bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myocardial CT perfusion compared with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in evaluation of the coronary microvascular function: An iPOWER substudy
Authors: Bechsgaard Daria F. , Hove Jens D. , Michelsen Marie M. , Mygind Naja D. , Pena Adam , Hansen Peter R. , Hansen Henrik S. , Kastrup Jens , Høst Nis , Gustafsson Ida , Prescott Eva
Published: October 2020

Background

A significant number of women with angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD; <50% stenosis) have coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) which carries an adverse cardiovascular prognosis. Coronary microvascular function can be evaluated by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) as a coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) and by static CT myocardial perfusion (CTP) as a myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR). Whether these methods are correlated is not known. We assessed the correlation between CFVR and MPR and investigated whether women with angina, CMD and no obstructive CAD have reduced MPR compared with asymptomatic women.

Methods

Static CTP with adenosine‐induced vasodilation and TTDE of the left anterior descending artery with dipyridamole‐induced vasodilation were successfully performed and analysed in 99 women with stable angina and no obstructive CAD and 33 asymptomatic women with no obstructive CAD. CMD was defined as CFVR < 2.

Results

Correlation between rate‐pressure product corrected MPR and CFVR was weak but significant (r = .23; p = .007). MPR was highest among asymptomatic women with normal CFVR (median [interquartile range; IQR] 158 [145–181] %). Symptomatic women with normal CFVR had reduced MPR (148 [134–162] %; age‐adjusted p < .001); however, the lowest MPR was found in symptomatic women with CMD (140 [129–164] %; age‐adjusted p < .001), independent of cardiovascular risk factors and haemodynamic parameters (p = .017).

Conclusion

Women with angina, CMD and no obstructive CAD had markedly diminished MPR compared with asymptomatic women. Correlation between CFVR and MPR was weak, suggesting that CTP and TTDE are not interchangeable for detection of CMD.
A timely piece that resonates with the South African experience: Commentary on Stockwell et al.
Authors: Parry Charles D. H.
Published: October 2020

The authors correctly conclude that the burden from alcohol in Canada is substantially greater than it is from COVID‐19, and thus, alcohol should be given more attention. However, they fail to mention that in some countries, with the rise in COVID‐19‐related hospital admissions, competition can occur between COVID‐19 and trauma patients for scarce hospital resources. In South Africa, this has led to the temporary banning of alcohol sales at two periods during the lockdown. Stockwell et al. highlight the fact that alcohol is deemed an ‘essential service’ in many countries and point to the reasons why this might have occurred, and that industry appears to be taking advantage of lockdown conditions to expand their reach in ways that might continue after the lockdown. The alcohol industry in South Africa has also used the points given by Stockwell et al. as to why governments might be reluctant to restrict alcohol at this time in pushing back against imposition of alcohol control measures, and furthermore referred to the effect of the sales ban on jobs in the alcohol and related industries and policy inconsistencies in dealing with different industries. Finally, the commentary expands on the measures presented on how governments should use the opportunity provided by the COVID‐19 crisis to push for further alcohol control measures to be implemented.
Inconsistent detection of extinction debts using different methods
Authors: Ridding Lucy E. , Newton Adrian C. , Keith Sally A. , Walls Robin M. , Diaz Anita , Pywell Richard F. , Bullock James M.
Published: October 2020

The extinction debt, delayed species extinctions following landscape degradation, is a widely discussed concept. But a consensus about the prevalence of extinctions debts is hindered by a multiplicity of methods and a lack of comparisons among habitats. We applied three contrasting species–area relationship methods to test for plant community extinction debts in three habitats which had different degradation histories over the last century: calcareous grassland, heathland and woodland. These methods differ in their data requirements, with the first two using information on past and current habitat area alongside current species richness, whilst the last method also requires data on past species richness. The most data‐intensive, and hence arguably most reliable method, identified extinction debts across all habitats for specialist species, whilst the other methods did not. All methods detected an extinction debt in calcareous grassland, which had undergone the most severe degradation. We conclude that some methods failed to detect an extinction debt, particularly in habitats that have undergone moderate degradation. Data on past species numbers are required for the most reliable method; as such data are rare, extinction debts may be under‐reported.
Clinical and radiological features of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) in a GRN mutation carrier: a case report
Authors: Giunta M. , Libri I. , Premi E. , Brattini C. , Paghera B. , Archetti S. , Gasparotti R. , Padovani A. , Borroni B. , Benussi A.
Published: October 2020

Background and purpose

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a rare neurodegenerative syndrome, defined by a distinctive clinical‐radiological profile, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology accounting for the majority of cases. The aim of this report was to present the case of a patient with impairment of visual and constructional abilities as initial manifestations.

Method

The patient underwent a multidimensional assessment, including neuropsychological evaluation, structural and functional imaging and genetic screening.

Results

Neurological and neuropsychological assessment showed an impairment of constructive and visuo‐spatial skills, associated with dyscalculia, simultanagnosia, optic ataxia and oculomotor apraxia. In accordance with the latest consensus criteria, a diagnosis of PCA was made. Consistent with the clinical findings, structural and functional imaging showed a peculiar pattern of atrophy with primary involvement of right parieto‐occipital cortices, whereas cerebrospinal fluid biochemical analysis did not reveal a profile compatible with AD pathology. Genetic screening identified a known pathogenic GRN mutation.

Conclusion

We present a case of PCA in a GRN mutation carrier in whom a concomitant AD pathological process was excluded. Consequently, although lacking histological data, our case suggests GRN‐related pathology causative of PCA. Through this report we provide further evidence for a new neurodegenerative pathway leading to PCA, extending the clinical spectrum of GRN‐associated phenotypes.
Faecal microbiota and antimicrobial resistance gene profiles of healthy foals
Authors: Liu Yuhong , Bailey Kirsten E. , Dyall‐Smith Michael , Marenda Marc S. , Hardefeldt Laura Y. , Browning Glenn F. , Gilkerson James R. , Billman‐Jacobe Helen
Published: October 2020

Background

The human and domestic animal faecal microbiota can carry various antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), especially if they have been exposed to antimicrobials. However, little is known about the ARG profile of the faecal microbiota of healthy foals. A high‐throughput qPCR array was used to detect ARGs in the faecal microbiota of healthy foals.

Objectives

To characterise the faecal microbiota and ARG profiles in healthy Australian foals aged less than 1 month.

Study design

Observational study.

Methods

The faecal microbiota and ARG profiles of 37 Thoroughbred foals with no known gastrointestinal disease or antimicrobial treatment were determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a high‐throughput ARG qPCR array. Each foal was sampled on one occasion.

Results

Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were dominant in the faecal microbiota. Foals aged 1‐2 weeks had significantly lower microbiota richness than older foals. Tetracycline resistance genes were the most common ARGs in the majority of foals, regardless of age. ARGs of high clinical concern were rarely detected in the faeces. The presence of ARGs was associated with the presence of class I integron genes.

Main limitations

Samples were collected for a case‐control study so foals were not sampled longitudinally, and thus the development of the microbiota as individual foals aged could not be proven. The history of antimicrobial treatment of the dams was not collected and may have affected the microbiota of the foals.

Conclusion

The ARGs in foal faeces varied concomitantly with age‐related microbiota shifts. The high abundance of tetracycline resistance genes was likely due to the dominance of Bacteroides spp.
The Long‐Term Effects of Cancer Treatment on Sexuality and Couple Relationships
Authors: Di Mattei Valentina Elisabetta , Perego Gaia , Taranto Paola , Mazzetti Martina , Marotta Elena , Candiani Massimo , Salvatore Stefano
Published: October 2020

Breast cancer and its pharmacological treatment often induce an impairment in women’s sexual functioning and couple relationships, as a consequence of physiological changes and psychosocial issues that may arise and persist long after treatment. This study aims to evaluate the sexual functioning, the quality of the couple relationship, and the overall health status of breast cancer survivors. A further objective is to determine the predictive role of specific clinical and sociodemographic variables for sexual functioning and the couple relationship. Sixty‐four breast cancer survivors completed the following questionnaires: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), the Short Form Health Survey‐12 (SF‐12), and a self‐report questionnaire to collect sociodemographic characteristics. Clinical information was retrieved from medical records. Compared to normative data, our sample reported significantly (p < .01) lower mean scores in the FSFI, DAS, and Physical Component (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the SF‐12. Multiple regression analyses show a significant effect of age, hormonal therapy, and psychological well‐being on sexual functioning and a significant effect of physical and mental well‐being on the quality of the couple relationship. Additionally, 75% of patients qualified for sexual dysfunction as measured by the FSFI global scale, and 71.9% declared they were not adequately informed about the side effects of treatments on sexuality. The high prevalence of sexual dysfunction in breast cancer survivors underlines the need for specific attention to this problem, starting from a complete and targeted communication between patients and health providers regarding these side effects.
A Multidimensional Perspective on Former Spouses' Ongoing Relationships: Associations With Children's Postdivorce Well‐Being
Authors: Beckmeyer Jonathon J. , Krejnick Samantha J. , McCray Jasmin A. , Troilo Jessica , Markham Melinda Stafford
Published: October 2020

Objective

To determine which aspects of divorced parents' ongoing relationships with their former spouses were associated with children's and youth's postdivorce well‐being.

Background

Research on the associations between former spousal relationships and children's postdivorce well‐being has focused extensively on postdivorce coparenting, with less emphasis on other aspects of these multidimensional relationships.

Method

Divorced parents (N = 641), recruited via Amazon MTurk, reported on six aspects of their relationships with their former spouses (coparenting cooperation, general communication with former spouses, boundary ambiguity, how often they talk with their former spouses, and satisfaction with custody and child support), and three indices of postdivorce child well‐being (prosocial, internalizing, and externalizing behavior).

Results

Analyses were conducted separately for children (4‐ to 9‐years‐old) and youth (10‐ to 18‐years‐old). For children, coparenting cooperation was associated with more prosocial but less internalizing behavior; general communication and boundary ambiguity—family system were associated with greater externalizing and internalizing behavior. For youth, boundary ambiguity—family system was associated with more externalizing and internalizing behavior, boundary ambiguity—relationship with former spouse was associated with more externalizing behavior, child support satisfaction was associated with more prosocial behavior, and custody satisfaction was associated with less internalizing behavior.

Conclusion

For child and youth postdivorce well‐being, some aspects of former spousal relationships appear more impactful than others, with boundary ambiguity appearing particularly detrimental.

Implications

Divorce education programs may need to diversify their content, supplementing the common focus on postdivorce coparenting with resources that help parents reduce boundary ambiguity in the family system.
The multifaceted role of cell cycle regulators in the coordination of growth and metabolism
Authors: Huber Katharina , Mestres‐Arenas Alberto , Fajas Lluis , Leal‐Esteban Lucia C.
Published: October 2020

Adapting to changes in nutrient availability and environmental conditions is a fundamental property of cells. This adaptation requires a multi‐directional coordination between metabolism, growth, and the cell cycle regulators (consisting of the family of cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs), their regulatory subunits known as cyclins, CDK inhibitors, the retinoblastoma family members, and the E2F transcription factors). Deciphering the mechanisms accountable for this coordination is crucial for understanding various patho‐physiological processes. While it is well established that metabolism and growth affect cell division, this review will focus on recent observations that demonstrate how cell cycle regulators coordinate metabolism, cell cycle progression, and growth. We will discuss how the cell cycle regulators directly regulate metabolic enzymes and pathways and summarize their involvement in the endolysosomal pathway and in the functions and dynamics of mitochondria.
Metabolic heterogeneity of human hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for personalized pharmacological treatment
Authors: Berndt Nikolaus , Eckstein Johannes , Heucke Niklas , Wuensch Tilo , Gajowski Robert , Stockmann Martin , Meierhofer David , Holzhütter Hermann‐Georg
Published: October 2020

Metabolic reprogramming is a characteristic feature of cancer cells, but there is no unique metabolic program for all tumors. Genetic and gene expression studies have revealed heterogeneous inter‐ and intratumor patterns of metabolic enzymes and membrane transporters. The functional implications of this heterogeneity remain often elusive. Here, we applied a systems biology approach to gain a comprehensive and quantitative picture of metabolic changes in individual hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We used protein intensity profiles determined by mass spectrometry in samples of 10 human HCCs and the adjacent noncancerous tissue to calibrate Hepatokin1, a complex mathematical model of liver metabolism. We computed the 24‐h profile of 18 metabolic functions related to carbohydrate, lipid, and nitrogen metabolism. There was a general tendency among the tumors toward downregulated glucose uptake and glucose release albeit with large intertumor variability. This finding calls into question that the Warburg effect dictates the metabolic phenotype of HCC. All tumors comprised elevated β‐oxidation rates. Urea synthesis was found to be consistently downregulated but without compromising the tumor's capacity for ammonia detoxification owing to increased glutamine synthesis. The largest intertumor heterogeneity was found for the uptake and release of lactate and the size of the cellular glycogen content. In line with the observed metabolic heterogeneity, the individual HCCs differed largely in their vulnerability against pharmacological treatment with metformin. Taken together, our approach provided a comprehensive and quantitative characterization of HCC metabolism that may pave the way for a computational a priori assessment of pharmacological therapies targeting metabolic processes of HCC.
Density‐dependent effects of eastern Kamchatka pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and Japanese chum salmon (O. keta) on age‐specific growth of western Alaska chum salmon
Authors: Frost Tessa J. , Yasumiishi Ellen M. , Agler Beverly A. , Adkison Milo D. , McPhee Megan V.
Published: October 2020

Hatcheries release >4.5 billion juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) into the North Pacific Ocean annually, raising concerns about competition with wild salmon populations. We used retrospective scale analysis to investigate how the growth of chum salmon (O. keta) from western Alaska is affected by the abundance of chum salmon from Japanese hatcheries and wild pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) from the Russian Far East. Over nearly five decades, the growth of Kuskokwim River chum salmon was negatively correlated with the abundance of Japanese hatchery chum salmon after accounting for the effects of sex and spring/summer sea‐surface temperature in the Bering Sea. An effect of wild eastern Kamchatka pink salmon abundance on the growth of Kuskokwim River salmon was detectable but modest compared to the intraspecific competitive effect. A decrease in Japanese hatchery chum salmon releases in 2011–2013 was not associated with increased growth of Bering Sea chum salmon. However, the abundance of wild chum salmon from the Russian Far East increased during that time, possibly obscuring reduced competition with hatchery chum salmon. Our results support previous evidence that chum salmon are affected by intraspecific competition, and to a lesser extent interspecific competition, in the North Pacific, underscoring that the effects of salmon hatchery production transcend national boundaries.
Germplasm evaluation of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) for alternative biomass for cellulosic ethanol production
Authors: Park Heeyoung , Park Sang Un , Jang Byeong‐Kwan , Lee Jeong Jae , Chung Yong Suk
Published: October 2020

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is an annual fiber crop grown mainly in India and China. This crop is becoming a new bio‐based energy source because of its fast growth rate, excellent CO2 absorption ability, and large productivity per unit area. In this study, we evaluated 10 different cultivars of kenaf for their potential as biomass for cellulosic ethanol production. First, kenaf samples were hydrolyzed using dilute sulfuric acid, which is the most simple and cost‐effective pretreatment method. Next, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of the hydrolysates were performed by wild‐type and engineered xylose‐fermenting yeast strains. The results of compositional analysis of the biomass, the hydrolysates, and the fermented products suggested that ethanol yield and productivity were significantly affected by a type of kenaf cultivars, which was not predictable based on the biomass compositions. Also, the ethanol production was maximized when the xylose fraction was utilized by engineered yeast under the control of pH to avoid acetate inhibition. Considering the sugar compositions and their fermentability, kenaf can be a promising energy‐dedicated crop for cellulosic ethanol production.
Queering space and organizing with Sara Ahmed’s Queer Phenomenology
Authors: Vitry Chloé
Published: October 2020

The intended contribution of this article is to add to the growing body of work “queering” organization studies by exploring how bodies, spaces, and organizing can be “queered.” I draw on Sara Ahmed’s Queer Phenomenology of 2006 to explore the relationship between bodies and the organization of space, in capitalist as well as alternative modes of organizing. Through the analysis of semi‐structured interviews with the three organizers of a queer feminist group in a British medium‐size city, I explore how we might resist capitalist and other normative spaces by queering them, and how these queered spaces open up fields of action for queerer modes of organizing. In so doing I further the critical project of Queer Theory in Management and Organization Studies to interrogate the norms that give shape to organizational spaces and processes, and the tensions that might arise when refusing their straightening effects.
Don't eat where you sleep: unexpected diversity of food web for beetles feeding on mosses
Authors: Pyszko Petr , Plášek Vítězslav , Drozd Pavel
Published: October 2020

Bryophytes represent favourable habitats for many arthropods, but their utilisation as a food source is marginal. While one of the largest monophyletic groups that represent obligatory bryophyte consumers are the Byrrhidae, host ranges for species in this group of beetles remain largely unknown due to their cryptic appearance and rarity. The occasional notes of ‘associated’ moss species that do exist are related to where Byrrhidae were found and not to diet analysis. Because the majority of Byrrhidae are stenobionts with limited dispersal, the assumption that associated moss species are also used as food is a useful hypothesis.

To test this hypothesis, 328 individuals were sampled from the species:Cytilus sericeus,Byrrhus fasciatus,Byrrhus pilula, andByrrhus glabratus. Mosses from both the stomachs and the immediate microhabitats of beetles were determined with the aim of (i) identifying their host range and (ii) testing whether the moss species from microhabitats in which beetles were collected were also found in their stomachs.

Almost 40 bryophyte species were found in beetle stomachs and accumulation curves for all beetle species failed to achieve asymptotes, together showing that all species are highly polyphagous.

Although a strong general correlation existed between moss consumption and occupation, discrepancies were present at the individual level with there being considerably higher moss species richness in beetle stomachs than in their immediate microhabitats. Our results question the assumption that bryophyte occupancy and consumption can be used interchangeably when studying host use in these insects.
Failing Institutions, Whistle‐Blowing, and the Role of the News Media
Authors: Ceva Emanuela , Mokrosinska Dorota
Published: October 2020

The article discusses the normative grounds for recognising a watchdog role to the news media as concerns the dissemination of information about an institutional failure menacing a well‐ordered society. This is, for example, the case of the news media’s role in the diffusion of whistle‐blowers’ disclosures. We argue that many popular justifications for the watchdog role of the news media (as a ‘fourth estate’; a trustee of the people’s right to know; expert communicator) fail to ground that role in some unique feature that makes the news media special as concerns the performance of the role. We offer an alternative argument that shows how the watchdog role of the news media shares a justificatory ground with the role that any member of a well‐ordered society has in terms of a general duty of answerability in the face of institutional failures. Although this duty does not bear only on the news media, we concede that in some contingent circumstances, the news media might be better positioned to discharge it and, therefore, to initiate corrective actions of institutional failures effectively and conscientiously. However, the establishment of the news media’s responsibility in this sense is an empirical, not a conceptual or a normative matter.
Periodontal surgery using rhFGF‐2 with deproteinized bovine bone mineral or rhFGF‐2 alone: 2‐year follow‐up of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Aoki Hideto , Bizenjima Takahiro , Seshima Fumi , Sato Masahiro , Irokawa Daisuke , Yoshikawa Kouki , Yoshida Wataru , Imamura Kentaro , Matsugami Daisuke , Kitamura Yurie , Kita Daichi , Sugito Hiroki , Tomita Sachiyo , Saito Atsushi
Published: October 2020

Aim

To compare outcomes of rhFGF‐2 + DBBM therapy with rhFGF‐2 alone in the treatment of intrabony defects. This study provides 2‐year follow‐up results from the previous randomized controlled trial.

Materials and Methods

Defects were randomly allocated to receive rhFGF‐2 + DBBM (test) or rhFGF‐2 (control). Treated sites were re‐evaluated at 2 years postoperatively, using original clinical and patient‐centred measures.

Results

Thirty‐eight sites were available for re‐evaluation. At 2 years, both groups showed a significant improvement in clinical attachment level (CAL) from baseline. A gain in CAL of 3.4 ± 1.3 mm in the test group and 3.1 ± 1.5 mm in the control group was found. No significant inter‐group difference was noted. Both groups showed a progressive increase in radiographic bone fill (RBF). The test treatment yielded greater RBF (56%) compared with the control group (41%). The control treatment performed better in contained defects in terms of CAL and RBF. There was no significant difference in patient‐reported outcomes between groups.

Conclusions

At 2‐year follow‐up, the test and cotrol treatments were similarly effective in improving CAL, whereas the test treatment achieved a significantly greater RBF. In both treatments, favourable clinical, radiographic, and patient‐reported outcomes can be sustained for at least 2 years.

Trial registration

The University Hospital Medical Information Network‐Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN‐CTR) 000025257.
A novel method for using RNA‐seq data to identify imprinted genes in social Hymenoptera with multiply mated queens
Authors: Howe Jack , Schiøtt Morten , Li Qiye , Wang Zongji , Zhang Guojie , Boomsma Jacobus J.
Published: October 2020

Genomic imprinting results in parent‐of‐origin‐dependent gene expression biased towards either the maternally or paternally derived allele at the imprinted locus. The kinship theory of genomic imprinting argues that this unusual expression pattern can be a manifestation of intra‐genomic conflict between the maternally and paternally derived halves of the genome that arises because they are not equally related to the genomes of social partners. The theory thus predicts that imprinting may evolve wherever there are close interactions among asymmetrically related kin. The social Hymenoptera with permanent caste differentiation are suitable candidates for testing the kinship theory because haplodiploid sex determination creates strong relatedness asymmetries and nursing workers interact closely with kin. However, progress in the search for imprinted genes in the social Hymenoptera has been slow, in part because tests for imprinting rely on reciprocal crosses that are impossible in most species. Here, we develop a method to systematically search for imprinting in haplodiploid social insects without crosses, using instead samples of pooled individuals collected from natural colonies. We tested this protocol using data available for the leaf‐cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior, providing the first genome‐wide search for imprinting in any ant. Although we identified several genes as potentially imprinted, none of the four genes tested could be verified as imprinted using digital droplet PCR, highlighting the need for higher quality genomic assemblies that accurately map duplicated genes.
Neuromodulatory pathways in learning and memory: Lessons from invertebrates
Authors: Van Damme Sara , De Fruyt Nathan , Watteyne Jan , Kenis Signe , Peymen Katleen , Schoofs Liliane , Beets Isabel
Published: October 2020

In an ever‐changing environment, animals have to continuously adapt their behaviour. The ability to learn from experience is crucial for animals to increase their chances of survival. It is therefore not surprising that learning and memory evolved early in evolution and are mediated by conserved molecular mechanisms. A broad range of neuromodulators, in particular monoamines and neuropeptides, have been found to influence learning and memory, although our knowledge on their modulatory functions in learning circuits remains fragmentary. Many neuromodulatory systems are evolutionarily ancient and well‐conserved between vertebrates and invertebrates. Here, we highlight general principles and mechanistic insights concerning the actions of monoamines and neuropeptides in learning circuits that have emerged from invertebrate studies. Diverse neuromodulators have been shown to influence learning and memory in invertebrates, which can have divergent or convergent actions at different spatiotemporal scales. In addition, neuromodulators can regulate learning dependent on internal and external states, such as food and social context. The strong conservation of neuromodulatory systems, the extensive toolkit and the compact learning circuits in invertebrate models make these powerful systems to further deepen our understanding of neuromodulatory pathways involved in learning and memory.
Factors associated with family cohesion and adaptability among Chinese registered nurses
Authors: Huang Lei , Wang Ya , Huang Hao
Published: October 2020

Aim

To identify determinants of family cohesion and adaptability among Chinese registered nurses.

Background

In China, the shortage of registered nurses imposes a higher physical and emotional workload, which will aggravate their work–family conflicts. Therefore, it is easy for nurses to ignore the importance of family, which is undeniably detrimental to healthy self‐development and providing better care to patients.

Design

With a cross‐sectional and observational study design (see the STROBE checklist and Supplementary File 1).

Methods

The Family Cohesion and Adaptability Scale was administered to registered nurses (N = 825) from 10 hospitals throughout China. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the related factors for family cohesion and adaptability.

Results

The multiple regression analysis revealed that inharmonious relationship with spouse's parents, discordant nurse–patient relationship, parents live in countryside, and poor leadership was found to be important risk predictors of family cohesion, and inharmonious relationship with spouse's parents, discordant nurse–patient relationship, high education, feel overworked and poor leadership was found to be important risk predictors of family adaptability.

Conclusion

Hospital managers need to pay attention to the risk factors that affect nurses' family cohesion and adaptability. To achieve this, they should employ targeted measures to enhance these aspects in time, which will help improve nurses' family life and promote their participation and role in family decision‐making. This will not only help them create a better external environment for their healthy self‐development but also allow them to maintain a better mood and energy to take care of patients.

Relevance to clinical practice

Family cohesion and adaptability are important for nurses, as they may affect nurses' healthy self‐development and quality of service provided to patients. Hospital managers should pay attention to the risk factors of nurses' family cohesion and adaptability, such as poor nurse–patient relationship, and consider employing corresponding measures to help them.
Recovery experiences of younger stroke survivors who are parents: A qualitative content analysis
Authors: Harris Walker Gabrielle , Oyesanya Tolu O. , Hurley Alexandria , Sandhu Sahil , Liu Chelsea , Mulla Maaz , Prvu Bettger Janet
Published: October 2020

Aims and objectives

To explore the experience of parenting for younger stroke survivors (aged 18 to 64 years at the time of the stroke).

Background

Stroke among younger adults increased 43% between 2000 and 2010. The social, emotional and physical functioning of younger adults affects multiple aspects of their lives including parenting. There is limited research on the experience of parenting after stroke.

Design

This is a qualitative descriptive study.

Methods

We conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with 10 younger adults who were actively parenting children under the age of 18 years at the time of stroke. Conventional content analysis was used to analyse the data. We report the methods and results using the COREQ checklist.

Results

Impairments from stroke disrupted participants’ identity, relationships and roles as a parent. The degree to which parenting abilities and behaviours were affected by stroke was contingent upon the type and severity of impairments as well as the children's age. Participants also observed emotional and behavioural changes in their children in response to their stroke. Support from family, friends, healthcare providers and children's school/day care was crucial to participants throughout their stroke recovery. Two major themes emerged: (a) finding a new normal; and (b) support for parenting post‐stroke.

Conclusions

Findings enable a deeper understanding of the distinct parenting challenges younger stroke survivors face and can inform future research on this population.

Relevance for clinical practice

Study findings highlight the need for continual and tailored follow‐up by nurses and other allied healthcare professionals to decrease the difficulty stroke survivors experience when trying to resume their role as parents.
A narrative review of peer support barriers and facilitators in kidney care
Authors: Trasolini Andrew , Wood Eleri , Thomas Nicola
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Patients with chronic kidney disease often experience emotional/mental challenges and benefit from peer support, as it provides insight/information from others with the same condition. Previous studies show it is effective in improving health outcomes and aids in treatment decisions.

Literature Review

There is low peer support uptake among patients with chronic kidney disease in the United Kingdom and staff do not utilise peer support services fully. Few studies within the United Kingdom have focused on peer support barriers/facilitators, so this narrative review aimed to understand them from staff and patient perspectives.

Materials and Methods

A comprehensive search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied with a two‐step process of article selection employed using two reviewers. Thematic analysis was applied.

Results

Five articles were included and six themes emerged. Low referrals and difficulty matching were staff barriers; concern regarding the relationship dynamic and the format/delivery were patient barriers. Promotion of the service aided the uptake from staff, while patients valued inclusivity.

Discussion

Increased promotion of peer support benefits through training/awareness may improve staff referrals and there should be greater exposure nationally. A flexible format is essential to ensure ample opportunity for access.

Conclusion

This review highlights the current literature on peer support barriers/facilitators. Further study is needed to evidence which approaches best overcome staff‐ and patient‐barriers.
Frailty in outpatients with cirrhosis: A prospective observational study
Authors: Román Eva , Parramón Marc , Flavià Montserrat , Gely Cristina , Poca Maria , Gallego Adolfo , Santesmases Rosalia , Hernández Elvira , Nieto Juan C. , Urgell Eulàlia , Alvarado‐Tapias Edilmar , Vidal Silvia , Ferrero‐Gregori Andreu , Vargas Víctor , Guarner Carlos , Soriano German
Published: October 2020

Background and Aim

Frailty is increasingly recognized as a major prognostic factor in cirrhosis in addition to conventional liver insufficiency scores. The aim was to compare the prevalence and characteristics of frailty between patients with cirrhosis and controls, and to analyse its prognostic value.

Methods

We included outpatients with cirrhosis and age‐ and gender‐matched non‐cirrhotic controls. Frailty was defined according to the Fried frailty criteria. In patients with cirrhosis, we analysed the ability of the degree of frailty to predict a composite endpoint, consisting of hospitalization, admission to a long‐term care centre, falls or death.

Results

We included 135 patients with cirrhosis and 135 controls. The prevalence of frailty was higher among patients with cirrhosis: 35 (25.9%) frail, 74 (54.8%) pre‐frail and 26 (19.2%) robust vs 14 (10.4%) frail, 67 (49.6%) pre‐frail and 54 (40%) robust (P < .001) in controls. This difference was mainly as a result of decreased muscle strength in patients with cirrhosis. During follow‐up, frail patients with cirrhosis showed a higher probability of composite endpoint, hospitalization and falls than pre‐frail and robust cirrhotic patients but mortality was similar. MELD‐Na score and frailty were independent predictive factors for hospitalization, frailty for falls, and MELD‐Na score and albumin for survival. Vitamin D deficiency and increased cystatin C were associated with frailty.

Conclusions

Frailty was more frequent in outpatients with cirrhosis than in controls, mainly because of a decrease in muscle strength, and it could be a predictive factor for hospitalization and falls in these patients.
Do online newspapers promote or undermine nation‐building in divided societies? Evidence from Africa
Authors: Lieberman Evan , Miller Andrew
Published: October 2020

Seminal contributions to the study of nation‐building emphasized the role of newspapers in the development of national consciousness. But do such theories apply in the modern context of online news sites, especially in diverse, postcolonial societies? Because online news sites contain forums for reader comments, this provides an opportunity to assess the relationship between exposure to media content and citizen sentiments. We investigate the extent to which a major online news site makes ethnic categories salient in sub‐Saharan Africa's largest country, Nigeria. Analysing more than 35,000 news articles and 300,000 comments, we find that commenters frequently broadcast strong expressions of subnational ethnic animus in response to a wide variety of stories. In particular, the use of some ethnic categories in headlines is associated with more than 40 percentage point increase in the probability of at least one reader making an ethnic‐based comment. Extending the analysis to South Africa, we show that these patterns generalize beyond Nigeria. By amplifying ethnic animus, ‘national’ newspapers may impede nation‐building efforts.
How are perceptions of social strain and low support related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome?—A Norwegian twin study
Authors: Kutschke Julia , Harris Jennifer R. , Bengtson May‐Bente
Published: October 2020

Background

Social stress is related to symptom burden of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study explores the associations between IBS and social strain or low support in close relationships, including spouse, friends, and family, in a Norwegian twin cohort.

Methods

The sample included 5442 Norwegian twins aged 40–80, of whom 589 suffer from IBS. We used multivariate structural equation models to estimate genetic and environmental sources of variation and covariation underlying IBS liability, measures of social stress and the relationships between these. The co‐twin control design was used to explore the nature of the associations between IBS and social strain or low support using models that test for causality.

Key Results

Genetic effects explained between 30% and 40% of the variation in IBS liability, social strain, and low support. The phenotypic correlations between IBS and social strain (0.20) and between IBS and low support (0.17) were primarily explained by shared genetic pathways. Surprisingly, all the genetic variation underlying the liability to develop IBS was shared with genetic influences underlying social strain and low support. In contrast, most of the nonshared environmental influences accounting for the variation of IBS risk were unique for IBS. The co‐twin control analyses suggest that the relationships between IBS and the social measures reflect shared familial rather than causal effects.

Conclusion & Inferences

The genetic variation of IBS risk was fully shared with genetic effects for variation in the social measures, emphasizing the contribution of genes involved in central brain–gut mechanisms to genetic variation in IBS risk.
A latent process model approach to improve the utility of indicator species
Authors: Fleming Jill , Sutherland Chris , Sterrett Sean C. , Campbell Grant Evan H.
Published: October 2020

The state of an ecosystem is governed by dynamic biotic and abiotic processes, which can only be partially observed. Costs associated with measuring each component limit the feasibility of comprehensive assessments of target ecosystems. Instead, indicator species are recommended as a surrogate index. While this is an attractive concept, indicator species have rarely proven to be an effective tool for monitoring ecosystems and informing management decisions. One deficiency in the existing theoretical development of indicator species may be overcome with the incorporation of latent (i.e. unobservable) states. Advancements in quantitative ecological models allow for latent‐state models to be tested empirically, facilitating the robust evaluation and practical use of indicator species for ecosystem science and management. Here, we extend the existing conceptual models of indicator species to include a direct relationship between an indicator species, ecosystem change drivers and latent processes and variables. Our approach includes explicit consideration of important estimation uncertainty and narrows the range of values a latent variable may take by relating it to measurable attribute(s) of an indicator species. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by relating a commonly cited indicator species, the red‐backed salamanderPlethodon cinereus, to a typical latent process of interest – ecosystem health.
A Stalled Revolution? Change in Women's Labor Force Participation during Child‐Rearing Years, Europe and the United States 1996–2016
Authors: Hook Jennifer L. , Paek Eunjeong
Published: October 2020

While women's labor force participation rates (LFPRs) in the United States stalled over the last quarter‐century, European countries exhibited a variety of trajectories. We draw on demographic and gender theories of women's life course to understand changes in women's LFPR during their prime child‐rearing years. We build expectations about how aggregate trends may be driven by shifts in the prevalence of key demographic events such as child‐rearing (i.e., compositional) versus shifts in the association of these events with women's LFP (i.e., behavioral). We use data from the European Union Labour Force Surveys and the US Current Population Survey in Kitagawa–Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition models to decompose trends in women's LFPR from 1996 to 2016 across 18 countries by educational attainment, partnership status, and parental status for women aged 20–44. Compositional and behavioral shifts positively contribute to higher LFPR in most countries, but lower rates in several others. Behavioral change is not widely shared across groups of women. Partnered mothers without college degrees are the main contributors to behavioral change and show the greatest variability across countries. We suggest greater research attention to this “missing middle,” as their LFP is key to understanding change during this period.
Effortful listening under the microscope: Examining relations between pupillometric and subjective markers of effort and tiredness from listening
Authors: McGarrigle Ronan , Rakusen Lyndon , Mattys Sven
Published: October 2020

Effort during listening is commonly measured using the task‐evoked pupil response (TEPR); a pupillometric marker of physiological arousal. However, studies to date report no association between TEPR and perceived effort. One possible reason for this is the way in which self‐report effort measures are typically administered, namely as a single data point collected at the end of a testing session. Another possible reason is that TEPR might relate more closely to the experience of tiredness from listening than to effort per se. To examine these possibilities, we conducted two preregistered experiments that recorded subjective ratings of effort and tiredness from listening at multiple time points and examined their covariance with TEPR over the course of listening tasks varying in levels of acoustic and attentional demand. In both experiments, we showed a within‐subject association between TEPR and tiredness from listening, but no association between TEPR and effort. The data also suggest that the effect of task difficulty on the experience of tiredness from listening may go undetected using the traditional approach of collecting a single data point at the end of a listening block. Finally, this study demonstrates the utility of a novel correlation analysis technique (“rmcorr”), which can be used to overcome statistical power constraints commonly found in the literature. Teasing apart the subjective and physiological mechanisms that underpin effortful listening is a crucial step toward addressing these difficulties in older and/or hearing‐impaired individuals.
Is there such a thing as literary cognition?
Authors: Plumer Gilbert
Published: October 2020

I question whether the case for ‘literary cognitivism’ has generally been successfully made. As it is usually construed, the thesis is easy to satisfy illegitimately because dependence on fictionality is not built in as a requirement. The thesis of literary cognitivism should say: ‘literary fiction can be a source of knowledge in a way that depends crucially on its being fictional’ (Green's phrasing). After questioning whether nonpropositional cognitivist views (e.g., Nussbaum's) meet this neglected standard, I argue that if fictional narratives can impart propositional knowledge in virtue of their fictionality, it would be largely via a suppositional framework. Yet in many cases, such as Huxley's Brave New World, the key literary supposition could simply be an epistemic possibility (‘suppose X, which for all we know, occurs sometime’), not counterfactual supposition, that is, distinctively fictional supposition. The best general case for literary cognitivism may be the limited one that literary fiction can alert us to nonactual metaphysical possibilities that may be important for understanding actuality. Yet even here, seemingly possible fictions are often impossible.
OsSYL2AA, an allele identified by gene‐based association, increases style length in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Dang Xiaojing , Yang Yang , Zhang Yuanqing , Chen Xiangong , Fan Zhilan , Liu Qiangming , Ji Jie , Li Dalu , Li Yanhui , Fang Bingjie , Wu Zexu , Liu Erbao , Hu Xiaoxiao , Zhu Shangshang , She Dong , Wang Hui , Li Yulong , Chen Siqi , Wu Yufeng , Hong Delin
Published: October 2020

Stigma characteristics are important factors affecting the seed yield of hybrid rice per unit area. Natural variation of stigma characteristics has been reported in rice, but the genetic basis for this variation is largely unknown. We performed a genome‐wide association study on three stigma characteristics in six environments using 1.3 million single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) characterized in 353 diverse accessions of Oryza sativa. An abundance of phenotypic variation was present in the three stigma characteristics of these collections. We identified four significant SNPs associated with stigma length, 20 SNPs with style length (SYL), and 17 SNPs with the sum of stigma and style length, which were detected repeatedly in more than four environments. Of these SNPs, 28 were novel. We identified two causal gene loci for SYL, OsSYL3 and OsSYL2; OsSYL3 was co‐localized with the grain size gene GS3. The SYL of accessions carrying allele OsSYL3AA was significantly longer than that of those carrying allele OsSYL3CC. We also demonstrated that the outcrossing rate of female parents carrying allele OsSYL2AA increased by 5.71% compared with that of the isogenic line carrying allele OsSYL2CC in an F1 hybrid seed production field. The allele frequencies of OsSYL3AA and OsSYL2AA decreased gradually with an increase in latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. Our results should facilitate the improvement in stigma characteristics of parents of hybrid rice.