bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the meaning of emoji in mobile social payments: Exploring the use of mobile payments as hedonic versus utilitarian through skin tone modified emoji usage
Authors: Murthy Dhiraj , Sudarshan Sabitha , Lee Jung-Ah , Ghosh Charulata , Shah Pratik , Xiao Wei-Jie , Arora Ishank , Unger Clive , Acker Amelia
Published: December 2020

Despite research establishing emojis as sites of critical racial discourse, there is a paucity of literature examining their importance in the increasingly popular context of mobile payments. This is particularly important as new forms of social payment platforms such as Venmo bridge the seamlessness of mobile payments with the vibrant communicative practices of social networks. As such, they provide a unique medium to examine how emojis are used within the context of digital consumption, and by extension, self-representation. This study analyzes approximately 325 million public transactions on the U.S. payment platform Venmo to understand whether emoji usage in mobile payments is more hedonic or utilitarian. We then explore how race is represented across emoji usage on Venmo via tone-modified emojis, a subset of emojis whereby users can choose a skin tone. We found that while emojis in general are used for more hedonic purposes than utilitarian ones, darker tone-modified emojis indicate a proportionately higher use in hedonic consumption as compared to lighter tone-modified emojis, and also show a higher representation of utilitarian categories in transactions. Thematic analysis revealed that subsets with darker tone-modified emojis have a greater lexical variety and engage in more playful uses of emoji in mobile payments
Smartphone use by health professionals: A review
Authors: King Anna Lucia Spear , Pádua Mariana King , Gonçalves Lucio Lage , Santana de Souza Martins Aline , Nardi Antonio Egidio
Published: December 2020

Introduction

On the world stage unlimited internet access by smartphones have made in social, cultural and economic relations, has transformed the world to be faster and more efficient. In this context, health care requires more attention. Health professionals must be concerned about the majority of the patient’s care on the use of smartphone’s in this process. Smartphones can be cause distractions and cause poor patient care. Behavioral and psychological changes related to abusive and uncontrolled use in this population may create severe impacts not only on the user’s life but also on the community health care.

Method

A careful research was performed through PubMed, Web of Science and Psycho Info databases using the terms: “Smartphone addiction”, “Smartphone dependence”, “Smartphone abuse”, “physicians”, “nurses” and ‘‘health professionals”. The search covered the past 5 years up to August 2019. Articles that examine abusive use on smartphones in health professionals were included. We analyzed how this concept evolved over the last five years and hope to contribute to the better understanding of the issue and its impacts on this population and on the health care.

Results

There is a lack of specific trial instruments on screening of smartphone addiction or abusive use, tending to adopt different diagnostic criteria by the reports included. There are also a lack of studies discussing etiology of this compulsive behavior. Although known risks, published reports show there is no consciousness of abusive use and possible damages in healthcare by some health professionals. Instead, there are others that can affirm there are unpredictable risks in patient care and tend to stimulate conscience use politics in health settings. Most of them point out smartphone’s app benefits.

Conclusion

Smartphones and its functionalities became part of everyone's life by the various benefits guaranteed. However, an addictive behavior can cause damage, principally in the Health Care setting and health professional’s abusive use must be monitored. Further investigation is needed to determine the motivations of this addictive behavior and if abusive smartphone usage is a new psychiatric classification or merely the substrate of other disorders.
Effect of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor on efficacy of adjuvanted recombinant hepatitis B and zoster vaccines
Authors: Pleyer Christopher , Ali Mir A. , Cohen Jeffrey I. , Tian Xin , Soto Susan , Ahn Inhye E. , Gaglione Erika M. , Nierman Pia , Marti Gerald E. , Hesdorffer Charles , Lotter Jennifer , Superata Jeanine , Wiestner Adrian , Sun Clare
Published: December 2020

Vaccinations are effective in preventing infections; however, it is unknown if patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who are treatment naïve (TN) or receiving Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi's) respond to novel adjuvanted vaccines. Understanding the effect of BTKi's on humoral immunity is timely because BTKi's are widely used and vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 is urgently needed. In 2 open-label, single-arm clinical trials, we measured the effect of BTKi's on de novo immune response against recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (HepB-CpG) and recall response against recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in CLL patients who were TN or on BTKi. The primary end point was serologic response to HepB-CpG (anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies ≥10 mIU/mL) and RZV (≥fourfold increase in anti-glycoprotein E). The response rate to HepB-CpG was lower in patients on BTKi (3.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-18.9) than patients who were TN (28.1%; 95% CI, 15.6-45.4; P = .017). In contrast, the response rate to RZV did not differ significantly between the BTKi (41.5%; 95% CI, 27.8-56.6) and TN cohorts (59.1%; 95% CI, 38.7-76.7; P = .2). BTKi's were associated with a decreased de novo immune response following HepB-CpG, whereas recall immune response following RZV was not significantly affected by BTKi therapy. These trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03685708 (Hep-CpG) and #NCT03702231 (RZV).
Zebrafish Kit ligands cooperate with erythropoietin to promote erythroid cell expansion
Authors: Oltova Jana , Svoboda Ondrej , Machonova Olga , Svatonova Petra , Traver David , Kolar Michal , Bartunek Petr
Published: December 2020

Kit ligand (Kitlg) is pleiotropic cytokine with a prominent role in vertebrate erythropoiesis. Although the role of Kitlg in this process has not been reported in Danio rerio (zebrafish), in the present study we show that its function is evolutionarily conserved. Zebrafish possess 2 copies of Kitlg genes (Kitlga and Kitlgb) as a result of whole-genome duplication. To determine the role of each ligand in zebrafish, we performed a series of ex vivo and in vivo gain- and loss-of-function experiments. First, we tested the biological activity of recombinant Kitlg proteins in suspension culture from zebrafish whole-kidney marrow, and we demonstrate that Kitlga is necessary for expansion of erythroid progenitors ex vivo. To further address the role of kitlga and kitlgb in hematopoietic development in vivo, we performed gain-of-function experiments in zebrafish embryos, showing that both ligands cooperate with erythropoietin (Epo) to promote erythroid cell expansion. Finally, using the kita mutant (kitab5/b5 or sparse), we show that the Kita receptor is crucial for Kitlga/b cooperation with Epo in erythroid cells. In summary, using optimized suspension culture conditions with recombinant cytokines (Epo, Kitlga), we report, for the first time, ex vivo suspension cultures of zebrafish hematopoietic progenitor cells that can serve as an indispensable tool to study normal and aberrant hematopoiesis in zebrafish. Furthermore, we conclude that, although partial functional diversification of Kit ligands has been described in other processes, in erythroid development, both paralogs play a similar role, and their function is evolutionarily conserved.
Antimicrobial resistance and metallo-beta-lactamase producing among commensal Escherichia coli isolates from healthy children of Khuzestan and Fars provinces; Iran
Authors: Mahmoodi Fahimeh , Rezatofighi Seyedeh Elham , Akhoond Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2020

Background

The emergence of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing isolates is alarming since they carry mobile genetic elements with great ability to spread; therefore, early detection of these isolates, particularly their reservoir, is crucial to prevent their inter- and intra-care setting dissemination and establish suitable antimicrobial therapies. The current study was designed to evaluate the frequency of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), MBL producers and identification of MBL resistance genes inEscherichia colistrains isolated from fecal samples of the healthy children under 3 years old. A total of 412 fecalE. coliisolates were collected from October 2017 to December 2018. The study population included healthy infants and children aged < 3 years who did not exhibit symptoms of any diseases, especially gastrointestinal diseases.E. coliisolates were assessed to determine the pattern of AMR.E. coliisolates were assessed to determine the pattern of AMR, the production of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and MBL by phenotypic methods. Carbapenem-resistant isolates were investigated for the presence of MBL and carbapenemase genes, plasmid profiling, and the ability of conjugation.

Results

In sum, AMR, multi-drug resistance (MDR) and ESBL production were observed in more than 54.9, 36.2 and 11.7% of commensalE. coliisolates, respectively. Out of six isolates resistant to imipenem and meropenem, four isolates were phenotypically detected as MBL producers. Two and oneE. colistrains carried theblaNDM-1andblaVIM-2genes, respectively and were able to transmit imipenem resistance through conjugation.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that children not exposed to antibiotics can be colonized byE. coliisolates resistant to the commonly used antimicrobial compounds and can be a good indicator for the occurrence and prevalence of AMR in the community. These bacteria can act as a potential reservoir of AMR genes including MBL genes of pathogenic bacteria and lead to the dissemination of resistance mechanisms to other bacteria.
Characterization of the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains causing ventilator-associated pneumonia
Authors: Alonso Beatriz , Fernández-Barat Laia , Di Domenico Enea Gino , Marín Mercedes , Cercenado Emilia , Merino Irene , de Pablos Manuela , Muñoz Patricia , Guembe María
Published: December 2020

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the virulence of P. aeruginosa ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) strains (cases) in terms of biofilm production and other phenotypic and genotypic virulence factors compared to P. aeruginosa strains isolated from other infections (controls).

Methods

Biofilm production was tested to assess biomass production and metabolic activity using crystal violet binding assay and XTT assay, respectively. Pigment production (pyocyanin and pyoverdine) was evaluated using cetrimide agar. Virulence genes were detected by conventional multiplex PCR and virulence was tested in an in vivo model in Galleria mellonella larvae.

Results

We did not find statistically significant differences between VAP and no-VAP strains (p > 0.05) regarding biofilm production. VAP strains had no production of pyocyanin after 24 h of incubation (p = 0.023). The distribution of virulence genes between both groups were similar (p > 0.05). VAP strains were less virulent than non-VAP strains in an in vivo model of G. mellonella (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The virulence of VAP-Pseudomonas aeruginosa does not depend on biofilm formation, production of pyoverdine or the presence of some virulence genes compared to P. aeruginosa isolated from non-invasive locations. However, VAP strains showed attenuated virulence compared to non-VAP strains in an in vivo model of G. mellonella.
Do you pay to go private?: a single centre comparison of induction of labour and caesarean section rates in private versus public patients
Authors: Craven Simon , Byrne Fionnuala , Mahony Rhona , Walsh Jennifer M.
Published: December 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to compare rates of induction and subsequent caesarean delivery among nulliparous women with private versus publicly funded health care at a single institution. This is a retrospective cohort study using the electronic booking and delivery records of nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies who delivered between 2010 and 2015 in an Irish Tertiary Maternity Hospital (approx. 9000 deliveries per annum).

Methods

Data were extracted from the National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Dublin, Patient Administration System (PAS) on all nulliparous women who delivered a liveborn infant at ≥37 weeks gestation during the 6-year period. At NMH, all women in spontaneous labour are managed according to a standardised intrapartum protocol. Twenty-two thousand two hundred thirty-two women met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 2520 (12.8%) were private patients; the remainder (19,712; 87.2%) were public. Mode of and gestational age at delivery, rates of and indications for induction of labour, rates of pre-labour caesarean section, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined. Rates of labour intervention and subsequent maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between those with and without private health cover.

Results

Women attending privately were more than twice as likely to have a pre-labour caesarean section (12.7% vs. 6.5%, RR = 2.0, [CI 1.8–2.2])); this finding persisted following adjustment for differences in maternal age and body mass index (BMI) (adjusted relative risk 1.74, [CI 1.5–2.0]). Women with private cover were also more likely to have induction of labour and significantly less likely to labour spontaneously. Women who attended privately were significantly more likely to have an operative vaginal delivery, whether labour commenced spontaneously or was induced.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate significant differences in rates of obstetric intervention between those with private and public health cover. This division is unlikely to be explained by differences in clinical risk factors as no significant difference in outcomes following spontaneous onset of labour were noted. Further research is required to determine the roots of the disparity between private and public decision-making. This should focus on the relative contributions of both mothers and maternity care professionals in clinical decision making, and the potential implications of these choices.
Comparison of the effects of rapid maxillary expansion versus Twin Block appliance on mandibular growth in skeletal Class II patients
Authors: Zhang Jia-Nan , Chen Si , Huang Cheng-Yi , Zhong Chong , Jin Jing , Yu Feng-Yang , Zhang Zan-Zan , Lu Hai-Ping
Published: December 2020

Background

This is a retrospective study that compares mandibular growth changes in skeletal Class II patients treated by rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and following fixed appliance with those patients treated by Twin-Block (TB) and following fixed appliance.

Methods

Fourteen patients treated by RME and following fixed appliance were included into the RME group. Fifteen patients treated by Twin-Block and following fixed appliance were included into the TB group. Lateral cephalometric radiographs taken before treatment and immediately after fixed appliance treatment were used to evaluate mandibular growth effects.

Results

The starting forms of the patients in the two groups were examined to be of good comparability. The mandibular length increased significantly in both groups as measured by Co-Gn, Go-Gn and Ar-Gn, but the TB group didn’t show more mandibular growth than the RME group (P > 0.05). Skeletal changes of the mandible in vertical dimension were different in the two groups. The change in FMA was 0.35° in the RME group, while the change was 2.65° in the TB group (P < 0.001). The change in LAFH was 5.14 mm in the RME group, significantly smaller than the change of 10.19 mm in the TB group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The investigated Phase I treatment with RME followed by Phase II treatment of fixed appliance achieved the same increases in sagittal mandibular growth and facial profile improvements as the Twin-Block therapy. The treatment with RME followed by fixed appliance was better for vertical control, while the treatment with Twin-Block followed by fixed appliance significantly increased the mandibular plane angle.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: LncRNA SNHG12 regulates the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer through the miR-148a/CDK1 pathway
Authors: Wang Chen , Shao Shiqing , Deng Li , Wang Shelian , Zhang Yongyan
Published: December 2020

Background

Radiation resistance is a major obstacle to the prognosis of cervical cancer (CC) patients. Many studies have confirmed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of radiosensitivity of cancers. However, whether small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) regulates the radiosensitivity of CC remains unknown.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression levels of SNHG12 and microRNA-148a (miR-148a). The radiosensitivity of cells was evaluated by clonogenic assay. Flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assay were performed to assess the apoptosis ability and cell cycle distribution of cells. Besides, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were used to verify the interaction between miR-148a and SNHG12 or cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). Also, the protein levels of CDK1, CCND1 and γ-H2AX were detected by western blot analysis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments were conducted to verify the effect of SNHG12 on CC tumor growth. Ki-67 and TUNEL staining were employed to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis rates in vivo. The hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were employed to evaluate the tumor cell morphology.

Results

SNHG12 was upregulated in CC tissues and cells, and its knockdown improved the radiosensitivity by promoting the radiation-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of CC cells. Also, miR-148a could be sponged by SNHG12 and could target CDK1. MiR-148a inhibitor or CDK1 overexpression could invert the promotion effect of silenced-SNHG12 on CC radiosensitivity. Meanwhile, SNHG12 interference reduced the tumor growth of CC, increased miR-148a expression, and inhibited CDK1 level in vivo.

Conclusion

LncRNA SNHG12 promoted CDK1 expression to regulate the sensitivity of CC cells to radiation through sponging miR-148a, indicating that SNHG12 could be used as a potential biomarker to treat the radiotherapy resistance of CC patients.
Factors associated with increasing rural doctor supply in Asia-Pacific LMICs: a scoping review
Authors: Putri Likke Prawidya , O’Sullivan Belinda Gabrielle , Russell Deborah Jane , Kippen Rebecca
Published: December 2020

Background

More than 60% of the world’s rural population live in the Asia-Pacific region. Of these, more than 90% reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Asia-Pacific LMICs rural populations are more impoverished and have poorer access to medical care, placing them at greater risk of poor health outcomes. Understanding factors associated with doctors working in rural areas is imperative in identifying effective strategies to improve rural medical workforce supply in Asia-Pacific LMICs.

Method

We performed a scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature from Asia-Pacific LMICs (1999 to 2019), searching major online databases and web-based resources. The literature was synthesized based on the World Health Organization Global Policy Recommendation categories for increasing access to rural health workers.

Result

Seventy-one articles from 12 LMICs were included. Most were about educational factors (82%), followed by personal and professional support (57%), financial incentives (45%), regulatory (20%), and health systems (13%). Rural background showed strong association with both rural preference and actual work in most studies. There was a paucity in literature on the effect of rural pathway in medical education such as rural-oriented curricula, rural clerkships and internship; however, when combined with other educational and regulatory interventions, they were effective. An additional area, atop of the WHO categories was identified, relating to health system factors, such as governance, health service organization and financing. Studies generally were of low quality—frequently overlooking potential confounding variables, such as respondents’ demographic characteristics and career stage—and 39% did not clearly define ‘rural’.

Conclusion

This review is consistent with, and extends, most of the existing evidence on effective strategies to recruit and retain rural doctors while specifically informing the range of evidence within the Asia-Pacific LMIC context. Evidence, though confined to 12 countries, is drawn from 20 years’ research about a wide range of factors that can be targeted to strengthen strategies to increase rural medical workforce supply in Asia-Pacific LMICs. Multi-faceted approaches were evident, including selecting more students into medical school with a rural background, increasing public-funded universities, in combination with rural-focused education and rural scholarships, workplace and rural living support and ensuring an appropriately financed rural health system. The review identifies the need for more studies in a broader range of Asia-Pacific countries, which expand on all strategy areas, define rural clearly, use multivariate analyses, and test how various strategies relate to doctor’s career stages.
Strategies to improve deep learning-based salivary gland segmentation
Authors: van Rooij Ward , Dahele Max , Nijhuis Hanne , Slotman Berend J. , Verbakel Wilko F.
Published: December 2020

Background

Deep learning-based delineation of organs-at-risk for radiotherapy purposes has been investigated to reduce the time-intensiveness and inter-/intra-observer variability associated with manual delineation. We systematically evaluated ways to improve the performance and reliability of deep learning for organ-at-risk segmentation, with the salivary glands as the paradigm. Improving deep learning performance is clinically relevant with applications ranging from the initial contouring process, to on-line adaptive radiotherapy.

Methods

Various experiments were designed: increasing the amount of training data (1) with original images, (2) with traditional data augmentation and (3) with domain-specific data augmentation; (4) the influence of data quality was tested by comparing training/testing on clinical versus curated contours, (5) the effect of using several custom cost functions was explored, and (6) patient-specific Hounsfield unit windowing was applied during inference; lastly, (7) the effect of model ensembles was analyzed. Model performance was measured with geometric parameters and model reliability with those parameters’ variance.

Results

A positive effect was observed from increasing the (1) training set size, (2/3) data augmentation, (6) patient-specific Hounsfield unit windowing and (7) model ensembles. The effects of the strategies on performance diminished when the base model performance was already ‘high’. The effect of combining all beneficial strategies was an increase in average Sørensen–Dice coefficient of about 4% and 3% and a decrease in standard deviation of about 1% and 1% for the submandibular and parotid gland, respectively.

Conclusions

A subset of the strategies that were investigated provided a positive effect on model performance and reliability. The clinical impact of such strategies would be an expected reduction in post-segmentation editing, which facilitates the adoption of deep learning for autonomous automated salivary gland segmentation.
A randomised controlled trial of heavy shoulder strengthening exercise in patients with hypermobility spectrum disorder or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and long-lasting shoulder complaints: study protocol for the Shoulder-MOBILEX study
Authors: Liaghat Behnam , Skou Søren T. , Søndergaard Jens , Boyle Eleanor , Søgaard Karen , Juul-Kristensen Birgit
Published: December 2020

Background

Four out of five patients with hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) experience shoulder complaints including persistent pain and instability. Evidence suggests that patients with HSD/hEDS who experience knee and back complaints improve with exercise-based therapy. However, no study has focused on exercise-based treatment for the shoulder in this patient group. The potential benefits of strengthening the shoulder muscles, such as increased muscle-tendon stiffness, may be effective for patients with HSD/hEDS who often display decreased strength and increased shoulder laxity/instability.

The primary aim is to investigate the short-term effectiveness of a 16-week progressive heavy shoulder strengthening programme and general advice (HEAVY) compared with low-load training and general advice (LIGHT), on self-reported shoulder symptoms, function, and quality of life.

Methods

A superiority, parallel group, randomised controlled trial will be conducted with 100 patients from primary care with HSD/hEDS and shoulder complaints (persistent pain and/or instability) for more than 3 months. Participants will be randomised to receive HEAVY (full range of motion, high load) or LIGHT (neutral to midrange of motion, low load) strengthening programme three times weekly with exercises targeting scapular and rotator cuff muscles. HEAVY will be supervised twice weekly, and LIGHT three times during the 16 weeks. The primary outcome will be between-group difference in change from baseline to 16-week follow-up in the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI, 0-2100 better to worse). Secondary outcomes will include a range of self-reported outcomes covering symptoms, function, and quality of life, besides clinical tests for shoulder strength, laxity/instability, and proprioception. Outcome assessors will be blinded to group allocation. Participants will be kept blind to treatment allocation through minimal information about the intervention content and hypotheses. Primary analyses will be performed by a blinded epidemiologist.

Discussion

If effective, the current heavy shoulder strengthening programme will challenge the general understanding of prescribing low-load exercise interventions for patients with HSD/hEDS and provide a new treatment strategy. The study will address an important and severe condition using transparent, detailed, and high-quality methods to potentially support a future implementation.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT03869307. Registered on 11 March 2019.
Identification and characterization of a Babesia bigemina thrombospondin-related superfamily member, TRAP-1: a novel antigen containing neutralizing epitopes involved in merozoite invasion
Authors: Montenegro Valeria Noely , Paoletta Martina Soledad , Jaramillo Ortiz José M. , Suarez Carlos E. , Wilkowsky Silvina Elizabeth
Published: December 2020

Background

Thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) has been described as a potential vaccine candidate for several diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites. However, this protein and members of this family have not yet been characterized in Babesia bigemina, one of the most prevalent species causing bovine babesiosis.

Methods

The 3186-bp Babesia bigemina TRAP-1 (BbiTRAP-1) gene was identified by a bioinformatics search using the B. bovis TRAP-1 sequence. Members of the TRAP and TRAP-related protein families (TRP) were identified in Babesia and Theileria through a search of the TSP-1 adhesive domain, which is the hallmark motif in both proteins. Structural modeling and phylogenetic analysis were performed with the identified TRAP proteins. A truncated recombinant BbiTRAP-1 that migrates at approximately 107 kDa and specific antisera were produced and used in Western blot analysis and indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT). B-cell epitopes with neutralizing activity in BbiTRAP-1 were defined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and invasion assays.

Results

Three members of the TRAP family of proteins were identified in B. bigemina (BbiTRAP-1 to -3). All are type 1 transmembrane proteins containing the von Willebrand factor A (vWFA), thrombospondin type 1 (TSP-1), and cytoplasmic C-terminus domains, as well as transmembrane regions. The BbiTRAP-1 predicted structure also contains a metal ion-dependent adhesion site for interaction with the host cell. The TRP family in Babesia and Theileria species contains the canonical TSP-1 domain but lacks the vWFA domain and together with TRAP define a novel gene superfamily. A variable number of tandem repeat units are present in BbiTRAP-1 and could be used for strain genotyping. Western blot and IFAT analysis confirmed the expression of BbiTRAP-1 by blood-stage parasites. Partial recognition by a panel of sera from B. bigemina-infected cattle in ELISAs using truncated BbiTRAP-1 suggests that this protein is not an immunodominant antigen. Additionally, bovine anti-recombinant BbiTRAP-1 antibodies were found to be capable of neutralizing merozoite invasion in vitro.

Conclusions

We have identified the TRAP and TRP gene families in several Babesia and Theileria species and characterized BbiTRAP-1 as a novel antigen of B. bigemina. The functional relevance and presence of neutralization-sensitive B-cell epitopes suggest that BbiTRAP-1 could be included in tests for future vaccine candidates against B. bigemina.

Graphical Abstract
Implications of increasing temperature stress for predatory biocontrol of vector mosquitoes
Authors: Buxton Mmabaledi , Nyamukondiwa Casper , Dalu Tatenda , Cuthbert Ross N. , Wasserman Ryan J.
Published: December 2020

Background

Predators play a critical role in regulating larval mosquito prey populations in aquatic habitats. Understanding predator-prey responses to climate change-induced environmental perturbations may foster optimal efficacy in vector reduction. However, organisms may differentially respond to heterogeneous thermal environments, potentially destabilizing predator-prey trophic systems.

Methods

Here, we explored the critical thermal limits of activity (CTLs; critical thermal-maxima [CTmax] and minima [CTmin]) of key predator-prey species. We concurrently examined CTL asynchrony of two notonectid predators (Anisops sardeaandEnithares chinai) and one copepod predator (Lovenula falcifera) as well as larvae of three vector mosquito species,Aedes aegypti,Anopheles quadriannulatusandCulex pipiens, across instar stages (early, 1st; intermediate, 2nd/3rd; late, 4th).

Results

Overall, predators and prey differed significantly in CTmaxand CTmin. Predators generally had lower CTLs than mosquito prey, dependent on prey instar stage and species, with first instars having the lowest CTmax(lowest warm tolerance), but also the lowest CTmin(highest cold tolerance). For predators,L. falciferaexhibited the narrowest CTLs overall, withE. chinaihaving the widest andA. sardeaintermediate CTLs, respectively. Among prey species, the global invaderAe. aegypticonsistently exhibited the highest CTmax, whilst differences among CTminwere inconsistent among prey species according to instar stage.

Conclusion

These results point to significant predator-prey mismatches under environmental change, potentially adversely affecting natural mosquito biocontrol given projected shifts in temperature fluctuations in the study region. The overall narrower thermal breadth of native predators relative to larval mosquito prey may reduce natural biotic resistance to pests and harmful mosquito species, with implications for population success and potentially vector capacity under global change.

Graphical Abstract
Transcriptome changes and polymyxin resistance of acid-adapted Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43889
Authors: Hwang Daekeun , Kim Seung Min , Kim Hyun Jung
Published: December 2020

Background

Acid treatment is commonly used for controlling or killing pathogenic microorganisms on medical devices and environments; however, inadequate acid treatment may cause acid tolerance response (ATR) and offer cross-protection against environmental stresses, including antimicrobials. This study aimed to characterise anEscherichia colistrain that can survive in the acidic gastrointestinal environment.

Results

We developed an acid-tolerantE. coliO157:H7 ATCC 43889 (ATCC 43889) strain that can survive at pH 2.75 via cell adaptation in low pH conditions. We also performed RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR to compare differentially expressed transcripts between acid-adapted and non-adapted cells. Genes related to stress resistance, includingkdpAandbshAwere upregulated in the acid-adapted ATCC 43889 strain. Furthermore, the polymyxin resistance genearnAwas upregulated in the acid-adapted cells, and resistance against polymyxin B and colistin (polymyxin E) was observed. As polymyxins are important antibiotics, effective against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections, the emergence of polymyxin resistance in acid-adaptedE. coliis a serious public health concern.

Conclusion

The transcriptomic and phenotypic changes analysed in this study during the adaptation ofE. colito acid environments can provide useful information for developing intervention technologies and mitigating the risk associated with the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Inter- and intraobserver agreement of the quantitative assessment of [99mTc]-labelled anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) SPECT/CT in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Hughes Daniel Johnathan , Chand Gitasha , Goh Vicky , Cook Gary J. R.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Checkpoint inhibition therapy using monoclonal antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1) is now standard management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PD-L1 expression is a validated and approved prognostic and predictive biomarker for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Technetium-99 m [99mTc]-labelled anti-PD-L1 single-domain antibody (NM-01) SPECT/CT quantification correlates with PD-L1 expression in NSCLC, presenting an opportunity for non-invasive assessment. The aim of this study was to determine the inter- and intraobserver agreement of the quantitative assessment of [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT in NSCLC.

Methods

[99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT studies of 21 consecutive NSCLC participants imaged for the evaluation of PD-L1 expression were analysed. Three independent observers measured maximum counts in a tumour region of interest (ROImax) of primary lung, metastatic lesions and normal tissue references of both 1 and 2 h post-injection (n = 42) anonymised studies using a manual technique. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated, and Bland–Altman plot analysis was performed to determine inter- and intraobserver agreement.

Results

Intraclass correlation of primary lung tumour-to-blood pool (T:BP; ICC 0.83, 95% CI 0.73–0.90) and lymph node metastasis-to-blood pool (LN:BP; ICC 0.87, 0.81–0.92) measures of [99mTc]NM-01 uptake was good to excellent between observers. Freehand ROImax of T (ICC 0.94), LN (ICC 0.97), liver (ICC 0.97) and BP (ICC 0.90) reference tissues also demonstrated excellent interobserver agreement. ROImax scoring of healthy lung demonstrated moderate to excellent interobserver agreement (ICC 0.84) and improved when measured consistently at the level of the aortic arch (ICC 0.89). Manual ROImax re-scoring of T, LN, T:BP and LN:BP using [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT following a 42-day interval was consistent with excellent intraobserver agreement (ICC range 0.95–0.97).

Conclusion

Good to excellent inter- and intraobserver agreement of the quantitative assessment of [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT in NSCLC was demonstrated in this study, including T:BP which has been shown to correlate with PD-L1 status. [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT has the potential to reliably and non-invasively assess PD-L1 expression.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier no. NCT02978196. Registered 30th November 2016.
Disparities in utilization of sexual and reproductive health services among high school adolescents from youth friendly service implemented and non-implemented areas of Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Haile Bayu , Shegaze Mulugeta , Feleke Tesfaye , Glagn Mustefa , Andarge Eshetu
Published: December 2020

Background

In recent years, much effort was made to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services (SRH) to adolescents and youths in Ethiopia particularly through establishment of youth friendly service (YFS) corners as part of the existing health care facilities. The existing evidences focused on investigating the utilization of SRH services at YFS established areas alone. There is a dearth of evidence which compares the SRH service use between the YFS implemented and non-implemented areas so that evidences can be drawn to suggest on the successes of the expansion of youth friendly corners.

Methods

A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted by employing a multistage cluster sampling method. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and the collected data were entered in to Epidata version 4.4.1 software and then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. χ2 test was used to see a significant difference in SRH service utilization among adolescents from YFS implemented and non-implanted areas. The association between the SRH services utilization and the independent variables were examined using binary logistic regression. Finally, variables having p-value less than or equal to 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model were considered as statistically significant.

Results

There were a significant difference in the rate of SRH service utilization between YFS implemented (33.8%) and YFS non- implemented (9.9%) areas (χ2 = 37.49, p < 0.001). Higher educational status of mothers (AOR = 2.588, 95% CI: 1.220, 5.491), having open discussion with family (AOR = 3.175, 95%CI: 1.624, 6.206), having good knowledge (AOR = 4.511, 95% CI: 2.458, 8.278) and having positive attitude (AOR = 5.084, 95% CI: 2.764, 9.352) were factors positively associated with SRH services utilization.

Conclusion

Compared with high schools from YFS implemented areas, the SRH service utilization was significantly lower among students from high schools where health facilities did not implement YFS. There is a need for enhancing efforts to establish YFS corners by the stakeholders at different hierarchies at places where the centers were not established so that SRH service uptake would be improved. In addition, it is better to promote open discussion with adolescents at the family level, and emphasis should be given for women education in the broad sense. Furthermore, wide-range awareness creation strategies should be used to address poor knowledge and negative attitude.
Examining the determinants of global and local price passthrough in cereal markets: evidence from DCC-GJR-GARCH and panel analyses
Authors: Guo Jin , Tanaka Tetsuji
Published: December 2020

Existing literature has not yet identified the common determinants of price volatility transmission in agricultural commodities from international to local markets and has rarely investigated the role of self-sufficiency measures in the context of national food security. We analyzed several factors to determine the degree of volatility transmission in wheat, rice and maize prices between world and domestic markets using GARCH models with dynamic conditional correlation specifications and panel feasible generalized least square models. Our findings indicate that a grain autarky system can reduce volatility passthroughs for three grain commodities. While the substitutive commodity consumption behaviour between maize and wheat buffers the volatility transmissions of both, rice does not function as a transmission-relieving element for the volatility implying that rice is not a substitute for wheat or maize consumption; grain consumption proves a more effective substitute than cereal self-sufficiency for insulating passthroughs from global markets. These findings may help the governments of developing nations to protect their domestic food markets from the uncertain movements of foreign markets and may thus improve food security.
Catquest-9SF functioning over a decade – a study from the Swedish National Cataract Register
Authors: Lundström Mats , Kugelberg Maria , Montan Per , Nilsson Ingela , Zetterberg Madeleine , Pesudovs Konrad , Behndig Anders
Published: December 2020

Background

The Swedish National Cataract Register (NCR) collects data on cataract surgery outcomes during March, including patient-reported outcomes using the Catquest-9SF questionnaire for over 11 years. Previous studies from NCR have shown that the preoperative visual acuity has improved over time. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the Catquest-9SF Rasch scoring performance in this changing environment. A second purpose was to describe clinical data over the same period for those who completed the questionnaire.

Methods

The performance of the Catquest-9SF was analysed by a separate Rasch analysis for each year, resulting in a preoperative and postoperative score for each participating patient in the annual cohorts. The clinical data and questionnaire scoring were analysed for each year in the period 2008–2018 inclusive.

Results

Data were available for 42,023 eyes for 11 annual cohorts (2008–2018). The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were stable during the study period. Person separation (precision) for the whole period was 2.58 and varied between 2.45 and 2.72. The person reliability was 0.87 and varied between 0.86 and 0.88. The targeting of question difficulty to person ability became less accurate over time meaning that the item activities became easier to carry out without difficulty. The average targeting for the whole period was −2.06 and changed from −1.92 in 2008 to −2.31 in 2018. The person score improved both before surgery and after surgery, indicating that patients are undergoing surgery at a more able level and getting better outcomes. The average improvement by surgery decreased from 3.41 logits in 2008 to 3.21 logits in 2018 (p = 0.003).

Over time, patient age decreased from 75 to 74 years (p < 0.001) and the proportion of women decreased from 63.9 to 57.9% (p < 0.001). The mean preoperative visual acuity in both the operated eye and the better eye improved over time (0.47 to 0.40 logMAR,p < 0.001 and 0.22 to 0.19 logMAR,p < 0.001, respectively), as did the mean postoperative visual acuity in the operated eye (0.14 to 0.09 logMAR,p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The Catquest-9SF retained stable psychometric properties over this 11-year period although more recent cohorts included slightly younger patients with somewhat better vision.
Evaluation of surgical outcome of giant intracranial meningiomas
Authors: Teama Ramy , Adawy Mohamed , Emara Mohamed
Published: December 2020

Background

The surgery of giant intracranial meningiomas (GIM) is difficult due to its large size, prominent vascularity, including and limiting visualization of various neurovascular structures, and severe cerebral edema. In this study, we will evaluate the surgical outcome of giant meningiomas according to our experience at our hospital in management of giant intracranial meningioma.

Main body

A retrospective analysis of 48 patients with histologically proven meningioma (≥ 6-cm diameter) who underwent surgical treatment at Benha University hospitals over a period of 5 years (June 2014/June 2019) is presented. Details regarding clinical presentation, imaging findings, surgical results and complications, and follow-up status were collected. The study group was composed of 41 females and 7 males. The age of the study group ranged from 38 to 69 years with an average of 49 years. The mean follow-up period was 36 months. Different approaches were used according to tumor location with the aim of gross total removal. Gross total removal was achieved in 90% of cases (43 cases). There were 2 cases with intraoperative complications not related to surgery. Recurrence was present in 4 cases. Mortality in this series was 4% (2 cases) with no reported intraoperative mortality.

Conclusion

Management of giant intracranial meningioma is a relatively common practice in neurosurgical centers in developing countries with the aim of radical total surgical removal being the first and most optimum option. Large size makes surgery difficult, but young age, meticulous surgical techniques, proper localization, trying to minimize operative time, and Simpson grade are of special value. Interdisciplinary cooperation is essential to avoid the common complications like pulmonary embolism (PE), postoperative hematoma in tumor bed that leads to bad surgical outcome.
Effect of a weight loss program on serum adiponectin and insulin resistance among overweight and obese premenopausal females
Authors: Foula Walaa H. , Emara Rana H. , Eldeeb Mona K. , Mokhtar Samiha A. , El-Sahn Fikrat A.
Published: December 2020

Background

Obesity has emerged as a public health crisis in many populations including Egypt. Adipose tissue produces a number of adipokines, one of them is adiponectin which has attracted much attention because of its antidiabetic and antiatherogenic effects.

Objective

To determine the effect of a weight loss program on serum adiponectin level and insulin resistance among overweight and obese adult premenopausal females.

Study design

A pre-postintervention study was carried out among 95 premenopausal overweight and obese females (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) aged 20 to 40 years at the integrated health clinic affiliated to the High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria, Egypt, from February 2016 to February 2017. All participants underwent a weight loss program based on a reduced calorie balanced diet and advised to increase their physical activity. Dietary instructions and follow-up were done weekly throughout 16 weeks. Blood samples were collected to investigate serum adiponectin level and insulin resistance at the beginning and the end of the intervention.

Results

After 16 weeks, a significant decrease in body weight by 9.7% was associated with a significant increase in serum adiponectin from 13.3 ± 4.9 μg/ml to 18.5 ± 5.6 μg/ml. Both fasting insulin and insulin resistance had decreased significantly by 13.6% and 13.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

A weight reduction program depending on a reduced calorie diet for 16 weeks was associated with a significant increase in total adiponectin level and reduction in insulin resistance. An emphasis on the importance of keeping normal weight through nutritional education and the promotion of healthy diets is recommended to reduce the risk of occurrence of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.