bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parkinson’s Disease and Headaches: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Sampaio Rocha‐Filho Pedro Augusto , Leite Souza‐Lima Carlos Frederico
Published: April 2020

Objectives

This study evaluated headaches among Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and whether there was any correlation between the motor symptoms and the severity of the headaches presented.

Background

Forty to 83% of PD patients are affected by pain. Despite this high prevalence of pain, only a few studies have addressed the headaches of these patients.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study. Consecutive patients with Parkinson disease were included. Semi‐structured interview; the Epworth sleepiness scale; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Part III (motor examination); and the Hoehn and Yahr scale were used.

Results

About 46 patients were included, 52% were men, mean age was 66 ± 11 years. Forty‐three patients had headaches, 12/46 (26%), migraines, 31/46 (67%) had tension‐type headaches. We found no association between the headache frequency (median: 0.5; 0.5 to 7.5 vs 0.5; 0.5 to 8 days/3 months; P = .757) or intensity (median: 5; 4 to 8 vs 5.5, 4 to 9; P = .514) and the different stages of the PD (Hoehn and Yahr scale: ≤2.5 vs >2.5). There was no correlation between UPDRS score and the intensity (r = −0.099; P = .530) or frequency of headaches (r = −0.136; P = .373). No association was found between the grade of neck stiffness (0 vs 1 and 2 vs 3 and 4) and the headache frequency (Median: 0; 0 to 3 vs 3.5; 0 to 12.5 vs 0; 0 to 6 days/3 months; P = .074) or intensity (Median: 5; 3 to 9 vs 5; 4 to 6 vs 7; 4.5 to 9; P = .434). Twelve patients said that their headaches started after PD had been diagnosed. There was no difference regarding the frequency and characteristics of headaches and PD characteristics between these patients and the other patients with previous headaches.

Conclusions

In this sample of PD patients, there is no association between headache and PD.
Northward younging zircon fission‐track ages from 13 to 2 Ma in the eastern extension of the Kathmandu nappe and underlying Lesser Himalayan sediments distributed to the south of Mt. Everest
Authors: Nakajima Toru , Sakai Harutaka , Iwano Hideki , Danhara Tohru , Hirata Takafumi
Published: April 2020

This study is concerned with the tectono‐thermal history of the Kathmandu nappe and the underlying Lesser Himalayan sediments (LHS) that are distributed in eastern Nepal. We carried out zircon fission‐track(ZFT) dating and obtained 16 ZFT ages from the eastern extension of the Kathmandu nappe, the Higher Himalayan Crystalline, Kuncha nappe, and the Main Central Thrust (MCT) zone. The ZFT ages of the frontal part of the Kathmandu nappe range from 13.0 ±0.8 Ma to 10.7 ±0.7 Ma and exhibit a northward‐younging tendency. These Middle Miocene ZFT ages indicate that the frontal part of the Kathmandu nappe remained at a temperature above 240 °C until the termination of its southward emplacement at 12–11 Ma. The ZFT ages of the LHS range from 11.1 ±0.9 Ma in the southern part of the Okhaldhunga Window to 2.4 ±0.3 Ma of the augen gneiss in the northern margin and also exhibit a northward‐younging age distribution. The ZFT ages show the northward‐younging linear distribution pattern (−0.16 Ma/km) along the across‐strikesection from the frontal part of the Kathmandu nappe to the root zone, without a significant age gap. This distribution pattern indicates that the Kathmandu nappe, the underlying MCT zone, and the Kuncha nappe cooled from the frontal zone to the root zone as a thermally united geologic body at a temperature below 240 °C. An older ZFT age (456.3 ±24.3 Ma), which was partially reset at the axial part of the Midland anticlinorium in the central part of the Okhaldhunga Window, was explained by downward heating from the “hot” Kathmandu nappe. The above evidence supported a model that southward emplacement of the hot Kathmandu nappe resulted in a thermal imprint on the upper part of the LHS; however, the lower part did not reach 240 °C.
Effect of a nisin‐producing lactococcal starter on the late blowing defect of cheese caused by Clostridium tyrobutyricum
Authors: Ávila Marta , Gómez‐Torres Natalia , Gaya Pilar , Garde Sonia
Published: April 2020

Clostridium tyrobutyricum causes swelling, cracks and off‐flavours of cheeses (late blowing defect, LBD) due to butyric acid fermentation. To control this spoilage bacterium, we investigated the use of nisinogenic Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis INIA 415 as starter in cheeses contaminated with C. tyrobutyricum spores. Control cheese made with spores showed LBD after 14 days of ripening. However, in cheese made with the bacteriocin producer and spores, in which (unlike control cheese) bacteriocin activity was detected throughout ripening, LBD occurred after 21 days. At this stage, level of lactic acid was 1.22‐fold higher (P < 0.01) and concentrations of propionic and butyric acids were 2.15‐ and 2.32‐fold, respectively, lower (P < 0.01) in cheese made with the nisin producer than in control cheese, according to the less pronounced spoilage symptoms showed by the former cheese. The bacteriocin producer delayed the appearance of LBD, although it cannot arrest completely C. tyrobutyricum growth.
Evaluation of ingredient mixing procedure on quality characteristics of noodles enriched with half hulless barley flour
Authors: Zhao Bo , Shang Jiaying , Wang Lili , Liu Liya , Tong LiTao , Zhou Xianrong , Wang Shanshan , Zhang Yuhong , Zhou Sumei
Published: April 2020

The influence and mechanism of ingredient mixing procedure on the quality characteristics of noodle enriched with hulless barley flour were investigated. Dough crumb mixing (DC‐M) procedure was used to prepare wheat and hulless barley crumbly dough, respectively, then mixed and sheeted. Flour mixing (F‐M) procedure referred to mixing wheat and hulless barley flour thoroughly before adding water. Dough sheet mixing (DS‐M) procedure was that wheat and hulless barley dough sheet were prepared, respectively, and then stacked up together for sheeting. The results showed that DC‐M procedure could improve the uniformity of water distribution and presented a better gluten network. Noodle made by DC‐M showed the highest sensory score, best texture and cooking properties. According to the investigations of dynamic rheological, water distribution and microstructure of dough and/or noodle, the mechanism of improving noodle quality by DC‐M may be attributed to the weakening effects on fibre as a physical barrier, then reduce the competitive absorption of water by fibre with gluten, which contributed to a more uniform and compact gluten network structure. This study provided an available way to prepare good quality noodles with non‐gluten and high dietary fibre grains with no chemical additives, just by changing the ingredient mixing procedure.
Central place foraging in a human‐dominated landscape: how do common cranes select feeding sites?
Authors: Nilsson Lovisa , Persson Jens , Bunnefeld Nils , Månsson Johan
Published: April 2020

Human infrastructure and disturbance play an important role when animals select resources in human‐modified landscapes. Theory predicts that animals trade food intake against costs of movement or disturbance to optimize net energy gain and fitness, but other necessary resources may also constrain the decisions, e.g. when animals repeatedly need to return to a central location, such as a nest, waterhole or night roost. Central place foraging theory states that the probability of occurrence of an animal decreases with the distance to the central location while selectivity for food items or foraging sites providing high net energy gain should increase with distance. We studied foraging patterns of common cranesGrus grusfeeding in an agricultural landscape adjacent to a wetland to which they return for night roost. We used availability of spilled grains on harvested fields and distance to human settlement as proxy for site quality (i.e. increased likelihood of increased net energy gain with increased food availability and less disturbance). As predicted by theory, our results clearly show that cranes were more likely (more than twice as high resource selection function scores) to select foraging sites close to roosts. However, contrary to predictions, the selection of high quality sites in terms of high food availability decreased with distance to roost sites. Nevertheless, our results indicate that cranes were more likely to select sites with low risk of human disturbance far from roost sites, and were more tolerant to disturbance close to roost sites. How different species respond to the local and environmental conditions will increase the understanding of the species’ resource requirement, and also where in the landscape to prioritize conservation or management actions (e.g. mitigation of human disturbance and crop damage prevention to sustain agricultural production).
Scientific research progress of COVID‐19/SARS‐CoV‐2 in the first five months
Authors: Li Hua , Liu Zhe , Ge Junbo
Published: April 2020

A cluster of pneumonia (COVID‐19) cases have been found in Wuhan China in late December, 2019, and subsequently, a novel coronavirus with a positive stranded RNA was identified to be the aetiological virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS‐CoV‐2), which has a phylogenetic similarity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV). SARS‐CoV‐2 transmits mainly through droplets and close contact and the elder or people with chronic diseases are high‐risk population. People affected by SARS‐CoV‐2 can be asymptomatic, which brings about more difficulties to control the transmission. COVID‐19 has become pandemic rapidly after onset, and so far the infected people have been above 2 000 000 and more than 130 000 died worldwide according to COVID‐19 situation dashboard of World Health Organization (https://covid19.who.int). Here, we summarized the current known knowledge regarding epidemiological, pathogenesis, pathology, clinical features, comorbidities and treatment of COVID‐19/ SARS‐CoV‐2 as reference for the prevention and control COVID‐19.
The correspondence of 3D supporting bone loss and crown‐to‐root ratio to periodontitis classification
Authors: Hong Hsiang‒Hsi , Mei Chih‒Chun , Liu Heng‒Liang , Liang Chao‒Hua , Lin Ching‒Kai , Lee Fu‒Ying , Chang Chung‒Chieh
Published: April 2020

Aim

Assessing the application of three‐dimensional clinical attachment loss (3D‐CAL), 3D supporting bone loss (3D‐SBL), supracrestal tissue attachment (STA), and crown‐to‐root ratio (CRR) in evaluating the 2017 periodontitis classification.

Materials and methods

We analysed ninety single‐rooted human premolars with micro‐computed tomography. The amount of 3D‐SBL, linear radiographic bone loss (RBL), and CRR corresponding to various periodontitis stages as well as the statistical significance was investigated.

Results

From a 3D perspective, the premolars with a 21% of 3D‐SBL at 2.0 mm coronal root length (RL) and 15% RBL corresponded to the periodontitis stage I. Premolars with a 44% of 3D‐SBL at coronal 4.2‒4.4 mm RL and 33% RBL accorded with the periodontitis stage II. Excluding the consideration of STA, CRR = 5:6 and 4:3 were associated with the levels at 15% and 33% RBL, respectively.

Conclusions

A greater percentage of 3D‐CAL than that of 2D‐CAL is significant at evaluated levels. It is feasible to correlate the 3D‐SBL, 3D‐CAL, and STA parameters to evaluate the stages of periodontitis severity. However, the current use of RBL and CAL as applied for staging in the 2017 classification might be inconsistent with the evaluated premolar roots length, when STA dimensions are considered.
Tick tubes reduce blacklegged tick burdens on white‐footed mice in Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Brown Jessica E. , Miller Taylor M. , Machtinger Erika T.
Published: April 2020

Lyme disease cases are increasing in the United States. The vector of the pathogen that causes Lyme disease is the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say) (Acari:Ixodidae). While there are several tick control options, many are expensive or involve large‐scale or ecological interventions such as landscape acaricide spraying or wildlife baiting. Tick control tubes, cardboard tubes with acaricide‐treated cotton that can be used as nesting material by tick hosts, offer an alternative to more invasive tick control by treating tick hosts with an acaricide. In this study, tick tubes with cotton treated with two formulations of acaricide and water as a control were evaluated for wildlife use and for tick burden reductions on Peromyscus spp. an important reservoir host for the Lyme disease pathogen. Tick tubes were deployed for four weeks. Ticks parasitizing Peromyscus spp. and cotton use by wildlife were evaluated pre‐deployment and post‐deployment. Cotton from both treatments was used similarly, and permethrin‐treated cotton was used more frequently than the control. In addition, I. scapularis were eliminated from hosts captured in treatment plots post‐tick tube deployment. Tick tubes show promise as a tool for tick control on Peromyscus spp., especially as part of an integrated pest management plan.
Increased thermal tolerance in Cronobacter sakazakii strains in reconstituted milk powder due to cross protection by physiological stresses
Authors: Chauhan Rajni , Bansal Saurabh , Azmi Wamik , Goel Gunjan
Published: April 2020

Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) is an opportunistic, neonatal, and food borne pathogen primarily associated with the contamination of powdered infant formula (PIF). The pathogen is reported to overcome the food safety barriers such as increased acidity, heat treatment, and so on. This study evaluates the thermal tolerance of C. sakazakii strains independently at 52, 55, and 58°C in reconstituted PIF after exposure to physiological stresses: refrigeration (4°C for 24 hr), starvation (37°C for 48 hr), and desiccation (25°C for 4 days). The Log10 CFU/ml and D‐values indicated that survival rate of all the strains decreased significantly (p < .05) after desiccation as compared to those of the control condition (without stress exposure). However, cold stress increased the thermal tolerance of all strains at all temperatures (52, 55, and 58°C) as indicated by increased D‐values. Among the tested strains, C. sakazakii strain N15 was found to be the most resistant to thermal treatment after each stress exposure as depicted by principal component analysis (PCA). No apparent correlation between thermal tolerance and starvation stress was observed. The findings indicate that prior exposure to stress conditions may induce cross protection to thermal treatment in C. sakazakii.
Survival of children and adolescents with intellectual disability following gastrostomy insertion
Authors: Wong K. , Glasson E. J. , Jacoby P. , Srasuebkul P. , Forbes D. , Ravikumara M. , Wilson A. , Bourke J. , Trollor J. , Leonard H. , Nagarajan L. , Downs J.
Published: April 2020

Background

Positive health outcomes have been observed following gastrostomy insertion in children with intellectual disability, which is being increasingly used at younger ages to improve nutritional intake. This study investigated the effect of gastrostomy insertion on survival of children with severe intellectual disability.

Methods

We used linked disability and health data of children and adolescents who were born in Western Australia between 1983 and 2009 to compare survival of individuals with severe intellectual disability by exposure to gastrostomy status. For those born in 2000–2009, we employed propensity score matching to adjust for confounding by indication. Effect of gastrostomy insertion on survival was compared by pertinent health and sociodemographic risk factors.

Results

Compared with children born in the 1980s–1990s, probability of survival following first gastrostomy insertion for those born in 2000–2009 was higher (2 years: 94% vs. 83%). Mortality risk was higher in cases than that in their matched controls (hazard ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1, 7.3). The relative risk of mortality (gastrostomy vs. non‐gastrostomy) may have differed by sex, birthweight and time at first gastrostomy insertion. Respiratory conditions were a common immediate or underlying cause of death among all children, particularly among those undergoing gastrostomy insertion.

Conclusions

Whilst gastrostomy insertion was associated with lower survival rates than children without gastrostomy, survival improved with time, and gastrostomy afforded some protection for the more vulnerable groups, and earlier use appears beneficial to survival. Specific clinical data that may be used to prioritise the need for gastrostomy insertion may be responsible for the survival differences observed.
Facial expressions recognition and discrimination in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Mattavelli Giulia , Barvas Edoardo , Longo Chiara , Zappini Francesca , Ottaviani Donatella , Malaguti Maria Chiara , Pellegrini Maria , Papagno Costanza
Published: April 2020

Emotion processing impairment is a common non‐motor symptom in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Previous literature reported conflicting results concerning, in particular, the performance for different emotions, the relation with cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms and the affected stage of processing. This study aims at assessing emotion recognition and discrimination in PD. Recognition of six facial expressions was studied in order to clarify its relationship with motor, cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Sensitivity in discriminating happy and fearful faces was investigated to address controversial findings on impairment in early stages of emotion processing. To do so, seventy PD patients were tested with the Ekman 60 Faces test and compared with 46 neurologically unimpaired participants. Patients’ performances were correlated with clinical scales and neuropsychological tests. A subsample of 25 PD patients and 25 control participants were also tested with a backward masking paradigm for sensitivity in happiness and fear discrimination. Results showed that PD patients were impaired in facial emotion recognition, especially for fearful expressions. The performance correlated with perceptual, executive and general cognitive abilities, but facial expression recognition deficits were present even in cognitively unimpaired patients. In contrast, patients’ sensitivity in backward masking tasks was not reduced as compared to controls. Taken together our data demonstrate that facial emotion recognition, and fear expression in particular, is critically affected by neurodegeneration in PD and related to cognitive abilities; however, it appears before other cognitive impairments. Preserved performances in discriminating shortly presented facial expressions, suggest unimpaired early stages of emotion processing.
Monopolar radiofrequency treatment for facial laxity: Histometric analysis
Authors: Suh Dong Hye , Ahn Hye‐Jin , Seo Jong‐Kil , Lee Sang Jun , Shin Min Kyung , Song Kye Young
Published: April 2020

Background

A monopolar radiofrequency device can be used in facial tightening. The device targets the dermis and fibrous septae, and the treatment results in immediate collagen contraction and the induction of subsequent collagen remodeling.

Aims

We aimed to evaluate the histometric change of the subjects treated with a monopolar radiofrequency device using a novel tip.

Materials and methods

Eleven subjects with skin types III and IV participated in the study. They received a single session of a monopolar radiofrequency on the face, and biopsies were performed before treatment, and 2 and 6 months after the treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichome, and Victoria blue stains were used. An image analysis was performed using the Image J software. The dermal density of collagen and elastic fiber, and the coherency of collagen fibers were assessed in the papillary, upper reticular, and lower reticular dermises, respectively.

Results

The monopolar radiofrequency treatments led to improvements in collagen fiber density and coherency. In the Masson trichome staining, the collagen fiber densities were 0.736 ± 0.06 and 0.652 ± 0.063 before treatment and increased to 0.773 ± 0.044 (P = .018) and 0.686 ± 0.05 (P = .045) in the papillary and lower reticular dermises, respectively. The density of the elastic fibers in all parts of the dermis showed a tendency to increase after treatment, though not statistically significantly. The mean coherency was higher after than before treatment.

Conclusions

In this in vivo study, we found that the collagen and elastic fiber densities and architectural structures were improved after treatment.
Randomised controlled trial of a comprehensive protocol for preventing constipation following total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Yue Chen , Liu Youwen , Zhang Xue , Xu Bin , Sheng Hongfeng
Published: April 2020

Aims and objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a comprehensive protocol for constipation prevention.

Background

Constipation is a common problem for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), yet sparse evidence is available to guide constipation prevention after THA.

Design

Randomised controlled superiority clinical trial.

Methods

This randomised controlled study was carried out according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). A total of 80 THA patients were randomised to receive only preoperative education about lifestyle or the combination of education with postoperative abdominal massage and polyethylene glycol 4,000 (Forlax®). Efficacy outcomes included rates of postoperative constipation and enema rescue, as well as time to first postoperative defecation and readmission within 30 days. Safety outcomes were number and type of adverse events.

Results

Patients who received combination treatment showed a significantly lower rate of postoperative constipation during hospitalisation than patients who received only preoperative education (25% versus 55%), and they showed a significantly lower rate of enema rescue (12.5% versus 40%). Many more patients receiving combination treatment experienced their first defecation within two postoperative days than patients who received only preoperative education (62.5% versus 35.9%). In contrast, the two groups were similar in terms of constipation rate on postoperative days 15 and 30, rate of readmission within 30 days and rate of postoperative adverse events.

Conclusions

These results suggest that our comprehensive protocol can relieve constipation after THA, reduce the need for enema rescue and shorten time to first defecation without sacrificing safety. More work is needed to optimise and develop this protocol further.

Relevance to clinical practice

Constipation is a distressing problem that frequently occurs after THA. This study confirmed that a comprehensive protocol including preoperative education, postoperative abdominal massage and polyethylene glycol 4,000 can effectively relieve constipation after THA without sacrificing safety.
“It should not be that difficult to manage a condition that is so frequent”: A qualitative study on hospital nurses’ experience of delirium guidelines
Authors: Emme Christina
Published: April 2020

Aims and objectives

To explore hospital nurses’ experiences of enablers and barriers to apply the recommendations of a hospital delirium guideline, focusing on identification and nonpharmacological prevention and treatment.

Background

Nurses’ application of delirium guidelines is important as they have a pivotal role in identifying, preventing and managing delirium. Research is sparse concerning barriers and enablers to nurses´ application of guideline recommendations on nonpharmacological prevention and treatment of delirium.

Design

Qualitative design using focus group and individual interviews.

Methods

Twenty‐three nurses, nurse supervisors and senior staff nurses from four departments in a Danish 530‐bed university hospital participated in the study. The interview guide was based on the Theoretical Domains Framework. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used preparing the manuscript.

Results

The analysis identified four main categories concerning barriers and enablers to applying the recommendations of a delirium guideline: factors relating to employing the guideline, the individual nurse, collaboration and the context. Lack of identification of delirium and lack of preventive actions were prominent, with inter‐related barriers such as lack of knowledge, lack of meaningfulness, lack of priority, lack of resources and working conditions, causing frustration and discouragement in the nurses.

Conclusions

The study identified a wide range of barriers and enablers experienced by hospital nurses to the application of a delirium guideline, showing the complexity of delirium care and applying guidelines.

Relevance to clinical practice

Improving the identification, prevention and treatment for patients with delirium requires a determined and focused effort from all stakeholders, both clinicians, leaders and policymakers. Nurses, nurse leaders and educators must be aware of the barriers and enablers related to knowledge, attitudes and co‐operation. Managers and policymakers must be aware of the organisational factors related to priority and working conditions.
Pharmacists' readiness to adopt prescribing authority in Jordan
Authors: Nusair Mohammad B , Hijazi Bayan M , Jalaileh Raneen A , Naji Elaf A , Mohd Hana A
Published: April 2020

Objectives

The overall objective of this study is to assess the views and attitudes of Jordanian pharmacists on expanded pharmacist prescribing role.

Methods

A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire. Pharmacists were invited to take part in this study through pharmacists' Facebook groups for pharmacists in Jordan. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data in addition to the t-test to compare the mean difference of support levels toward supplementary and independent prescribing.

Key findings

A total of 521 pharmacists took part in this study. The majority of respondents (n = 482; 92.5%) believe that pharmacists in Jordan should have an expanded prescribing role. Respondents were significantly in favour of supplementary prescribing (P < 0.05) than independent prescribing for various medical condition (e.g. diabetes and asthma). Respondents identified securing more roles in healthcare (n = 464; 89%) and increasing pharmacy profits (n = 420; 80.7%) as key facilitators to adopt this new role. Whereas inadequate training in the diagnosis of disease (n = 457; 87.7%), and inadequate training in patient assessment and monitoring (n = 453; 86.9%) were reported as the most likely barriers.

Conclusion

Overall, Jordanian pharmacists strongly supported the expanded prescribing role and favoured supplementary prescribing for chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes). The study highlighted the need for additional training in various areas (e.g. diagnosing and managing some clinical conditions) to prepare Jordanian pharmacists for this new role.
Ecoregional Characteristics Drive the Distribution Patterns of Neotropical Stream Diatoms
Authors: González‐Trujillo Juan David , Pedraza‐Garzón Edna , Donato‐Rondon Jhon Ch. , Sabater Sergi
Published: April 2020

We assessed the relative influence of ecoregional features in explaining diatom distribution in the Orinoco river basin. Ecoregions in the Colombian Orinoco can be seen as imprints of the evolutionary history of the basin, for their current biodiversity and physiographic features are the result of the geological and climatic shifts that have occurred since the Tertiary. Thus, they represent an ideal testing ground for studying the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes shaping diversity patterns of microorganisms, such as diatoms, in the present day. To study this interplay, we compared diatom community composition variance within and among seven ecoregions and assessed the explanatory power of environmental, spatial and historical drivers. This was done by a combination of correlation analyses, multivariate methods and constrained ordinations. We also deconstructed the whole community data set into ecological guilds (low‐ and high‐profile, and motile) to explore their individual response to the contemporary and historical drivers. Taken together, these analyses indicated that contemporary constraints to species occurrence and dispersal, as well as the legacies of historical events, can provide an explanation for the contemporary distribution of diatoms in the Colombian Orinoco. Specifically, we provided evidence showing that both historical legacies and contemporary environmental conditions (temperature, pH, and phosphorus concentration) are interacting to determine diatoms’ distribution. Our results suggest the need to consider ecoregional gradients for unraveling the mechanisms shaping tropical diversity as well as for designing conservation plans.
Religiosity, Secular Participation, and Cultural Socialization: A Case Study of the 1933–1942 Urban English Cohort
Authors: McAndrew Siobhan , Richards Lindsay
Published: April 2020

The nature of secularization is of enduring interest in the social science of religion. Numerous recent papers have established downward cohort trends as characterizing religious change. We examine potential mechanisms by assessing cultural participation and secular engagement during the formative period of one cohort. We provide estimates of active and nominal religiosity, nonreligion and religious belief for those born between 1933 and 1942, using multiple surveys fielded between 1957 and 2018. We model the association between religiosity and secular cultural and social participation for this cohort in 1957, then examine how cultural socialization in childhood relates to religiosity in their later adulthood using surveys fielded between 2005 and 2007. Increased secular competition is found to be associated with less active religiosity. These trends were underpinned by an ethic of increasing autonomy for the young. We conclude by affirming the link between increasing secular competition, long‐run modernization, and changing cultural socialization.
Earliest evidence of a death and injury by a meteorite
Authors: Unsalan O. , Bayatlı A. , Jenniskens P.
Published: April 2020

Our planet experiences falls of meteorites with different airburst and ground impact risk. Some of these meteors can survive after the atmospheric passage and fall into the ground. Although there are claims that people were hit and killed by meteorites in history, the historical records do not prove this fact so far. This issue might be due to the fact that either the manuscript was written in a language other than English or there is not enough interest in historical records. To the best of our knowledge, we show the first proof of an event ever that a meteorite hit and killed a man and left paralyzed another on August 22, 1888 in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, based on three manuscripts written in Ottoman Turkish that were extracted from the General Directorate of State Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. This event was also reported to Abdul Hamid II (34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire) by the governor of Sulaymaniyah. These findings suggest other historical records may still exist that describe other events that caused death and injuries by meteorites.
The lre‐miR159a‐LrGAMYB pathway mediates resistance to grey mould infection in Lilium regale
Authors: Gao Xue , Zhang Qian , Zhao Yu‐Qian , Yang Jie , He Heng‐Bin , Jia Gui‐Xia
Published: April 2020

Grey mould is one of the most determinative factors of lily growth and plays a major role in limiting lily productivity. MicroRNA159 (miR159) is a highly conserved microRNA in plants, and participates in the regulation of plant development and stress responses. Our previous studies revealed that lre‐miR159a participates in the response of Lilium regale to Botrytis elliptica according to deep sequencing analyses; however, the response mechanism remains unknown. Here, lre‐miR159a and its target LrGAMYB gene were isolated from L. regale. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing lre‐MIR159a exhibited larger leaves and smaller necrotic spots on inoculation with Botrytis than those of wild‐type and overexpressing LrGAMYB plants. The lre‐MIR159a overexpression also led to repressed expression of two targets of miR159, AtMYB33 and AtMYB65, and enhanced accumulation of hormone‐related genes, including AtPR1, AtPR2, AtNPR1, AtPDF1.2, and AtLOX for both the jasmonic acid and salicylic acid pathways. Moreover, lower levels of H2O2 and

were observed in lre‐MIR159a transgenic Arabidopsis, which reduced the damage from reactive oxygen species accumulation. Taken together, these results indicate that lre‐miR159a positively regulates resistance to grey mould by repressing the expression of its target LrGAMYB gene and activating a defence response.
MfOfd1 is crucial for stress responses and virulence in the peach brown rot fungus Monilinia fructicola
Authors: Zhang Ming-Ming , Wang Zuo-Qian , Xu Xiao , Huang Song , Yin Wei-Xiao , Luo Chao‐Xi
Published: April 2020

Monilinia fructicola is the most widely distributed species among the Monilinia genus in the world, and causes blossom blight, twig canker, and fruit rot on Rosaceae fruits. To date, studies on genomics and pathogenicity are limited in M. fructicola. In this study, we identified a redox‐related gene, MfOfd1, which was significantly up‐regulated at 1 hr after inoculation of M. fructicola on peach fruits. We used the clustered regulatory inter‐spaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system combined with homologous recombination to determine the function of the MfOfd1 gene. The results showed that the sporulation of knockdown transformants was reduced by 53% to 83%. The knockdown transformants showed increased sensitivity to H2O2 and decreased virulence on peach fruits compared to the wild‐type isolate Bmpc7. It was found that H2O2 could stimulate the expression of MfOfd1 in the wild‐type isolate. The transformants were also more sensitive to exogenous osmotic stress, such as glycerol, d‐sorbitol, and NaCl, and to dicarboximide fungicides (iprodione and dimethachlon). These results indicate that the MfOfd1 gene plays an important role in M. fructicola in sporulation, oxidative response, osmotic stress tolerance, and virulence.
Duodenal bile acids as determinants of intestinal mucosal homeostasis and disease
Authors: Keely Simon , Talley Nicholas J.
Published: April 2020

The duodenal epithelium plays a pivotal role in the uptake and transport of dietary nutrients while simultaneously acting as physical and biochemical barrier to protect against harmful bacteria and antigens. In the case of functional dyspepsia (FD), the duodenum is of particular interest, due to observed local immune involvement and the proximity to the stomach and exposure to acidopeptic secretions. Recent observations in FD pathophysiology, including those reported by Beeckmans et al in this issue of the journal, have identified a loss of barrier function in the duodenal epithelium, an altered duodenal microbiome and alterations in intestinal bile acid pools. Because FD symptoms coincide with food intake and, thus, secretion of bile acids, these findings may indicate loss or imbalance of bile‐acid‐microbiota‐epithelial homeostasis as a process driving FD. Here, we review the evidence linking these observations to FD symptoms.
The role of chloroplast protein remodeling in stress responses and shaping of the plant peptidome
Authors: Mamaeva Anna , Taliansky Michael , Filippova Anna , Love Andrew J. , Golub Nina , Fesenko Igor
Published: April 2020

In addition to photosynthesis, chloroplasts perform a variety of important cellular functions in the plant cell, which can, for example, regulate plant responses to abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Under stress, intensive chloroplast protein remodeling and degradation can occur, releasing large numbers of endogenous peptides. These protein‐derived peptides can be found intracellularly, but also in the plant secretome. Although the pathways of chloroplast protein degradation and the types of chloroplast proteases implicated in this process have received much attention, the role of the resulting peptides is less well understood. In this review we summarize the data on peptide generation processes during the remodeling of the chloroplast proteome under stress conditions and discuss the mechanisms leading to these changes. We also review the experimental evidence which supports the concept that peptides derived from chloroplast proteins can function as regulators of plant responses to (a)biotic stresses.
Body mass index and all‐cause mortality in older adults: A scoping review of observational studies
Authors: Javed Ayesha A. , Aljied Rumaisa , Allison David J. , Anderson Laura N. , Ma Jinhui , Raina Parminder
Published: April 2020

In older age, body composition changes as fat mass increases and redistributes. Therefore, the current body mass index (BMI) classification may not accurately reflect risk in older adults (65+). This study aimed to review the evidence on the association between BMI and all‐cause mortality in older adults and specifically, the findings regarding overweight and obese BMI. A systematic search of the OVID MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted between 2013 and September 2018. Observational studies examining the association between BMI and all‐cause mortality within a community‐dwelling population aged 65+ were included. Seventy‐one articles were included. Studies operationalized BMI categorically (n = 60), continuously (n = 8) or as a numerical change/group transition (n = 7). Reduced risk of mortality was observed for the overweight BMI class compared with the normal BMI class (hazard ratios [HR] ranged 0.41‐0.96) and for class 1 or 2 obesity in some studies. Among studies examining BMI change, increases in BMI demonstrated lower mortality risks compared with decreases in BMI (HR: 0.83‐0.95). Overweight BMI classification or a higher BMI value may be protective with regard to all‐cause mortality, relative to normal BMI, in older adults. These findings demonstrate the potential need for age‐specific BMI cut‐points in older adults.
Marketization reforms and co‐production: Does ownership of service delivery structures and customer language matter?
Authors: James Oliver , Jilke Sebastian
Published: April 2020

In public services that are tax funded, public goods are sometimes marketized by being delivered using private companies instead of public organizations. In addition, marketization reforms can entail service users being described as customers for the service rather than as citizens. We assess the effects of these aspects of marketization reforms on users' willingness to co‐produce public services. First, service delivery using private companies risks reducing users' willingness to co‐produce because firms cannot commit ex ante to not appropriate donated labour for private gain. Second, using customer‐oriented language risks reductions by priming individualistic market norms that lower prosocial motivation compared to citizen‐oriented language priming citizenship duty. Using three survey experiments in the United States, we find that delivery structures are not neutral. Private firms delivering local public services reduce users' willingness to co‐produce, although similar effects are not evident from primimg customer rather than citizenship thinking.
Systemic and large local reactions during subcutaneous grass pollen immunotherapy in children
Authors: Gur Cetinkaya Pınar , Kahveci Melike , Esenboğa Saliha , Karaatmaca Betul , Soyer Ozge , Sekerel Bulent Enis , Tuncer Ayfer , Sahiner Umit Murat
Published: April 2020

Background

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is the allergen‐specific curative treatment of allergic rhinitis. Adverse effects, most of which are local, can be observed during the immunotherapy. These adverse effects have been reported more frequently during the pollen season. The purpose of this study was to estimate the rate of local, large local, and systemic reactions during the treatment, to determine the relationship between adverse reactions and the season in which these reactions occur, as well as the risk factors for adverse reactions during the grass pollen–specific SCIT treatment in children.

Methods

We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of 261 children who administered grass pollen SCIT between 2008 and 2018.

Results

A total of 261 children (177, 67.8% male), who received grass pollen SCIT, with a mean (±SD) age of 12.0 ± 3.0 years at the initiation of SCIT were enrolled to the study. The number of the patients who experienced local and large local reactions was 109 and 30, respectively. In addition, the number of the patients with systemic reactions was 35. After the 12 284 injections, local reactions occurred in 357 (2.9%), and this was followed by systemic reaction as 55 (0.4%) and large local reactions as 40 (0.3%). Frequency of local (P < .001) and systemic reactions (P = .003) was higher during grass pollen season than out of the grass pollen season. In multivariate analysis, initiation of SCIT during the grass pollen season [OR:7.351, 95%CI:1.532‐35.279, P = .013] and experiencing local reactions [OR:4.214, 95%CI:2.159‐8.224, P < .001] were independent predictors for the development of large local and systemic reactions.

Conclusion

SCIT, in which only mild‐to‐moderate systemic reactions occurred, is safe for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children. Our study revealed that previous local reactions and initiation of immunotherapy during the grass pollen season were the predictors for large local and systemic reactions during SCIT in children.
Two X‐linked agammaglobulinemia patients develop pneumonia as COVID‐19 manifestation but recover
Authors: Soresina Annarosa , Moratto Daniele , Chiarini Marco , Paolillo Ciro , Baresi Giulia , Focà Emanuele , Bezzi Michela , Baronio Barbara , Giacomelli Mauro , Badolato Raffaele
Published: April 2020

Background

The recent SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, which has recently affected Italy since February 21, constitutes a threat to normal subjects, as the coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) can manifest with a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes ranging from asymptomatic cases to pneumonia or even death. There is evidence that older age and several comorbidities can affect the risk to develop severe pneumonia and possibly the need of mechanic ventilation in subjects infected with SARS‐CoV‐2. Therefore, we evaluated the outcome of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) such as X‐linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA).

Methods

When the SARS‐CoV‐2 epidemic has reached Italy, we have activated a surveillance protocol of patients with IEI, to perform SARS‐CoV‐2 search by nasopharyngeal swab in patients presenting with symptoms that could be a manifestation of COVID‐19, such as fever, cough, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Results

We describe two patients with X‐linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) aged 34 and 26 years with complete absence of B cells from peripheral blood who developed COVID‐19, as diagnosed by SARS‐CoV‐2 detection by nasopharyngeal swab, while receiving immunoglobulin infusions. Both patients developed interstitial pneumonia characterized by fever, cough, and anorexia and associated with elevation of CRP and ferritin, but have never required oxygen ventilation or intensive care.

Conclusion

Our report suggests that XLA patients might present with high risk to develop pneumonia after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, but can recover from infection, suggesting that B‐cell response might be important, but is not strictly required to overcome the disease. However, there is a need for larger observational studies to extend these conclusions to other patients with similar genetic immune defects.
Successful containment of Covid‐19 outbreak in a large maternity and perinatal center while continuing clinical service
Authors: Kabesch Michael , Roth Samra , Brandstetter Susanne , Häusler Sebastian , Juraschko Eva , Weigl Marco , Wellmann Sven , Lang Thomas , Schmidt Barbara , Salzberger Bernd , Ambrosch Andreas
Published: April 2020

With increasing number of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and COVID‐19 patients to be taken care of by the health system, more and more health workers become affected by the disease. It has been reported that right from the beginning of the outbreak in Lombardy up to 20% of the doctors and nurses became infected. Under these circumstances, the regular operation of health institutions already suffering from a shortage of staff becomes difficult. This has led to complete or partial shutdowns of hospitals, either due to a lack of uninfected personnel or because of uncontrollable chains of infection endangering patients. In one of the largest university perinatal center in Bavaria with more than 3000 births per year, an outbreak of COVID‐19 occurred in March 2020, affecting 36 staff members, including doctors, nurses, and midwives. Here, we describe the outbreak and present the measures contributing to the successful containment of the outbreak within three weeks. At the same time, clinical services could be maintained, however, not without deployment of personnel exposed to employees infected with SARS‐CoV‐2. Apart from massive testing of personnel in pre‐defined phases and increased hygiene measures, including a general obligation to wear surgical face masks, we identified the need to monitor cases of illness across all groups of employees, to ensure social distancing within personnel and to evaluate contacts of clinical personnel outside of the hospital environment, in order to be able to interpret chains of infections and to disrupt them. Overall, only a bundle of measures is needed to contain such an outbreak.
Educational and learning morbidity in pediatric heart transplant recipients: A pediatric heart transplant society study
Authors: Brosbe Micah S. , Wright Lydia K. , Cantor Ryan , Dreyer William J. , Kirmani Sonya , Knight Margaret , Nakano Stephanie J. , Kindel Steven J. , Ryan Thomas D. , Kirklin James K. , Deshpande Shriprasad R.
Published: April 2020

Educational development is an important component of quality of life for children with heart transplant. Aims include determining prevalence of and risk factors for modified education placement in a large representative sample of pediatric heart transplant recipients. Participants included 1495 patients (age 6‐18 years) from the PHTS database. Data on education placement and clinical predictors were collected at listing and at 1 and 3 years post‐transplant. At listing, 88% of patients were in typical education placement, while 12% were in modified education. Males (P = .02), those with CHD (P < .0001), those with non‐private insurance (P < .0001), and those with longer hospital stay (P = .001) were more likely to be in a modified education placement at time of listing. Age, race, listing status, mechanical support, and waitlist time were not significantly associated with placement. The prevalence of typical education placement was similar (87% at 1‐year and 86% at 3‐year) post‐transplant. Predictors of modified education placement at 3‐year follow‐up included placement at listing (OR = 12.9 [95% CI 7.6‐21.9],P < .0001), non‐private insurance (OR = 2.0 [95% CI 1.3‐3.2],P = .001), CHD (OR = 1.8 [95% CI 1.1‐2.7,P = .01), history of post‐transplant infection (OR = 1.9 [95% CI 1.2‐2.9,P = .007), and number of post‐transplant infections (OR = 1.3 [95% CI 1.1‐1.5,P = .002). Among pediatric heart transplant recipients, males, those with non‐private insurance, those with CHD, and those who experience post‐transplant infections are at greatest risk for modified academic placement, which persists for several years post‐transplant and deserves targeted intervention.