bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“As is” America: Subcontracting freedom
Authors: Baptist Najja K.
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study examines the nature and uses of the Constitution as a social contract. America's original agreement with its Black citizens, under the three—fifths clause of the Constitution, is one of commodification. The Constitution constructs the Black body as expendable property in a subcontract. Police protect and serve in maintaining this status quo.

Methods

This research analyzes the literature on the social contract theory. This paper compares classical theorists such as Locke, Rawls, and Nozick with opposing literature from Rousseau, Mills, and Pateman. This comparison highlights what many consider “just” as a thinly veiled attempt to justify the legality of the state's actions. Also, there is a review of Graham v. Oconnor to determine how case law upholds the subjugation of Black bodies as part of the subcontract.

Results

My research suggests that Black citizens are only entitled to the rights and privileges of a subcontract. This subcontract allows for the harassment, unequal treatment, and in some instances, the death of marginalized groups by police at any time.

Conclusion

From the extrajudicial killing of Amadou Diallo to that of Breonna Taylor, it is evident from the past two decades that Black lives are expendable; police officers continue to enforce the fugitive slave clause, which allows for punishment by death for the assumption of criminal behavior. My research helps illuminate the relationship between the Black experience and police encounters as a proxy of a subcontract within the Constitution. These events—the lawless actions of police officers, and a political and legal system that supports these actions—fuel recent waves of the BLM movement.
Rambutan genome revealed gene networks for spine formation and aril development
Authors: Zhang Wenping , Lin Jishan , Li Jianguo , Zheng Shaoquan , Zhang Xingtan , Chen Shuai , Ma Xiaokai , Dong Fei , Jia Haifeng , Xu Xiuming , Yang Ziqin , Ma Panpan , Deng Fang , Deng Ban , Huang Yongji , Li Zhanjie , Lv Xiaozhou , Ma Yaying , Liao Zhenyang , Lin Zhicong , Lin Jing , Zhang Shengcheng , Matsumoto Tracie , Xia Rui , Zhang Jisen , Ming Ray
Published: September 2021

Rambutan is a popular tropical fruit known for its exotic appearance, has long flexible spines on shells, extraordinary aril growth, desirable nutrition, and a favorable taste. The genome of an elite rambutan cultivar Baoyan 7 was assembled into 328 Mb in 16 pseudo‐chromosomes. Comparative genomics analysis between rambutan and lychee revealed that rambutan chromosomes 8 and 12 are collinear with lychee chromosome 1, which resulted in a chromosome fission event in rambutan (n = 16) or a fusion event in lychee (n = 15) after their divergence from a common ancestor 15.7 million years ago. Root development genes played a crucial role in spine development, such as endoplasmic reticulum pathway genes, jasmonic acid response genes, vascular bundle development genes, and K+ transport genes. Aril development was regulated by D‐class genes (STK and SHP1), plant hormone and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes, and sugar metabolism genes. The lower rate of male sterility of hermaphroditic flowers appears to be regulated by MYB24. Population genomic analyses revealed genes in selective sweeps during domestication that are related to fruit morphology and environment stress response. These findings enhance our understanding of spine and aril development and provide genomic resources for rambutan improvement.
Improving oxidative stress resilience in plants
Authors: Kerchev Pavel I. , Van Breusegem Frank
Published: September 2021

Originally conceived as harmful metabolic byproducts, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are now recognized as an integral part of numerous cellular programs. Thanks to their diverse physicochemical properties, compartmentalized production, and tight control exerted by the antioxidant machinery they activate signaling pathways that govern plant growth, development, and defense. Excessive ROS levels are often driven by adverse changes in environmental conditions, ultimately causing oxidative stress. The associated negative impact on cellular constituents have been a major focus of decade‐long research efforts to improve the oxidative stress resilience by boosting the antioxidant machinery in model and crop species. We highlight the role of enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants as integral factors of multiple signaling cascades beyond their mere function to prevent oxidative damage under adverse abiotic stress conditions.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Oscar William
Published: September 2021

Reviewer AcknowledgementsInternational Journal of Contemporary Education (IJCE) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJCE publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 4, Number 2 Ahmad Suradi, State Islamic Institute of Bengkulu, IndonesiaAurora Q. Pestano, University of San Jose Recoletos, PhilippinesAziz Moummou, Ministry of Education, MoroccoBožić-Lenard Dragana, University of Osijek Croatia, CroatiaBruna Gabriela Augusto Marçal Vieira, CEFET-MG, BrazilCarme Pinya, University of Balearic Islands, SpainEdward Bolden, Case Western Reserve University, USAFederica Cornali, University of Turin, ItalyGiuseppe Maugeri, University of Urbino, ItalyGraziano Serragiotto, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, ItalyIvan Lenard, Elementary School Ladimirevci, CroatiaSuriadi Samsuri, Institute of Islamic Religion Sultan Muhammad Syafiuddin Sambas, IndonesiaTeresa Pozo-Rico, University of Alicante, SpainVassiliki Pliogou, Metropolitan College of Thessaloniki, Greece  William OscarEditorial AssistantInternational Journal of Contemporary Education------------------------------------------------------------Redfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USATel: 1-503-828-0536 ext. 509Fax: 1-503-828-0537E-mail 1: ijce@redfame.comE-mail 2: ijce@redfame.orgURL: http://ijce.redfame.com
Modeling and Analysis for the Transmission Characteristics of a Proposed Dual-Drive Hydrostatic Lead Screw System
Authors: Lu Jiajia , Feng Xianying , Su Zhe , Liu Yandong , Wang Dechen
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes a novel dual-drive hydrostatic lead screw system (DDHLS). The design enables a lower feed speed and a better transmission performance than the conventional hydrostatic lead screw (HLS). Considering the nut-misalignment, the lubricating mathematical model of the DDHLS is established based on the perturbation method and solved by the finite difference method. The influences of the nut-radial-displacement, the nut-tilt, and the dual-drivable design on the transmission performance of the DDHLS are researched. The results show the nut-misalignment can regularly reduce or increase the axial load capacity (ALC), the axial stiffness coefficient (ASC), and the axial damping coefficient (ADC). Significantly, the dual-drivable design can improve the axial load capacity and the axial stiffness coefficient while hardly affects the axial damping coefficient.
Synthesis and detailed characterizations of Ag nanoparticles coated In2O3 nanostructured devices: An analytical and experimental approach
Authors: Nath Amitabha , Mahajan Bikram Kishore , Mondal Aniruddha , Singh Laishram Robindro , Sarkar Mitra Barun
Published: September 2021

The impact of a high-performance nanostructured device using metal nanoparticle (NP) deposition is studied in this paper. Two devices, namely, a silver (Ag) NP coated indium oxide (In2O3) nanostructured device and a bare In2O3 nanostructured device, were fabricated by glancing angle deposition aided electron beam vacuum coating system to study the impact of Ag NPs over In2O3 nanostructures. The morphology of Ag NPs, as-fabricated nanostructures, and growth regions was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The formation of Ag3O4 monoclinic crystal structures was confirmed by high-resolution x-ray diffraction profiles. The current density (J)-voltage (V) plot shows the modulating performances of an Ag NP coated In2O3 nanostructured device due to the occurrence of trap states originated from the incorporation of Ag NPs. For in-depth analyses of the impact of Ag NPs, frequency-dependent capacitance (C)-V, conductance (G)-V, and impedance (Z)-V characteristics were analyzed. A free charge carrier concentration (Nd) of ∼8.23 × 1016/cm3, a trap concentration (NT) of ∼1.48 × 1017/cm3, and a significant increment in conductance were observed for an Ag NP coated In2O3 nanostructured device (∼23.36 μS) than the bare In2O3 nanostructured device (∼13.05 μS) at a high frequency of 2 MHz. The delta-depletion model was implemented to obtain the C-V plots to match the experimental data adequately. The Ag NP coated In2O3 nanostructured device was further investigated by an analytical series circuit model, which manifests that the device can be used as catalysts, medical devices, etc.
A Bayesian approach to eliminate correlated noise using an independent reference—Application to supersonic jet noise extraction
Authors: Aujogue Nicolas , Leclère Quentin , Antoni Jérôme , Julliard Emmanuel
Published: September 2021

A Bayesian method to remove correlated noise from multi-channel measurements is introduced. It is based on Bayesian factor analysis coupled with prior but uncertain knowledge of the correlation structure of the noise. This technique is well suited to denoise cross-spectral matrices measured in the frame of aeroacoustic experiments when background noise measurements are available, because it allows separating the engine noise contribution from the turbulent boundary layer and uniform noise components that are all sensed by in-flow microphones. In-flight data measured on flush-mounted microphones on an aircraft fuselage are denoised using this method. It is shown that it has a significant benefit for studying the broadband shock-associated noise generated by the engines in realistic flight conditions.
Alteration in Cellular Signaling and Metabolic Reprogramming during Viral Infection
Authors: Pant Anil , Dsouza Lara , Yang Zhilong
Published: September 2021

Cellular activities are finely regulated by numerous signaling pathways to support specific functions of complex life processes. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites.
Visualizing the Hidden Half: Plant-Microbe Interactions in the Rhizosphere
Authors: Handakumbura Pubudu P. , Rivas Ubach Albert , Battu Anil K.
Published: September 2021

Plant roots and the associated rhizosphere constitute a dynamic environment that fosters numerous intra- and interkingdom interactions, including metabolite exchange between plants and soil mediated by root exudates and the rhizosphere microbiome. These interactions affect plant fitness and performance, soil health, and the belowground carbon budget.
Exploring the Symbiotic Mechanism of a Virus-Mediated Endophytic Fungus in Its Host by Dual Unique Molecular Identifier–RNA Sequencing
Authors: Qu Zheng , Zhang Hongxiang , Wang Qianqian , Zhao Huizhang , Liu Xiaofan , Fu Yanping , Lin Yang , Xie Jiatao , Cheng Jiasen , Li Bo , Jiang Daohong
Published: September 2021

Although endophytes are widespread in nature, the interactions between endophytes and their hosts are still not fully understood. Members of a unique class of endophytes, the virus-mediated endophytic fungi, are continuously being discovered and have received wide attention. In this study, we investigated the interaction between a mycovirus-mediated endophytic fungus and its host rapeseed by using dual-UMI RNA-seq.
Fungistatic Mechanism of Ammonia against Nematode-Trapping Fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora, and Strategy for This Fungus To Survive Ammonia
Authors: Liu Tong , Long Xi , Zhou Jia-Peng , Tian Dong-Wei , Yang Yun-He , Zou Cheng-Gang , Xu Jian-Ping , Mo Ming-He , Zhang Ke-Qin
Published: September 2021

Soil fungistasis is a phenomenon in which the germination and growth of fungal propagules is widely inhibited in soil. Although fungistatic compounds are known to play important roles in the formation of soil fungistasis, how such compounds act on soil fungi remains little studied.
The Complex Transcriptional Landscape of Magnetosome Gene Clusters in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
Authors: Dziuba Marina , Riese Cornelius N. , Borgert Lion , Wittchen Manuel , Busche Tobias , Kalinowski Jörn , Uebe René , Schüler Dirk
Published: September 2021

Magnetosomes have emerged as a model system to study prokaryotic organelles and a source of biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for various biomedical applications. However, the lack of knowledge about the transcriptional organization of magnetosome gene clusters has severely impeded the engineering, manipulation, and transfer of this highly complex biosynthetic pathway into other organisms.
Higher Trimethylamine-
N
-Oxide Plasma Levels with Increasing Age Are Mediated by Diet and Trimethylamine-Forming Bacteria
Authors: Rath Silke , Rox Katharina , Kleine Bardenhorst Sven , Schminke Ulf , Dörr Marcus , Mayerle Julia , Frost Fabian , Lerch Markus M. , Karch André , Brönstrup Mark , Pieper Dietmar H. , Vital Marius
Published: September 2021

Many cohort studies have investigated the link between diet and plasma TMAO levels, reporting incongruent results, while gut microbiota were only recently included into analyses. In these studies, taxonomic data were recorded that are not a good proxy for TMA formation, as specific members of various taxa exhibit genes catalyzing this reaction, demanding function-based technologies for accurate quantification of TMA-synthesizing bacteria.
Baseline Gut Metagenomic Functional Gene Signature Associated with Variable Weight Loss Responses following a Healthy Lifestyle Intervention in Humans
Authors: Diener Christian , Qin Shizhen , Zhou Yong , Patwardhan Sushmita , Tang Li , Lovejoy Jennifer C. , Magis Andrew T. , Price Nathan D. , Hood Leroy , Gibbons Sean M.
Published: September 2021

Recent human feeding studies have shown how the baseline taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome can determine responses to dietary interventions, but the exact functional determinants underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. In this study, we set out to better understand interactions between baseline BMI, metabolic health, diet, gut microbiome functional profiles, and subsequent weight changes in a human cohort that underwent a healthy lifestyle intervention.
Assessing the optimal time interval between growth measurements using a combined data set of weights and heights from 5948 infants
Authors: Wright Charlotte Margaret , Haig Caroline , Harjunmaa Ulla , Sivakanthan Harshine , Cole Tim J
Published: September 2021

Background

Current guidance on the optimum interval between measurements in infancy is not evidence based. We used routine data to explore how measurement error and short-term variation (‘noise’) might affect interpretation of infant weight and length gain (‘signal’) over different time intervals.

Method

Using a database of weights and lengths from 5948 infants aged 0–12 months, all pairs of measurements per child 2, 4 and 8 weeks apart were extracted. Separately, 20 babies aged 2–10 months were weighed on six occasions over 3 days to estimate the SD of the weight difference between adjacent measurements (=116 g). Values of 116 g and 0.5 cm for ‘noise’ were then used to model its impact on (a) the estimated velocity centile and (b) the chance of seeing no growth during the interval, in individuals.

Results

The average gain in weight and length was much larger than the corresponding SD over 8-week and 4-week time intervals, but not over 2 weeks. Noise tended to make apparent velocity less extreme; after age 6 months, a 2-week velocity that appeared to be on to the ninth centile, would truly be on the second–third centile if measured with no noise. For 2-week intervals, there was a 16% risk of no apparent growth by age 10 months.

Conclusions

Growth in infancy is so rapid that the change in measurements 4–8 weeks apart is unlikely ever to be obscured by noise, but after age 6 months, measurements 2 weeks or less apart should be treated with caution when assessing growth faltering.
Roles of subdistrict health office personnel and village health volunteers in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Krassanairawiwong Tares , Suvannit Chartchay , Pongpirul Krit , Tungsanga Kriang
Published: September 2021

In Thailand, 40 000 subdistrict health centre (SDHC) personnel and >1 million village health volunteers (VHVs) are responsible for primary healthcare of 23 million households in 75 032 villages. They were trained, made household visits, gave hygiene advice, participated in the ‘Big Cleaning Day’ campaign, produced cloth face masks, proactively identified high-risk visitors and monitored quarantined cases. 7.4 million Thais received basic education on hygiene, 1.3 million villagers joined the campaign and 3.6 million handmade cloth face masks were produced. In March 2020, 3.9 million households were visited, and 40 000 high-risk cases were detected. The intensity of proactive case findings increased to 12.6 million home visits and 834 000 cases were detected in April 2020. Almost 800 000 cases complied with the 14-day mandatory home quarantine, of which 3.6% developed symptoms suspected of respiratory tract infection. VHVs and SDHC personnel could efficiently contribute to the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Thailand.
Croup and COVID-19 in a child: a case report and literature review
Authors: Lim Chee Chean , Saniasiaya Jeyasakthy , Kulasegarah Jeyanthi
Published: September 2021

Croup (laryngotracheitis) is frequently encountered in the emergency department in a young child presenting with stridor. We describe a rare case of croup secondary to SARS-CoV-2 in an 18-month-old child who presented with stridor and respiratory distress and required urgent intubation. Subsequently, the child developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The child was monitored in paediatric intensive care unit. We would like to highlight that COVID-19 croup in children may be an indicator for MIS-C, and close monitoring is warranted as MIS-C is a life-threatening condition. Our limited experience suggests that COVID-19 croup especially if associated with MIS-C has an underlying more severe pathology and may require prolonged treatment in comparison with the typical croup or even COVID-19 croup. It is important to recognise this clinical entity during a time when most countries are in a third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
Shock and dyselectrolytemia in a neonate with late-onset COVID-19 infection
Authors: Kallimath Aditya , Garegrat Reema , Patnaik Suprabha , Suryawanshi Pradeep
Published: September 2021

Most reports of COVID-19 in neonates suggest that they are infected postnatally and present with gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms. We describe a neonate who had community-acquired COVID-19, and presented with late-onset sepsis and developed dyselectrolytemia. The 26-day-old male baby had fever, feed refusal and shock. Rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 by nasopharyngeal swab was positive and levels of circulating inflammatory markers were high. The baby was supported with antibiotics, and inotropic and vasopressor drugs. He had seizures and bradycardia due to dyselectrolytemia on day 2 of admission. On day 3, he had respiratory distress, with non-specific chest radiographic findings, and was managed with non-invasive support for 24 hours. The baby was discharged after 8 days. On serial follow-up, he was breastfeeding well and gaining weight appropriately with no morbidity. Our report highlights a unique presentation of COVID-19, with late-onset infection and shock-like features along with dyselectrolytemia and seizures.
Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity from young adulthood to middle age and metabolic disease: a 30-year population-based cohort study
Authors: Nagata Jason M , Vittinghoff Eric , Pettee Gabriel Kelley , Garber Andrea K , Moran Andrew E , Rana Jamal S , Reis Jared P , Sidney Stephen , Bibbins-Domingo Kirsten
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To determine the association between moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) trajectories (course over age and time) through the adult life course and onset of metabolic disease (diabetes and dyslipidaemia).

Methods

We analysed prospective community-based cohort data of 5115 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, who were black and white men and women aged 18–30 years at baseline (1985–1986) at four urban sites, collected through 30 years of follow-up. Individualised MVPA trajectories were developed for each participant using linear mixed models.

Results

Lower estimated MVPA score at age 18 was associated with a 12% (95% CI 6% to 18%) higher odds of incident diabetes, a 4% (95% CI 1% to 7%) higher odds of incident low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and a 6% (95% CI 2% to 11%) higher odds of incident high triglycerides. Each additional annual 1-unit reduction in the MVPA score was associated with a 6% (95% CI 4% to 9%) higher annual odds of diabetes incidence and a 4% (95% CI 2% to 6%) higher annual odds of high triglyceride incidence. Analysing various MVPA trajectory groups, participants who were in the most active group at age 18 (over 300 min/week), but with sharp declines in midlife, had higher odds of high low-density lipoprotein and low HDL incidence, compared with those in the most active group at age 18 with subsequent gains.

Conclusion

Given recent trends in declining MVPA across the life course and associated metabolic disease risk, young adulthood is an important time period for interventions to increase and begin the maintenance of MVPA.
Early versus differed arterial catheterisation in critically ill patients with acute circulatory failure: a multicentre, open-label, pragmatic, randomised, non-inferiority controlled trial: the EVERDAC protocol
Authors: Muller Grégoire , Kamel Toufik , Contou Damien , Ehrmann Stephan , Martin Maëlle , Quenot Jean-Pierre , Lacherade Jean-Claude , Boissier Florence , Monnier Alexandra , Vimeux Sylvie , Brunet Houdard Solène , Tavernier Elsa , Boulain Thierry
Published: September 2021

Introduction

The use of peripheral indwelling arterial catheter for haemodynamic monitoring is widespread in the intensive care unit and is recommended in patients with shock. However, there is no evidence that the arterial catheter could improve patient’s outcome, whereas the burden of morbidity generated is significant (pain, thrombosis, infections). We hypothesise that patients with shock may be managed without an arterial catheter.

Methods and analysis

The EVERDAC study is an investigator-initiated, pragmatic, multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority clinical trial, comparing a less invasive intervention (ie, no arterial catheter insertion until felt absolutely needed, according to predefined safety criteria) or usual care (ie, systematic arterial catheter insertion in the early hours of shock). 1010 patients will be randomised with a 1:1 ratio in two groups according to the strategy. The primary outcome is all-cause mortality by 28 days after inclusion. A health economic analysis will be carried out.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Île de France V, registration number 61606 CAT 2, 19 july 2018) and patients will be included after informed consent. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT03680963.
Development and testing of the shared decision-making attitudes scale among nurses in Taiwan: a cross-sectional scale development study
Authors: Hsu Hsiu-Chin , Lin Shu-Chuan , Lee Yu-Hsia , Wu Hon-Yen , Wang Pao-Yu , Li Jiun-Yi , Lin Mei-Hsiang
Published: September 2021

Objective

Shared decision-making (SDM) enhances medical care, but an appropriate tool for evaluating nursing staff’s attitudes towards SDM in clinical practice is lacking. The objective of this study is to develop the Nursing Shared Decision-Making Attitude (NSDMA) scale and verify its psychometric properties.

Design

Instrument design study.

Participants

A sample of 451 nursing staff.

Intervention

This study comprised two phases. In phase 1, qualitative research and expert content validity were adopted to develop the first draft of the scale. In phase 2, Taiwanese nursing staff were recruited through convenience sampling, and the sample was divided into a calibration sample and a validation sample. An objective structured clinical examination of SDM attitudes was administered to 100 nursing staff to determine the scale’s cut-off score.

Main outcome measurements

Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to obtain the underlying factors of the NSDMA scale; McDonald’s omega value was used to determine the reliability; known-group validity was used to test the construct validity; and the receiver operating characteristic curve was adopted to determine the scale’s cut-off score.

Results

In total, two factors were identified from the instrument results, which were termed ‘empathic communication’ and ‘mastery learning’. The McDonald’s omega value of the overall scale was 0.92. Known-group validity testing was performed based on the staff’s participation in SDM courses and experience of SDM, and the results exhibited significant differences (t=5.49, p<0.001; t=2.43, p<0.05). Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cut-off for SDM attitudes was determined as 48.5 points.

Conclusions

The NSDMA scale enables the evaluation of SDM attitudes among clinical nursing staff and nursing managers; the results may serve as a reference for incorporation of SDM into nursing policy formulation.
Weaning from mechanical ventilation in people with neuromuscular disease: a systematic review
Authors: Bernardes Neto Saint Clair Gomes , Torres-Castro Rodrigo , Lima Íllia , Resqueti Vanessa R , Fregonezi Guilherme A F
Published: September 2021

Objective

This systematic review aimed in assessing the effects of different weaning protocols in people with neuromuscular disease (NMD) receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, identifying which protocol is the best and how different protocols can affect weaning outcome success, duration of weaning, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay and mortality.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched from January 2009 to August 2020.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCT that evaluated patients with NMD (adults and children from 5 years old) in the weaning process managed with a protocol (pressure support ventilation; synchronised intermittent mandatory ventilation; continuous positive airway pressure; ‘T’ piece).

Primary outcome

Weaning success.

Secondary outcomes

Weaning duration, ICU stay, hospital stay, ICU mortality, complications (pneumothorax, ventilation-associated pneumonia).

Data extraction and synthesis

Two review authors assessed the titles and the abstracts for inclusion and reviewed the full texts independently.

Results

We found no studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Conclusions

The absence of studies about different weaning protocols for patients with NMD does not allow concluding the superiority of any specific weaning protocol for patients with NMD or determining the impact of different types of protocols on other outcomes. The result of this review encourages further studies.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019117393.
COVID-19 in Pregnancy and Early Childhood (COPE): study protocol for a prospective, multicentre biobank, survey and database cohort study
Authors: Carlsson Ylva , Bergman Lina , Zaigham Mehreen , Linden Karolina , Andersson Ola , Veje Malin , Sandström Anna , Wikström Anna-Karin , Östling Hanna , Fadl Helena , Domellöf Magnus , Blomberg Marie , Brismar Wendel Sophia , Åden Ulrika , Sengpiel Verena
Published: September 2021

Introduction

There is limited knowledge on how the SARS-CoV-2 affects pregnancy outcomes. Studies investigating the impact of COVID-19 in early pregnancy are scarce and information on long-term follow-up is lacking.

The purpose of this project is to study the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes and long-term maternal and child health by: (1) establishing a database and biobank from pregnant women with COVID-19 and presumably non-infected women and their infants and (2) examining how women and their partners experience pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods and analysis

This is a national, multicentre, prospective cohort study involving 27 Swedish maternity units accounting for over 86 000 deliveries/year. Pregnant women are included when they: (1) test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 group) or (2) are non-infected and seek healthcare at one of their routine antenatal visits (screening group). Blood, as well as other biological samples, are collected at different time points during and after pregnancy. Child health up to 4 years of age and parent experience of pregnancy, delivery, early parenthood, healthcare and society in general will be examined using web-based questionnaires based on validated instruments. Short- and long-term health outcomes will be collected from Swedish health registers and the parents’ experiences will be studied by performing qualitative interviews.

Ethics and dissemination

Confidentiality aspects such as data encryption and storage comply with the General Data Protection Regulation and with ethical committee requirements. This study has been granted national ethical approval by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (dnr 2020-02189 and amendments 2020-02848, 2020-05016, 2020-06696 and 2021-00870) and national biobank approval by the Biobank Väst (dnr B2000526:970). Results from the project will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT04433364.
Protocol for the economic evaluation of COVID-19 pandemic response policies
Authors: Chua Brandon Wen Bing , Huynh Vinh Anh , Lou Jing , Goh Fang Ting , Clapham Hannah , Teerawattananon Yot , Wee Hwee Lin
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Several treatment options are available for COVID-19 to date. However, the use of a combination of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is necessary for jurisdictions to contain its spread. Although the implementation cost of NPIs may be low from the healthcare system perspective, it can be costly when considering the indirect costs from the societal perspective. COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have begun in several countries worldwide. Nonetheless, the quantity of vaccines available remain limited over the next 1 to 2 years. A tool for informing vaccine prioritisation that considers both cost and effectiveness will be highly useful. This study aims to identify the most cost-effective combination of COVID-19 response policies, using Singapore as an example.

Methods and analysis

An age-stratified Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model will be used to generate the number of infections stratified by disease severity under different intervention scenarios. Polices of interest include test-trace-isolate, travel restriction, compulsory face mask and hygiene practices, social distancing, dexamethasone/remdesivir therapy and vaccination. The latest phase 3 trial results and the WHO Target Product Profiles for COVID-19 vaccines will be used to model vaccine characteristics. A cost (expected resource utilisation and productivity losses) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) will be attached to these outputs for a cost-utility analysis. The primary outcome measure will be the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio generated from the incremental cost of policy alternatives expressed as a ratio of the incremental benefits (QALYs gained). Efficacy of policy options will be gathered from literature review and from its observed impacts in Singapore. Cost data will be gathered from healthcare institutions, Ministry of Health and published data. Sensitivity analysis such as threshold analysis and scenario analysis will be conducted.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was not required for this study. The study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals.
Patterns of compliance with COVID-19 preventive behaviours: a latent class analysis of 20 000 UK adults
Authors: Wright Liam , Steptoe Andrew , Fancourt Daisy
Published: September 2021

Background

Governments have implemented a range of measures to tackle COVID-19, primarily focusing on changing citizens’ behaviours in order to lower the transmission of the virus. Few studies have looked at the patterns of compliance with different measures within individuals: whether people comply with all measures or selectively choose some but not others. Such research is important for designing interventions to increase compliance.

Methods

We used cross-sectional data from 20 947 UK adults in the COVID-19 Social Study collected from 17 November to 23 December 2020. Self-report compliance was assessed with six behaviours: mask wearing, hand washing, indoor household mixing, outdoor household mixing, social distancing and compliance with other guidelines. Patterns of compliance behaviour were identified using latent class analysis, and multinomial logistic regression was used to assess demographic, socioeconomic and personality predictors of behaviour patterns.

Results

We selected a four-latent class solution. Most individuals reported similar levels of compliance across the six behaviour measures. High level of compliance was the modal response. Lower self-reported compliance was related to young age, high risk-taking behaviour, low confidence in government and low empathy, among other factors. Looking at individual behaviours, mask wearing had the highest level of compliance while compliance with social distancing was relatively low.

Conclusion

Results suggest that individuals choose to comply with all guidelines, rather than some but not others. Strategies to increase compliance should focus on increasing general motivations to comply alongside specifically encouraging social distancing.
Risk of tuberculosis in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a nationwide observational study
Authors: Bae Seongman , Kim Ye-Jee , Kim Min-ju , Kim Jwa Hoon , Yun Sung-Cheol , Jung Jiwon , Kim Min Jae , Chong Yong Pil , Kim Sung-Han , Choi Sang-Ho , Kim Yang Soo , Lee Sang-Oh
Published: September 2021

Background

While some recent studies have reported the development of tuberculosis (TB) in patients exposed to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), there is limited evidence to date. Therefore, we evaluated the risk of TB in patients with cancer exposed to ICIs using the National Health Insurance claims data in South Korea.

Methods

Patients with diagnostic codes for non-small cell lung cancer, urothelial carcinoma or melanoma between August 2017 and June 2019 were identified. The incidence rate and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of TB were calculated for both the ICI exposure and non-exposure groups. The risk of TB according to ICI exposure was assessed using a multivariable Cox regression model.

Results

During the study period, 141 550 patients with cancer and 916 new TB cases were identified. Among the 5037 patients exposed to ICIs, 20 were diagnosed with TB at a median of 2.2 months after the ICI was initiated. The crude incidence rate of TB per 100,000 person-years was 675.8 (95% CI 412.8 to 1043.8) for the ICI exposure group and 599.1 (95% CI 560.5 to 639.6) for the non-exposure group. The SIR for TB was 8.1 (95% CI 8.0 to 8.2) in the ICI exposure group. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, ICI treatment was not significantly associated with an increased risk of TB (HR: 0.73; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14).

Conclusions

While the incidence of TB in cancer patients exposed to ICIs was eightfold higher than in the general population, the risk of patients with cancer developing TB did not significantly differ according to ICI exposure.
Higher blood high density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A1 levels are associated with reduced risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Thompson Alexander G , Talbot Kevin , Turner Martin R
Published: September 2021

Background

Premorbid body mass index, physical activity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease have been associated with an altered risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There is evidence of shared genetic risk between ALS and lipid metabolism. A very large prospective longitudinal population cohort permits the study of a range of metabolic parameters and the risk of subsequent diagnosis of ALS.

Methods

The risk of subsequent ALS diagnosis in those enrolled prospectively to the UK Biobank (n=502 409) was examined in relation to baseline levels of blood high and low density lipoprotein (HDL, LDL), total cholesterol, total cholesterol:HDL ratio, apolipoproteins A1 and B (apoA1, apoB), triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and creatinine, plus self-reported exercise and body mass index.

Results

Controlling for age and sex, higher HDL (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.96, p=0.010) and apoA1 (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.94, p=0.005) were associated with a reduced risk of ALS. Higher total cholesterol:HDL was associated with an increased risk of ALS (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.31, p=0.006). In models incorporating multiple metabolic markers, higher LDL or apoB was associated with an increased risk of ALS, in addition to a lower risk with higher HDL or apoA. Coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and increasing age were also associated with an increased risk of ALS.

Conclusions

The association of HDL, apoA1 and LDL levels with risk of ALS contributes to an increasing body of evidence that the premorbid metabolic landscape may play a role in pathogenesis. Understanding the molecular basis for these changes will inform presymptomatic biomarker development and therapeutic targeting.
Disease and economic burden increase with systemic lupus erythematosus severity 1 year before and after diagnosis: a real-world cohort study, United States, 2004–2015
Authors: Jiang Miao , Near Aimee M , Desta Barnabas , Wang Xia , Hammond Edward R
Published: September 2021

Objective

To assess the economic burden of patients with SLE by disease severity in the USA 1 year before and after diagnosis.

Methods

Patients aged ≥18 years with a first SLE diagnosis (index date) between January 2005 and December 2014 were identified from administrative commercial claims data linked to electronic medical records (EMRs). Disease severity during the year after diagnosis was classified as mild, moderate, or severe using claims-based algorithms and EMR data. Healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and all-cause healthcare costs (2017 US$) were reported for 1 year pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis. Generalised linear modelling examined all-cause costs over 1 year post-index, adjusting for baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, Charlson Comorbidity Index and 1 year pre-diagnosis costs.

Results

Among 2227 patients, 26.3% had mild, 51.0% moderate and 22.7% severe SLE. Mean per-patient costs were higher for patients with moderate and severe SLE compared with mild SLE during the year before diagnosis: mild US$12 373, moderate $22 559 and severe US$39 261 (p<0.0001); and 1-year post-diagnosis period: mild US$13 415, moderate US$29 512 and severe US$68 260 (p<0.0001). Leading mean cost drivers were outpatient visits (US$13 566) and hospitalisations (US$10 252). Post-diagnosis inpatient utilisation (≥1 stay) was higher for patients with severe (51.2%) and moderate (22.4%) SLE, compared with mild SLE (12.8%), with longer mean hospital stays: mild 0.47 days, moderate 1.31 days and severe 5.52 days (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

HCRU and costs increase with disease severity in the year before and after diagnosis; leading cost drivers post-diagnosis were outpatient visits and hospitalisations. Earlier diagnosis and treatment may improve health outcomes and reduce HCRU and costs.
Neurofeedback as placebo: a case of unintentional deception?
Authors: Kalokairinou Louiza , Specker Sullivan Laura , Wexler Anna
Published: September 2021

The use of placebo in clinical practice has been the topic of extensive debate in the bioethics literature, with much scholarship focusing on concerns regarding deception. While considerations of placebo without deception have largely centred on open-label placebo, this paper considers a different kind of ethical quandary regarding placebo without an intent to deceive—one where the provider believes a treatment is effective due to a direct physiological mechanism, even though that belief may not be supported by rigorous scientific evidence. This is often the case with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques and also with some mainstream therapies that have not proven to be better than sham. Using one such CAM technique as a case study—electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—this paper explores the ethics of providing therapies that may have some beneficial effect, although one that is likely due to placebo effect. First, we provide background on EEG neurofeedback for ADHD and its evidence base, showing how it has proven to be equivalent to—but not better than—sham neurofeedback. Subsequently, we explore whether offering therapies that are claimed to work via specific physical pathways, but may actually work due to the placebo effect, constitute deception. We suggest that this practice may constitute unintentional deception regarding mechanism of action. Ultimately, we argue that providers have increased information provision obligations when offering treatments that diverge from standard of care and we make recommendations for mitigating unintentional deception.
Characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing balloon pulmonary angioplasty for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a time-trend analysis from the Japanese nationwide registry
Authors: Minatsuki Shun , Takahara Mitsuyoshi , Kiyosue Arihiro , Kodera Satoshi , Hatano Masaru , Ando Jiro , Kohsaka Shun , Ishii Hideki , Shinke Toshiro , Amano Tetsuya , Ikari Yuji , Komuro Issei
Published: September 2021

Background

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), a novel technique initially introduced as a treatment for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, is now increasingly being performed in a broader spectrum of patients. Here, we performed a time-trend analysis of the characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients who underwent BPA in Japan, using data extracted from nationwide procedure-based registration system.

Methods

The Japanese Structural Heart Disease (J-SHD) registry was established and sponsored by the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics and aims to provide basic statistics on the performance of structural interventions in Japan. J-SHD registers cases from approximately 200 institutions, representing more than 90% of SHD intervention-performing hospitals in the nation. We analysed the registered BPA data elements from January 2015 to December 2018. Successful BPA was defined as a session in which a physician successfully treated all targeted lesions.

Results

There were a total of 2512 BPA sessions; the number of institutions and registered sessions increased from 30 to 50 sites and from 479 to 852 sessions during the study period, respectively. The average age of the patients was 66±13 years, and 72.1% were women. In-hospital death was observed in 0.2%, and the total complications rate was 5.3%. The preoperative and postoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure were 32±11 mm Hg and 30±10 mm Hg, respectively.

Conclusion

The number of BPA sessions increased during the study period, with an acceptable in-hospital complication rate.
Invasion of Celtis tala forests by Ligustrum lucidum in Argentina: impact on soil properties and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community
Authors: Abarca Camila , Barrera Marcelo , Arturi Marcelo , Allegrucci Natalia , Velázquez María Silvana
Published: September 2021

The arrival of invasive plants can cause drastic changes to ecosystems, such as the displacement of native plant communities and the disruption of ecological functions. Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton is an invasive tree species that has been registered in numerous regions worldwide. We analysed the effect of the expansion of L. lucidum on the edaphic properties and mycorrhizal fungal communities in forests of Celtis tala Gillies ex Planch. located in central–western Argentina. Sampling sites were established along a gradient of invasion, in which we measured the forest structure and soil physicochemical factors and identified the fungal species using morphological techniques. The analysis of the variance revealed severe changes in the tree structure and a decrease in the concentrations of organic matter and nitrogen in the invaded sites. Thirty-two Glomeromycota species were identified, belonging to six families. The abundance of Dentiscutata cerradensis decreased with the invasion, whereas Funneliformis mosseae and Septoglomus constrictum increased. The alpha diversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal communities showed no differences between sites. The beta diversity decreased at invaded sites, indicating a tendency towards convergence and reduced variability in these communities in the presence of the exotic species.
Comparing state-of-the-art approaches to back-calculate SAXS spectra from atomistic molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Bernetti Mattia , Bussi Giovanni
Published: September 2021

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments are arising as an effective instrument in the structural characterization of biomolecules in solution. However, they suffer from limited resolution, and complementing them with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can be a successful strategy to obtain information at a finer scale. To this end, tools that allow computing SAXS spectra from MD-sampled structures have been designed over the years, mainly differing in how the solvent contribution is accounted for. In this context, RNA molecules represent a particularly challenging case, as they can have a remarkable effect on the surrounding solvent. Herein, we provide a comparison of SAXS spectra computed through different available software packages for a prototypical RNA system. RNA conformational dynamics is intentionally neglected so as to focus on solvent effects. The results highlight that solvent effects are important also at relatively low scattering vector, suggesting that approaches explicitly modeling solvent contribution are advisable when comparing with experimental data, while more efficient implicit-solvent methods can be a better choice as reaction coordinates to improve MD sampling on-the-fly.

Graphic abstract