bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing precision medicine in endoscopy practice
Authors: Kuo Chen‐Ya , Wu Jer‐Wei , Yeh Jen‐Hao , Wang Wen‐Lun , Tu Chia‐Hung , Chiu Han‐Mo , Liao Wei‐Chih
Published: July 2022

In contrast to the “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach, precision medicine focuses on providing health care tailored to individual variabilities. Implementing precision medicine in endoscopy practice involves selecting the appropriate procedures among the endoscopic armamentarium in the diagnosis and management of patients in a logical sequence, jointly considering the pretest probabilities of possible diagnoses, patients' comorbidities and preference, and risk–benefit ratio of the individual procedures given the clinical scenario. The aim of this review is to summarize evidence‐supported strategies and measures that may enhance precision medicine in general endoscopy practice.
Saffron and retinal neurodegenerative diseases: Relevance of chemical composition
Authors: Maggi Maria A. , Consonni Roberto , Cagliani Laura R. , Prestipino Gianfranco , Bisti Silvia , Picco Cristiana
Published: July 2022

Saffron is an ancient spice largely used in traditional medicine. It has been found to be effective in treatment of retinal neurodegenerative diseases like age‐related macular degeneration and Stargardt. In the present manuscript, it is shown that saffron’s neuroprotective power is strongly related to the bioactivity of all its chemical components. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and “in vitro” experiments confirm the relevance of crocins for saffron efficacy. These results underline the importance of strictly defining the chemical composition of the natural compounds in saffron to optimize their effectiveness in the treatment of diseases.
Involving families in the care of Indigenous infants: A philosophical exploration of Indigenous ways of knowing to inform nursing research and practice in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Carrier Leah , Dame Jessy , Wright Amy L. , Latimer Margot
Published: July 2022

Aims and objectives

To explore the use of Indigenous philosophies and ways of knowing as a means to critique, understand and improve the care of Indigenous infants and families in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Background

The ability of health professionals to provide culturally safe and equitable care to Indigenous infants and their families can affect infant development and long‐term health outcomes. Research suggests that family involvement in care benefits both the infant and their family, but there is limited research that addresses the experience of Indigenous families in the NICU and advances understanding of how nurses involve Indigenous families in their infants' care.

Design

A discursive, critical review will be presented to outline the assumptions of Indigenous philosophies and to explore how the consideration and implementation of Indigenous ways of knowing can improve the nursing care of Indigenous infants and their families in the NICU.

Method

First, our subjective positioning as Indigenous nurses and as health researchers is described. Second, our understanding of Indigenous philosophical frameworks and how these approaches fit in the context of the philosophy of science is defined. Third, the key elements of an Indigenous philosophical paradigm are described. Fourth, an application of Indigenous paradigms to supporting the care of Indigenous infants and families in the NICU context is made.

Conclusions

An Indigenous philosophical approach to nursing is ideal for understanding and improving the experiences of Indigenous infants and families in the NICU. This approach allows nurses to critically analyse the history and legacy of colonialism and its impact on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. By prioritising the voices and concerns of Indigenous families in the clinical setting and in nursing research, nurses can better understand the experiences of these families in the NICU and use strengths‐based approaches to facilitate family involvement in care.

Relevance to clinical practice

The application of Indigenous philosophies in the nursing context can be used to inform the care of Indigenous infants and families in the NICU. Potential benefits include improved therapeutic relationships between nurses and Indigenous families, and increased uptake of parent‐led interventions in nursing practice, which may lead to improved health outcomes for Indigenous infants in the NICU and throughout their subsequent development.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomization controlled and nonrandomized controlled studies on nurse‐led nonpharmacological interventions to improve cognition in people with dementia
Authors: Suh Yujin , Lee Sumi , Kim Go‐Eun , Lee JuHee
Published: July 2022

Aims and objectives

To evaluate nurse‐led nonpharmacological interventions for improving cognition in people with dementia.

Background

Starting in 2006, donepezil was administered worldwide to improve cognition; however, its side effects limited its therapeutic value for long‐term use, prompting a need for nonpharmacological interventions to improve cognition. Nurse‐led nonpharmacological interventions are especially important because they are effective in terms of resources and costs, reduce patient latency and improve patient safety and satisfaction.

Methods

A systematic review was identified by searching 10 electronic databases. The search period was between 1 January 2007, and 30 September 2021. Languages were limited to English and Korean. The inclusion criteria were studies of nurse‐led interventions that evaluated cognition using validated instruments. The exclusion criteria were qualitative research, scale development studies, abstracts and grey literature. Quality appraisal of research was conducted using the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions for quasi‐experimental studies and the Risk of Bias 2.0 for randomised controlled studies. This study was conducted in accordance with PRISMA reporting guideline (Appendix S1). The search protocol was registered in the PROSPERO (CRD 42021229358).

Results

A total of 24 studies were included in the systematic review, and 15 studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Meta‐analysis included 8 RCT and 7 quasi‐experimental studies. The studies (11 quasi‐experimental studies and 9 randomised controlled studies) demonstrated low to moderate quality of evidence for improving the cognition of people with dementia. The meta‐analysis showed that nurse‐led single nonpharmacological interventions more effectively improved cognition than complex interventions in people with dementia.

Conclusion

Nurse‐led nonpharmacological interventions were effective for improving cognition in people with dementia.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurses are qualified professionals with expertise in providing nonpharmacological interventions to improve cognition in people with dementia. Nurse‐led nonpharmacological interventions for this purpose should be developed in future research.
Clinical characteristic and prognostic factors in high‐grade endometrial neuroendocrine carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Zhifang , Wang Jing , Wu Xiaomei , Liu Yuan , Xi Xiaowei
Published: July 2022

Aim

The aim of the present study was to summarize the clinical characteristics and analyze the independent prognostic factors in patients with high‐grade endometrial neuroendocrine carcinoma (ENC).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with ENC, endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC), endometrial clear‐cell carcinoma (ECC), endometrial serous carcinoma (ESC), endometrioid carcinoma with mucinous features (EMC) from 1987 to 2016 were screened from the National Cancer Institute database (surveillance, epidemiology, and end results [SEER]). Kaplan–Meier were used to assess survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis were done to examine factors affecting survival.

Results

The median survival times of ENC were 11 months, shorter than that of EAC, ECC, ESC, and EMC (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in ages, survival rate, and median survival time between large‐cell ENC (LCENC) and small‐cell ENC (SCENC), which were all belong to ENC. In a multivariable model, the hazard ratio (HR) of death for women with Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I‐II of ENC was 0.37 compared to FIGO stage III‐IV (p < 0.01). The HR of patients who under the surgery was 0.39 compared to the patients who without surgery (p < 0.01), and the HR of patients who received chemotherapy was 0.51 compared to the patients who did not received chemotherapy (p < 0.01). Radiotherapy did not significantly reduce the mortality risk of patients.

Conclusion

ENC was a kind of devastating endometrial cancers with the poorest prognosis. Surgical treatment and chemotherapy were necessary for improving prognosis of ENC. Early diagnosis favored better prognosis. There was no prognostic difference between with and without radiotherapy.
Pregnancy in a patient with caudal regression syndrome following continent bladder reconstruction
Authors: Shigenobu Yuki , Nagayama Shiho , Manaka Yumi , Ohashi Mai , Kubo Taro , Shimozawa Hironori , Nakamura Shigeru , Nakai Hideo , Takahashi Hironori
Published: July 2022

Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) is rare congenital malformation, which is characterized by abnormal development of the lower end of the spine and complicated with neurodevelopmental disorders of vesico‐rectal functions and the lower extremities. We report the case of a woman with CRS who became pregnant and gave birth following continent bladder reconstruction (CBR) for intractable urinary incontinence. A 25‐year‐old primigravida woman with CRS became pregnant naturally and was referred to our department. She had undergone CBR in our institute at 14 years old. Emergency cesarean section (CS) was performed at 30 + 5 weeks of gestation due to severe preeclampsia. This is the first report of a woman with CRS who became pregnant and gave birth following CBR. A multidisciplinary team is needed to manage pregnant women with CRS following CBR. Collaboration with a urologist is especially important for managing pregnancy and performing CS. The CBR is performed for the purpose of improving quality of life by gaining urinary continence and may increase sexual behavior in women with CRS, and so obstetricians may encounter pregnancies more frequently in the future.
Breastfeeding rates at discharge for very low birthweight neonates and their determinants: An observational study from a tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit in India
Authors: Chauhan Avantika , Kumar Mala , Tripathi Shalini , Singh Shakal N , Singh Vijay K
Published: July 2022

Background

Mother's milk is the best milk for neonates. Preterm very low birthweight (VLBW) neonates face many challenges leading to low rates of breastfeeding at discharge.

Aims

(i) To determine the proportion of <32 weeks preterm VLBW neonates who are exclusively breastfed (EB) at discharge and (ii) determinants of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at discharge.

Methods

An observational study was conducted for a duration of 1 year, from May 2019 to April 2020 in a tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in North India. Consecutive <32 weeks preterm VLBW neonates admitted within 72 h of birth and on full enteral feeds (FEF) within 10 days of birth were included in this study and followed up till discharge.

Results

Forty‐four of 97 (45.4%) preterm VLBW neonates were exclusively breastfed and 31/97 (32%) received more than 80% mother's own milk (MOM) at discharge. Male sex (P = 0.03), those whose first feed had any amount of MOM (P = 0.038) or exclusive MOM in their first feed or when initiated on first FEF (P = 0.002), and neonates with longer duration of hospital stay (P = 0.035) had an increased chance of being exclusively breastfed at discharge.

Conclusion

Preterm VLBW neonates who receive any amount of MOM in their first feed or first FEF, male infants and those who stay longer in hospital are more likely to be exclusively breastfed at discharge.
Patchwork disclosure: Divergent public access and personal privacy across criminal record disclosure policy in the United States
Authors: Sandoval Juan R. , Lageson Sarah E.
Published: July 2022

Scholars have paid minimal attention to state statutory guidance that allows criminal justice agencies to disclose records that contain personal information about arrestees, defendants, and incarcerated people. We analyze US state policy for police, courts, prisons, and record repositories (N = 200). Most states restrict access to compiled criminal histories, but nearly all allow broad public access to agency records. Divergent policy guidance accounts for these differences, where transparency laws govern agency records while state criminal codes regulate records of arrest and prosecution, otherwise known as RAP sheets. These policy differences contribute to widespread disclosures of non‐conviction records, raising questions about due process and inequality in the big data age.
Some complexities in interpreting apparent effects of hitchhiking: A commentary on Gompert et al. (2022)
Authors: Charlesworth Brian , Jensen Jeffrey D.
Published: July 2022

We write to address recent claims by regarding the potentially important and underappreciated phenomena of “indirect selection,” the observation that neutral regions may be affected by natural selection. We argue both that this phenomenon—generally known as genetic hitchhiking—is neither new nor poorly studied, and that the patterns described by the authors have multiple alternative explanations.
The complex epistemological challenge of data curation in dietary metabarcoding: Comment on “The precautionary principle and dietary DNA metabarcoding: Commonly used abundance thresholds change ecological interpretation” by Littleford‐Colquhoun et al. (2022)
Authors: Tercel Maximillian P. T. G. , Cuff Jordan P.
Published: July 2022

In their article, Littleford‐Colquhoun et al. (2022) advise against using arbitrary relative read abundance (RRA) thresholds (i.e., minimum sequence copy thresholds) for removing low‐abundance sequences since they can increase false negative rates in dietary DNA metabarcoding data sets. The main criticisms presented against these widespread methods are that they (i) are arbitrary, often existing as standard values or defined based on researcher‐selected delineations, (ii) are subjective, varying between studies and contexts, and, most problematically, (iii) result in the exclusion of true positives, particularly rarely consumed taxa, to the detriment of ecological insight. We commend the authors for presenting a refreshing and timely perspective on this often neglected topic, which is certainly in need of greater discussion following over a decade of significant advances in dietary metabarcoding. In this complex epistemological problem of false positives versus false negatives, we feel that several of the points raised deserve additional discussion. We address these aspects below, including measured approaches to data filtration and consistent representation of RRAs, and we welcome any further discourse to solidify or refute the concepts therein.
Population genetics of a recent range expansion and subsequent loss of migration in monarch butterflies
Authors: Hemstrom William B. , Freedman Micah G. , Zalucki Myron P. , Ramírez Santiago R. , Miller Michael R.
Published: July 2022

Range expansions—whether permanent or transient—strongly influence the distribution of genetic variation in space. Monarch butterflies are best known for long‐distance seasonal migration within North America but are also established as nonmigratory populations around the world, including on Pacific Islands. Previous research has highlighted stepwise expansion across the Pacific, though questions remain about expansion timing and the population genetic consequences of migration loss. Here, we present reduced‐representation sequencing data for 275 monarchs from North America (n = 85), 12 Pacific Islands (n = 136) and three locations in Australia (n = 54), with the goal of understanding (i) how the monarch's Pacific expansion has shaped patterns of population genetic variation and (ii) how loss of migration has influenced spatial patterns of differentiation. We find support for previously described stepwise dispersal across the Pacific and document an additional expansion from Hawaii into the Mariana Islands. Nonmigratory monarchs within the Mariana Islands show strong patterns of differentiation, despite their proximity; by contrast, migratory North American samples form a single genetically panmictic population across the continent. Estimates of Pacific establishment timing are highly uncertain (~100–1,000,000 years ago) but overlap with historical records that indicate a recent expansion. Our data support (i) a recent expansion across the Pacific whose timing overlaps with available historical records of establishment and (ii) a strong role for seasonal migration in determining patterns of spatial genetic variation. Our results are noteworthy because they demonstrate how the evolution of partial migration can drive population differentiation over contemporary timescales.
Evaluation of the Post‐Antifungal Effect of Rezafungin and Micafungin against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata
Authors: Carvalhaes Cecilia G. , Rhomberg Paul R. , Pfaller Michael A. , Locke Jeffrey B. , Castanheira Mariana
Published: July 2022

Rezafungin, a new echinocandin with an extended half‐life, exhibits potent activity against Candida spp. Aside from the MIC, specific interactions between antifungal and isolate, including the duration of anti‐infective activity, may impact dose interval choices and infection outcome. We evaluated rezafungin and micafungin post‐antifungal effect (PAFE) against C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata. Six Candida spp. isolates were tested, including two of each species, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the CLSI reference broth microdilution method. Antifungal concentrations of 1x, 4x and 16x the baseline MIC were used for PAFE determinations. Colony counts were performed at T0 (pre‐exposure), after the 1‐h drug exposure, after the cell wash (T1), and at T2, T4, T8, T12, T24 and T48 h. Rezafungin PAFE results were equivalent to micafungin PAFE values for one C. albicans (>14.9 h) and both C. glabrata (>40 h) isolates for all concentrations tested. The rezafungin and micafungin PAFEs could not be determined against one C. albicans isolate. Prolonged PAFE results were also noted for rezafungin (range, 18.4 to >40 h) against both C. parapsilosis isolates at all concentrations, while no micafungin PAFE or a short PAFE (range, 1.8 to 7.4 h) was observed against these organisms, except at 16x bMIC. Rezafungin showed sustained growth inhibition following drug removal and displayed equivalent or longer PAFE values than micafungin against all tested Candida spp.
Editing melon eIF4E associates with virus resistance and male sterility
Authors: Pechar Giuliano S. , Donaire Livia , Gosalvez Blanca , García‐Almodovar Carlos , Sánchez‐Pina María Amelia , Truniger Verónica , Aranda Miguel A.
Published: July 2022

The cap‐binding protein eIF4E, through its interaction with eIF4G, constitutes the core of the eIF4F complex, which plays a key role in the circularization of mRNAs and their subsequent cap‐dependent translation. In addition to its fundamental role in mRNA translation initiation, other functions have been described or suggested for eIF4E, including acting as a proviral factor and participating in sexual development. We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate melon eif4e knockout mutant lines. Editing worked efficiently in melon, as we obtained transformed plants with a single‐nucleotide deletion in homozygosis in the first eIF4E exon already in a T0 generation. Edited and non‐transgenic plants of a segregating F2 generation were inoculated with Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV); homozygous mutant plants showed virus resistance, while heterozygous and non‐mutant plants were infected, in agreement with our previous results with plants silenced in eIF4E. Interestingly, all homozygous edited plants of the T0 and F2 generations showed a male sterility phenotype, while crossing with wild‐type plants restored fertility, displaying a perfect correlation between the segregation of the male sterility phenotype and the segregation of the eif4e mutation. Morphological comparative analysis of melon male flowers along consecutive developmental stages showed postmeiotic abnormal development for both microsporocytes and tapetum, with clear differences in the timing of tapetum degradation in the mutant versus wild‐type. An RNA‐Seq analysis identified critical genes in pollen development that were down‐regulated in flowers of eif4e/eif4e plants, and suggested that eIF4E‐specific mRNA translation initiation is a limiting factor for male gametes formation in melon.
Adjunctive treatment with infliximab in pediatric immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis: A case report
Authors: Castelli Barbara , Marrani Edoardo , Fusco Eleonora , Chiara Caporalini , Pagnini Ilaria , Simonini Gabriele
Published: July 2022

Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) is the most common childhood vasculitis affecting small vessels. No clear recommendations are available for severe pediatric cases, and until now, anti‐TNF agents have had a limited role in IgAV management. In this report, we describe a pediatric case of severe IgAV, successfully treated with combined therapy including the anti‐TNF, infliximab.
Electronic prescription monitoring and the opioid epidemic
Authors: KC Diwas , Kim TI Tongil , Liu Jiayi
Published: July 2022

To combat the nationwide opioid epidemic, many states have implemented policies that require prescribers to check a patient's prescription history with Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) prior to initiating or refilling opioid prescriptions. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach, we show that after states mandated PDMP use, opioid prescriptions decreased by 6.1% as intended. However, PDMP mandates had the unintended effect of driving existing opioid users towards more lethal illicit substitutes such as heroin. We found that reductions in prescription rates were accompanied by unprecedented rises in heroin overdose deaths: there were 6.37 more heroin‐related deaths per million population per year—a 50.1% increase—following PDMP mandates. Although stronger PDMP mandates (e.g., based on comprehensiveness, legal enforcement, integration with other health records, and interstate information sharing) reduced opioid prescriptions, we also find that stronger mandates inadvertently increased heroin overdose deaths. Additional analyses show that the substitution effect was not statistically significant among states with lower preexisting levels of pain reliever dependence, lower heroin availability, and greater access to substance abuse treatment. These findings point to an important policy implication: supply‐side restrictions such as mandated PDMP need to account for possible demand‐side substitution effects.
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on well‐being of seniors attending online programs at University of the Third Age: a follow‐up study
Authors: Kayhan Koçak Fatma Özge , Çavdar Sibel , Savas Sumru , Akçiçek Selahattin Fehmi
Published: July 2022

Background

Reports on psychological effects of quarantine during past outbreaks and pandemics showed that quarantined people were more likely to experience psychological problems than those who were not. It was also shown that there was an increase in anxiety, depression, and stress in all age groups during the COVID‐19 pandemic. So, we investigated emotional states and quality of life as components of general well‐being in older participants of University of the Third Age (U3A) attending online programs during the second year of the pandemic, and compared them with the pre‐pandemic COVID‐19 period.

Methods

This study was conducted among 27 participants of a U3A program. Data on sociodemographics, Charlson comorbidity index, the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS‐SF), The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS), and Turkish version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument Older Adults Module (WHOQOL‐OLD) were taken in September 2019 and September 2021.

Results

The median age of the participants was 68 (60–75) years (81.5% female). In the COVID‐19 pandemic period; ‘Death and dying’ (except for ‘Fear of pain before death’ score), ‘Intimacy’ domain, and ‘Social participation’ domain scores of WHOQOL‐OLD decreased compared to the pre‐pandemic period (P < 0.001, P = 0.011, and P < 0.001, respectively) whereas the scores for GAS and GDS‐SF were higher (P < 0.001 and P = 0.011). The reason for the decrease in ‘Social participation’ domain scores was the decrease in ‘Satisfaction with opportunity to participate in community’. There was no significant difference in ‘Autonomy’ domain of WHOQOL‐OLD (P = 0.598).

Conclusion

Although there was no change in ‘Autonomy’ domain among the participants of U3A before and during the pandemic period, anxiety and depression scores were higher in the second year of the COVID pandemic. Only a decrease in satisfaction with opportunity to participate in community might have significant impact on social participation.
The changing role and definitions of aquaculture for environmental purposes
Authors: Mizuta Darien D. , Froehlich Halley E. , Wilson Jono R.
Published: July 2022

Aquaculture is the fastest growing form of food production across the globe. The expansion of the industry has brought about a diversity of approaches to mitigate social and ecological impacts associated with aquaculture production systems. At the same time, there is a growing interest in utilizing aquaculture for conservation purposes including species recovery, habitat restoration and offsetting the impacts of wild capture on vulnerable harvested species. The diversification of the aquaculture sector and the overlapping use of terminology to describe alternative aquaculture approaches can create challenges for policy makers, managers and industry practitioners. Clear distinction between alternative aquaculture approaches and intent may improve regulatory, permitting, monitoring and consumer awareness outcomes. Here, we examine the use of four primary aquaculture approaches in the scientific literature: ‘commercial aquaculture’, ‘conservation aquaculture’, ‘restorative aquaculture’ and ‘regenerative aquaculture’ to elucidate the similarities and differences and improve understanding of the approaches. We propose definitions for the terms based on empirical analysis of related words used in scientific texts and fitness into a particular initiative. In addition, we discuss the use of those terms within the context of benefits to ‘people and nature’, namely activities that include economic, social and environmental outcomes and the variability therein. Clear definition of terms and related activities in a burgeoning field can minimize semantic confusion while improving opportunities to craft robust policy guidelines and improve stakeholder understanding and practice of aquaculture activities.
Housing and Income Inequality in Europe: Distributional Effects of Non‐Cash Income From Imputed Rents
Authors: List Emanuel
Published: July 2022

This article uses survey data to estimate non‐cash income from imputed rents, using a consistent methodology for all countries to assemble comparable statistics that allow for a valid inter‐country comparison. We can confirm a significant impact of non‐cash income and find an inequality‐decreasing effect for the unconditional income distribution which highly correlates with the proportion of owner‐occupiers in the respective countries. However, aggregated inequality measures are not suited to analyze the increase in the conditional income inequality between owner‐occupiers and renters, who do not obtain income from imputed rents by definition. Therefore, we apply a reweighting decomposition that controls for the heterogeneous housing characteristics among European countries and allows us to decompose the distributional changes into a part that is explained by the proportion of tenure types and household size and a remaining part that reflects the relative dispersion of imputed rents along the income distribution.
How Gender Dynamics Shape Off‐farm Work in Upland Southwest China☆
Authors: Zinda John Aloysius , Anshumali Amit
Published: July 2022

Gendered demands for productive and reproductive labor differently affect men's and women's decisions about not only whether to undertake off‐farm work, but where. With data from a survey of households in southwestern China, we examine the effects of individual, household, and community attributes on decisions to take local or distant off‐farm work. Men's and women's off‐farm work decisions respond differently to care and farmwork needs. For women, the primary trade‐off is between distant off‐farm work and none. For men, the primary trade‐off is between distant and local off‐farm work. Women in households with more working‐age members are more likely to take distant off‐farm work rather than stay on the farm. Increased education and household labor make men more likely to take distant relative to local off‐farm work. Household land holdings also have differing effects: for women, increased cropland area reduces odds of migration, while for men it increases odds of local relative to distant off‐farm work. By disaggregating off‐farm work location, we uncover gendered patterns that binary approaches to off‐farm work or migration obscure.
Explaining state differences in firearm legislation: A South/non‐South analysis
Authors: Kenter Robert C. , Mayer Martin K. , Morris John C.
Published: July 2022

Objective

This article explores choices made by states in terms of opposition or support of firearm policies to determine what drives firearm restrictiveness and whether it varies by region.

Methods

Utilizing standard explanators of state policy choices, we employ a 50‐state pooled regression model, using data spanning 25 years to evaluate drivers of state policy decisions in terms of regional firearm restrictiveness.

Results

Evaluating firearm restrictiveness through several equally scored policy windows, including prohibitions for high‐risk gun possession, universal background checks, “stand your ground” laws, concealed carry permitting, and buyer regulations, the findings highlight the importance of ideology and poverty in explaining state firearm policy restrictiveness.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the regional distinction and policy drivers that continue to make the South different from the rest of the nation in terms of firearm policy and restrictiveness.
Automatic bias correction for testing in high‐dimensional linear models
Authors: Zhou Jing , Claeskens Gerda
Published: July 2022

Hypothesis testing is challenging due to the test statistic's complicated asymptotic distribution when it is based on a regularized estimator in high dimensions. We propose a robust testing framework for ‐regularized M‐estimators to cope with non‐Gaussian distributed regression errors, using the robust approximate message passing algorithm. The proposed framework enjoys an automatically built‐in bias correction and is applicable with general convex nondifferentiable loss functions which also allows inference when the focus is a conditional quantile instead of the mean of the response. The estimator compares numerically well with the debiased and desparsified approaches while using the least squares loss function. The use of the Huber loss function demonstrates that the proposed construction provides stable confidence intervals under different regression error distributions.
HLA‐DRB1 and cytokine polymorphisms in Brazilian patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and its association with red blood cell alloimmunization
Authors: Sirianni Marilia Fernandes Mascarenhas , Sippert Emilia , Blos Bruna , Gonçalves Flavia Ricioli Vaz , Hamerschlak Nelson , Kutner Jose , Castilho Lilian , Marti Luciana Carvalheiro , Bonet‐Bub Carolina
Published: July 2022

Objective(s)

This study aimed investigate association of HLA‐DRB1 and cytokine polymorphisms with red blood cell(RBC) alloimmunization in Brazilian Myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) patients with prior exposure to RBC transfusion.

Background

MDS patients are at risk RBC alloimmunization due to chronic RBC transfusion. However, differences in immune response of MDS transfused patients are not completely known.

Methods/materials

A retrospective cohort of 87 polytransfused patients with MDS including 28 alloimmunized (PA) and 59 non‐alloimmunized (PNA) was evaluated in three Brazilian reference hospitals. HLA‐DRB1genotype was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐SSOP (Luminex platform) and cytokine polymorphisms analysed by PCR and TaqMan assays.

Results

While HLA‐DRB1 allele frequencies did not differ between groups, IL17A 197G > A SNP and IL4 polymorphisms showed significant correlation with RBC alloimmunization. IL17A 197A allele A and AA genotype were significantly more frequent in PA than PNA(A, 46.4% versus 27.1%, p = 0.012; OR = 2.3; 95%CI = 1.1–4.9; AA, 25% versus 6.8%, p = 0.041; OR = 6.2; 95%CI 1.3–30.8). Moreover, significant association of alloimmunization to Rh antigens with IL17A 197A allele and AA genotype was also identified in PA group(A, 45% versus 27.1%, p = 0.036; OR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.1–5.7; AA, 30% versus 6.8%, p = 0.042; OR = 7.9; 95%CI 1.5–42.3). Genotype A1A2 of IL4 intron 3 was overrepresented in PA(50% versus 16.9%, p = 0.009; OR = 4.97; 95%CI 1.6–15.5). Similarly, IL4–590 CT genotype was overrepresented in PA(53.6% versus 28.8%, p = 0.049; OR = 3.3; 95%CI 1.2–9.3).

Conclusions

This study showed no association regarding HLA‐DRB1 alleles for RBC alloimmunization risk or protection, however the IL17A 197G>A, IL4 intron 3 and IL4 590C>T SNP was significantly associated to RBC alloimmunization risk in this cohort of Brazilian MDS patients.
An inducible potato (E,E)‐farnesol synthase confers tolerance against bacterial pathogens in potato and tobacco
Authors: Dwivedi Varun , Kumar Sarma Rajeev , Shilpashree H. B. , Krishna Ram , Rao Srinivas , Shasany Ajit K. , Olsson Shannon B. , Nagegowda Dinesh A.
Published: July 2022

Terpene synthases (TPSs) have diverse biological functions in plants. Though the roles of TPSs in herbivore defense are well established in many plant species, their role in bacterial defense has been scarce and is emerging. Through functional genomics, here we report the in planta role of potato (Solanum tuberosum) terpene synthase (StTPS18) in bacterial defense. Expression of StTPS18 was highest in leaves and was induced in response to Pseudomonas syringae and methyl jasmonate treatments. The recombinant StTPS18 exhibited bona fide (E,E)‐farnesol synthase activity forming a sesquiterpenoid, (E,E)‐farnesol as the sole product, utilising (E,E)‐farnesyl diphosphate (FPP). Subcellular localization of GFP fusion protein revealed that StTPS18 is localized to the cytosol. Silencing and overexpression of StTPS18 in potato resulted in reduced and enhanced tolerance, respectively, to bacterial pathogens P. syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum. Bacterial growth assay using medium containing (E,E)‐farnesol significantly inhibited P. syringae growth. Moreover, StTPS18 overexpressing transgenic potato and Nicotiana tabacum leaves, and (E,E)‐farnesol and P. syringae infiltrated potato leaves exhibited elevated expression of sterol pathway and members of pathogenesis‐related genes with enhanced phytosterol accumulation. Interestingly, enhanced phytosterols in 13C3‐(E,E)‐farnesol infiltrated potato leaves were devoid of any noticeable 13C labeling, indicating no direct utilization of (E,E)‐farnesol in phytosterols formation. Furthermore, leaves of StTPS18 overexpressing transgenic lines had no detectable (E,E)‐farnesol similar to the control plant, and emitted lower levels of sesquiterpenes than the control. These findings point towards an indirect involvement of StTPS18 and its product (E,E)‐farnesol in bacterial defense through upregulation of phytosterol biosynthesis and defense genes.
Psychometric properties of the evidence‐based practice mentorship scale
Authors: Melnyk Bernadette Mazurek , Hsieh Andreanna Pavan , Mu Jinjian
Published: July 2022

Background

Evidence‐based practice (EBP) improves the quality of care, decreases healthcare costs, and improves job satisfaction. However, nurses and other clinicians, as well as their institutions, struggle to consistently implement EBP. The Advancing Research and Clinical practice through close Collaboration (ARCC©) Model established that a cadre of EBP mentors is key to improving EBP knowledge, beliefs, competency, and implementation in clinicians. Yet, there has not been a valid and reliable measure of EBP mentorship.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the new 8‐item EBP Mentorship Scale. This scale measures the degree to which clinicians perceive that EBP mentorship is available to them.

Methods

The EBP Mentorship Scale data were obtained from a previous national cross‐sectional descriptive study with 2344 nurses from 19 hospitals and healthcare systems. Descriptive statistics summarized the sample and distributions of the scale items. Cronbach's alpha, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted.

Results

Cronbach's alpha of the scale was 0.99. A one‐factor model was supported by EFA and retained for CFA. Model fit indices for CFA indicated a good fit.

Linking evidence to action

The new EBP Mentorship Scale is valid and reliable and can be used to assess the level of EBP mentorship support available in hospitals and healthcare systems. EBP mentors are key in sustaining an EBP organizational culture and enhancing clinician EBP knowledge, beliefs, competency, and implementation.
Relationship between stylolite morphology and the sealing potential of stylolite-bearing carbonate cap rocks
Authors: Wu Jun , Fan Tailiang , Gomez-Rivas Enrique , Cao Qian , Travé Anna , Gao Zhiqian , Kang Zhihong , Koehn Daniel , Bons Paul D.
Published: July 2022

We analyzed the sealing effectiveness of cap rocks bearing different types of stylolites using a combination of petrographic, petrophysical, pore structure, and sealing capacity characterization techniques. This study was based on examples of carbonate cap rocks that seal ultradeep hydrocarbon reservoirs of the Tarim Basin (China). Samples from both drill cores and their outcrop analogues were investigated to quantify how morphology influences the sealing capacity of different types of stylolite-bearing rocks. The study cap rocks consisted of mudstone, wackestone to packstone, grainstone, and dolomitic limestone. Four types of stylolites were identified: rectangular layer, seismogram pinning, suture and sharp peak, and simple wave-like types. The difference in the sealing capacity of carbonate cap rocks is attributed to their pore structure connections and the types of stylolites they develop. Samples bearing simple wave-like stylolites showed the best sealing capacity, followed by those with rectangular layer and suture and sharp peak types, whereas carbonates hosting seismogram pinning types had the lowest sealing capacity. The impact of stylolite segments on the rock sealing properties, however, differed from one segment to another. Rectangular layer–type stylolites could be divided into three distinct segments (with good, moderate, and poor sealing, respectively). Both the seismogram pinning and suture and sharp peak stylolite types were divided in two parts, with the former one having moderate and poor sealing and the latter exhibiting good and moderate sealing. The simple wavelike type had a good sealing capacity all along the pressure-solution seam. The most effective sealing barriers for vertical fluid flow form when (1) calcite and siliceous cements are pervasively distributed in the vicinity of stylolites, forming highly cemented zones with lower porosity and permeability than their surrounding host rocks; (2) stylolites are enriched in insoluble residues; and (3) rare microfractures and dissolution vugs are found along the stylolites. This work provides useful examples for the prediction of the sealing potential of stylolite-bearing carbonate rocks according to stylolite morphology in other geologic settings.
Geophysical extent of the Wyoming Province, western USA: Insights into ancient subduction and craton stability
Authors: Bedrosian Paul A. , Frost Carol D.
Published: July 2022

A new 3-D resistivity model, estimated from inversion of magnetotelluric data, images crustal and upper-mantle structure of the Wyoming Province and adjacent areas. The Archean province is imaged as a coherent resistive domain, in sharp contrast to active tectonic domains of the western U.S. Prominent high-conductivity belts define the northern, eastern, and southern margins of the Wyoming Province and are interpreted as sutures marking the remnants of Paleoproterozoic orogens. The model results suggest the northern boundary of the Wyoming Province is located 150 km south of its traditional placement and adjacent to a composite orogen separating the Wyoming Province and Medicine Hat block. The eastern province boundary is clearly imaged along the Black Hills, whereas the western margin is obscured by Cenozoic extension and magmatism. An internal boundary within the Wyoming Province is interpreted to represent a Neoarchean suture; in stark contrast to Proterozoic sutures, though, it is not marked by a high-conductivity belt. This difference in conductivity is speculated to reflect changes in the subduction process through time. The absence of high-conductivity along Archean sutures appears to be global in nature and related to reduced continental freeboard in the Archean which limited continental weathering and the delivery of carbon-rich sediments to the seafloor. Although the entire Wyoming Province has been proposed to have undergone lithospheric modification that lessened its stability, the resistivity model suggests a thick lithospheric root remains in place except along its western margin. These results suggest that Archean cratons may be more resistant to lithospheric modification by influx of heat and fluids associated with extension and plumes than previously thought, and that metasomatism does not necessarily weaken the lithosphere and set a craton on the path to destruction.
A High Voltage Sonoelectrochemical Route for Preparation of Highly Oxidized Carbon Nanosheets with Excellent Electrocatalytic Property
Authors: Yao Su , Du Jinxiao , Xiang Jieting , Wei Shoulian , Liu Yanqing , Wang Hongwu
Published: July 2022

A high voltage sonoelectrochemical method was proposed for the preparation of highly oxidized carbon nanosheets (hoCNSs) with good hydrophilicity and excellent electrocatalytic property for various compounds. It was found that the high electrolytic voltage played an important role in the hoCNSs’ fragmentary appearance and excellent electrocatalytic property. The ultrasonic power further obviously improved the electrolytic efficiency. The very low concentration of electrolyte leads to a very simple post-treatment process. So this facile, low-cost and environmentally friendly method had great utility value for the preparation of hoCNSs.
Phase Separation Induced Schottky Barrier Height Change in InAlAs/InP Heterostructure-based HEMT Devices
Authors: Muhamd Rabah , Yahia Ibrahim S. , Zahran Heba Y.
Published: July 2022

The effect of phase separation phenomenon in InAlAs layers grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on the Schottky barrier height (SBH) is investigated. The phase separation into In-rich and Al-rich InxAlyAs columns of InAlAs (x = 0.52, y = 0.48) layers was observed when we grow them at a relatively low temperature below 600 °C. From the photoluminescence spectrum investigation, we found that the band-gap energy decreased from 1.48 eV for a homogeneous In0.52Al0.48As sample to 1.19 eV for a phase-separated InxAl1-xAs sample due to the band-gap lowering effect by In-rich InxAl1-xAs (x > 0.7) region. From the current density-voltage analysis of the InAlAs Schottky diode, it was also confirmed that the phase-separated InAlAs layers showed a lower SBH value of about 250 meV than it for the normal InAlAs layers. The reduction of SBH arising from the phase separation of InAlAs layers resulted in the larger leakage current in InAlAs Schottky diodes.
Synthesis of Pt Decorated ZIF-67-Derived Co–N–C Catalysts with Low Pt Contents and Increased Performance for Oxygen Evolution Reactions
Authors: Parkash Anand , Solangi Nizamuddin , Aurangzeb Junejo , Abbasi Irfan Ahmed , Inam Muhammad Ali , Soomro Suhail Ahmed
Published: July 2022

A significant step in commercializing zinc-air batteries is the development of a low platinum-group metal (PGM) concentration, high catalytic activity, and an effective electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution process. A nitrogen-doped carbon stabilized Pt-Co bimetallic nanoparticle (Pt@Co-NC-900) with very low Pt content (2 wt%) was successfully produced using a metal-organic framework (MOF) templated technique. The as-developed Pt@Co-NC-900 demonstrates exceptional catalytic activity and long-term durability, exceeding commercial RuO2 catalysts and many previously reported catalysts with significant PGM content, attributed to its low overpotential of 223 mV. This research proposed a new approach for developing cost-effective and multifunctional catalysts using an N-containing MOF template.
Investigating the Semi-Analytical Models of Momentum Relaxation Mean Free Time and Path and Ionization Coefficient of Trilayer Graphene Nanoribbon- Based FETs
Authors: Rahmani Meisam , GhafooriFard Hassan , Ahmadi Mohammad Taghi , Rahmatpour Esmaeil
Published: July 2022

Trilayer graphene nanoribbon as a superlative semiconductor promises potential applications in the diodes, FETs, gas and biosensors. It is a suitable candidate for nanoelectronic applications due to attractive electronic, mechanical, thermoelectric and optoelectronics properties. The aim of the present paper is to analytically investigate the momentum relaxation mean free time and path and also ionization coefficient of trilayer graphene nanoribbon in nanoscale FETs. The models are derived based on energy band structure and calculating the effective mass, carrier velocity and scattering rate. Furthermore, the effects of interlayer potential energies, temperature and potential difference of layers are also taken into account on the modeled parameters. As a result, the obtained results and findings of this research are in rational agreement with published data, in terms of value and trend. The results and figures of merit for the proposed device showed a promising performance for transistor applications.