bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric kidney transplant in undocumented immigrants: An American perspectives
Authors: Yu Elizabeth , Wightman Aaron
Published: July 2020

Kidney transplant in undocumented immigrants remains controversial. While in the United States the National Organ Transplant Act does not prohibit inclusion of these patients as transplant candidates, legislative and financial barriers and ethical concerns remain. The purpose of this article was to review the legal and financial barriers to kidney transplant for children with ESKD who are undocumented immigrants and consider arguments for and against inclusion of these children as kidney transplant candidates. While this discussion is largely restricted to the experience in the United States and its unique healthcare system, the themes and ideas may be more generalizable to the experience in many high‐income countries. We conclude that access to kidney transplant is legal, ethically justifiable, and clearly in the best interest of these children. Transplant professionals should continue to advocate for changes in policy and greater resources to support these patients.
The involvement of protein denaturing activity in the effect of surfactants on skin barrier function
Authors: Kubota Koji , Okasaka Mana , Kano Asami , Takata Sadaki
Published: July 2020

Background/purpose

Detailed information on the mechanism by which surfactants affect the skin barrier function is still scarce. We investigated the contribution of protein denaturation to the effect of surfactants on barrier function.

Methods

The Transmission Index method, which evaluates the actual effect of surfactants on barrier function, was combined with a microplate assay measuring protein denaturation activity. The correlation between the TI value and the reciprocal of the median effect concentration (1/EC50) was analyzed for 19 surfactants. The contribution of protein denaturation to the effect of surfactants was discussed based on the 1/EC50 per TI value.

Results

A few surfactants showed high TI value. Nonionic surfactants had no effect. The EC50 varied without certain trend. For amino acid‐based surfactants, there was a gradual inverse correlation between the TI value and the 1/EC50.

Conclusion

The difference in the alkyl structure and the ion source affected the skin barrier function. Protein denaturing activity of the surfactant was not a critical factor. This suggests that the effect on intercellular lipids was the major factor. However, the magnitude of the contribution of protein denaturation activity varied depending on the surfactant, suggesting that each surfactant has a different mechanism of influence on skin barrier function.
Direct evidence for decreased presynaptic inhibition evoked by PBSt group I muscle afferents after chronic SCI and recovery with step‐training in rats
Authors: Caron Guillaume , Bilchak Jadwiga N. , Côté Marie‐Pascale
Published: July 2020

Key points

Presynaptic inhibition is modulated by supraspinal centres and primary afferents in order to filter sensory information, adjust spinal reflex excitability, and ensure smooth movement.

After spinal cord injury (SCI), the supraspinal control of primary afferent depolarization (PAD) interneurons is disengaged, suggesting an increased role for sensory afferents. While increased H‐reflex excitability in spastic individuals indicates a possible decrease in presynaptic inhibition, it remains unclear whether a decrease in sensory‐evoked PAD contributes to this effect.

We investigated whether the PAD evoked by hindlimb afferents contributes to the change in presynaptic inhibition of the H‐reflex in a decerebrated rat preparation. We found that chronic SCI decreases presynaptic inhibition of the plantar H‐reflex through a reduction in PAD evoked by posterior biceps‐semitendinosus (PBSt) muscle group I afferents.

We further found that step‐training restored presynaptic inhibition of the plantar H‐reflex evoked by PBSt, suggesting the presence of activity‐dependent plasticity of PAD pathways activated by flexor muscle group I afferents.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in the disruption of supraspinal control of spinal networks and an increase in the relative influence of afferent feedback to sublesional neural networks, both of which contribute to enhancing spinal reflex excitability. Hyperreflexia occurs in ∼75% of individuals with a chronic SCI and critically hinders functional recovery and quality of life. It is suggested that it results from an increase in motoneuronal excitability and a decrease in presynaptic and postsynaptic inhibitory mechanisms. In contrast, locomotor training decreases hyperreflexia by restoring presynaptic inhibition. Primary afferent depolarization (PAD) is a powerful presynaptic inhibitory mechanism that selectively gates primary afferent transmission to spinal neurons to adjust reflex excitability and ensure smooth movement. However, the effect of chronic SCI and step‐training on the reorganization of presynaptic inhibition evoked by hindlimb afferents, and the contribution of PAD has never been demonstrated. The objective of this study is to directly measure changes in presynaptic inhibition through dorsal root potentials (DRPs) and its association with plantar H‐reflex inhibition. We provide direct evidence that H‐reflex hyperexcitability is associated with a decrease in transmission of PAD pathways activated by posterior biceps‐semitendinosus (PBSt) afferents after chronic SCI. More precisely, we illustrate that the pattern of inhibition evoked by PBSt group I muscle afferents onto both L4‐DRPs and plantar H‐reflexes evoked by the distal tibial nerve is impaired after chronic SCI. These changes are not observed in step‐trained animals, suggesting a role for activity‐dependent plasticity to regulate PAD pathways activated by flexor muscle group I afferents.
Doppler effect in the time-domain beamforming for rotating sound source identification
Authors: Ma Wei , Zhang Ce
Published: July 2020

Identifications of rotating sound sources are of interest in many industrial applications. The most famous beamforming to identify rotating sound source is the time-domain ROSI beamforming proposed by Sijtsma et al. (AIAA 2001-2167, 2001). Nowadays ROSI is still the unique widely recognized beamforming for array with arbitrary microphone configuration to identify rotating sound source. De-Dopplerisation is essential for beamforming to identify a moving sound source. This paper is devoted to the identification and elimination of the Doppler effect in ROSI. A non-zero source with a fundamental frequency may induce ghost contributions in ROSI at other scan points different from this source position, at all side band frequencies to the fundamental frequency with a modulation frequency equal to the rotation frequency. A rotational symmetry array with respect to rotation axis of sound source can be used to eliminate the ghost contributions in ROSI at side bands that are not non-zero integer multiples on the order of rotational symmetry with respect to the rotation axis of sound source of the array.
Lower Extremity Biomechanical Differences Between Female Dancers and Soccer Players
Authors: Ericksen Hayley M. , Vogelpohl Rachele E.
Published: July 2020

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in female athletes is common. Team sport athletes experience more ACL injuries than ballet and modern dancers. Examining biomechanical differences between these two groups may help to explain the discrepancy in ACL injury rates. The purpose of this study was to examine lower extremity kinematic differences between collegiate dancers and National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I soccer athletes during a rebound jump-landing task. Peak hip, knee, and ankle kinematics were collected during a jump-landing task. Results showed more knee flexion and less ankle eversion in the dancers compared to the soccer athletes. Differences in training and strategies used during landing may explain the kinematic differences between groups.
Bicycling Exercise Helps Maintain a Youthful Metabolic Cost of Walking in Older Adults
Authors: Aslan Daniel H. , Collette Joshua M. , Ortega Justus D.
Published: July 2020

The decline of walking performance is a key determinant of morbidity among older adults. Healthy older adults have been shown to have a 15–20% lower walking economy compared with young adults. However, older adults who run for exercise have a higher walking economy compared with older adults who walk for exercise. Yet, it remains unclear if other aerobic exercises yield similar improvements on walking economy. The purpose of this study was to determine if regular bicycling exercise affects walking economy in older adults. We measured metabolic rate while 33 older adult “bicyclists” or “walkers” and 16 young adults walked on a level treadmill at four speeds between (0.75–1.75 m/s). Across the range of speeds, older bicyclists had a 9–17% greater walking economy compared with older walkers (p = .009). In conclusion, bicycling exercise mitigates the age-related deterioration of walking economy, whereas walking for exercise has a minimal effect on improving walking economy.
Facilitating RSV entry
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: July 2020

Binding of respiratory syncytial virus to the receptor IGF-1R stimulates viral entry in a PKCζ-dependent manner.
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Mycoplasma hominis and
Ureaplasma
Species in Nonpregnant Female Patients in South Korea Indicate an Increasing Trend of Pristinamycin-Resistant Isolates
Authors: Lee Ji Yong , Yang Jeong Seon
Published: July 2020

Mycoplasma hominis
and
Ureaplasma
species, commonly found in the lower urogenital tract, have been associated with various urogenital infections. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility trend of
M. hominis
and
Ureaplasma
sp. in female patients and to evaluate the risk factors for the acquisition of pristinamycin-resistant mycoplasma. Endocervical swab specimens obtained between March 2016 and December 2018 were analyzed using a Mycoplasma IST2 kit.
(p)ppGpp and Its Role in Bacterial Persistence: New Challenges
Authors: Pacios Olga , Blasco Lucia , Bleriot Inés , Fernandez-Garcia Laura , Ambroa Antón , López María , Bou German , Cantón Rafael , Garcia-Contreras Rodolfo , Wood Thomas K. , Tomás Maria
Published: July 2020

Antibiotic failure not only is due to the development of resistance by pathogens but can also often be explained by persistence and tolerance. Persistence and tolerance can be included in the “persistent phenotype,” with high relevance for clinics. Two of the most important molecular mechanisms involved in tolerance and persistence are toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules and signaling via guanosine pentaphosphate/tetraphosphate [(p)ppGpp], also known as “magic spot.” (p)ppGpp is a very important stress alarmone which orchestrates the stringent response in bacteria; hence, (p)ppGpp is produced during amino acid or fatty acid starvation by proteins belonging to the RelA/SpoT homolog family (RSH).
Microscopic and Submicroscopic Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Ghanaian Children and Protection against Febrile Malaria
Authors: Adu Bright , Issahaque Quratul-ain , Sarkodie-Addo Tracy , Kumordjie Selassie , Kyei-Baafour Eric , Sinclear Caleb K. , Eyia-Ampah Sophia , Owusu-Yeboa Eunice , Theisen Michael , Dodoo Daniel
Published: July 2020

Naturally acquired immunity to
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria is thought to be nonsterile and sustained by persistence of low-level parasitemia. This study assessed the association between baseline microscopic and submicroscopic asymptomatic
P. falciparum
infections and antimalarial antibody levels and whether these parasitemia modify protective associations between antibody levels and malaria in Ghanaian children. Healthy children (
N
 = 973, aged 0.
Human Nasal Turbinate Tissues in Organ Culture as a Model for Human Cytomegalovirus Infection at the Mucosal Entry Site
Authors: Alfi Or , From Ido , Yakirevitch Arkadi , Drendel Michael , Wolf Michael , Meir Karen , Zakay-Rones Zichria , Nevo Yuval , Elgavish Sharona , Ilan Ophir , Weisblum Yiska , Tayeb Shay , Gross Menachem , Jonas Wayne , Ives John , Oberbaum Menachem , Panet Amos , Wolf Dana G.
Published: July 2020

HCMV is a ubiquitous human pathogen causing neurodevelopmental disabilities in congenitally infected children and severe disease in immunocompromised patients. The earliest stages of HCMV infection in the human host have remained elusive in the absence of a model for the viral entry site. Here, we describe the establishment and use of a novel nasal turbinate organ culture to study the initial steps of viral infection and the consequent innate immune responses within the natural complexity and the full cellular repertoire of human nasal mucosal tissues. This model can be applied to examine new antiviral interventions against the horizontal transmission of HCMV and potentially that of other viruses.
The Molluscum Contagiosum Gene MC021L Partially Compensates for the Loss of Its Vaccinia Virus Homolog, F13L
Authors: Monticelli Stephanie R. , Bryk Peter , Ward Brian M.
Published: July 2020

The vaccinia virus extracellular virion protein F13 is required for the production and release of infectious extracellular virus, which in turn is essential for the subsequent spread and pathogenesis of orthopoxviruses. Molluscum contagiosum virus infects millions of people worldwide each year, but it is unknown whether EV are produced during infection for spread. Molluscum contagiosum virus contains a homolog of F13L termed MC021L. To study the potential function of this homolog during infection, we utilized vaccinia virus as a surrogate and showed that a vaccinia virus expressing MC021L-HA in place of F13L-HA exhibits a small-plaque phenotype but produces similar levels of EV. These results suggest that MC021-HA can compensate for the loss of F13-HA by facilitating wrapping to produce EV and further delineates the dual role of F13 during infection.
Reading between the Lines: Utilizing RNA-Seq Data for Global Analysis of sRNAs in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Sorensen Hailee M. , Keogh Rebecca A. , Wittekind Marcus A. , Caillet Andrew R. , Wiemels Richard E. , Laner Elizabeth A. , Carroll Ronan K.
Published: July 2020

Regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that are produced in bacterial cells but that typically do not encode proteins. Instead, they perform a variety of critical functions within the cell as RNA. Most bacterial genomes do not include annotations for sRNA genes, and any type of analysis that is performed using a bacterial genome as a reference will therefore overlook data for sRNAs. In this study, we reexamined hundreds of previously generated
S. aureus
RNA-Seq data sets and reanalyzed them to generate data for sRNAs. To do so, we utilized an updated
S. aureus
genome annotation file, previously generated by our group, which contains annotations for 303 sRNAs. The data generated (which were previously discarded) shed new light on sRNAs in
S. aureus
, most of which are unstudied, and highlight certain sRNAs that are likely to play important roles in the cell.
Cold feet: Trackways and burrows in ice-marginal strata of the end-Ordovician glaciation (Table Mountain Group, South Africa)
Authors: Davies Neil S. , Shillito Anthony P. , Penn-Clarke Cameron R.
Published: July 2020

New observations from an outcrop of Upper Ordovician Table Mountain Group strata (Matjiesgoedkloof, Western Cape Province, South Africa) have revealed an unexpected ichnofauna that is hosted within diamictites and sandstones that were deposited by a retreating low-latitude (∼30°S) ice sheet during the Hirnantian glaciation. The locality provides a rare window onto animal-sediment interactions in an early Paleozoic ice-marginal shallow-marine environment and contains a trace fossil community with a surprising ichnodiversity and ichnodisparity of burrows, trackways, and trails (Archaeonassa, Diplichnites, Heimdallia, Metaichna, ?Multina, Planolites, Protovirgularia, Skolithos). Exceptional phenomena preserved in the strata include evidence for direct colonization of glacial diamictites by deep-burrowing Heimdallia infauna, and interactions between trackways and dropstones on substrates. Observations from the newly recognized outcrop dramatically expand our understanding of deep-time glacial habitats, demonstrating that deglaciating ice margins had already been colonized by the latest Ordovician. The freshwater influx that would have been associated with such settings implies that faunal associations that were tolerant of brackish water were also established by that time. The locality has further significance because it records the activity of a nearshore animal community contemporaneous with the fauna of the nearby Soom Shale lägerstatte. Combined, these features reveal a paleoecological transect of the diverse marine life that inhabited cold-climate, low-latitude shallow seas around the time of the end-Ordovician deglaciation.
Supplemental Material: Syncing fault rock clocks: Direct comparison of U-Pb carbonate and K-Ar illite fault dating methods
Authors: Mottram Catherine , al. et
Published: July 2020

Full analytical materials, gouge and detailed carbonate sample descriptions and locations, summary of additional U-Pb geochronology plots and interpretation, structural data, and Data Set S1 (K-Ar results), Data Set S2 (X-ray diffraction results), Data Set S3 (U-Pb carbonate results), and Data Set S4 (U-Pb standard reproducibility).
Supplemental Material: Ocean acidification during the early Toarcian extinction event: Evidence from boron isotopes in brachiopods
Authors: Müller Tamás , al. et
Published: July 2020

Detailed information on the applied geochemical and calibration methods, carbonate chemistry models, age model, sample preservation, and additional information about species-specific effect on δ11B fractionation in brachiopods.
Supplemental Material: Interplay of Cretaceous transpressional deformation and continental arc magmatism in a long-lived crustal boundary, central Fiordland, New Zealand
Authors: Blatchford H.J. , al. et
Published: July 2020

Analytical methods used are described in Supplemental Text. Sample collection locations shown in Figure 3 are detailed in Table S1. Isotopic and geochemical data are presented in Tables S2–S4. U-Pb isotope data and geochemistry data for the sample are presented in Tables S5 and S6, respectively. A series of cross sections and a geologic map of the study area including field stations and associated structural measurements are presented in Figure S1. Cathodoluminescence images of zircon grains are shown in Figures S2 and S3. Backscattered electron images of analyzed titanite grains are presented in Figure S4.
Glucocorticoid dose-dependent risk of type 2 diabetes in six immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a population-based cohort analysis
Authors: Wu Jianhua , Mackie Sarah L , Pujades-Rodriguez Mar
Published: July 2020

Introduction

In immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, there is a lack of -estimates of glucocorticoid dose–response diabetes risk that consider changes in prescribed dose over time and disease activity.

Research design and methods

Population-based longitudinal analysis of electronic health records from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linked to hospital admissions and the mortality registry (1998–2017). We included 100 722 adult patients without diabetes history, diagnosed with giant cell arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica (n=32 593), inflammatory bowel disease (n=29 272), rheumatoid arthritis (n=28 365), vasculitis (n=6082), or systemic lupus erythematosus (n=4410). We estimated risks and HRs of type 2 diabetes associated with time-variant daily and total cumulative prednisolone-equivalent glucocorticoid dose using Cox regression methods.

Results

Average patient age was 58.6 years, 65 469 (65.0%) were women and 8858 (22.6%) had a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. Overall, 8137 (8.1%) people developed type 2 diabetes after a median follow-up of 4.9 years. At 1 year, the cumulative risk of diabetes increased from 0.9% during periods of non-use to 5.0% when the daily prednisolone-equivalent dose was ≥25.0 mg. We found strong dose-dependent associations for all immune-mediated diseases, BMI levels and underlying disease duration, even after controlling for periods of active systemic inflammation. Adjusted HR for a <5.0 mg daily dose versus non-use was 1.90, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.50; range 1.70 for rheumatoid arthritis to 2.93 for inflammatory bowel disease.

Conclusions

We report dose-dependent risks of type 2 diabetes associated with glucocorticoid use for six common immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. These results underline the need for regular diabetic risk assessment and testing during glucocorticoid therapy in these patients.
Use of a diabetes-specific nutritional shake to replace a daily breakfast and afternoon snack improves glycemic responses assessed by continuous glucose monitoring in people with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical pilot study
Authors: Mustad Vikkie A , Hegazi Refaat A , Hustead Deborah S , Budiman Erwin S , Rueda Ricardo , Maki Kevin , Powers Margaret , Mechanick Jeffrey I , Bergenstal Richard M , Hamdy Osama
Published: July 2020

Introduction

This pilot study evaluated the impact of a diabetes-specific nutritional shake (DSNS) used twice daily by people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on glycemic response assessed by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

Research design and methods

Adults (n=81) with T2D managed by oral medications were studied in a randomized, open-label, three-group parallel study design. The study was conducted in two phases over 14 days: Baseline (days 1–6), during which study participants consumed their habitual self-selected diets (SSD), followed by the Intervention (days 7–14), during which participants were randomized as follows: (1) SSD group received no study product (n=32); (2) DSNS breakfast/afternoon snack (Bkfst/AS) group consumed one DSNS as a breakfast meal replacement and a second to replace their mid-afternoon snack (n=24); (3) DSNS breakfast/prebed snack (Bkfst/PBS) group consumed one DSNS as a breakfast meal replacement and added a second as a prebed snack (n=25). Glucose was assessed by CGM throughout the study. Additionally, participants were asked about snacking behaviors, cravings, and other questions related to the use of DSNS as meal replacements and snacks.

Results

All groups reduced their postprandial glycemic response (positive area under the curve (pAUC, mg/min*dL−1)) and adjusted peak value (mg/dL) when compared with the baseline phase. Participants consuming DSNS in place of their usual breakfast showed greater reductions in pAUC compared with the SSD group (p=0.008) for the DSNS Bkfst/AS group with a trend (p=0.069) for the DSNS Bkfst/PBS group. Adjusted peak value showed greater reductions in both DSNS groups as compared with the SSD group (p=0.002 for DSNS Bkfst/AS and p=0.010 for DSNS Bkfst/PBS). Nocturnal glucose variability was significantly decreased during the intervention phase compared with baseline phase in the DSNS Bkfst/AS group (p=0.020), with no significant differences between groups. After intervention, the DSNS Bkfst/AS group had a significantly lower percentage of participants (17%) reporting cravings for starchy meals/sides compared with before the study (33%) (p=0.046). This group also reported a significant increase in confidence in choosing foods to control their diabetes (from 58.3% to 91.7%, preintervention vs postintervention, respectively, p=0.005).

Conclusions

Use of DSNS to replace breakfast and as an afternoon snack improves both glycemic control and behavioral factors related to dietary management of diabetes.

Trail registration number

NCT04230889.
Association between metformin and neurodegenerative diseases of observational studies: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ping Fan , Jiang Ning , Li Yuxiu
Published: July 2020

Background and aims

Aging becomes a growing global concern with an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) that mainly consist of cognitive decline and Parkinson disease (PD). As the most commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug, metformin has been shown to have inconsistent roles in the incidence of NDs. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to evaluate the effect of metformin exposure on onset of NDs.

Methods

The observational studies that investigated the associations between metformin and the incidence of NDs were searched in MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases. A random-effect model was performed using STATA to calculate the combined ORs.

Results

In total, 23 comparisons out of 19 studies with 285 966 participants were included. Meta-analysis found there was no significant effect on incidence of all the subtypes of NDs with metformin exposure (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.17). However, metformin monotherapy was associated with a significantly increased risk of PD incidence compared with non-metformin users or glitazone users (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.42).

Conclusion

Metformin has failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect on NDs. In addition, it may increase the risk of PD development. In light of current results, how metformin would impact NDs, especially the potential risk of PD, needs to be scrutinized. The underlying mechanisms are vital to achieve some more profound understanding on the regimen.

Trial registration number

CRD 42019133285.
Integrating the social sciences into the COVID-19 response in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Leslie Myles , Fadaak Raad , Davies Jan , Blaak Johanna , Forest PG , Green Lee , Conly John
Published: July 2020

This paper outlines the rapid integration of social scientists into a Canadian province’s COVID-19 response. We describe the motivating theory, deployment and initial outcomes of our team of Organisational Sociologist ethnographers, Human Factors experts and Infection Prevention and Control clinicians focused on understanding and improving Alberta’s responsiveness to the pandemic. Specifically, that interdisciplinary team is working alongside acute and primary care personnel, as well as public health leaders to deliver ‘situated interventions’ that flow from studying communications, interpretations and implementations across responding organisations. Acting in real time, the team is providing critical insights on policy communication and implementation to targeted members of the health system. Using our rapid and ongoing deployment as a case study of social science techniques applied to a pandemic, we describe how other health systems might leverage social science to improve their preparations and communications.
Retinal arterial occlusion with multiple retinal emboli and carotid artery occlusion disease. Haemodynamic changes and pathways of embolism
Authors: Chen San-Ni , Hwang Jiunn-Feng , Huang Jeff , Wu Shey-Lin
Published: July 2020

Objective

To introduce a special subgroup, retinal artery occlusion (RAO) with multiple emboli, which is highly associated with ipsilateral carotid artery occlusion disease (CAOD).

Methods and analysis

This is a cohort study. Cases of RAO with multiple retinal emboli were consecutively enrolled. All patients underwent at least one of the carotid/cerebral evaluations: carotid arteriography, orbital/carotid colour Doppler ultrasonography and CT angiography to demonstrate haemodynamic changes and to discuss possible mechanisms and pathways of the emboli.

Results

Among 208 RAO eyes, 12 eyes (5.7%) in 11 patients had multiple emboli were recruited in this study. Eleven eyes (91.6%) had ipsilateral carotid plaques and atherosclerosis with high-grade stenosis; among them, five were total carotid occlusion. Haemodynamic changes were found in nine patients with RAO (81.8%) with carotid stenosis 60% or greater. Most compensatory intracranial circulations were re-established via the circle of Willi with antegrade ophthalmic flows, but the direction of ophthalmic flow reversed in three eyes indicating the recruitment of external collaterals. Two cases underwent carotid stent successfully.

Conclusion

RAOs with multiple emboli are rare but highly associated with severe CAOD with haemodynamic flow changes, warning critical condition in carotid/cerebral circulations. Either direct embolism from the carotid or cardiac lesions or indirect embolism via the collateral pathways is the mechanism of pathogenesis. Immediate action should start to manage these patients to prevent further deterioration.
Screening for caregiver psychosocial risk in children with medical complexity: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Verma Rahul , Mehdian Yasna , Sheth Neel , Netten Kathy , Vinette Jean , Edwards Ashley , Polyviou Joanna , Orkin Julia , Amin Reshma
Published: July 2020

Objective

To quantify psychosocial risk in family caregivers of children with medical complexity using the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) and to investigate potential contributing sociodemographic factors.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Family caregivers completed questionnaires during long-term ventilation and complex care clinic visits at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Patients

A total of 136 family caregivers of children with medical complexity completed the PAT questionnaires from 30 June 2017 through 23 August 2017.

Main outcome measures

Mean PAT scores in family caregivers of children with medical complexity. Caregivers were stratified as ‘Universal’ low risk, ‘Targeted’ intermediate risk or ‘Clinical’ high risk. The effect of sociodemographic variables on overall PAT scores was also examined using multiple linear regression analysis. Comparisons with previous paediatric studies were made using T-test statistics.

Results

136 (103 females (76%)) family caregivers completed the study. Mean PAT score was 1.17 (SD=0.74), indicative of ‘Targeted’ intermediate risk. Sixty-one (45%) caregivers were classified as Universal risk, 60 (44%) as Targeted risk and 15 (11%) as Clinical risk. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed an overall significant model (p=0.04); however, no particular sociodemographic factor was a significant predictor of total PAT scores.

Conclusion

Family caregivers of children with medical complexity report PAT scores among the highest of all previously studied paediatric populations. These caregivers experience significant psychosocial risk, demonstrated by larger proportions of caregivers in the highest-risk Clinical category.
Validity and reliability of the Brain Health Self-Efficacy Scale for the elderly
Authors: Gao Yining , Cui Ming , Yang Chunyan , Wu Yuejing , Long Yun , Chen Yaopian , Liu Hongshen , Sun Lin , Yang Yinghua , Li Xia
Published: July 2020

Background

With the rapid increase in ageing population, China is confronted with the daunting challenge of a growing number of patients with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). This trend makes the maintenance of self-health and early intervention essential, highlighting the need for a tool that assesses self-efficacy of older adults in maintaining brain health or cognitive function.

Aim

This study aimed to design the Brain Health Self-Efficacy Scale (BHSES) to measure elderly individuals’ attitudes to NCDs, motivations and future plans for controlling risks. The psychometric properties of BHSES have been validated.

Methods

Based on the current literature and relevant models, a 19-item scale was created during the first stage. A total of 660 older adults in the Yinhang community of Shanghai were included. The statistical approaches of item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), criterion-related validity and reliability test were used to evaluate the quality of BHSES. In addition, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used as criteria to test the criterion-related validity.

Results

To test item differentiation, the study adopted item analysis and excluded item 8. Selecting a random half of the sample for EFA, the BHSES was refined to 16 items, which were categorised into the following three dimensions: ‘memory belief efficacy’, ‘self-care efficacy’ and ‘future planning efficacy’. These were highly consistent with the hypothesis model. Its cumulative variance contribution rate reached 61.14%, with factor loads of all items above 0.5. The three-factor model was confirmed by the remaining data through CFA. All fit indices reached the acceptable level (χ2=3.045, Goodness of Fit Index=0.898, adjusted Goodness of Fit Index=0.863, Comparative Fit Index=0.916, Incremental Fit Index=0.917, Tucker-Lewis Index=0.900, root mean square error of approximation=0.079 and root mean residual=0.068). The GDS and SAS scores revealed significant correlations with the BHSES score, indicating a high criterion-related validity. The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.793, with the α coefficients’ distribution of subdimensions ranging from 0.748 to 0.883.

Conclusions

The 16-item, self-compiled BHSES is a reliable and valid measurement. It could help identify older adults with potential risks for developing NCDs or with high suspicion of cognitive impairment onset in recent periods and also offer insight into tracking brain health self-efficacy in association with cognition status.
Systematic literature review of efficacy/effectiveness and safety of current therapies for the treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, hyperimmunoglobulin D syndrome and tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome
Authors: Kuemmerle-Deschner Jasmin Beate , Gautam Raju , George Aneesh Thomas , Raza Syed , Lomax Kathleen Graham , Hur Peter
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Several therapies are used for the treatment of rareautoinflammatory conditions like cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndromes (CAPS), hyperimmunoglobulin Dsyndrome (HIDS)/mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) and tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS). However, reviews reporting on treatment outcomes of these therapies are lacking.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted using Embase, MEDLINE, MEDLINE-In Process and Cochrane databases to identify the randomised/non-randomised controlled trials (RCTs/non-RCTs) and real-world observational studies of CAPS, HIDS/MKD and TRAPS published as full-texts (January 2000–September 2017) or conference abstracts (January 2014–September 2017). Studies with data for ≥1 biologic were included. Studies with <5 patients were excluded.

Results

Of the 3 342 retrieved publications, 72 studies were included (CAPS, n=43; HIDS/MKD, n=9; TRAPS, n=7; studies with ≥2 cohorts, n=13). Most studies were full-text (n=56), published after 2010 (n=56) and real-world observational studies (n=58). Among included studies, four were RCTs (canakinumab, n=2 (CAPS, n=1; HIDS/MKD and TRAPS, n=1); rilonacept, n=1 (in CAPS); simvastatin, n=1 (in HIDS/MKD)). Canakinumab and anakinra were the most commonly used therapies for CAPS and HIDS/MKD, whereas etanercept, canakinumab and anakinra were the most common for TRAPS. The available evidence suggested the efficacy or effectiveness of canakinumab and anakinra in CAPS, HIDS/MKD and TRAPS, and of etanercept in TRAPS; asingle RCT demonstrated the efficacy of rilonacept in CAPS.

Conclusions

Canakinumab, anakinra, etanercept and rilonacept were reported to be well tolerated; however, injection-site reactions were observed frequently with anakinra, rilonacept and etanercept. Data on the use of tocilizumab, infliximab and adalimumab in these conditions were limited; thus, further research is warranted.
Challenges in developing an interdisciplinary teaching material on effects related to the Earth’s rotation
Authors: Gróf Andrea , Szeidemann Ákos , Tél Tamás
Published: July 2020

The increasing public attention attracted by environmental issues requires the understanding of the physics behind large scale motions of the atmosphere and the oceans. It is therefore necessary to extend the scope of secondary education to the physical principles behind these phenomena related to the Earth’s rotation. The main message to convey is the fascinating effect that the importance of the Coriolis deflection increases with extension in space. The communication of size making such a difference requires quantitative considerations, whereas high school treatment is scarce and only provides a qualitative explanation of the Coriolis deflection. To bridge this gap, we have developed secondary level teaching material on the physical background of large-scale environmental processes and made it available on the internet for interested students and teachers. Aimed at regular secondary school students, it requires no further knowledge beyond the very basics of mechanics. The material consists of a core study and several extensions. The core study only uses elementary formulae and is easily followed by as independent learner or completed in three teaching periods in class. It begins with simple hands-on experiments from which students can derive the expression of the Coriolis acceleration. Students can also use data from their own experiments or everyday life observations to obtain a numerical measure of the strength of the Coriolis effect. Through the three sections, the material proceeds from small scales, where the Coriolis effect is practically negligible, to planetary scales, where the effect inevitably becomes dominant. As an illustration of the difference between the large and small scales, it also reveals why a video pretending to demonstrate the different rotation of plughole vortices around the Equator must be faked. The material has been developed in permanent contact with students, the paper also shows steps of improvement based on the feedback received from them.
Synergistic effect of aminoguanidine andl-carnosine against thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats: behavioral, biochemical, and ultrastructural evidence
Authors: Afifi Nehal A. , Ramadan A. , Erian Emad Y. , Sedik Ahmed A. , Amin Mohamed M. , Hassan Azza , Saleh Dalia O.
Published: July 2020

Hepatic encephalopathy depicts the cluster of neurological alterations that occur during acute or chronic hepatic injury. Hyperammonemia, inflammatory injury, and oxidative stress are the main predisposing factors for the direct and indirect changes in cerebral metabolism causing encephalopathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible synergistic effect between aminoguanidine (AG; 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and l-carnosine (CAR; 200 mg/kg, p.o.) on hepatic encephalopathy that was induced by thioacetamide (TAAÍ¾ 100 mg/kg, i.p.) administered three times weekly for six weeks. Behavioral changes, biochemical parameters, histopathological analysis, and immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies were conducted 24 h after the last treatment. Combining AG with CAR improved TAA-induced locomotor impairment and motor incoordination evidenced by reduced locomotor activity and decline in motor skill performance, as well as ameliorated cognitive deficits. Moreover, both drugs restored the levels of serum hepatic enzymes and serum and brain levels of ammonia. In addition, the combination significantly modulated hepatic and brain oxidative stress biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, they succeeded in activating nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity and ameliorating markers of hepatic encephalopathy, including hepatic necrosis and brain astrocyte swelling. This study shows that combining AG with CAR exerted a new intervention for hepatic and brain damage in hepatic encephalopathy due to their complementary antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects and hypoammonemic effects via Nrf2/HO-1 activation and NO inhibition.
Protecting the aging eye with hydrogen sulfide
Authors: George Akash K. , Homme Rubens P. , Stanisic Dragana , Tyagi Suresh C. , Singh Mahavir
Published: July 2020

Research demonstrates that senescence is associated with tissue and organ dysfunction, and the eye is no exception. Sequelae arising from aging have been well defined as distinct clinical entities and vision impairment has significant psychosocial consequences. Retina and adjacent tissues like retinal pigmented epithelium and choroid are the key structures that are required for visual perception. Any structural and functional changes in retinal layers and blood retinal barrier could lead to age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Further, there are significant oxygen gradients in the eye that can lead to excessive reactive oxygen species, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stress response. These radicals are source of functional and morphological impairment in retinal pigmented epithelium and retinal ganglion cells. Therefore, ocular diseases could be summarized as disturbance in the redox homeostasis. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor and causes vascular occlusive disease of the retina. Interestingly, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been proven to be an effective antioxidant agent, and it can help treat diseases by alleviating stress and inflammation. Concurrent glutamate excitotoxicity, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and microglia activation are also linked to stress; thus, H2S may offer additional interventional strategy. A refined understanding of the aging eye along with H2S biology and pharmacology may help guide newer therapies for the eye.
Production of $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$ and $$p\!-\!^3\mathrm{He}$$ correlation function in relativistic heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Bazak Sylwia , Mrówczyński Stanisław
Published: July 2020

The thermal and coalescence models both describe well yields of light nuclei produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at LHC. We propose to measure the yield of $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

and compare it to that of $$^4\mathrm{He}$$

4

He

to falsify one of the models. Since the masses of $$^4\mathrm{He}$$

4

He

and $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

are almost equal, the yield of $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

is about 5 times bigger than that of $$^4\mathrm{He}$$

4

He

in the thermal model because of different numbers of spin states of the two nuclides. Their internal structures are, however, very different: the alpha particle is well bound and compact while $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

is weakly bound and loose. Consequently, the ratio of yields of $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

to $$^4\mathrm{He}$$

4

He

is significantly smaller in the coalescence model and it strongly depends on the collision centrality. Since the nuclide $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

is unstable and it decays into $$^3\mathrm{He}$$

3

He

and p, the yield of $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

can be experimentally obtained through a measurement of the $$p\!-\!^3\mathrm{He}$$

p

-

3

He

correlation function. The function carries information not only about the yield of $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

but also about the source of $$^3\mathrm{He}$$

3

He

and allows one to determine through a source-size measurement whether of $$^3\mathrm{He}$$

3

He

is directly emitted from the fireball or it is formed afterwards. We compute the correlation function taking into account the s-wave scattering and Coulomb repulsion together with the resonance interaction responsible for the $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

nuclide. We discuss how to infer information about an origin of $$^3\mathrm{He}$$

3

He

from the correlation function, and finally a method to obtain the yield of $$^4\mathrm{Li}$$

4

Li

is proposed.
HOW DOES BLOCKCHAIN PARTICIPATION AFFECT THE CRYPTOCURRENCY MARKET?
Authors: LI YI , ZHANG WEI , WANG PENGFEI
Published: July 2020

Taking the unique advantage of the cryptocurrency market setting, this paper examines the relationships between blockchain participation and returns, trading volume and realized volatility of main cryptocurrencies (i.e., Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin). Dissimilar to previous theoretical studies that model the influencing factors on participation, we employ the number of unique from addresses 1 as the proxy for cryptocurrency investors’ blockchain participation and further explore the impact of such participation. By using vector autoregressive (VAR) model, we find that the blockchain participation has a significant and positive impact on the next day’s trading volume and realized volatility for the main cryptocurrencies. Our results are robust to the Granger causality test and alternative measure for blockchain participation.
Autonomous Programming for General Purposes: Theory
Authors: Weng Juyang
Published: July 2020

The universal Turing Machine (TM) is a model for Von Neumann computers — general-purpose computers. A human brain, linked with its biological body, can inside-skull-autonomously learn a universal TM so that he acts as a general-purpose computer and writes a computer program for any practical purposes. It is unknown whether a robot can accomplish the same. This theoretical work shows how the Developmental Network (DN), linked with its robot body, can accomplish this. Unlike a traditional TM, the TM learned by DN is a super TM — Grounded, Emergent, Natural, Incremental, Skulled, Attentive, Motivated, and Abstractive (GENISAMA). A DN is free of any central controller (e.g., Master Map, convolution, or error back-propagation). Its learning from a teacher TM is one transition observation at a time, immediate, and error-free until all its neurons have been initialized by early observed teacher transitions. From that point on, the DN is no longer error-free but is always optimal at every time instance in the sense of maximal likelihood, conditioned on its limited computational resources and the learning experience. This paper extends the Church–Turing thesis to a stronger version — a GENISAMA TM is capable of Autonomous Programming for General Purposes (APFGP) — and proves both the Church–Turing thesis and its stronger version.
Far-flung female (and fossil bone hunting) Fellows: an autoethnographical approach
Authors: Turner Susan
Published: July 2020

Geologists roam worldwide; no less for women who took up fellowship of the ‘Geol. Soc.’. Since 1919, women Fellows of the Geological Society have lived and worked across the globe conducting fieldwork and research. Based on the author's interests and in part considering her 50 years an FGS, a selection of women Fellows is considered, many of whom affected her geological life, such as Phoebe Walder and Peigi Wallace. This autoethnographical approach encompasses women from the colonies who joined as soon as they were able; the legendary Dorothy Hill of Queensland was one of the first, with other notable Australians being Nell Ludbrook and June Phillips Ross. Others worked across the former Gondwana, such as Pamela Robinson, who pioneered much research in vertebrate palaeontology on the Indian subcontinent. Important British geologists and vertebrate palaeontologists include Dorothea Bate, Sonia Cole, Elinor Gardner and Eileen Hendriks, who wrote key geological texts in the earlier twentieth century. More contemporary women did work for UNESCO, the International Union of Geological Sciences and in the oil industry. During the later twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, female Fellows have worked across the world in greater numbers in all aspects of geoscience, from the Arctic to the Antarctic.