bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-resolution characterization of molecular taxonomies in bulk and single-cell transcriptomics data
Authors: Reed Eric R. , Monti Stefano
Published: November 2020

As high-throughput genomics assays become more efficient and cost effective, their utilization has become standard in large-scale biomedical projects. These studies are often explorative, in that relationships between samples are not explicitly defineda priori, but rather emerge from data-driven discovery and annotation of molecular subtypes, thereby informing hypotheses and independent evaluation. Here, we presentK2Taxonomer, a novel unsupervised recursive partitioning algorithm and associated R package that utilize ensemble learning to identify robust subgroups in a “taxonomy-like” structure (https://github.com/montilab/K2Taxonomer).K2Taxonomerwas devised to accommodate different data paradigms, and is suitable for the analysis of both bulk and single-cell transcriptomics data. For each of these data types, we demonstrate the power ofK2Taxonomerto discover known relationships in both simulated and human tissue data. We conclude with a practical application on breast cancer tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) single-cell profiles, in which we identified co-expression of translational machinery genes as a dominant transcriptional program shared by T cells subtypes, associated with better prognosis in breast cancer tissue bulk expression data.
Deletion ofCrtc1leads to hippocampal neuroenergetic impairments associated with depressive-like behavior
Authors: Cherix Antoine , Poitry-Yamate Carole , Lanz Bernard , Zanoletti Olivia , Grosse Jocelyn , Sandi Carmen , Gruetter Rolf , Cardinaux Jean-René
Published: November 2020

Mood disorders (MD) are a major burden on society as their biology remains poorly understood, challenging both diagnosis and therapy. Among many observed biological dysfunctions, homeostatic dysregulation, such as metabolic syndrome (MeS), shows considerable comorbidity with MD. Recently, CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1), a regulator of brain metabolism, was proposed as a promising factor to understand this relationship. Searching for imaging biomarkers and associating them with pathophysiological mechanisms using preclinical models, can provide significant insight into these complex psychiatric diseases and help the development of personalized healthcare. Here, we used neuroimaging technologies to show that deletion ofCrtc1in mice leads to an imaging fingerprint of hippocampal metabolic impairment related to depressive-like behavior. By identifying the underlying molecular/physiological origin, we could assign an energy-boosting mood-stabilizing treatment, ebselen, which rescued behavior and neuroimaging markers. Finally, our results point towards the GABAergic system as a potential therapeutic target for behavioral dysfunctions related to metabolic disorders. This study provides new insights onCrtc1’sand MeS’s relationship to MD and establishes depression-related markers with clinical potential.
An Oatp transporter-mediated steroid sink promotes tumor-induced cachexia inDrosophila
Authors: Santabárbara-Ruiz Paula , Léopold Pierre
Published: November 2020

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome associated with many types of tumors and characterized by a combination of anorexia, loss of body weight, catabolic alterations and systemic inflammation. We developed a tumor model inDrosophilalarvae causing a cachexia-like syndrome, and used it to evaluate the role of steroid hormone imbalance in cachectic alterations. Cachectic larvae show reduced levels of the circulating steroid ecdysone. Artificially importing ecdysone in the tumor using the Oatp74D importer aggravates cachexia, while feeding animals with ecdysone rescues cachectic defects. This suggests that a steroid sink induced by the tumor promotes catabolic alterations in healthy tissues. We find that Oatp33Eb, another member of this family of transporters, is specifically induced in tumors promoting cachexia. Blocking Oatp33Eb in cachectic tumors restores circulating ecdysone and reverses cachectic alterations. Oatp transporters are induced in several types of hormone-dependent tumors, suggesting that a similar sink effect could modify hormonal balance in cachectic cancer patients.

Highlights

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We used theDrosophilalarva as a model to study hormonal imbalance in tumor-induced cachexia.

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Steroid (ecdysone) levels are reduced in cachectic tumor-bearing larvae.

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Steroid import by the tumor reduces circulating hormone levels and induces cachexia.

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The Oatp33Eb transporter is specifically upregulated in cachectic tumors and its inhibition rescues both circulating steroid levels and metabolic/tissue homeostasis.

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SpecificOatpgenes are found upregulated in human tumors with high prevalence of cachexia.
G1 Phase Lengthening During Neural Tissue Development Involves CDC25B Induced G1 Heterogeneity
Authors: Molina Angie , Bonnet Frédéric , Lobjois V. , Bel-Vialar Sophie , Gautrais Jacques , Pituello Fabienne , Agius Eric
Published: November 2020

While lengthening of the cell cycle and G1 phase is a generic feature of tissue maturation during development, the underlying mechanism remains still poorly understood. Here we develop a time lapse imaging strategy to measure the four phases of the cell cycle in single neural progenitor cells in their endogenous environment. Our results show that neural progenitors possess a great heterogeneity of the cell cycle length. This duration variability is distributed over all phases of the cell cycle, with the G1 phase being the one contributing primarily to cell cycle variability. Within one cell cycle, each phase duration appears stochastic and independent except for a surprising correlation between S and M phase. Lineage analysis indicates that the majority of daughter cells display longer G1 phase than their mother’s suggesting that at each cell cycle a mechanism lengthens the G1 phase. We identify an actor of the core cell cycle machinery, the CDC25B phosphatase known to regulate G2/M transition, as an indirect regulator of the duration of the G1 phase. We propose that CDC25B acts via a cell to cell increase in G1 phase heterogeneity revealing a novel mechanism of G1 lengthening associated with tissue development.
Do congruent lip movements facilitate speech processing in a dynamic audiovisual multi-talker scenario? An ERP study with older and younger adults
Authors: Begau Alexandra , Klatt Laura-Isabelle , Wascher Edmund , Schneider Daniel , Getzmann Stephan
Published: November 2020

In natural conversations, visible mouth and lip movements play an important role in speech comprehension. There is evidence that visual speech information improves speech comprehension, especially for older adults and under difficult listening conditions. However, the neurocognitive basis is still poorly understood. The present EEG experiment investigated the benefits of audiovisual speech in a dynamic cocktail-party scenario with 22 (aged 20 to 34 years) younger and 20 (aged 55 to 74 years) older participants. We presented three simultaneously talking faces with a varying amount of visual speech input (still faces, visually unspecific and audiovisually congruent). In a two-alternative forced-choice task, participants had to discriminate target words (“yes” or “no”) among two distractors (one-digit number words). In half of the experimental blocks, the target was always presented from a central position, in the other half, occasional switches to a lateral position could occur. We investigated behavioral and electrophysiological modulations due to age, location switches and the content of visual information, analyzing response times and accuracy as well as the P1, N1, P2, N2 event-related potentials (ERPs) and the contingent negative variation (CNV) in the EEG. We found that audiovisually congruent speech information improved performance and modulated ERP amplitudes in both age groups, suggesting enhanced preparation and integration of the subsequent auditory input. In the older group, larger amplitude measures were found in early phases of processing (P1-N1). Here, amplitude measures were reduced in response to audiovisually congruent stimuli. In later processing phases (P2-N2) we found decreased amplitude measures in the older group, while an amplitude reduction for audiovisually congruent compared to visually unspecific stimuli was still observable. However, these benefits were only observed as long as no location switches occurred, leading to enhanced amplitude measures in later processing phases (P2-N2). To conclude, meaningful visual information in a multi-talker setting, when presented from the expected location, is shown to be beneficial for both younger and older adults.
Vitamin D – contrary to vitamin K – does not associate with clinical outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Authors: Walk Jona , Dofferhoff Anton S.M. , van den Ouweland Jody M.W. , van Daal Henny , Janssen Rob
Published: November 2020

SARS-CoV-2 causes remarkably variable disease from asymptomatic individuals to respiratory insufficiency and coagulopathy. Vitamin K deficiency was recently found to associate with clinical outcome in a cohort of COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D has been hypothesized to reduce disease susceptibility by modulating inflammation, yet little is known about its role in disease severity. Considering the critical interaction between vitamin K and vitamin D in calcium and elastic fiber metabolism, we determined vitamin D status in the same cohort of 135 hospitalized COVID-19 patients by measuring blood 25(OH)D levels. We found no difference in vitamin D status between those with good and poor outcome (defined as intubation and/or death). Instead, we found vitamin D sufficient persons (25(OH)D >50 nmol/L) had accelerated elastic fiber degradation compared to those with mild deficiency (25(OH)D 25-50 nmol/L). Based on these findings, we hypothesize that vitamin D might have both favorable anti-inflammatory and unfavorable pro-calcification effects during COVID-19 and that vitamin K might compensate for the latter.
Strategic management accounting practices: a literature review and opportunity for future research
Authors: Rashid Md. Mamunur , Ali Md. Mohobbot , Hossain Dewan Mahboob
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to review the empirical studies that have focused on the adoption, benefits and contingencies of strategic management accounting (SMA) practices and the effects of adoption on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has highlighted empirical studies conducted on SMA practices in the context of both developed [1] and developing economies. In reviewing the literature, the study focuses on the findings of developed economy separately from that of developing economy to get more insight into the differences in the practices of the two set of economies. Based on the review, avenues for future research studies are outlined.

Findings

The review of extant literature reveals that several SMA techniques such as competitor accounting, strategic pricing, benchmarking and customer accounting have been highly or moderately adopted in several developed countries while majority of other techniques remained at the bottom line of the adoption status. However, the review demonstrates substantial differences in the SMA practices between the two set of economies in terms of the level of adoption, contingent factors and the effects of adoption.

Originality/value

The study attempts to focus on empirical studies that have concentrated exclusively on SMA practices. The adoption status, benefits derived, contingent factors affecting the adoption decision and the effect of adopting a package of SMA techniques on several aspects of firm performance are presented in the context of both developed and developing economies.
The multi-objective optimization of tunneling boring machine control based on geological conditions identification
Authors: Wang Hongyuan , Wang Jingcheng
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper aims to design an optimization control for tunnel boring machine (TBM) based on geological identification. For unknown geological condition, the authors need to identify them before further optimization. For fully considering multiple crucial performance of TBM, the authors establish an optimization problem for TBM so that it can be adapted to varying geology. That is, TBM can operate optimally under corresponding geology, which is called geology-adaptability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopted k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm with modification to identify geological conditions. The modification includes adjustment of weights in voting procedure and similarity distance measurement, which at suitable for engineering and enhance accuracy of prediction. The authors also design several key performances of TBM during operation, and built a multi-objective function. Further, the multi-objective function has been transformed into a single objective function by weighted-combination. The reformulated optimization was solved by genetic algorithm in the end.

Findings

This paper provides a support for decision-making in TBM control. Through proposed optimization control, the advance speed of TBM has been enhanced dramatically in each geological condition, compared with the results before optimizing. Meanwhile, other performances are acceptable and the method is verified by in situ data.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an optimization control of TBM considering several key performances during excavating. The optimization is conducted under different geological conditions so that TBM has geological-adaptability.
Too late to act: when crises become tragic
Authors: Clément Mary-Lieta , Roux-Dufort Christophe
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This article aims to explore the tragic nature of crisis and identify managers’ decision-making processes and strategies when they are trapped by events beyond their understanding and control. In this article, the tragic is viewed as the collision of an overdetermined scenario perceived as inevitable, insurmountable and irreparable and the managers' strategies to free themselves from this scenario and divert its trajectory.

Design/methodology/approach

We make a crossed literature review between crisis management and Greek tragedy as proposed by scholars in classical literature.

Findings

We make two theoretical contributions to the literature on crisis management. First, we articulate a set of research proposals into a model to explain how managers' decisions make the crisis tragic. Second, we enrich the field of crisis management by highlighting strategies in order to avoid them.

Originality/value

We use Greek tragedy, not as a metaphor to characterize the consequences of crises as the authors usually do, but as an analytical lens to explore their inexorable, insurmountable and irremediable nature and the decisions made by managers that would make crises tragic.
Isotype selection for antibody-based cancer therapy
Authors: Vukovic N , van Elsas A , Verbeek J S , Zaiss D M W
Published: November 2020

The clinical application of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has revolutionized the field of cancer therapy, as it has enabled the successful treatment of previously untreatable types of cancer. Different mechanisms play a role in the anti-tumour effect of mAbs. These include blocking of tumour-specific growth factor receptors or of immune modulatory molecules as well as complement and cell-mediated tumour cell lysis. Thus, for many mAbs, Fc-mediated effector functions critically contribute to the efficacy of treatment. As immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes differ in their ability to bind to Fc receptors on immune cells as well as in their ability to activate complement, they differ in the immune responses they activate. Therefore, the choice of antibody isotype for therapeutic mAbs is dictated by its intended mechanism of action. Considering that clinical efficacy of many mAbs is currently achieved only in subsets of patients, optimal isotype selection and Fc optimization during antibody development may represent an important step towards improved patient outcome. Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the therapeutic effector functions of different isotypes and Fc-engineering strategies to improve mAbs application.
Diameter‐based measurements of the degree of carotid artery stenosis using ultrasonography
Authors: Larsson Annika C. , Rosfors Stefan
Published: November 2020

Flow velocity measurement by duplex ultrasonography (DUS) is widely accepted as a preoperative method for grading carotid stenoses. Diameter‐based grading is used for angiographic methods, but so far the experience is limited regarding diameter‐based grading using DUS. In 101 cases with different degrees of carotid stenoses, we compared diameter‐ and velocity‐based grading using DUS and evaluated variability and reproducibility for diameter measurements in 38 of the stenoses. In 18% of the cases, suboptimal image quality with calcifications and acoustic shadowing precluded diameter measurements. In the remaining 83 cases, the agreement between velocity‐based and diameter‐based grading for distinction between significant and non‐significant stenosis was 69% with a kappa value of 0.40. Repeated measurements of diameters showed a coefficient of variation of 10% and intraclass coefficients of correlation of 0.9. We conclude that diameter measurement with DUS can be performed with high reproducibility in most patients with carotid stenosis. These measurements can then be used for calculations of the degree of stenosis, to supplement velocity‐based grading. The moderate agreement between diameter‐based and flow velocity‐based grading cannot easily be explained. Discrepancies probably constitute a mixture of methodological errors and hemodynamic factors and need further evaluation.
Quantifying current and future risks of invasiveness of non‐native aquatic species in highly urbanised estuarine ecosystems—A case study of the River Neretva Estuary (Eastern Adriatic Sea: Croatia and Bosnia–Herzegovina)
Authors: Glamuzina Branko , Tutman Pero , Glamuzina Luka , Vidović Zoran , Simonović Predrag , Vilizzi Lorenzo
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Biological invasions are a major driver of global environmental change as invasive non‐native species can exert severe environmental impacts on invaded ecosystems. Estuaries are especially vulnerable to biological invasions, which in highly urbanised areas are further facilitated by introduction pathways linked to commercial activities. This study provides a risk screening of non‐native invasive species for the highly urbanised River Neretva Estuary (Eastern Adriatic Sea: Croatia and Bosnia–Herzegovina). In total, 12 species of non‐native aquatic organisms were identified and screened for their invasiveness with the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit. Of these species, eight were classified as carrying a high risk of invasiveness under current climate conditions and nine under future climate conditions. Amongst the high‐risk species, blue crab Callinectes sapidus has already caused impacts in the risk assessment area, where it also represents an important economic resource. The “horizon” species Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum also carried a high risk of invasiveness, which for the latter species applied under predicted global warming. The present findings will contribute towards preventative management and control measures for the conservation of the natural ecosystem of the River Neretva Estuary whilst accounting for aquatic farming demands.
Unique expatriate factors associated with job dissatisfaction among nurses
Authors: Billah S.M.B. , Saquib N. , Zaghloul M.S. , Rajab A.M. , Aljundi S.M.T. , Almazrou A. , Saquib J.
Published: November 2020

Aim

To assess whether expatriate‐specific factors were associated with nurses’ overall job dissatisfaction after controlling for known factors.

Background

Current evidence about job dissatisfaction among nurses in Saudi Arabia is not specific to expatriate nurses. Specific aspects such as job insecurity, fear of litigation, and language barriers have not been assessed in the context of job dissatisfaction.

Introduction

The majority of nurses in the Arab Gulf countries are expatriate. The motive for employment here is purely financial because there is no path to permanent residency.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional electronic survey of 977 expatriate nurses in Al‐Qassim, Saudi Arabia. The survey included questions on demography, job dissatisfaction (overall and related to salary, workload, and teamwork), job characteristics, job duration as an expatriate, communication issues with patients and doctors, fear of litigation, and job insecurity. We used a hierarchical logistic regression to evaluate whether unique factors were associated with overall job dissatisfaction either as a group, or individually.

Results

The mean age of the nurses was 32 years, and 19% reported overall job dissatisfaction. The unique expatriate factors as a group contributed significantly to the model. Job insecurity, patient communication problems, and shorter job duration were significantly associated with higher overall job dissatisfaction.

Conclusions

Job insecurity, job duration, and patient communication were significant correlates of overall job dissatisfaction among expatriate nurses.

Implications for nursing policy

A longer job contract and organizational initiatives to help new expatriate nurses acculturate will likely decrease feelings of job insecurity and increase job satisfaction.
Hindsight bias and outcome bias in judging directors’ liability and the role of free will beliefs
Authors: Strohmaier Niek , Pluut Helen , van den Bos Kees , Adriaanse Jan , Vriesendorp Reinout
Published: November 2020

Following a corporate disaster such as bankruptcy, people in general and damaged parties, in particular, want to know what happened and whether the company's directors are to blame. The accurate assessment of directors’ liability can be jeopardized by having to judge in hindsight with full knowledge of the adverse outcome. The present study investigates whether professional legal investigators such as judges and lawyers are affected by hindsight bias and outcome bias when evaluating directors’ conduct in a bankruptcy case. Additionally, to advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these biases, we also examine whether free will beliefs can predict susceptibility to hindsight bias and outcome bias in this context. In two studies (total N = 1,729), we demonstrate that legal professionals tend to judge a director's actions more negatively and perceive bankruptcy as more foreseeable in hindsight than in foresight and that these effects are significantly stronger for those who endorse the notion that humans have free will. This contribution is particularly timely considering the many companies that are currently going bankrupt or are facing bankruptcy amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Role of endothelial function determined by asymmetric dimethylarginine in the prediction of resistant hypertension: A subanalysis of ReHOT trial
Authors: de Oliveira Beraldo Daniel , Rodrigues Cássio J. , Quinto Beata M. R. , Batista Marcelo C.
Published: November 2020

The authors conducted a subanalysis of the ReHOT (Resistant Hypertension Optimal Treatment) study to evaluate the association between endothelial dysfunction and resistant hypertension in a population of patients treated in a staged fashion for hypertension. One hundred and three hypertensive patients were followed for 6 months and participated in seven visits (V0‐V6) 28 days apart. There was a first phase (V0‐V3) of antihypertensive adjustment with three drugs and determination of resistant hypertension and a second randomized phase (V3‐V6) of treatment with a fourth drug (clonidine or spironolactone) in the hypertensive patients characterized as resistant. Of the 103 patients included, 86 (83.5%) underwent the randomization visit (V3), 71 were characterized as non‐resistant hypertensives (82.5%), and 15 as resistant hypertensives (17.5%). Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) was shown to be an independent predictor of resistant hypertension after adjustment for multiple variables (OR: 11.42, 95% CI: 1.02‐127.71, P = .048), and in addition, there was a reduction in blood pressure levels and ADMA values during follow‐up with a positive correlation in both groups and a greater reduction in the group of resistant hypertensives. We demonstrated that ADMA was an independent predictor of resistant hypertension, and we observed that the improvement in blood pressure levels obtained with the treatment was proportional to the reduction in ADMA values, suggesting a complementary role of ADMA not only as a stratification tool for the occurrence of resistant hypertension, but also as a possible therapeutic target in this population.
Insights into disparities observed with COVID‐19
Authors: Carethers J.M.
Published: November 2020

The onset of human disease by infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 causing COVID‐19 has revealed risk factors for disease severity. There are four identified factors that put one at high risk for infection and/or mortality creating a disparity: age, co‐morbidities, race/ethnicity and gender. Data indicate that the older a person is, and/or the presence of obesity and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease place one at higher risk for COVID‐19. In the United States, specific race/ethnicities, particularly African Americans and Native Americans, are strong COVID‐19 risk components. Male gender has also emerged as a severity risk factor. For age and racial/ethnicities, the accumulation of health co‐morbidities is common precipitating mechanisms. In particular, underlying socio‐economic structures in the United States likely drive development of co‐morbidities, putting affected populations at higher risk for severe COVID‐19. Sudden cardiac death triggered by a common sodium channel variant in African Americans with COVID‐19 has not been evaluated as a cause for racial disparity. There is no evidence that racial/ethnic differences for COVID‐19 are caused by ABO blood groups, use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or from amino acid substitutions in the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein. There is growing evidence that androgen‐enabled expression of ACE2 receptors and the serine protease TMPRSS2, two permissive elements engaging the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein for infection, may contribute to severe COVID‐19 in men. Overall, COVID‐19 has generated disparities for who is infected and the severity of that infection. Understanding the mechanisms for the disparity will help nullify the differences in risk for COVID‐19.
Reinterpreting Law's Silence: Examining the Interconnections between Legal Doctrine and the Rise of Immaterial Labour
Authors: ROSE EMILY
Published: November 2020

Recent years have seen a rise in immaterial labour in the United Kingdom and other developed economies. Sociological explanatory accounts of these developments focus primarily on economic drivers. Little, if any, inquiry has been made into the potential role of law. This article seeks to identify the aspects of law that may be constitutive of employer and worker perceptions of the acceptability (or otherwise) of employer demands for immaterial labour. Two key contributions are made. The first is a setting‐out of a methodological approach to exploring the constitutive effect of law that emphasizes the internal operation of legal doctrine as critical to understanding its sociological implications. The second is the development of substantive knowledge on the potential role of law vis‐à‐vis the rise of immaterial labour.
Exploration of the food‐related guilt concept
Authors: Yu Huizi , Chambers Edgar , Koppel Kadri
Published: November 2020

There is a continuous need to explore how consumers engage with healthy and sustainable eating behaviors. “Guilt” is a complicated belief that impacts consumers' eating behavior. Consumer‐based characteristics of food that might aid in identifying the perceptions of “guilt‐free,” “less guilt,” or “guilt” were investigated using focus groups. A sorting task was applied to identify product‐grouping patterns by consumers based on different levels of guilt perceptions they had with 18 food and beverage products. Four categories of 45 factors were identified that could elicit guilt perceptions, including (a) intrinsic and (b) extrinsic product characteristics, (c) situational factors, and (d) social‐cultural factors, indicating the complexity and multidimensionality of the “guilt” concept. Moreover, guilt perceptions were found to have a potential impact on leading consumers to seek healthier and sustainable food solutions by positively impacting their food choice, eating and drinking behavior.

Practical applications

This study showed the importance of understanding the role of guilt in eating behavior, and how guilt is related to product, situational, and social‐cultural factors. The findings set up the theoretical foundation for next step, building up new scales to measure quantitatively food‐related guilt.
Meanings of Loss Among Japanese Suicide Bereaved: Content Analysis of Open‐Ended Responses1
Authors: Kawashima Daisuke , Kawano Kenji
Published: November 2020

Although the importance of meaning‐making among suicide bereaved has been reported, the detailed contents of the process remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the content categories of sense‐making and benefit‐finding in Japanese suicide loss survivors. We conducted content analysis of responses to open‐ended questions in 99 participants. The results indicated that sense‐making activities comprised seven categories, including Deceased was relieved from pain and Suicide is inevitable in modern society. Benefit‐finding also comprised eight categories, such as Treat others with compassion and Live one day at a time with gratitude. The implications of the results are discussed in terms of sociocultural contexts of suicide postvention.
Effects of rifampicin on plasma pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin in goats
Authors: Şahiner Hande Sultan , Kum Cavit
Published: November 2020

We investigated the pharmacokinetic profile of co‐administration of tulathromycin with rifampicin. Healthy male goats were allocated to three groups (n = 8) as Group A (single dose 2.5 mg/kg tulathromycin s.c.), B (10 mg kg−1 day−1 rifampicin p.o. daily for 7 days and single dose 2.5 mg/kg tulathromycin s.c. on 8th day), and C (10 mg kg−1 day−1 rifampicin p.o. daily for 21 days and single dose 2.5 mg/kg tulathromycin s.c. on 8th day). Blood samples were collected from jugular veins. Plasma samples were analyzed for tulathromycin by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Peak plasma concentration (Cmax) values of tulathromycin were 1,390 ± 173, 958 ± 106, and 807 ± 116 ng/ml in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Cmax value of group A was greater than other groups (p < .05). Mean residence time based on time zero to last sample time (MRTlast) values were 52 ± 1, 56 ± 4 and 66 ± 4 hr in A, B, and C groups, respectively whereas mean residence time based on time zero extrapolated to infinity (MRTINF_obs) values were 69 ± 4, 85 ± 5, and 86 ± 4 hr, respectively. MRTlast and MRTINF_obs values were greater in B and C groups than group A (p < .05). These findings suggest that rifampicin administration may change several pharmacokinetic parameters of tulathromycin in goats.
More than meets the eye: The impact of imposter syndrome on feedback receptivity
Authors: Gottlieb Michael
Published: November 2020

In this commentary, Michael Gottlieb (@MGottliebMD) discusses the impact of imposter syndrome upon feedback receptivity and strategies for addressing this with our learners.
Nurses' experiences of caring for patients during a prolonged critical illness
Authors: Minton Claire , Batten Lesley
Published: November 2020

Background

The literature regarding nurses' experiences of caring for chronically critically ill (CCI) patients is scant, however, there are subtleties within the literature, identifying nurses are often challenged providing care to this patient group. This can lead to feeling frustrated, lack of control, and distress.

Aims and objectives

As part of a larger study, this paper reports nurses' experiences of caring for patients during a prolonged critical illness in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design

A longitudinal, qualitative, instrumental, multi‐case study consisting of six cases from four New Zealand ICUs was conducted. Theoretical underpinnings were informed by the Chronic Illness Trajectory Framework. The principles of consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research were applied in reporting the methods and findings.

Methods

Patients, family members, nurses, and other health care professionals constituted the participant groups in the larger body of work. Data were collected from observations, conversations, interviews, and document review. Data were analysed by identifying themes, developing vignettes, and trajectory mapping.

Results

Nurses' experiences of caring for CCI patients in the ICU can be framed by a prolonged critical illness trajectory that is unpredictable, problematic, and prolonged. Nurses experienced distress in one of the phases in the trajectory because of uncertainty about a positive outcome for the patient related to multiple complications, with anxiety, delirium, and the suffering they witnessed. Nurses were frustrated and challenged to meet all the patient's needs because of the many tasks they needed to complete over the shift.

Conclusion

Understanding the trajectory of a prolonged critical illness from the perspective of nurses, allows for challenges to be identified and is the first step in improving practice through the education of nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice

Understanding the challenges posed by caring for CCI patients will assist in improving their interactions and prioritizing their care for nurses.
What It Means to (Mis)Trust: Forced Migration, Ontological (In)Security, and the Unrecognized Political Psychology of the Israeli‐Lebanese Conflict
Authors: Gazit Orit
Published: November 2020

What does it mean to search for trust—the constitutive element of feeling ontologically secure—in the context of protracted conflict, trauma, and forced migration? This article addresses this key question in ontological security (OS) studies in International Relations (IR) by analyzing an unrecognized consequence of the Israeli‐Lebanese conflict: a Lebanese community of forced migrants created overnight on Israeli premises due to Israel's unilateral withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000. Relying on 60 in‐depth interviews with Lebanese migrants in Israel, the article demonstrates how forced migrants engage in various OS‐seeking strategies in relentless efforts to reconstitute trust. These strategies range from self‐justification and securitizing identity through religious and communal practices, to a search for recognition from statist institutions and boundary‐work vis‐à‐vis “sibling” disempowered “others” in the host state. However, the article shows how under political circumstances of protracted conflict and repeated perceived betrayal by the state, forced migrants are unable to reconstitute the routinized relations of trust on which OS is based. By exposing the particularistic, dynamic, and highly political character of the migrants' quest for trust, the article sheds new light on the political psychology of an “old” conflict and on the multiple meanings of ontological (in)security in migration.
Nursing professionals’ experiences of person‐centred practices in hospital settings
Authors: Tiainen Minna , Suominen Tarja , Koivula Meeri
Published: November 2020

Background

Person‐centred culture has been studied very little in Scandinavian Countries, yet it significantly affects in the care experiences of patients and staff. Current research indicates there are many factors restricting or enabling person‐centred care in the hospital setting.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to describe person‐centred practice in hospital settings and the factors associated with it.

Method

Data were collected from nursing professionals (N = 276) in a purposefully selected city hospital in one hospital district in Finland. The professionals worked in inpatient wards that had the average duration of treatment period more than one day. The Person‐Centred Practice Inventory‐Staff (PCPI‐S) instrument was used to obtain data via an electronic questionnaire. Data were analysed statistically.

Results

A 30% response rate was achieved (n = 82). Person‐centred practice was described in positive ways. Nursing professionals’ assessments of the implementation of person‐centred practice were fairly positive, prerequisites (mean = 3.93, SD = 0.40), the care environment (mean = 3.64, SD = 0.50) and the care process (mean = 3.98, SD = 0.42). There were a few background factors such as the nursing professionals’ age, job title, work experience in current unit, employment relationship and the number of nursing professionals in the ward that were associated with how they assessed the prerequisites of person‐centred practice. Nursing professionals’ demographic variables such as their job title and working experience in nursing associated with how they assessed the implementation of person‐centredness in the care environment and the care process.

Conclusions

Nursing professionals have the ability to implement person‐centred practice. However, newly graduated or less experienced nursing professionals need support to explore person‐centredness in their work.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of Toxoplasma gondii in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Europe
Authors: Fanelli Angela , Battisti Elena , Zanet Stefania , Trisciuoglio Anna , Ferroglio Ezio
Published: November 2020

The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to summarize the available knowledge on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Europe. A computerized literature search of electronic databases (PubMed and CAB abstracts) was performed along with hand searches of library resources for relevant papers, books, abstracts and conference proceedings. A random‐effect model was employed to calculate pooled seroprevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals, and I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity. Further, moderator analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of geographical area on the seroprevalence in roe deer. From a total of 190 studies initially identified, 16 and 8 articles were included for roe deer and red deer, respectively. These comprise 3,913 roe deer and 2,913 red deer from different European countries. The pooled seroprevalence was estimated to be 29% (95% CI: 23%–35%) in roe deer and 15% (95% CI: 10%–20%) in red deer. High heterogeneity was detected in the seroprevalence data within each species. In roe deer, the pooled seroprevalence estimate was significantly different according to geographical area with 40% (95% CI: 31%–49%) in Western Europe, 31% (95% CI: 21%–43%) in Northern Europe, 27% (95% CI: 15%–41%) in Eastern Europe and 21% (95% CI: 14%–28%) in Southern Europe. The present study indicates a moderate exposure to T. gondii in roe deer and red deer in Europe, with very high prevalence in Western Europe. Our results highlight the significant risk associated to the consumption of venison, encouraging proper handling and cooking of game meat to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.
Gaussian Process-Driven, Nested Experimental Co-Design: Theoretical Framework and Application to an Airborne Wind Energy System
Authors: Deese Joe , Tkacik Peter , Vermillion Chris
Published: November 2020

This paper presents and experimentally evaluates a nested combined plant and controller optimization (co-design) strategy that is applicable to complex systems that require extensive simulations or experiments to evaluate performance. The proposed implementation leverages principles from Gaussian process (GP) modeling to simultaneously characterize performance and uncertainty over the design space within each loop of the co-design framework. Specifically, the outer loop uses a GP model and batch Bayesian optimization to generate a batch of candidate plant designs. The inner loop utilizes recursive GP modeling and a statistically driven adaptation procedure to optimize control parameters for each candidate plant design in real-time, during each experiment. The characterizations of uncertainty made available through the GP models are used to reduce both the plant and control parameter design space as the process proceeds, and the optimization process is terminated once sufficient design space reduction has been achieved. The process is validated in this work on a lab-scale experimental platform for characterizing the flight dynamics and control of an airborne wind energy (AWE) system. The proposed co-design process converges to a design space that is less than 8% of the original design space and results in more than a 50% increase in performance.
An Experimental and Computational Investigation of a Pulsed Air-Jet Excitation System on a Rotating Bladed Disk
Authors: Kurstak Eric , D'Souza Kiran
Published: November 2020

Nonsynchronous vibrations are a difficult problem to address for turbomachines due to the complex nature of the forcing. Such vibrations can be caused by vortex shedding, flow instabilities, stall cells, or flutter. Testing a design with such excitations can be difficult in practice due to the required forcing. This work demonstrates an experimental excitation method using pulsed air jet excitation to create nonsynchronous vibrations in engine hardware rotating at nominal design speeds. Experimental runs were conducted to excite a number of engine orders (EOs). Blade tip timing was used to measure the blade response without interfering with the blade dynamics. The bladed disk was held at a constant rotational speed while the air jets were pulsed at a sweeping frequency to simulate rotating forcing. Computational models of the physical system were constructed using parametric reduced order models that incorporate the effects of rotational speed and small mistuning. The computational model was used in simulations that mimic the experiment; the forcing was swept across the blades while being pulsed. This results in a system response that cannot be captured using traditional harmonic analyses. The computational and experimental datasets were compared through mistuning values, amplitudes, and the nodal diameter (ND) content in the system response.
Computational Investigation of Protein Photoinactivation by Molecular Hyperthermia
Authors: Kang Peiyuan , Xie Chen , Fall Oumar , Randrianalisoa Jaona , Qin Zhenpeng
Published: November 2020

To precisely control protein activity in a living system is a challenging yet long-pursued objective in biomedical sciences. Recently, we have developed a new approach named molecular hyperthermia (MH) to photoinactivate protein activity of interest without genetic modification. MH utilizes nanosecond laser pulse to create nanoscale heating around plasmonic nanoparticles to inactivate adjacent protein in live cells. Here we use a numerical model to study important parameters and conditions for MH to efficiently inactivate proteins in nanoscale. To quantify the protein inactivation process, the impact zone is defined as the range where proteins are inactivated by the nanoparticle localized heating. Factors that reduce the MH impact zone include the laser pulse duration, temperature-dependent thermal conductivity (versus constant properties), and nonspherical nanoparticle geometry. In contrast, the impact zone is insensitive to temperature-dependent material density and specific heat, as well as thermal interface resistance based on reported data in the literature. The low thermal conductivity of cytoplasm increases the impact zone. Different proteins with various Arrhenius kinetic parameters have significantly different impact zones. This study provides guidelines to design the protein inactivation process by MH.
Finite Element Modeling of Tight Elastic Knots
Authors: Baek Changyeob , Johanns Paul , Sano Tomohiko G. , Grandgeorge Paul , Reis Pedro M.
Published: November 2020

We present a methodology to simulate the mechanics of knots in elastic rods using geometrically nonlinear, full three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis. We focus on the mechanical behavior of knots in tight configurations, for which the full 3D deformation must be taken into account. To setup the topology of our knotted structures, we apply a sequence of prescribed displacement steps to the centerline of an initially straight rod that is meshed with 3D solid elements. Self-contact is enforced with a normal penalty force combined with Coulomb friction. As test cases, we investigate both overhand and figure-of-eight knots. Our simulations are validated with precision model experiments, combining rod fabrication and X-ray tomography. Even if the focus is given to the methods, our results reveal that 3D deformation of tight elastic knots is central to their mechanical response. These findings contrast to a previous analysis of loose knots, for which 1D centerline-based rod theories sufficed for a predictive understanding. Our method serves as a robust framework to access complex mechanical behavior of tightly knotted structures that are not readily available through experiments nor existing reduced-order theories.
Quantifying Throw Counts and Intensities Throughout a Season in Youth Baseball Players: A Pilot Study
Authors: Rose Michael J. , McCollum Katherine A. , Freehill Michael T. , Cain Stephen M.
Published: November 2020

Overuse injuries in youth baseball players due to throwing are at an all-time high. Traditional methods of tracking player throwing load only count in-game pitches and therefore leave many throws unaccounted for. Miniature wearable inertial sensors can be used to capture motion data outside of the lab in a field setting. The objective of this study was to develop a protocol and algorithms to detect throws and classify throw intensity in youth baseball athletes using a single, upper arm-mounted inertial sensor. Eleven participants from a youth baseball team were recruited to participate in the study. Each participant was given an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and was instructed to wear the sensor during any baseball activity for the duration of a summer season of baseball. A throw identification algorithm was developed using data from a controlled data collection trial. In this report, we present the throw identification algorithm used to identify over 17,000 throws during the 2-month duration of the study. Data from a second controlled experiment were used to build a support vector machine model to classify throw intensity. Using this classification algorithm, throws from all participants were classified as being “low,” “medium,” or “high” intensity. The results demonstrate that there is value in using sensors to count every throw an athlete makes when assessing throwing load, not just in-game pitches.
Numerical Study of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer From Surface With Protrusions Using Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Mondal Kaushik , Bhattacharya Anandaroop
Published: November 2020

This paper reports our numerical studies on pool boiling heat transfer from a plane and with protruding surface using single component pseudo-potential phase change model of lattice Boltzmann method. The surface protrusions are assumed to be rectangular in shape with a given height and width. The surface protrusions are seen to promote nucleation of bubbles from the heated surface resulting in significantly higher heat transfer rates compared to the plane surface. Spatial and temporal averaged heat fluxes from all these protruding surfaces are found to be 3–4 times higher than that of a plane surface. The effects of the protrusion height, width, spacing, and associated geometrical parameters on surface heat flux have been investigated in order to arrive at an optimal design for maximum heat transfer.