bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Riboflavin, Flavin Mononucleotide, and Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide in Human Plasma and Erythrocytes at Baseline and after Low-Dose Riboflavin Supplementation
Authors: Hustad Steinar , McKinley Michelle C , McNulty Helene , Schneede Jørn , Strain JJ , Scott John M , Ueland Per Magne
Published: January 2020

Background: Vitamin B2 exists in blood as riboflavin and its cofactors, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and FAD. The erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRAC) has traditionally been used to assess vitamin B2 status in humans. We investigated the relationships of EGRAC and plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of riboflavin, FMN, and FAD in elderly volunteers and their responses to riboflavin administration.

Methods: EGRAC and plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of riboflavin, FMN, and FAD were determined in 124 healthy individuals with a mean age of 69 years. The same measurements were made in a subgroup of 46 individuals with EGRAC ≥1.20 who participated in a randomized double-blind 12-week intervention study and received riboflavin (1.6 mg/day; n = 23) or placebo (n = 23).

Results: Median plasma concentrations were 10.5 nmol/L for riboflavin, 6.6 nmol/L for FMN, and 74 nmol/L for FAD. In erythrocytes, there were only trace amounts of riboflavin, whereas median FMN and FAD concentrations were 44 and 469 nmol/L, respectively. Erythrocyte FMN and FAD correlated with each other and with EGRAC and plasma riboflavin (P <0.05). All variables except plasma FAD responded significantly to riboflavin supplementation compared with placebo (P ≤0.04). The strongest increases were for riboflavin in plasma (83%) and for FMN in erythrocytes (87%).

Conclusions: Concentrations of all B2 vitamers except plasma FAD are potential indicators of vitamin B2 status, and plasma riboflavin and erythrocyte FMN may be useful for the assessment of vitamin B2 status in population studies.
Finite-size effects in exponential random graphs
Authors: Gorsky A , Valba O
Published: January 2020

In this article, we show numerically the strong finite-size effects in exponential random graphs. Particularly, for the two-star model above the critical value of the chemical potential for triplets a ground state is a star-like graph with the finite set of hubs at network density $p<0.5$ or as the single cluster at $p>0.5$. We find that there exists the critical value of number of nodes $N^{*}(p)$ when the ground state undergoes clear-cut crossover. At $N>N^{*}(p),$ the network flows via a cluster evaporation to the state involving the small star in the Erdős–Rényi environment. The similar evaporation of the cluster takes place at $N>N^{*}(p)$ in the Strauss model. We suggest that the entropic trap mechanism is relevant for microscopic mechanism behind the crossover regime.
Loss of life expectancy from air pollution compared to other risk factors: a worldwide perspective
Authors: Lelieveld Jos , Pozzer Andrea , Pöschl Ulrich , Fnais Mohammed , Haines Andy , Münzel Thomas
Published: January 2020

Aims

Long-term exposure of humans to air pollution enhances the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. A novel Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) has been derived from many cohort studies, providing much-improved coverage of the exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We applied the GEMM to assess excess mortality attributable to ambient air pollution on a global scale and compare to other risk factors.

Methods and results

We used a data-informed atmospheric model to calculate worldwide exposure to PM2.5 and ozone pollution, which was combined with the GEMM to estimate disease-specific excess mortality and loss of life expectancy (LLE) in 2015. Using this model, we investigated the effects of different pollution sources, distinguishing between natural (wildfires, aeolian dust) and anthropogenic emissions, including fossil fuel use. Global excess mortality from all ambient air pollution is estimated at 8.8 (7.11–10.41) million/year, with an LLE of 2.9 (2.3–3.5) years, being a factor of two higher than earlier estimates, and exceeding that of tobacco smoking. The global mean mortality rate of about 120 per 100 000 people/year is much exceeded in East Asia (196 per 100 000/year) and Europe (133 per 100 000/year). Without fossil fuel emissions, the global mean life expectancy would increase by 1.1 (0.9–1.2) years and 1.7 (1.4–2.0) years by removing all potentially controllable anthropogenic emissions. Because aeolian dust and wildfire emission control is impracticable, significant LLE is unavoidable.

Conclusion

Ambient air pollution is one of the main global health risks, causing significant excess mortality and LLE, especially through cardiovascular diseases. It causes an LLE that rivals that of tobacco smoking. The global mean LLE from air pollution strongly exceeds that by violence (all forms together), i.e. by an order of magnitude (LLE being 2.9 and 0.3 years, respectively).
Modeling the Influence of Ambient Temperature on the Interactions Between the Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) and Its Natural Enemy Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to Assess Consequences of Climate Change
Authors: Nachman Gösta , Skovgård Henrik
Published: January 2020

A simulation model was used to predict how temperature influences biological control of stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)) by the pupal parasitoid Spalangia cameroni. Temperature, which was either constant or fluctuated due to seasonal variation and/or environmental stochasticity, was modeled as a first order autocorrelation process. The simulations showed that stable flies could tolerate a wider temperature interval than expected from their thermal performance curve (TPC). This was attributed to the fact that immature flies develop in manure, which protects them against low air temperatures. In contrast, the parasitoids were found to have a narrower thermal tolerance range than expected from their TPC. This was attributed to the temperature-dependent functional response of S. cameroni, which was a limiting factor for the parasitoid’s development and survival when host densities were low at suboptimal temperatures. The effects of seasonal variation on critical thermal limits were studied by means of thermal performance diagrams (TPDs). Fluctuating temperatures narrowed the thermal tolerance range of both species. At constant temperatures, the simulations showed that the optimal temperature for using S. cameroni in control of stable flies is ~20°C and that the parasitoid can persist in environments with yearly average temperatures between 18 and 29°C. However, if temperature variation was taken into consideration, it changed both the optimal temperature and the temperature interval at which biological control will be possible. This indicates that climate change causing increasing temperatures compounded with greater fluctuations may have serious consequences for biological control of pests.
Comparing sedation vs. general anaesthesia in transoesophageal echocardiography-guided percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve repair: a meta-analysis
Authors: Banga Sandeep , Hafiz Abdul Moiz , Chami Youssef , Gumm Darrel C , Banga Preeti , Howard Carmen , Kim Minchul , Sengupta Partho P
Published: January 2020

Aims

Transoesophageal echocardiography-guided percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve repair (TOE-guided PMVR) using edge-to-edge leaflet plication is typically performed under general anaesthesia (GA). Increasing evidence supports the efficacy and safety of PMVR performed under conscious sedation (CS) or deep sedation (DS). We performed a meta-analysis comparing safety and efficacy of CS/DS vs. GA in PMVR.

Methods and results

A comprehensive search was performed using PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Study characteristics, participant demographics, and procedural outcomes with both types of anaesthesia were analysed. Out of 73 articles, five met inclusion criteria. Overall, there was no significant difference in the primary outcome of procedural success rate [odds ratio (OR) 0.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30–1.88, I2= 0.0%, P = 0.538] or post-procedure in-hospital mortality (OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.38–2.71, I2= 0.0%, P = 0.970) in the patients undergoing PMVR under CS/DS vs. GA. The secondary endpoint of intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) was significantly shorter in patients under CS/DS vs. GA (standardized mean difference, SMD = −0.97; 95% CI −1.75 to −0.20; P = 0.014), but the hospital LOS (SMD = 0.36; 95% CI −0.77 to 0.04, P = 0.078) did not show a statistically significant difference between the groups, although it was shorter in the CS/DS group. No difference was observed between CS/DS and GA in fluoroscopy time, procedure time, or complications, including pneumonia, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and major bleeding.

Conclusion

CS or DS has lower ICU LOS, but comparable procedural success rate and in-hospital mortality, making it a potential alternative to GA for TOE-guided PMVR.
Thromboembolism and bleeding complications in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation and native aortic or mitral valvular heart disease: a descriptive nationwide cohort study
Authors: Melgaard Line , Overvad Thure Filskov , Jensen Martin , Lip Gregory Y H , Larsen Torben Bjerregaard , Nielsen Peter Brønnum
Published: January 2020

Aims

To describe the risks of thromboembolism and major bleeding complications in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and native aortic or mitral valvular heart disease using data reflecting clinical practice.

Methods and results

Descriptive cohort study of anticoagulated patients with incident AF and native aortic or mitral valvular heart disease, identified in nationwide Danish registries from 2000 to 2018. A total of 10 043 patients were included, of which 5190 (51.7%) patients had aortic stenosis, 1788 (17.8%) patients had aortic regurgitation, 327 (3.3%) patients had mitral stenosis, and 2738 (27.3%) patients had mitral regurgitation. At 1 year after AF diagnosis, the risk of thromboembolism was 4.6% in patients with mitral stenosis taking a vitamin K antagonist (VKA), and 2.6% in patients with aortic stenosis taking a VKA or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC). For patients with aortic or mitral regurgitation, the risks of thromboembolism ranged between 1.5%-1.8% in both treatment groups. For the endpoint of major bleeding, the risk was ∼5.5% in patients with aortic stenosis or mitral stenosis treated with a VKA, and 3.3–4.0% in patients with aortic or mitral regurgitation. For patients treated with a NOAC, the risk of major bleeding was 3.7% in patients with aortic stenosis and ∼2.5% in patients with aortic or mitral regurgitation.

Conclusion

When using data reflecting contemporary clinical practice, our observations suggested that 1 year after a diagnosis of AF, anticoagulated patients with aortic or mitral valvular heart disease had dissimilar risk of thromboembolism and major bleeding complications. Specifically, patients with aortic stenosis or mitral stenosis were high-risk subgroups. This observation may guide clinicians regarding intensity of clinical follow-up.
Comparison of post-treatment changes with and without retention in adolescents treated for maxillary impacted canines—a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Naraghi Sasan , Ganzer Niels , Bondemark Lars , Sonesson Mikael
Published: January 2020

Objective

To evaluate whether retention is needed after orthodontic treatment of impacted maxillary canines.

Trial design

Two-arm parallel group single-centre randomized controlled trial.

Materials and methods

Sixty-three patients, 39 girls and 24 boys, were recruited to the study. The inclusion criteria were patients with at least one impacted or unerupted maxillary canine, and moderate irregularity of the maxillary six anterior teeth according to Little’s index (LI). After gaining informed consent from the patient and their custodians, the patients were randomized to one of two groups, i.e. to a non-retention group or a retention group. The randomization process was prepared and carried out by an independent person not involved in the trial and the randomization used blocks of 20 (10 + 10). Primary outcomes were changes in single contact point discrepancy, and LI measured on digitalized three-dimensional study casts 1-year post-treatment. The study casts were anonymized before assessment and the changes were blinded for the assessor. Data were evaluated on an intention-to-treat basis. Thus, all randomized patients were incorporated into the final analysis. In the non-retention group a 10-week interim period was used to detect patients who eventually have a relapse immediately after treatment. If so, the patient got the arch-wire reinserted. Most patients in the retention group received a vacuum-formed retainer and pretreatment spacing cases got a bonded retainer.

Results

Mean irregularity change was 0.4 mm in the retention and 1.3 mm in the non-retention group (P < 0.001). Maximum change was 2.5 mm in the retention and 3.2 mm in the non-retention group (P < 0.001). Most changes in the non-retention group occurred during the 10-week interim period. In the non-retention group, one patient developed contact point discrepancy of >2 mm during the interim period and was realigned.

Harms

One patient met the stopping guideline criteria. This patient had the arch wire reinserted for 2 months. After realignment, the patient received a retention appliance.

Limitations

The trial was a single-centre study and short-term changes were evaluated.

Conclusions

Changes between the retention and the non-retention group were statistically but not clinically significant. Since satisfactory clinical results 1-year post-treatment were found in the non-retention group, retention does not appear to be needed. The 10-week interim period was useful in detecting patients who might have a relapse immediately after treatment.

Trial registration

The trial was not registered.
An African origin for Mycobacterium bovis
Authors: Loiseau Chloé , Menardo Fabrizio , Aseffa Abraham , Hailu Elena , Gumi Balako , Ameni Gobena , Berg Stefan , Rigouts Leen , Robbe-Austerman Suelee , Zinsstag Jakob , Gagneux Sebastien , Brites Daniela
Published: January 2020

Background and objectives

Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae are two of the most important agents of tuberculosis in livestock and the most important causes of zoonotic tuberculosis in humans. However, little is known about the global population structure, phylogeography and evolutionary history of these pathogens.

Methodology

We compiled a global collection of 3364 whole-genome sequences from M.bovis and M.caprae originating from 35 countries and inferred their phylogenetic relationships, geographic origins and age.

Results

Our results resolved the phylogenetic relationship among the four previously defined clonal complexes of M.bovis, and another eight newly described here. Our phylogeographic analysis showed that M.bovis likely originated in East Africa. While some groups remained restricted to East and West Africa, others have subsequently dispersed to different parts of the world.

Conclusions and implications

Our results allow a better understanding of the global population structure of M.bovis and its evolutionary history. This knowledge can be used to define better molecular markers for epidemiological investigations of M.bovis in settings where whole-genome sequencing cannot easily be implemented.

Lay summary

During the last few years, analyses of large globally representative collections of whole-genome sequences (WGS) from the human-adapted Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) lineages have enhanced our understanding of the global population structure, phylogeography and evolutionary history of these pathogens. In contrast, little corresponding data exists for M. bovis, the most important agent of tuberculosis in livestock. Using whole-genome sequences of globally distributed M. bovis isolates, we inferred the genetic relationships among different M. bovis genotypes distributed around the world. The most likely origin of M. bovis is East Africa according to our inferences. While some M. bovis groups remained restricted to East and West Africa, others have subsequently dispersed to different parts of the world driven by cattle movements.
The correlation between lncRNAs and Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer
Authors: Dastmalchi Narges , Khojasteh Seyed Mahdi Banan , Nargesi Mirsaed Miri , Safaralizadeh Reza
Published: January 2020

Helicobacter pylori infection performs a key role in gastric tumorigenesis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have demonstrated a great potential to be regarded as effective malignancy biomarkers for various gastrointestinal diseases including gastric cancer (GC). The present review highlights the relationship between lncRNAs and H. pylori in GC. Several studies have examined not only the involvement of lncRNAs in H. pylori-associated GC progression but also their molecular mechanisms of action. Among the pertinent studies, some have addressed the effects of H. pylori infection on modulatory networks of lncRNAs, while others have evaluated the effects of changes in the expression level of lncRNAs in H. pylori-associated gastric diseases, especially GC. The relationship between lncRNAs and H. pylori was found to be modulated by various molecular pathways.
Hexose transport inTorulaspora delbrueckii:identification of Igt1, a new dual-affinity transporter
Authors: Pacheco Andreia , Donzella Lorena , Hernandez-Lopez Maria Jose , Almeida Maria Judite , Prieto Jose Antonio , Randez-Gil Francisca , Morrissey John P , Sousa Maria João
Published: January 2020

Torulaspora delbrueckii is a yeast species receiving increasing attention from the biotechnology industry, with particular relevance in the wine, beer and baking sectors. However, little is known about its sugar transporters and sugar transport capacity, frequently a rate-limiting step of sugar metabolism and efficient fermentation. Actually, only one glucose transporter, Lgt1, has been characterized so far. Here we report the identification and characterization of a second glucose transporter gene, IGT1, located in a cluster, upstream of LGT1 and downstream of two other putative hexose transporters. Functional characterization of IGT1 in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae hxt-null strain revealed that it encodes a transporter able to mediate uptake of glucose, fructose and mannose and established that its affinity, as measured by Km, could be modulated by glucose concentration in the medium. In fact, IGT1-transformed S. cerevisiae hxt-null cells, grown in 0.1% glucose displayed biphasic glucose uptake kinetics with an intermediate- (Km = 6.5 ± 2.0 mM) and a high-affinity (Km = 0.10 ± 0.01 mM) component, whereas cells grown in 2% glucose displayed monophasic kinetics with an intermediate-affinity (Km of 11.5 ± 1.5 mM). This work contributes to a better characterization of glucose transport in T. delbrueckii, with relevant implications for its exploitation in the food industry.
Structure and properties of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) lectin
Authors: Perduca Massimiliano , Destefanis Laura , Bovi Michele , Galliano Monica , Munari Francesca , Assfalg Michael , Ferrari Fabio , Monaco Hugo L , Capaldi Stefano
Published: January 2020

Pleurotus ostreatus Lectin (POL) is a 353 amino acid chain lectin that can be purified from the fruiting bodies of the very well-known and widely diffused edible oyster mushrooms (P. ostreatus). The lectin has been partially characterized by different groups and, although it was crystallized about 20 years ago, its 3D structure and the details of its interactions with carbohydrates are still unknown. This paper reports the 3D structure and ligand-binding properties of POL. We have determined the X-ray structure of the apo-protein purified from the fruiting bodies of the mushroom and that of the recombinant protein in complex with melibiose to a resolution of about 2 Å. The lectin is a homodimer in which the two polypeptide chains are linked by a disulfide bridge. A POL monomer is composed of two highly homologous β-jellyroll domains each of which containing a calcium-dependent carbohydrate-binding site. A high degree of sequence similarity is observed between the two carbohydrate-binding modules present in each monomer. The structure of the lectin in complex with melibiose reveals that a POL dimer has four calcium-dependent carbohydrate-binding sites. The interaction with sugars in solution has been characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry and saturation transfer difference NMR and it sheds new light on the molecular determinants of POL specificity. The lectin exhibits in vitro antiproliferative effects against human cancer cell lines and presents structural similarity with the prototype member of the CBM67 family, the noncatalytic domain of Streptomyces avermitilis α-rhamnosidase.
Evaluation of sampling strategies for age determination of cod (Gadus morhua) sampled at the North Sea International Bottom Trawl Survey
Authors: Jourdain N O A S , Breivik O , Fuglebakk E , Aanes S , Vølstad J H
Published: January 2020

The North Sea cod stock assessment is based on indices of abundance-at-age from fishery-independent bottom trawl surveys. The age structure of the catch is estimated by sampling fish for otoliths collection in a length-stratified manner from trawl hauls. Since age determination of fish is costly and time consuming, only a fraction of fish is sampled for age from a larger sample of the length distribution and an age–length key (ALK) is then used to obtain the age distribution. In this study, we evaluate ALK estimators for calculating the indices of abundance-at-age, with and without the assumption of constant age–length structures over relatively large areas. We show that the ALK estimators give similar point estimates of abundance-at-age and yield similar performance with respect to precision. We also quantify the uncertainty of indices of abundance and examine the effect of reducing the number of fish sampled for age determination on precision. For various subsampling strategies of otoliths collection, we show that one fish per 5-cm-length group width per trawl haul is sufficient and the total number of fish subsampled for age from trawl surveys could be reduced by at least half (50%) without appreciable loss in precision.
Train early and with deliberate practice: simple coronary surgery simulation platform results in fast increase in technical surgical skills in residents and students
Authors: Korte Wilhelm , Merz Constanze , Kirchhoff Felix , Heimeshoff Jan , Goecke Tobias , Beckmann Erik , Kaufeld Tim , Fleissner Felix , Arar Morsi , Schilling Tobias , Haverich Axel , Shrestha Malakh , Martens Andreas
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

The amount of intense and focused training with the specific goal to improve performance (i.e. deliberate practice) is a predictor of expert-level performance in multiple domains of psychomotor skill learning. Simulation training improves surgical skills in cardiac surgery. We established a training programme that enables early surgical exposure and assessment. We investigated the training effects in coronary surgery simulations in trainees with different levels of surgical experience.

METHODS

The early surgical exposure and assessment programme comprises a low- and high-fidelity simulation, self-organized training, instructed workshops and a stepwise challenge increase. Performance was assessed with a multidimensional skill matrix using video recordings. Two groups of trainees [students (N = 7), 1-/2-year residents (N = 6)] completed introductory training (pretraining, level 1) and two 3-week training periods (levels 2 and 3). Fellows (N = 6) served as controls. Residents and students underwent deliberate practice training with specific training targets. Fellows performed regularly scheduled coronary surgery cases. Entry and exit assessments were conducted for levels 2 and 3.

RESULTS

Fellows did not improve overall performance. Residents and students showed significant improvements in both technical accuracy and completion times. Residents reached an overall performance level comparable to fellows. Students reached similar accuracy of surgical skills with longer completion times [level 3 exit score/time: fellows 27 (24–29)/min; residents 27 (21–30)/min, P = 0.94; students 17 (17–25)/min, P = 0.068].

CONCLUSIONS

Deliberate practice training resulted in a fast and substantial increase in surgical skills in residents and students. Unexperienced residents reach performance levels of fellows. Deliberate practice simulation programmes should be a mandatory component of surgical training.
Investigating the impact of disease and health record duration on the eMERGE algorithm for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kronzer Vanessa L , Wang Liwei , Liu Hongfang , Davis John M , Sparks Jeffrey A , Crowson Cynthia S
Published: January 2020

Objective

The study sought to determine the dependence of the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) algorithm on both RA and electronic health record (EHR) duration.

Materials and Methods

Using a population-based cohort from the Mayo Clinic Biobank, we identified 497 patients with at least 1 RA diagnosis code. RA case status was manually determined using validated criteria for RA. RA duration was defined as time from first RA code to the index date of biobank enrollment. To simulate EHR duration, various years of EHR lookback were applied, starting at the index date and going backward. Model performance was determined by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve (AUC).

Results

The eMERGE algorithm performed well in this cohort, with overall sensitivity 53%, specificity 99%, positive predictive value 97%, negative predictive value 74%, and AUC 76%. Among patients with RA duration <2 years, sensitivity and AUC were only 9% and 54%, respectively, but increased to 71% and 85% among patients with RA duration >10 years. Longer EHR lookback also improved model performance up to a threshold of 10 years, in which sensitivity reached 52% and AUC 75%. However, optimal EHR lookback varied by RA duration; an EHR lookback of 3 years was best able to identify recently diagnosed RA cases.

Conclusions

eMERGE algorithm performance improves with longer RA duration as well as EHR duration up to 10 years, though shorter EHR lookback can improve identification of recently diagnosed RA cases.
Risk Preferences and Incentives for Evidence Acquisition and Disclosure
Authors: Giffin Erin , Lillethun Erik
Published: January 2020

Civil disputes feature parties with biased incentives acquiring evidence with costly effort. Evidence may then be revealed at trial or concealed to persuade a judge or jury. Using a persuasion game, we examine how a litigant’s risk preferences influence evidence acquisition incentives. We find that high risk aversion depresses equilibrium evidence acquisition. We then study the problem of designing legal rules to balance good decision making against the costs of acquisition. We characterize the optimal design, which differs from equilibrium decision rules. Notably, for very risk-averse litigants, the design is “over-incentivized” with stronger rewards and punishments than in equilibrium. We find similar results for various common legal rules, including admissibility of evidence and maximum awards. These results have implications for how rules could differentiate between high risk aversion types (e.g., individuals) and low risk aversion types (e.g., corporations) to improve evidence acquisition efficiency.
Refugee-Integration-Opportunity Structures: Shifting the Focus From Refugees to Context
Authors: Phillimore Jenny
Published: January 2020

Whilst it is increasingly acknowledged that integration is ‘a dynamic, two-way process of mutual accommodation by all immigrants and residents’, the focus in integration theory, policy and practice has been placed upon refugees or migrants themselves. The role of receiving societies in supporting and providing the context for integration has not been systematically interrogated. This article is original in its focus upon the role of receiving societies in shaping refugee-integration outcomes. It attends to multiple interconnecting receiving-society-opportunity structures shifting thinking about refugee integration by asking how refugee-receiving countries influence refugee integration. Introducing five sets of host society opportunity structures: locality, discourse, relations, structure and initiatives and support, the article highlights the impossibility of understanding integration outcomes using the unidimensional models that have largely dominated thinking to date. Instead, a multi-dimensional integration model is proposed that will allow more nuanced understanding of integration processes and how they occur at different levels. The article ends by outlining some ideas around how migration scholars shift their focus from refugee characteristics to understanding better the influence of host society opportunity structures.
Primary nitrate responses mediated by calcium signalling and diverse protein phosphorylation
Authors: Liu Kun-Hsiang , Diener Andrew , Lin Ziwei , Liu Cong , Sheen Jen
Published: January 2020

Nitrate, the major source of inorganic nitrogen for plants, is a critical signal controlling nutrient transport and assimilation and adaptive growth responses throughout the plant. Understanding how plants perceive nitrate and how this perception is transduced into responses that optimize growth are important for the rational improvement of crop productivity and for mitigating pollution from the use of fertilizers. This review highlights recent findings that reveal key roles of cytosolic–nuclear calcium signalling and dynamic protein phosphorylation via diverse mechanisms in the primary nitrate response (PNR). Nitrate-triggered calcium signatures as well as the critical functions of subgroup III calcium-sensor protein kinases, a specific protein phosphatase 2C, and RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain phosphatase-like 3 are discussed. Moreover, genome-wide meta-analysis of nitrate-regulated genes encoding candidate protein kinases and phosphatases for modulating critical phosphorylation events in the PNR are elaborated. We also consider how phosphoproteomics approaches can contribute to the identification of putative regulatory protein kinases in the PNR. Exploring and integrating experimental strategies, new methodologies, and comprehensive datasets will further advance our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the complex regulatory processes in the PNR.
Imaging unlabeled proteins on DNA with super-resolution
Authors: Meijering Anna E C , Biebricher Andreas S , Sitters Gerrit , Brouwer Ineke , Peterman Erwin J G , Wuite Gijs J L , Heller Iddo
Published: January 2020

Fluorescence microscopy is invaluable to a range of biomolecular analysis approaches. The required labeling of proteins of interest, however, can be challenging and potentially perturb biomolecular functionality as well as cause imaging artefacts and photo bleaching issues. Here, we introduce inverse (super-resolution) imaging of unlabeled proteins bound to DNA. In this new method, we use DNA-binding fluorophores that transiently label bare DNA but not protein-bound DNA. In addition to demonstrating diffraction-limited inverse imaging, we show that inverse Binding-Activated Localization Microscopy or ‘iBALM’ can resolve biomolecular features smaller than the diffraction limit. The current detection limit is estimated to lie at features between 5 and 15 nm in size. Although the current image-acquisition times preclude super-resolving fast dynamics, we show that diffraction-limited inverse imaging can reveal molecular mobility at ∼0.2 s temporal resolution and that the method works both with DNA-intercalating and non-intercalating dyes. Our experiments show that such inverse imaging approaches are valuable additions to the single-molecule toolkit that relieve potential limitations posed by labeling.
Host and body site-specific adaptation of Lactobacillus crispatus genomes
Authors: Pan Meichen , Hidalgo-Cantabrana Claudio , Barrangou Rodolphe
Published: January 2020

Lactobacillus crispatus is a common inhabitant of both healthy poultry gut and human vaginal tract, and the absence of this species has been associated with a higher risk of developing infectious diseases. In this study, we analyzed 105 L. crispatus genomes isolated from a variety of ecological niches, including the human vaginal tract, human gut, chicken gut and turkey gut, to shed light on the genetic and functional features that drive evolution and adaptation of this important species. We performed in silico analyses to identify the pan and core genomes of L. crispatus, and to reveal the genomic differences and similarities associated with their origins of isolation. Our results demonstrated that, although a significant portion of the genomic content is conserved, human and poultry L. crispatus isolates evolved to encompass different genomic features (e.g. carbohydrate usage, CRISPR–Cas immune systems, prophage occurrence) in order to thrive in different environmental niches. We also observed that chicken and turkey L. crispatus isolates can be differentiated based on their genomic information, suggesting significant differences may exist between these two poultry gut niches. These results provide insights into host and niche-specific adaptation patterns in species of human and animal importance.
Bayesian correlation is a robust gene similarity measure for single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Sanchez-Taltavull Daniel , Perkins Theodore J , Dommann Noelle , Melin Nicolas , Keogh Adrian , Candinas Daniel , Stroka Deborah , Beldi Guido
Published: January 2020

Assessing similarity is highly important for bioinformatics algorithms to determine correlations between biological information. A common problem is that similarity can appear by chance, particularly for low expressed entities. This is especially relevant in single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data because read counts are much lower compared to bulk RNA-seq. Recently, a Bayesian correlation scheme that assigns low similarity to genes that have low confidence expression estimates has been proposed to assess similarity for bulk RNA-seq. Our goal is to extend the properties of the Bayesian correlation in scRNA-seq data by considering three ways to compute similarity. First, we compute the similarity of pairs of genes over all cells. Second, we identify specific cell populations and compute the correlation in those populations. Third, we compute the similarity of pairs of genes over all clusters, by considering the total mRNA expression. We demonstrate that Bayesian correlations are more reproducible than Pearson correlations. Compared to Pearson correlations, Bayesian correlations have a smaller dependence on the number of input cells. We show that the Bayesian correlation algorithm assigns high similarity values to genes with a biological relevance in a specific population. We conclude that Bayesian correlation is a robust similarity measure in scRNA-seq data.
How Financial Incentives Increase Smoking Cessation: A Two-Level Path Analysis
Authors: van den Brand Floor A , Candel Math J J M , Nagelhout Gera E , Winkens Bjorn , van Schayck Constant P
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Financial incentives effectively increase smoking cessation rates, but it is unclear via which psychological mechanisms incentives influence quit behavior. The current study examines how receiving financial incentives for smoking cessation leads to quitting smoking and investigates several mediators and moderators of that relationship.

Aims and Methods

The study sample consisted of 604 tobacco-smoking employees from 61 companies in the Netherlands who completed a baseline and follow-up questionnaire. The current study is a secondary analysis from a cluster randomized trial where employees received smoking cessation group counseling at the workplace. Participants in the intervention group additionally received financial incentives of €350 in total for 12-month continuous smoking abstinence. We used a two-level path analysis to test a model that assesses the effects of financial incentives through smoking cessation program evaluation, medication use, nicotine replacement use, attitudes, self-efficacy, and social influences on quit success. We additionally tested whether an individual’s reward responsiveness moderated the influence of incentives on quit success.

Results

The effect of financial incentives on quit success was mediated by a higher self-efficacy. Financial incentives were also associated with a higher use of cessation medication. A more positive program evaluation was related to higher self-efficacy, more social influence to quit, and more positive attitudes about quitting. The results did not differ significantly by individual reward responsiveness.

Conclusions

The results of the current study suggest that financial incentives may be used to increase medication use and self-efficacy for quitting smoking, which offers an indirect way to increase successful smoking cessation.

Implications

(1) This is the first study investigating via which psychological pathways financial incentives for quitting smoking can lead to long-term quit success. (2) The results showed a path between financial incentives and a higher likelihood of medication use. Incentives may encourage smokers to use medication in order to increase their chance of quitting smoking and receive the reward. (3) There was a path from financial incentives to quit success via a higher self-efficacy. (4) The effects of financial incentives did not depend on individual reward responsiveness.
An individualized mental health education programme for Japanese managers
Authors: Soeda S
Published: January 2020

Background

Mental health education for managers has typically been conducted using a group format. Few studies have examined the provision of individualized education.

Aims

This study discussed the evaluations and characteristic needs of participants in an individualized mental health education programme while examining avenues for providing such education.

Methods

Eighty-nine individualized education sessions were conducted for managers (87 males, 2 females) with a mean age of 42.6 years (SD = 5.1) at an assembly factory in Japan. Data from anonymous self-administered questionnaires completed before and after the education programme were analysed.

Results

Overall, 95% of the managers (81/85) approved the individualized education format. The characteristic needs of participants with high motivation (45%, 38/85) were mental health consultations for managers (37%, 14/38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62–14.7, P < 0.01) and subordinate-related concerns (18%, 7/38, 95% CI 1.11–22.8, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Individualized education may be a suitable method for conducting mental health consultations. It is recommended that the introduction of individualized education formats be implemented through voluntary consultations following group education. Individualized education may contribute to early intervention for work-related mental disorders.
Male and Female Genital Cutting: Between the Best Interest of the Child and Genital Mutilation
Authors: Möller Kai
Published: January 2020

In the UK, male genital cutting is in principle legal and may even be ordered by a court, whereas female genital cutting is a criminal offence. The coherence of this approach was recently questioned by Munby P in Re B and G (children) (No 2); the present article continues this inquiry and demonstrates that the justifications that the courts have provided for the differential treatment of male and female cutting—relating to the harm involved in the respective practices, possible medical benefits of male cutting, the absence of a religious motivation with regard to female cutting, and patriarchal power structures enabling female but not male cutting—are insufficient. It proposes a different foundation for the categorical rejection of female genital cutting and argues that such practices are wrong as a matter of principle. This provides a convincing basis for the rejection of all forms of female genital cutting, including comparatively mild ones such as ritual nicks, and furthermore leads to the conclusion that male cutting, too, must be regarded as categorically impermissible.
Enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis (Part 2): imaging
Authors: Kaeley Gurjit S
Published: January 2020

Enthesitis is a hallmark finding in PsA and may predate the onset of synovitis. Clinical examination of enthesitis provides no structural information, relies on eliciting tenderness at entheseal sites and may not be sensitive or specific. Soft tissue imaging techniques such as musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI can depict ultrastructural and inflammatory changes. Although these imaging techniques are complimentary, ultrasound can image superficial entheses with high fidelity and examine vascularity with the use of Doppler but cannot image subchondral bone. MRI depicts bone and can visualize bone marrow edema as well as soft tissue edema. However, due to short relaxation times, entheseal structures are not easily differentiated. There has been increasing recognition of biomechanical confounding, especially since the majority of the entheses examined are in the lower extremity. Imaging entheseal indices are being developed to minimize the effect of body weight and activity. In the following article, contemporary concepts of entheses in relation to imaging will be reviewed as well as important confounders in assessing entheseal alterations. The role and limitations of imaging techniques will be discussed.
Pulse wave amplitude drops during sleep: clinical significance and characteristics in a general population sample
Authors: Hirotsu Camila , Betta Monica , Bernardi Giulio , Marques-Vidal Pedro , Vollenweider Peter , Waeber Gérard , Pichot Vincent , Roche Frederic , Siclari Francesca , Haba-Rubio Jose , Heinzer Raphael
Published: January 2020

Study Objectives

To explore the clinical significance of pulse wave amplitude (PWA)-drops during sleep as a biomarker for cardiometabolic disorders and describe their main characteristics in a general population sample.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of HypnoLaus cohort, in which 2162 individuals underwent clinical assessment and in-home full polysomnography. PWA-drops were derived from photoplethysmography and processed using a validated automated algorithm. Associations between PWA-drop features (index, mean duration, and mean area under the curve [AUC]) with hypertension, diabetes, and previous cardiovascular (CV) event were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression.

Results

Two thousand one hundred forty-nine participants (59 ± 11 years, 51% women, 9.9% diabetes, 41.3% hypertension, 4.4% CV event) were included. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of PWA-drop index, duration, and AUC during sleep were 51.0 ± 20.3 events/hour, 14.0 ± 2.7 seconds, and 527±115 %seconds, respectively. PWA-drop index was lower in women and decreased with age, while its mean duration and AUC increased in men and elderly. Overall, lower PWA-drop index, longer duration and greater AUC were associated with increased odds of hypertension, diabetes, or CV event after adjustment for confounders. Participants in the lowest quartile of mean duration-normalized PWA-drop index had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of hypertension (OR = 1.60 [1.19–2.16]), CV event (OR = 3.26 [1.33–8.03]), and diabetes (OR = 1.71 [1.06–2.76]) compared to those in the highest quartile. Similar results were observed for mean AUC-normalized PWA-drop index regarding hypertension (OR = 1.59 [1.19–2.13]), CV event (OR = 2.45 [1.14–5.26]) and diabetes (OR = 1.76 [1.10–2.83]).

Conclusions

PWA-drop features during sleep seem to be an interesting biomarker independently associated with cardiometabolic outcomes in the general population.
Regulating Switzerland’s trust industry—the way ahead
Authors: de Vos Burchart Fabianne
Published: January 2020

As of 1 January 2020, trustees active on Swiss soil are subject to a new regulatory and supervisory framework, which shall gradually bring about profound changes within the industry, as trustees will be required, within the applicable transitional period, to comply with a number of financial, personal and organizational requirements. These changes will not only affect Swiss trustees but also foreign trustees with a presence in Switzerland.
CE: An Evidence-Based Update on Contraception
Authors: Britton Laura E. , Alspaugh Amy , Greene Madelyne Z. , McLemore Monica R.
Published: January 2020

Contraception is widely used in the United States, and nurses in all settings may encounter patients who are using or want to use contraceptives. Nurses may be called on to anticipate how family planning intersects with other health care services and provide patients with information based on the most current evidence. This article describes key characteristics of nonpermanent contraceptive methods, including mechanism of action, correct use, failure rates with perfect and typical use, contraindications, benefits, side effects, discontinuation procedures, and innovations in the field. We also discuss how contraceptive care is related to nursing ethics and health inequities.
Managing Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Davis Nicole J. , Wyman Jean F.
Published: January 2020

This article is part of a series, Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone, published in collaboration with the AARP Public Policy Institute. Results of focus groups, conducted as part of the AARP Public Policy Institute's No Longer Home Alone video project, supported evidence that family caregivers aren't given the information they need to manage the complex care regimens of family members. This series of articles and accompanying videos aims to help nurses provide caregivers with the tools they need to manage their family member's health care at home.

The articles in this new installment of the series provide simple and useful instructions that nurses should reinforce with family caregivers. This article is the second of two that provide an update on urinary incontinence and its management in older adults. It includes an informational tear sheet—Information for Family Caregivers—that contains links to the instructional videos. To use this series, nurses should read the articles first, so they understand how best to help family caregivers, and then encourage caregivers to watch the videos and ask questions. For additional information, see Resources for Nurses.
Adopting a Global Virtual Team Approach to Enhance Performance of an International Nursing Research Collaboration
Authors: Bish Melanie , Stacey Gemma , Shatto Bobbi , Meyer Geralyn
Published: January 2020

Global mobility, technological developments, and evolved organizational design have expanded the scope of workplace teams beyond traditional arrangements, giving rise to global virtual teams. As universities across the world encourage mobility, there are unprecedented opportunities to create discipline-specific international networks, increase cross-cultural understanding, and create rich interactions in research. Team structure, trust formation, and communication processes are known to positively influence global virtual team performance. They are discussed to illustrate the value of a structured model of work in an international research-focused collaboration of nursing academics from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Nursing care of patients with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Owen Amy McBeth , Gary Annette , Schnetter Vicki
Published: January 2020

Successful assessment and delivery of interventions can be challenging when caring for patients with ASD. Sensitive nursing care and an understanding of sensory and communication difficulties are required.
Communicating data and information in disaster care
Authors: Fant Catherine , Adelman Deborah S. , Zak Concetta L. , Wood Laura Kay
Published: January 2020

This third installment of the Disaster Response Series focuses on the need for NPs to be familiar with the information communication technologies used in their geographic areas and be ready to use them when, not if, a disaster strikes.