bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Turnout Decline in Norway and Sweden: A Generation of Apathy or Alienation?
Authors: Valgarðsson Viktor Orri
Published: November 2019

Voter turnout has been in a trend of gradual decline in most established democracies in recent decades and the reasons for this are by no means fully understood. While most studies agree that the trend is largely driven by younger generations voting less than older cohorts, the individual‐level mechanisms of their declining propensity to vote are still disputed. A major distinction in the literature on democratic developments is that between theories of political apathy and political alienation: whether citizens are less interested in politics or still interested but instead estranged from their political systems. An interesting test for these different explanations can be found in Scandinavia: While Norway and Sweden have intimate historical, political and cultural similarities, Norway has been experiencing gradual turnout decline, while there has been no clear overall trend in Sweden. This study uses a combined dataset of over 50.000 respondents from 31 national election studies in these two countries from 1956–2013 to test the relative roles of apathy, alienation and generational dynamics in explaining these different trends in turnout. The results indicate that apathy has been declining while alienation has been rising in both countries. However, in Norway, those who are more apathetic today are much less likely to vote than apathetic citizens were in the past. The youngest generations are also significantly more apathetic and less likely to vote in Norway than in Sweden. These dynamics appear to account for the larger trend of turnout decline in Norway.
The multiple population genetic and demographic routes to islands of genomic divergence
Authors: Quilodrán Claudio S. , Ruegg Kristen , Sendell‐Price Ashley T. , Anderson Eric C. , Coulson Tim , Clegg Sonya M.
Published: November 2019

The way that organisms diverge into reproductively isolated species is a major question in biology. The recent accumulation of genomic data provides promising opportunities to understand the genomic landscape of divergence, which describes the distribution of differences across genomes. Genomic areas of unusually high differentiation have been called genomic islands of divergence. Their formation has been attributed to a variety of mechanisms, but a prominent hypothesis is that they result from divergent selection over a small portion of the genome, with surrounding areas homogenized by gene flow. Such islands have often been interpreted as being associated with divergence with gene flow. However, other mechanisms related to genomic structure and population history can also contribute to the formation of genomic islands of divergence.

We currently lack a quantitative framework to examine the dynamics of genomic landscapes under the complex and nuanced conditions that are found in natural systems. Here, we develop an individual‐based simulation to explore the dynamics of diverging genomes under various scenarios of gene flow, selection and genotype–phenotype maps.

Our modelling results are consistent with empirical observations demonstrating the formation of genomic islands under genetic isolation. Importantly, we have quantified the range of conditions that produce genomic islands. We demonstrate that the initial level of genetic diversity, drift, time since divergence, linkage disequilibrium, strength of selection and gene flow are all important factors that can influence the formation of genomic islands. Because the accumulation of genomic differentiation over time tends to erode the signal of genomic islands, genomic islands are more likely to be observed in recently divergent taxa, although not all recently diverged taxa will necessarily exhibit islands of genomic divergence. Gene flow primarily slows the swamping of islands of divergence with time.

By using this framework, further studies may explore the relative influence of particular suites of events that contribute to the emergence of genomic islands under sympatric, parapatric and allopatric conditions. This approach represents a novel tool to explore quantitative expectations of the speciation process, and should prove useful in elucidating past and projecting future genomic evolution of any taxa.
Validation and Evaluation of the Core Nursing Outcomes Evaluation System for Inpatients with Stroke
Authors: Hou Shuxiao , Zhang Heli , Li Baohua , Luo Yongmei , Han Zhiying , Shang Shaomei
Published: November 2019

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the reliability, validity, responsiveness, importance, and application level of the Core Nursing Outcomes Evaluation System for inpatients with stroke.

METHODS

The reliability, validity, responsiveness, importance, and application level were evaluated by expert scoring, clinical measurement, and questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

The scale‐level content validity index (S‐CVI) and item‐level content validity index (I‐CVI) were >0.8. The scoring of intraclass coefficient of all indicators was >0.600 (p < .001). There were significant differences in the total scores among patients with different severities (p < .001). Compared with total scores at admission, the total scores at discharge were significantly improved (p < .01). The importance and application level scores of all indexes are >4.5 points.

CONCLUSION

The system has higher reliability, validity, responsiveness, and importance, but the application of each dimension is disproportionate. Stroke is an acute cerebrovascular disease characterized by cerebral ischemia and hemorrhagic injury. Epidemiological findings revealed that stroke is the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the world (Feigin et al., 2014). Epidemiological survey of 600,000 people in China showed that the prevalence of stroke has been increasing over the past 30 years (Sun & Wang, 2018). At present, stroke has become the first cause of death among Chinese residents (Wang, 2018; Zhou et al., 2016). In surviving patients with stroke, more than 60% of patients had different degrees of neurological dysfunction (Wang, Liu, Yang, Peng, & Wang, 2018), about 40% of them had severe disabilities (You & Wu, 2016). About 60% of first onset stroke patients were associated with higher risk of recurrence (Wang et al., 2018). With increasing age, the global burden of stroke is becoming heavier and heavier (Johnston, Mendis & Mathers, 2009). In 2015, the cost of stroke treatment in China reached about 29.2 billion RMB, bringing heavy economic burden to families as well as society (Ma, 2018). From the above data, we deduced that stroke has characteristics of high prevalence rate, high disability rate, high mortality rate, and high recurrence rate. It is one of the important causes of death and disability, seriously threatening human health and has become an important public health problem faced by Chinese society currently.
Conceptual challenges to the harm threshold
Authors: Taylor Maggie
Published: November 2019

Children are presumptively regarded as incompetent to make their own medical decisions, and the responsibility for making such decisions typically falls to parents. Parental authority is not unlimited, however, and ethical guidelines identifying appropriate bounds on this authority are needed. One proposal currently gaining support is the harm threshold (HT), which asserts that the state may only legitimately intervene in parental decision‐making when serious and preventable harm to children is likely. This paper considers two questions: in virtue of what underlying principle or property does the HT gain its purported justification?; and does this underlying principle or property ground the HT as its proponents conceive of it? I identify two separate grounds represented in the literature: (a) J.S. Mill’s Harm Principle; and (b) the liberty interests of parents. I find that the HT is not sufficiently grounded in either of these, revealing a substantial conceptual difficulty for its advocates.
Modelling changes in anxiety and depression during low‐intensity cognitive behavioural therapy: An application of growth mixture models
Authors: McDevitt‐Petrovic Orla , Shevlin Mark , Kirby Karen
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Research largely supports the clinical effectiveness of low‐intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LICBT) for mild‐to‐moderate anxiety and depression, delivered by psychological well‐being practitioners (PWPs). Knowledge regarding the predictors of treatment response, however, is relatively limited. The primary aim of this study was to model the heterogeneity in longitudinal changes in anxiety and depression throughout LICBT provided by PWPs in Northern Ireland (NI), and to explore associations between pre‐treatment variables and differences in treatment response.

Methods

Growth mixture modelling (GMM) techniques were employed to examine changes in psychological status in clients (N = 253) over the first six sessions of treatment, to identify divergent early response trajectories. A series of pre‐treatment variables were used to predict class membership using chi‐square tests and binary logistic regression models.

Results

There was one class representing improvement and one representing no improvement for both anxiety and depression. Class membership was predictive of treatment outcome. Pre‐treatment variables associated with less improvement included unemployment, risk of suicide, neglect of self or others, using medication, receiving previous or concurrent treatments, a longer duration of difficulties, and comorbidities.

Conclusions

Findings indicate most of the sample populated an ‘improvers’ class for both depression and anxiety. Pre‐treatment variables identified as predictive of poor treatment response may need to be considered by practitioners in potential triage referral decision policies, supporting cost‐effective and efficient services. Further research around predictors of clinical outcome is recommended.

Practitioner points

Most of the sample belonged to an ‘improvers’ class.

Several pre‐treatment variables predicted poor treatment response (unemployment, suicide risk, neglect, medication, previous or concurrent treatments, longer duration of difficulties, and comorbidities).

Few studies have utilized GMM to determine predictors of outcome following LICBT

Regarding pre‐treatment variables, the possibility of self‐report bias cannot be excluded.

The time period was relatively short, although represented the optimum number of sessions recommended for LICBT.

The lack of a control group and random allocation were the main limitations.
Improved survival after offspring donor transplant compared with older aged‐matched siblings for older leukaemia patients
Authors: Wang Yu , Liu Qi‐Fa , Wu De‐Pei , Xu Lan‐Ping , Liu Kai‐Yan , Zhang Xiao‐Hui , Lu Sheng‐Ye , Ma Xiao , Huang Fen , Huang Xiao‐Jun
Published: November 2019

Donor selection for older leukaemia patients undergoing haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is not well defined: outcomes might be improved with a younger offspring donor rather than an older human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched sibling donor (MSD). We extended our multicentre dataset. A total of 185 acute leukaemia patients (≥ 50 years) transplanted in first complete remission who received HCT from offspring (n = 62) or MSD (n = 123) were included. A 1:1 ratio matched‐pair analysis was performed. We were able to match 54 offspring with 54 MSD patients. Outcomes were compared between the two matched‐pair groups. The cumulative incidence of grade II/IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) (26% vs. 35%; P = 0·23) and chronic GVHD (37% vs. 24%; P = 0·19) was comparable between groups (MSD vs. offspring). The lower three‐year transplant‐related mortality (9% vs. 26%; P = 0·023) and relapse incidence (6% vs. 17%; P = 0·066) resulted in higher overall survival (85% vs. 58%; P = 0·003) and leukaemia‐free survival (LFS) (85% vs. 56%; P = 0·001) in offspring HCT compared with that in MSD HCT. These data might favour a young offspring over an older MSD in patients >50 years. The current analyses confirm that non‐HLA donor characteristics, such as kinship and donor age, rather than HLA disparity, predominantly influence survival in older acute leukaemia patients.
Expression of Concern: Neuroanatomical correlates of the inhibition of tremulous jaw movements in rats by a combination of memantine and Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol
Authors: Ionov Ilya D. , Pushinskaya Irina I. , Frenkel David D. , Gorev Niсholas P. , Shpilevaya Larissa A.
Published: November 2019

Background and Purpose

Memantine and marijuana smoking have been found to inhibit tremor in parkinsonian patients, although the observed effects were relatively weak. The tremorolytic effects of combinations of memantine and cannabinoids have not been studied. Here, we have evaluated the anti‐tremor activity of memantine, Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) given alone and of their combination. The involvement of some neuroanatomical structures in the effects of the combination was evaluated.

Experimental Approach

Haloperidol‐induced tremulous jaw movements (TJMs) in rats were used as a model of parkinsonian‐like tremor. To evaluate the role of central receptor systems in the drug effects, receptor ligands were administered locally into certain brain areas.

Key Results

Memantine and THC alone were without effect, although co‐administration of these drugs decreased the number of haloperidol‐induced jaw movements. The anti‐tremor activity of the combination was antagonized (a) by injections of l‐glutamate into the dorsal striatum, entopeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra pars reticulata, globus pallidus, and supratrigeminal and trigeminal motor nuclei but not into the subthalamic and cuneiform nuclei; (b) by injections of CGS 21680 into the ventrolateral striatum; and (c) by injections of bicuculline into the rostral part of the parvicellular reticular nucleus.

Conclusions and Implications

Memantine and THC supra‐additively inhibit haloperidol‐induced TJMs, suggesting that co‐administration of these drugs might be a new approach to the treatment of tremor. Our results identified brain areas influencing parkinsonian‐like tremor in rats and can help advance the development of novel treatments for repetitive involuntary movements.
International evaluation of circumferential resection margins after rectal cancer resection: insights from the Swedish and Dutch audits
Authors: Detering R. , Saraste D. , de Neree tot Babberich M. P. M. , Dekker J. W. T. , Wouters M. W. J. M. , van Geloven A. A. W. , Bemelman W. A. , Tanis P. J. , Martling A. , Westerterp M. ,   the Swedish ColoRectal Cancer Registry and the Dutch ColoRectal Audit
Published: November 2019

Aim

This study aimed to determine predictive factors for the circumferential resection margin (CRM) within two northern European countries with supposed similarity in providing rectal cancer care.

Method

Data for all patients undergoing rectal resection for clinical tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage I–III rectal cancer were extracted from the Swedish ColoRectal Cancer Registry and the Dutch ColoRectal Audit (2011–2015). Separate analyses were performed for cT1–3 and cT4 stage. Predictive factors for the CRM were determined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

A total of 6444 Swedish and 12 089 Dutch patients were analysed. Over time the number of hospitals treating rectal cancer decreased from 52 to 42 in Sweden, and 82 to 79 in the Netherlands. In the Swedish population, proportions of cT4 stage (17% vs 8%), multivisceral resection (14% vs 7%) and abdominoperineal excision (APR) (37% vs 31%) were higher. The overall proportion of patients with a positive CRM (CRM+) was 7.8% in Sweden and 5.4% in the Netherlands. In both populations with cT1–3 stage disease, common independent risk factors for CRM+ were cT3, APR and multivisceral resection. No common risk factors for CRM+ in cT4 stage disease were found. An independent impact of hospital volume on CRM+ could be demonstrated for the cT1–3 Dutch population.

Conclusion

Within two northern European countries with implemented clinical auditing, rectal cancer care might potentially be improved by further optimizing the treatment of distal and locally advanced rectal cancer.
Longitudinal trajectories of depression symptoms in children with epilepsy
Authors: Rosic Tea , Avery Lisa , Streiner David L , Ferro Mark A , Rosenbaum Peter , Cunningham Charles , Ronen Gabriel M
Published: November 2019

Aim

To examine self‐ and proxy‐reported symptoms of depression in children with epilepsy.

Method

This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of children with epilepsy. Participants were treated at six Canadian tertiary‐care centers and followed over 28 months with repeated assessments of child self‐reported symptoms of depression using the Children’s Depression Inventory Short‐Form (CDI‐S). Trajectories of symptoms of depression were estimated using linear mixed effects (LME) modeling.

Results

At baseline, 477 children had complete data (mean age [SD] 11y 5mo [2y 1mo], range 7y 7mo–15y 1mo; 234 females, 243 males). Mean CDI‐S T score at baseline was 45.7 (SD=7.5) and at 28 months was 44.9 (SD=8.2), both were within the ‘average’ range. Results from LME modeling revealed mean raw CDI‐S score of 1.897, corrected for age 10 years (corresponding to T scores slightly below the normed mean of 50), with no significant change over three measurements (slope=–0.113, p=0.135), indicating that CDI‐S scores were stable over 28 months. Children with high initial CDI‐S scores had lower subsequent scores, as demonstrated by the correlation of –0.827 between intercept and slope (p<0.001). Parents reported comparable findings.

Interpretation

Self‐ and proxy‐reported symptoms of depression were generally low and stable over an extended follow‐up period. Normalization of scores was seen upon repeated assessment, even in children with higher scores of symptoms of depression at one point. These findings speak to the value and importance of repeated assessment over time.

What this paper adds

In children with epilepsy, self‐ and proxy‐reported symptoms of depression were generally low and stable over 28 months.

The trajectory of symptoms of depression was not associated with seizure severity, whether considering the frequency or type of seizures.

Parents’ reports of symptoms of depression were comparable to the children’s self‐evaluations.
Accounting for microstructure sensitivity and plasticity in life prediction of heavily loaded contacts under rolling contact fatigue
Authors: Cheenady Amith Adoor , Arakere Nagaraj K. , Londhe Nikhil D.
Published: November 2019

Probabilistic models employed for life prediction in the bearing industry (Lundberg‐Palmgren [LP], Ioannides‐Harris [IH], and Zatersky models) utilize stresses calculated based on Hertzian assumptions that ignore plastic deformation occurring under high radial loads. However, it is known that subsurface plasticity produces significant deviations from elastic calculations in contact dimensions, pressure, and stresses. In this work, we show that accounting for plastic deformation leads to significantly more accurate life predictions than the general practice of utilizing elastic stress fields. Conventional probabilistic models are also restricted to utilizing stress measures at the macroscopic scale, while the onset of damage under rolling contact fatigue (RCF) manifests on a much smaller scale. By utilizing Dang Van criterion (DVC)—a multiscale high cycle fatigue criterion—in a probabilistic framework to account for stresses at multiple length scales, we propose a formulation that is second in accuracy only to the Zaretsky model, thus outperforming LP and IH models. Thus, we improve the accuracy of conventional probabilistic models by accounting for plastic deformation, while also presenting a new microstructure‐sensitive probabilistic formulation that betters their predictions.
A study of 21st century skills and engagement in a university Spanish foreign language classroom
Authors: Cox Carolina Benito , Montgomery Cherice
Published: November 2019

Increasing concern regarding student disengagement and education's role in helping students to navigate the ever‐changing realities of a globalized society has focused attention on the importance of 21st century skills. This mixed‐methods study investigated whether and how intensely students experienced optimal engagement during a Spanish project that required them to conduct and reflect on a 30‐minute interview with a native speaker of Spanish. Engagement was measured through the lens of Csikszentmihalyi's (1996) flow theory. Findings revealed that authentic, real‐world tasks that require students to make use of 21st century skills and which engage learners affectively facilitate behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement.
Safety and efficacy of the Tablo hemodialysis system for in‐center and home hemodialysis
Authors: Plumb Troy J. , Alvarez Luis , Ross Dennis L. , Lee Joseph J. , Mulhern Jeffrey G. , Bell Jeffrey L. , Abra Graham , Prichard Sarah S. , Chertow Glenn M. , Aragon Michael A.
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Home hemodialysis remains underutilized despite observational data indicating more favorable outcomes with home compared with in‐center hemodialysis. The Tablo Hemodialysis system is designed to be easy to learn and use and to facilitate adoption of home hemodialysis. The objective of the current investigational device exemption (IDE) study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Tablo managed in‐center by health care professionals and in‐home by patients and/or caregivers.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, open‐label, crossover trial comparing in‐center and in‐home hemodialysis using Tablo. There were 4 treatment periods during which hemodialysis was prescribed 4 times per week: 1‐week Run‐In, 8‐week In‐Center, 4‐week Transition, and 8‐week In‐Home. The primary efficacy endpoint was weekly standard Kt/Vurea ≥ 2.1. The secondary efficacy endpoint was delivery of ultrafiltration (UF) within 10% of prescribed UF. We collected safety and usability data.

Findings: Thirty participants enrolled and 28 completed all trial periods. Adherence to the protocol requirement of 4 treatments per week was 96% in‐center and 99% in‐home. The average prescribed and delivered session lengths were 3.4 hours for both the In‐Center and the In‐Home periods. The primary efficacy endpoint for the intention‐to‐treat cohort was achieved in 199/200 (99.5%) of measurements during the In‐Center period and 168/171 (98.3%) In‐Home. The average weekly standard Kt/Vurea was 2.8 in both periods. The secondary efficacy UF endpoint was achieved in the ITT cohort in 94% in both in‐center and in‐home. Two prespecified adverse events (AEs) occurred during the In‐Center period and 6 in the In‐Home period. None of the AEs were deemed by investigators as related to Tablo. The median resolution time of alarms was 8 seconds in‐center and 5 seconds in‐home.

Conclusion: Primary and secondary efficacy and safety endpoints were achieved during both In‐Center and In‐Home trial periods. This study confirms that Tablo is safe and effective for home hemodialysis use.
The Impact of GCR on Local Governments and Syrian Refugees in Turkey
Authors: Kale Başak , Erdoğan Murat
Published: November 2019

In the last couple of years, more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees have been hosted under the “temporary protection” scheme in Turkey. Despite these high numbers Turkey did not have a centralized refugee settlement and integration policy. As a result, various stakeholders including local governments have played critical roles in providing refugee assistance services. This research looks at the role of local governments in delivering services evolving from emergency response to local integration. This article argues that this role with respect to the United Nations’ Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) has to be further strengthened. The data for this research were collected through a comprehensive study based on interviews and surveys carried out in İstanbul with local authorities, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and its 39 district municipalities in 2016‐2017. Although this research has its focus on İstanbul as the selected case study, the findings can reveal conclusions relevant to global implications and perspectives.
A Review of Engagement with Creativity and Creative Design Processes for Visual Communication Design (VCD) Learning in China
Authors: Saris Brenda
Published: November 2019

Understanding the enigma of how learners from the Peoples Republic of China enact and engage with creativity and creative design processes can be problematic for VCD educators. Central to the concerns are questions which relate to the relevance of Western creative and creative design process definitions, explanations and models. This review provides an overview and analysis of the literature in this area. Findings indicate challenges attributed to a dearth of empirical evidence from the Asian region. However, a number of studies were found, which enabled learner engagement with creative design process models. Such models may help illuminate complex pictures of learners’ interactions, artefacts, social, cultural and historic forces. The review highlights issues and common areas upon which to build and prompts theoretical and methodological approaches for future creative design process research.
A new strategy to promote flu vaccination among health care workers: Molinette Hospital's experience
Authors: Bert Fabrizio , Thomas Robin , Lo Moro Giuseppina , Scarmozzino Antonio , Silvestre Carlo , Zotti Carla Maria , Siliquini Roberta
Published: November 2019

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Seasonal flu represents a major public health issue, especially for health care workers (HCWs). WHO highlights the need of higher awareness and flu vaccine coverage among HCWs. In Europe the coverage is less than 30‐40%. Italy reports some of the lowest rates. The paper aims to illustrate the 2017/2018 flu vaccination campaign within Molinette, the third Italian hospital for dimensions, to provide inputs about strategies for increasing HCWs coverage. The campaign objective was to increase the administered doses at least of 30%.

Methods

The intervention included informational material, direct educational sessions for workers, extension of the access time to Occupational Medicine Service, elimination of the reservation requirement, composition of “moving vaccination units” (MVUs), and organisation of vaccination sessions within departments.

Results

In 2017/2018, 593 doses were administered. The doses percentage change between 2017/2018 and 2016/2017 vaccination seasons was +46.06%, while it was +84.74% compared with the previous 5‐year period mean. The majority was administered by Occupational Medicine Service, while 6.75% by MVUs. Among the total doses, 72.68% were administered to workers, 13.49% to residents, 6.75% to students, and 7.08% to “other”. So, 7.68% of total workforce was vaccinated. Only 0.3% of vaccinated people presented mild adverse reactions.

Conclusions

A combined campaign, that includes actions for education, increase of awareness, improved access to facilities and active offers to workers has potentiality but there is still work to do. The vaccination increase was determined mostly by the re‐organization of the occupational medicine, while the MVUs were useful to HCWs of detached offices.
Self‐assessment and subsequent external review as an effective model for improving drug use for elderly in primary care: A descriptive study of SÄKLÄK2
Authors: Skoog Jessica , Modig Sara
Published: November 2019

Rationale, Aims, and Objectives

Primary health care often has overall responsibility for elderly patients and their medication treatment. This is a challenging task due to the issue of multiple caregivers, different systems for documentation and multimorbidity among the elderly. The multiprofessional project SÄKLÄK2 was developed to raise drug safety in Swedish primary health care, and this study aimed to assess whether the action agreements that emerged from the model were effective enough to potentially improve drug use in elderly patients.

Method

The SÄKLÄK2 project was conducted during 2016. A total of 12 primary health care centres (PHCs) in three counties participated in the project. The intervention method concerned the management of the PHCs and comprised self‐assessment, peer review, feedback, and written agreements for change, which were concluded between the reviewers and the manager of the PHC. The action agreements were analysed using summative content analysis (sorted under predesigned categories) and were also assessed as fulfilled, initiated, or not fulfilled within the follow‐up time

Results

The importance of securing an accurate medication list was reflected in the number of action agreements in this area. Other prominent improvement areas were follow‐up of prescriptions, pharmacogeriatric further education, and cooperation between caregivers. Action agreements to facilitate for the patient to be able to handle his/her drugs were also common. The great majority (88%) of the action agreements were implemented or initiated within the follow‐up time.

Conclusions

The SÄKLÄK2 intervention model is considered effective in setting up a variety of relevant measures to improve drug safety in primary health care, which are possible to implement in the near future. Hence, the model is regarded as effective and should therefore be offered in a wider context.
Effect of pre‐emulsified soybean oil as a fat replacer on the physical and sensory attributes of reduced‐fat filling in steamed buns
Authors: Li Kun , Zhang Min , Bhandari Bhesh , Li Linlin , Yang Chaohui
Published: November 2019

In this article, soybean oil in bok choy (Brassica chinensis L.) fillings was replaced with pre‐emulsified oil by 0, 33, 366.7, and 100% of total oil and its effect on some physical and sensory attributes of reduced‐fat fillings was investigated. The replacement of 33.3 and 66.7% soybean oil (samples 1 and 2, respectively) did not significantly affect water‐ and oil‐binding capacity after steaming and total color difference (p > .05). Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance results showed that only with replacement of 100% soybean oil (sample 3), oil–water separation phenomenon occurred. In comparison with the control (100% soybean oil), samples 1 and 2 showed lower hardness (p < .05) and lower chewiness (p > .05), as well as similar flavor quality and overall acceptability. These results indicated that when the replacement level of total oil was up to 67%, the reduced‐fat filling presented satisfied sensory quality without sacrificing the original quality.

Practical Applications

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of adding pre‐emulsified soybean oil to reduce the fat/oil on water/oil distribution, color, texture, and flavor of bok choy (B. chinensis L.) fillings in steamed stuffed buns. The replacement of 66.7% of total oil by pre‐emulsified oil showed fine flavor, similar texture, low ΔE value, and small differences in overall sensory acceptability. Therefore, use of pre‐emulsified soybean oil could be a potential fat‐reducing method in leafy vegetable‐based matrix food.
OsCYCP4s coordinate phosphate starvation signaling with cell cycle progression in rice
Authors: Xu Lei , Wang Fang , Li Ruili , Deng Minjuan , Fu Meilan , Teng Huiying , Yi Keke
Published: November 2019

Phosphate starvation leads to a strong reduction in shoot growth and yield in crops. The reduced shoot growth is caused by extensive gene expression reprogramming triggered by phosphate deficiency, which is not itself a direct consequence of low levels of shoot phosphorus. However, how phosphate starvation inhibits shoot growth in rice is still unclear. In this study, we determined the role of OsCYCP4s in the regulation of shoot growth in response to phosphate starvation in rice. We demonstrate that the expression levels of OsCYCP4s, except OsCYCP4;3, were induced by phosphate starvation. Overexpression of the phosphate starvation induced OsCYCP4s could compete with the other cyclins for the binding with cyclin‐dependent kinases, therefore suppressing growth by reducing cell proliferation. The phosphate starvation induced growth inhibition in the loss‐of‐function mutants cycp4;1, cycp4;2, and cycp4;4 is partially compromised. Furthermore, the expression of some phosphate starvation inducible genes is negatively modulated by these cyclins, which indicates that these OsCYCP4s may also be involved in phosphate starvation signaling. We conclude that phosphate starvation induced OsCYCP4s might coordinate phosphate starvation signaling and cell cycle progression under phosphate starvation stress.
Characterization of afferent corpuscular sensors of the human palmaris brevis muscle
Authors: Bramke Silvia , May Christian Albrecht
Published: November 2019

The palmaris brevis muscle contains numerous muscle spindles to control changes of the muscle length but is devoid of tendon‐associated neuronal elements (e.g. Golgi tendon organs or Ruffini‐like corpuscles) controlling changes in muscle strength. Pacinian bodies, frequently seen in the palm of the hand, show no direct association to the muscle bundles. The observed innervation pattern of the palmaris brevis muscle points to a specific type of neuronal regulation, present in skeletal muscles with no skeletal connection.
Sjogren‐Larsson syndrome associated hypermelanosis
Authors: Xu Yang‐Chun , Hou Ji‐Qiu , Zhu Wen‐Jing , Li Ping
Published: November 2019

Background/Objectives

Sjogren – Larsson syndrome (SLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease of the mutation ALDH3A2 that identifies a part of fatty acids for fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase: NAD‐oxidoreductase enzyme complex. This study aimed to access variant ALDH3A2 gene coded for FALDH and products regulating pathogenic melanogenesis owing to increased oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species resulting in DNA harm in SLS. By turning them into fatty acids, FALDH avoids the accumulation of toxic fatty aldehydes. The mutation results in the accumulation of aldehyde‐modified lipids or fatty alcohols that may interfere with skin and brain function.

Methods

In Nov 2018, we performed a literature search in PubMed for clinical studies, clinical trials, case reports, controlled trials, randomized controlled trials, and systemic reviews. The search terms we used were “SJOGREN‐LARSSON SYNDROME” AND “HYPERMELANNOSIS” OR “FALDH” (from 1985). The search resulted in 1,289 articles, out of these 95 articles met our inclusion exclusion criteria. Our inclusion criteria included relevant original articles relevant, critical systemic reviews, and crucial referenced articles, ex‐clusion criteria included duplicates and articles not published in English language.

Results

Toxicity of long‐chain aldehydes to FALDH‐deficient cells owing to accumulation under the profound epidermis layer improves oxidative stress in the cell resulting in keratinocyte hyperproliferation.

Conclusion

While it continues to be determined whether accumulated fatty alcohol and fatty aldehydes obtained from ether glycerolipids and sphingolipids improve the susceptibility of melanocytes and their element accountable for skin hyperpigmentation to biological colour.
Lay Participation in Danish Crime Trials: On the Interaction between Lay and Professional Judges during Deliberation
Authors: Johansen Louise Victoria
Published: November 2019

While there is abundant research on common law jury systems, we know less about lay participation in civil law crime trials, often called ‘mixed courts’ or alternately ‘mixed tribunals'. Here, a professional judge and a number of lay judges deliberate together on the issues of guilt and sentencing. This joint deliberation has naturally led both public opinion and research to focus on power relations such as lay judges’ dependence on the professional judges. Based on an ethnographic study of deliberation processes, the present article offers a different perspective on lay judges’ contribution and argues that their decision making rests on a hybrid construction of knowledge in the continuous interaction between the professional judge and lay participants during deliberation. The analysis of this decision‐making process contributes to our understanding of how ordinary people selected for this civic duty create knowledge about justice.
Effects of textured foods on masticatory muscle activity in older adults with oral hypofunction
Authors: Matsuo Koichiro , Kito Norie , Ogawa Koichi , Izumi Ayako , Masuda Yuji
Published: November 2019

Background

Preserving sufficient oral function and maintaining proper nutrition are essential to prevent frailty. Thus, we have developed “munchy” foods that contain harder textures and are rich in protein.

Objectives

This study aimed to test the effects of masticating textured foods on masticatory muscle activity in young and older adults.

Methods

Twenty young and 32 community‐dwelling older individuals participated in this study. After measuring oral function, we subdivided the older participants into normal and oral hypofunction (OHF) groups. Two test foods (meatloaf and chicken ball) were prepared to have a harder texture using specific ingredients (munchy) or not (control). The participants ate 10 g of the test foods in random order while being measured for masseter muscle activity with a surface electromyogram (EMG). We calculated the number of chewing cycles and integrated muscle activity of the masseter muscle from the EMG data and tested for differences by food texture or age group.

Results

The number of chewing cycles, mean EMG amplitude and integrated EMG activity was significantly higher for the munchy foods than for the controls for all groups. The integrated masseter muscle EMG activity was significantly increased in the normal older group than in the young group for both food types, but not significantly different between in OHF and young groups.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that eating textured foods will lead to increased masticatory load and therefore increased muscle activity, especially in older adults. Application of textured food may change dietary habits in older adults.
Maximum voluntary retrusion or habitual bite position for mandibular advancement assessment in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea patients
Authors: Ippolito Daniela Rita , Stipa Chiara , Cameli Matteo , Sorrenti Giovanni , Pelligra Irene , Alessandri‐Bonetti Giulio
Published: November 2019

Background

There is no consensus on whether the range of mandibular advancement for the construction of mandibular advancement devices in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients should be measured from a starting position of maximum voluntary retrusion or habitual bite position.

Objective

The purposes of this study were to investigate the differences in mandibular advancement registrations starting from maximum voluntary retrusion or from habitual bite position and to evaluate the reliability of these assessments.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis of 126 patients with OSA was performed. All patients had their mandibular range of motion evaluated twice (starting from maximum voluntary retrusion and from habitual bite position) through the George Gauge before undergoing drug‐induced sleep endoscopy. The Dahlberg formula and paired t test were used to calculate random and systematic errors of dental positions assessment. Test‐retest reliability was quantified using the intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

The mean mandibular range starting from maximum voluntary retrusion and from habitual bite position were 12.49 ± 2.19 mm and 7.68 ± 2.29 mm, respectively, with a mean distance between the two starting positions of 4.81 ± 1.75 mm. No systematic error was found (P > .05), and random errors ranged from 0.30 to 0.95 mm. ICC values were excellent for maximum voluntary protrusion (ICC = 0.986) and maximum voluntary retrusion (ICC = 0.956), whereas habitual bite position showed a good value (ICC = 0.818).

Conclusion

The difference between maximum voluntary retrusion and habitual bite position is potentially relevant. Maximum retrusion is advisable as starting point of the mandibular advancement registration since it provides a more reliable measure.
Outcome of cutaneous psoriasis in hepatitis C virus‐infected patients treated with Direct‐Acting Antiviral therapy
Authors: Cacciola Irene , Borgia Francesco , Filomia Roberto , Pitrone Concetta , Franzè Maria Stella , Alibrandi Angela , Squadrito Giovanni , Guarneri Claudio , Papaianni Valeria , Cannavò Serafinella Patrizia , Raimondo Giovanni
Published: November 2019

Apart from chronic liver disease, hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be responsible for several extra‐hepatic manifestations. Its involvement in psoriasis development is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of anti‐HCV direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) treatment on cutaneous psoriasis. Thirty‐seven consecutive HCV patients with cutaneous psoriasis underwent efficacious DAA treatment, and all of them were efficiently cured as shown by HCV RNA negativity 24 weeks after stopping therapy (PT24W). An expert dermatologist evaluated the skin lesions at baseline, end of treatment (EOT) and PT24W using the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scoring system. The impact on quality of life was measured with the Dermatologic Quality of Life Index (DLQI). Six patients had a stable disease throughout the study period, whereas 31/37 patients (83.8%) showed a significant improvement of the skin lesions at EOT (P < .0001). However, 24 of these 31 patients (77.4%) had a dramatic worsening of the psoriatic lesions at PT24W compared with EOT (P < .001), with lesion severity comparable to baseline. The outcome of psoriasis during and after treatment was independent of baseline PASI score, age, sex, HCV genotype, liver disease stage and of the presence of arterial hypertension, diabetes and autoimmune diseases. In conclusion, DAA‐based HCV cure has only a transient effect on skin lesions of patients with concomitant cutaneous psoriasis.
Real‐world impact following initiation of interferon‐free hepatitis C regimens on liver‐related outcomes and all‐cause mortality among patients with compensated cirrhosis
Authors: McDonald Scott A. , Pollock Kevin G. , Barclay Stephen T. , Goldberg David J. , Bathgate Andrew , Bramley Peter , Dillon John F. , Fraser Andrew , Innes Hamish A. , Kennedy Nicholas , Morris Judith , Went April , Hayes Peter C. , Hutchinson Sharon J.
Published: November 2019

Few studies have investigated clinical outcomes among patients with cirrhosis who were treated with interferon (IFN)‐free direct‐acting antiviral (DAA). We aimed to quantify treatment impact on first decompensated cirrhosis hospital admission, first hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) admission, liver‐related mortality and all‐cause mortality among a national cohort of cirrhotic patients. Through record linkage between Scotland's HCV Clinical Database and inpatient/day‐case hospitalization and deaths records, a study population comprising chronic HCV‐infected patients with compensated cirrhosis and initiated on IFN‐free DAA between 1 March 2013 and 31 March 2018 was analysed. Cox regression evaluated the association of each clinical outcome with time‐dependent treatment status (on treatment, responder, nonresponder or noncompliant), adjusting for patient factors including Child‐Pugh class. Among the study population (n = 1073) involving 1809 years of follow‐up, 75 (7.0%) died (39 from liver‐related causes), 47 progressed to decompensated cirrhosis, and 28 developed HCC. Compared with nonresponders, treatment response (96% among those attending their 12 weeks post‐treatment SVR test) was associated with a reduced relative risk of decompensated cirrhosis (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05‐0.39), HCC (HR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04‐0.79), liver‐related death (HR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.05‐0.34) and all‐cause mortality (HR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12‐0.76). Compared with responders, noncompliant patients had an increased risk of liver‐related (HR = 6.73; 95% CI: 2.99‐15.1) and all‐cause (HR = 5.45; 95% CI: 3.07‐9.68) mortality. For HCV patients with cirrhosis, a treatment response was associated with a lower risk of severe liver complications and improved survival. Our findings suggest additional effort is warranted to address the higher mortality among the minority of cirrhotic patients who do not comply with DAA treatment or associated RNA testing.
Pricing collateralized derivatives with an arbitrary numeraire
Authors: Kennedy Joanne
Published: November 2019

Since the 2008 crisis collateralized derivatives have become commonplace in the market. There have been many papers in recent years on pricing collateralized derivatives but the topic has been surrounded by confusion with debate focusing on whether or not a risk‐free rate needs to be assumed. In addition, as pointed out by Bielecki and Rutkowski, several authors do not pay enough attention to the pricing measure they are working in when setting up their models. The contribution of this paper is to show the pricing formula for a collateralized derivative can be derived under the usual assumptions of an arbitrage‐free economy starting from any equivalent martingale measure and associated numeraire.
Pathwise moderate deviations for option pricing
Authors: Jacquier Antoine , Spiliopoulos Konstantinos
Published: November 2019

We provide a unifying treatment of pathwise moderate deviations for models commonly used in financial applications, and for related integrated functionals. Suitable scaling enables us to transfer these results into small‐time, large‐time, and tail asymptotics for diffusions, as well as for option prices and realized variances. In passing, we highlight some intuitive relationships between moderate deviations rate functions and their large deviations counterparts; these turn out to be useful for numerical purposes, as large deviations rate functions are often difficult to compute.
Analysis of the CodY RNome reveals RsaD as a stress‐responsive riboregulator of overflow metabolism in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Augagneur Yoann , King Alyssa N. , Germain‐Amiot Noëlla , Sassi Mohamed , Fitzgerald John W. , Sahukhal Gyan S. , Elasri Mohamed O. , Felden Brice , Brinsmade Shaun R.
Published: November 2019

In Staphylococcus aureus, the transcription factor CodY modulates the expression of hundreds of genes, including most virulence factors, in response to the availability of key nutrients like GTP and branched‐chain amino acids. Despite numerous studies examining how CodY controls gene expression directly or indirectly, virtually nothing is known about the extent to which CodY exerts its effect through small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). Herein, we report the first set of sRNAs under the control of CodY. We reveal that staphylococcal sRNA RsaD is overexpressed >20‐fold in a CodY‐deficient strain in three S. aureus clinical isolates and in S. epidermidis. We validated the CodY‐dependent regulation of rsaD and demonstrated that CodY directly represses rsaD expression by binding the promoter. Using a combination of molecular techniques, we show that RsaD posttranscriptionally regulates alsS (acetolactate synthase) mRNA and enzyme levels. We further show that RsaD redirects carbon overflow metabolism, contributing to stationary phase cell death during exposure to weak acid stress. Taken together, our data delineate a role for CodY in controlling sRNA expression in a major human pathogen and indicate that RsaD may integrate nutrient depletion and other signals to mount a response to physiological stress experienced by S. aureus in diverse environments.