhangi Mahdieh Abbasalizad , Nikniaz Leila , Nikniaz Zeinab , Asghari‐Jafarabadi Mohammad
Published: February 2020

It has been suggested that trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) is associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. However, it is not known whether increased TMAO concentrations is associated with obesity. In the current study, we summarized the evidence related to the association of circulating TMAO with the risk of obesity measurements, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) in a two‐class and dose‐response meta‐analysis of observational studies. A systematic search carried out in PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane, and ProQuest through September 30, 2019 resulted in 12 eligible studies which were included in the current meta‐synthesis. In these studies, BMI was reported but there were no reports of WC or WHR. Meta‐analysis of two‐class variables and dose‐response meta‐analysis of continuous variables were performed. Subgroup analysis and meta‐regression were also performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. There was a dose‐response association between circulating TMAO concentration and increased BMI in studies involving healthy individuals (P nonlinearity = .007), while no evidence of departure from linearity was observed according to study design or among patients with CVD. Results showed the highest category of TMAO was associated with 0.56 kg/m2 increase in BMI (weighted mean difference [WMD], 0.563; CI, 0.026‐1.100; P = .04). The results of the current meta‐analysis revealed a positive association between circulating TMAO and obesity as presented by increased BMI. Moreover, a dose‐dependent association between circulating TMAO and obesity was also identified in apparently healthy individuals. This is the first meta‐analysis to reveal positive dose‐dependent associations between circulating TMAO concentration and obesity.
Policy design and public support for carbon tax: Evidence from a 2018 US national online survey experiment
Authors: Dolšak Nives , Adolph Christopher , Prakash Aseem
Published: February 2020

Public support for policy instruments is influenced by perceptions of how benefits and costs are distributed across various groups. We examine different carbon tax designs outlining different ways to distribute tax revenues. Using a national online sample of 1,606 US respondents, we examine support for a $20/ton carbon tax that is: (1) revenue neutral: revenue is returned to citizens via tax cuts; (2) compensation‐focused: revenue is directed to helping actors disproportionately hurt by the tax; (3) mitigation‐focused: revenue funds projects reducing carbon emissions; and (4) adaptation‐focused: revenue is directed to enhancing community resilience to extreme weather events. We find devoting revenue to mitigation raises overall support for carbon tax by 6.3 per cent versus the control (54.9 per cent) where no information on spending is provided. Other frames raise support in specific subgroups only. Revenue neutrality raises support among lower‐income households (+6.6 per cent) and political independents (+9.4 per cent), while compensation increases support among lower‐income repondents (+6.1 per cent).
Antihistamines: ABC for the pediatricians
Authors: Parisi Giuseppe Fabio , Licari Amelia , Papale Maria , Manti Sara , Salpietro Carmelo , Marseglia Gian Luigi , Leonardi Salvatore
Published: February 2020

Antihistamines are currently one of the most commonly administered drugs in children. They are used to treat symptoms that depend on histamine release, namely allergic diseases, such as rhinitis, asthma, urticaria, and anaphylaxis. It is possible to distinguish first‐ and second‐generation antihistamines. Pharmacological effects and therapeutic indications are similar, but second‐generation antihistamines have fewer adverse effects because they are more selective for peripheral H1 receptors. Although they have been on the market for several years, there are still many adverse effects linked to the antihistamine safety profile, especially in the first years of life. Thus, many antihistamines are prescribed off‐label, especially in children younger than 2 years of age, which is the age‐group where most of the data on drug safety are lacking and many antihistamines are not recommended. This article aims to provide a practical update on the use of antihistamines in children.
Vitamin D in pediatric health and disease
Authors: Peroni Diego G. , Trambusti Irene , Di Cicco Maria Elisa , Nuzzi Giulia
Published: February 2020

Several scientific societies established that vitamin D (VD), in its metabolized form 25(OH)D, levels higher than 20 ng/mL are sufficient to ensure optimal bone health, while 25(OH)D levels higher than 30 ng/mL are needed to favor VD extraskeletal actions. However, it has been estimated that approximately 30% of children and 60% of adults worldwide are VD deficient and insufficient, respectively. This is the reason why it is important to provide a practical approach to VD supplementation for infants, children, and adolescents. It is the pediatrician's role to evaluate the modifiable lifestyle risk factors for deficiency, particularly a reduced sun exposure, following an evidence‐based approach, and to suggest VD supplementation only when there is a rational reason to support its use.
Recurrent respiratory infections between immunity and atopy
Authors: Cuppari Caterina , Colavita Laura , Miraglia Del Giudice Michele , Chimenz Roberto , Salpietro Carmelo
Published: February 2020

Recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) are frequent in children and are characterized by more than 6 airway infections in 1 year or more than 1 upper airway infection per month in the period between September and April or more than 3 lower airway infections in 1 year. Often pediatric RRIs are related to predisposing factors, such as reduced airway size, poor tussive reflex, and immaturity of the immune system. RRIs due to immature immune system are a transient condition, with spontaneous resolution in the school age. However, some RRIs are expression of more complex diseases. Red flags are the onset of symptoms in the first year of life, the involvement of other systems, unusual pathogens, slowing of growth, severe infections of the lower airways, and recurrence of the infection site. To help the pediatrician in the RRI differential diagnosis, we have created a roadmap based on scientific literature data and clinical practice that identifies 6 macro areas: immunodeficiencies, simple minimal genetic immunodeficiency, atopy, obesity, nutritional deficiencies, autoinflammatory diseases, and complex diseases.
Severe asthma: When to resort to biological agents
Authors: Tenero Laura , Rossignoli Sara , Piacentini Giorgio
Published: February 2020

Asthmatic children usually reach good control of symptoms with a low‐medium dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), but approximately 5% has severe asthma. In this group of patients, when the diagnosis of severe asthma is confirmed, biologic agents have to be considered when there is no control of the symptoms despite conventional treatment with controllers according to guidelines. At present, the only biologic agent available in clinical practice for severe asthma treatment in children (6‐18 years) is omalizumab. Mepolizumab has been recently approved by EMA for pediatric use. Reslizumab is a monoclonal antibody anti–IL‐5 that has been approved for severe eosinophilic asthma treatment only in patients >12 years. Because of their action on specific molecular targets of the asthma pathophysiology, biologic agents are very promising therapeutic options for severe asthmatic patients based on individual endotypes.
Rotavirus vaccines in clinical development: Current pipeline and state‐of‐the‐art
Authors: Sartorio Marco Ugo Andrea , Folgori Laura , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Mameli Chiara
Published: February 2020

Rotavirus (RV) disease is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, especially in children under 5 years of age. The introduction of the two oral rotavirus vaccines Rotarix® and RotaTeq® has shown significant reductions in RV‐related mortality, severe RV disease, and hospitalizations. However, some barriers, including a reduced efficacy in low‐income countries, safety issues regarding the intussusception risk, age restrictions on vaccine use, the live‐attenuated nature itself, and the substantial vaccine costs, currently restrict the full potential of RV disease prevention. Therefore, research is now focusing on the implementation of new oral vaccines and the development of parenteral vaccines to overcome these limits. This review provides an overview of the new rotavirus vaccines in clinical development and the ongoing clinical trials on new RV vaccines in the pediatric age.
Severe asthma in children: Current goals and unmet needs
Authors: Licari Amelia , Manti Sara , Chiappini Elena , Ciprandi Giorgio , Marseglia Gian Luigi
Published: February 2020

Severe asthma in children is considered a complex and heterogeneous disease. A multidisciplinary assessment is required to correctly identify and manage these children because they potentially need close monitoring and additional treatment with advanced targeted therapies. Recent research efforts focused on the identification of epidemiologic, clinical, and functional characteristics of the disease in the pediatric age. Novel findings on the molecular mechanisms underlying severe asthma have led to the recognition of different endotypes and related biomarkers able to predict the response to advanced biologic therapies. Progress in our knowledge of severe asthma has occurred with the introduction of biologic therapies. Future goals in asthma care include the identification of the links between phenotypes and endotypes, as well as the identification of novel predictive biomarkers. They will help to select candidates for innovative biologic therapies and ultimately improve outcomes in children with severe asthma.
What is the role of putrescine accumulated under potassium deficiency?
Authors: Cui Jing , Pottosin Igor , Lamade Emmanuelle , Tcherkez Guillaume
Published: February 2020

Biomarker metabolites are of increasing interest in crops since they open avenues for precision agriculture, whereby nutritional needs and stresses can be monitored optimally. Putrescine has the potential to be a useful biomarker to reveal potassium (K+) deficiency. In fact, although this diamine has also been observed to increase during other stresses such as drought, cold or heavy metals, respective changes are comparably low. Due to its multifaceted biochemical properties, several roles for putrescine under K+ deficiency have been suggested, such as cation balance, antioxidant, reactive oxygen species mediated signalling, osmolyte or pH regulator. However, the specific association of putrescine build‐up with low K+ availability in plants remains poorly understood, and possible regulatory roles must be consistent with putrescine concentration found in plant tissues. We hypothesize that the massive increase of putrescine upon K+ starvation plays an adaptive role. A distinction of putrescine function from that of other polyamines (spermine, spermidine) may be based either on its specificity or (which is probably more relevant under K+ deficiency) on a very high attainable concentration of putrescine, which far exceeds those for spermidine and spermine. putrescine and its catabolites appear to possess a strong potential in controlling cellular K+ and Ca2+, and mitochondria and chloroplasts bioenergetics under K+ stress.
Advances and uncertainties in compliance measures for users from the Nagoya Protocol in the European Union
Authors: Movilla Pateiro Laura
Published: February 2020

The Nagoya Protocol developed the legal regime for the access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization that were already enshrined in the Convention on Biological Diversity, and introduced binding rules on compliance. With its Regulation 511/2014 adopted in 2014, the European Union (EU) – the second most important geographical area in the global biotechnology market – has developed and sought to harmonize the compliance and monitoring measures for users from the Nagoya Protocol in the EU territory. This article presents and assesses the progress made in this recent EU legal field, including the challenges in the form of several uncertainties that still lie ahead.
Work Conditions, Social Incorporations, and Foodborne Diseases Risk: Reflections About the (Non)Compliance of Food Safety Practices
Authors: de Freitas Rayane Stephanie Gomes , da Cunha Diogo Thimoteo , Stedefeldt Elke
Published: February 2020

The number of foodborne diseases has increased in all continents, and efforts must be made to control this urgent and expressive public health problem. This article aims to present and discuss situations related to the compliance and noncompliance of food safety practices (FSPs) in light of Bourdieu's social theory. This qualitative study was conducted in commercial restaurants in two cities in São Paulo, Brazil. Participant observation was used in the restaurants, and notes referring to the kitchen workers and their bosses’ work processes were registered in field journals. Thematic type content analysis was used to determine the meaning cores of field journals. It was found that aspects inherent to convenience and haste at work, deficient infrastructure, lack of employees, negative boss examples, exposure to noise, and body pain experienced by workers can contribute to noncompliance of FSPs and consolidate in the habitus and practical sense some dispositions that can increase the risk of foodborne diseases. This study highlights the necessity of creating environments that address food safety, which means being able to perform a service properly.
If You Build It Nearby and Keep the Price Low, Will They Come? Large‐Scale Evidence on the Relative Roles of Access and Quality in Use of Healthcare in Low‐and Middle‐Income Countries
Authors: Wilson Nicholas
Published: February 2020

Health policy reform often emphasises improving access to healthcare. Recent studies highlight the role healthcare quality plays in determining which health providers individuals use and health outcomes. Yet, there is little standardised large‐scale evidence on the importance of quality of care relative to access in determining healthcare use. This paper examines the relative roles of access and quality in whether individuals seek healthcare and how these vary with socioeconomic status in a sample of over 250,000 national household survey respondents from low‐ and middle‐income countries. My results suggest that quality is as large a barrier as access. Among quality barriers, drug availability is as large a barrier as provider availability. Analyses of the barriers‐socioeconomic status gradients indicate that the quality‐SES gradient is much less steep than the access‐SES gradient, highlighting that increasing incomes may not be sufficient to address quality barriers and that supply‐side interventions may be necessary.