bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Sectional Examination of Musculoskeletal Pain and Physical Function in a Racially and Socioeconomically Diverse Sample of Adults
Authors: Sardina Angie L , Gamaldo Alyssa A , Andel Ross , Johnson Shanthi , Baker Tamara A , Thorpe Roland J , McEvoy Cathy , Evans Michele K , Zonderman Alan B
Published: October 2020

Background

Musculoskeletal pain alters physiological function, which may be evidenced as early as middle age. Previous research has concluded that middle-aged adults are a high-risk group for musculoskeletal pain and report functional limitations similar to older adults. However, few studies have examined the relationships between musculoskeletal pain and physical function, using objective performance measures in a sample of racially and socioeconomically diverse adults. Thus, this study examined musculoskeletal pain in relation to physical function in middle-aged (30–64 years) White and Black adults and investigated whether the relationship varied by sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods

This cross-sectional examination incorporated data from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life-Span Study. Participants (n = 875) completed measures of musculoskeletal pain and objective measures of physical performance (ie, lower and upper body strength, balance, and gait abnormalities). Physical performance measures were standardized to derive a global measure of physical function as the dependent variable.

Results

Approximately, 59% of participants identified at least 1 pain sites (n = 518). Multivariable regression analyses identified significant relationships between greater musculoskeletal pain and poorer physical function (β = −0.07, p = .031), in mid midlife (β = −0.04, p = .041; age 40–54) and late midlife (β = −0.05, p = .027; age 55–64).

Conclusions

This study observed that musculoskeletal pain was associated with poorer physical function within a diverse group of middle-aged adults. Future research should longitudinally explore whether chronic musculoskeletal pain identified at younger ages is associated with greater risk for functional limitation and dependence in later life.
Social Vulnerability and Medical Complexity Among Medicare Beneficiaries Receiving Home Health Without Prior Hospitalization
Authors: Burgdorf Julia G , Mroz Tracy M , Wolff Jennifer L
Published: October 2020

Background and Objectives

Recent Medicare home health payment changes reduce reimbursement for care provided to patients without a preceding hospitalization. Beneficiaries may enter home health without a preceding hospitalization via referral from a community provider or through incurring multiple episodes of home health care. We assess potential implications of this change by examining the characteristics of patients accessing Medicare home health through each of these pathways.

Research Design and Methods

Nationally representative retrospective cohort study of 1,224 (weighted n = 5,913,080) older adults who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study between 2011 and 2015 and received Medicare-funded home health within 1 year of interview. Patient characteristics before home health were drawn from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, while characteristics during home health, referral source, and number of episodes incurred were drawn from linked Outcomes and Assessment Information Set and Medicare claims. We tested for differences in characteristics by referral source and number of episodes using weighted chi-square tests and t tests.

Results

Patients referred to home health from the community were more than twice as likely to be Medicaid-enrolled (24.0% vs 12.5%, p < .001), have dementia (29.5% vs 12.4%, p < .001), and have received 80 or more hours/month of family caregiver assistance (20.7% vs 10.1%, p < .001) prior to home health entry compared to those referred from a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Patients who incurred multiple episodes in a spell of home health care were more likely to have high clinical severity during home health (48.3% vs 28.1%, p < .001), compared to those with a single episode.

Discussion and Implications

Greater social vulnerability and care needs before home health were associated with community referral, while greater clinical severity during home health was associated with incurring multiple episodes of care. Findings suggest that recent payment changes may threaten home health access among beneficiaries with greater social vulnerability and/or medical complexity.
Between Social Inclusion and Exclusion: Integration of Daycare Guests in the Nursing Home Setting
Authors: Hämel Kerstin , Röhnsch Gundula
Published: October 2020

Background and Objectives

In integrated daycare, community-dwelling older people in need of care join existing groups in residential care facilities during the day. This study focuses on how nursing home residents experience the integrative care approach, exploring opportunities for social inclusion and mechanisms of exclusion.

Research Design and Methods

A purposive sample of residents differing in cognitive capacity and level of (non)conflictual interaction with daycare guests was selected. Episodic interviews with residents (N = 10) and close relatives (N = 2) were conducted in 3 pilot facilities in Germany and analyzed using thematic coding.

Results

The analysis revealed different orientation patterns towards the presence of daycare guests: respondents (a) demonstrated indifference to the daycare guests, (b) saw bonding with guests as a means to connect to the outside world, and (c) perceived incompatibility between in-group and out-group. Criticisms included disruption of daily routines and loss of privacy. Most interviewees came to terms with the care situation using rational and moral arguments.

Discussion and Implications

The study reveals the importance of residents’ participation when integrating daycare guests. Institutional procedures are required to prevent exclusion of daycare guests and avoid overtaxing residents.
Are there causal relationships between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and body mass index? Evidence from multiple genetically informed designs
Authors: Liu Chao-Yu , Schoeler Tabea , Davies Neil M , Peyre Hugo , Lim Kai-Xiang , Barker Edward D , Llewellyn Clare , Dudbridge Frank , Pingault Jean-Baptiste
Published: October 2020

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and body mass index (BMI) are associated. However, it remains unclear whether this association reflects causal relationships in either direction or confounding. Here, we implemented genetically informed methods to examine bidirectional causality and potential confounding.

Methods

Three genetically informed methods were employed: (i) cross-lagged twin-differences analyses to assess bidirectional effects of ADHD symptoms and BMI at ages 8, 12, 14 and 16 years in 2386 pairs of monozygotic twins from the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS); (ii) within- and between-family ADHD and BMI polygenic score (PS) analyses in 3320 pairs of dizygotic TEDS twins; and (iii) two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on ADHD (N = 55,374) and BMI (N = 806,834).

Results

Mixed results were obtained across the three methods. Twin-difference analyses provided little support for cross-lagged associations between ADHD symptoms and BMI over time. PS analyses were consistent with bidirectional relationships between ADHD and BMI, with plausible time-varying effects from childhood to adolescence. MR findings also suggested bidirectional causal effects between ADHD and BMI. Multivariable MR indicated the presence of substantial confounding in bidirectional relationships.

Conclusions

The three methods converged to highlight multiple sources of confounding in the association between ADHD and BMI. PS and MR analyses suggested plausible causal relationships in both directions. Possible explanations for mixed causal findings across methods are discussed.
Finiteness of Isomorphism Classes of Hyperbolic Polycurves with Prescribed Fundamental Groups
Authors: Sawada Koichiro
Published: October 2020

In the present paper, we show that there are at most finitely many isomorphism classes of hyperbolic polycurves (i.e., successive extensions of families of hyperbolic curves) over certain types of fields whose étale fundamental group is isomorphic to a prescribed profinite group.
Q-Systems and Extensions of Completely Unitary Vertex Operator Algebras
Authors: Gui Bin
Published: October 2020

Complete unitarity is a natural condition on a CFT-type regular vertex operator algebra (VOA), which ensures that its modular tensor category (MTC) is unitary. In this paper we show that any CFT-type unitary (conformal) extension $U$ of a completely unitary VOA $V$ is completely unitary. Our method is to relate $U$ with a Q-system $A_U$ in the $C^*$-tensor category $\textrm{Rep}^{\textrm{u}}(V)$ of unitary $V$-modules. We also update the main result of [ 30] to the unitary cases by showing that the tensor category $\textrm{Rep}^{\textrm{u}}(U)$ of unitary $U$-modules is equivalent to the tensor category $\textrm{Rep}^{\textrm{u}}(A_U)$ of unitary $A_U$-modules as unitary MTCs. As an application, we obtain infinitely many new (regular and) completely unitary VOAs including all CFT-type $c<1$ unitary VOAs. We also show that the latter are in one-to-one correspondence with the (irreducible) conformal nets of the same central charge $c$, the classification of which is given by [ 29].
Advanced Oxidation Protein Product (AOPP) Levels in Second- and Third-Degree Thermal Burns
Authors: Mert Handan , Açikkol Suat , Çalli İskan , Çibuk Salih , Keskin Sıddık , Mert Nihat
Published: October 2020

Burn is a systemic injury affecting the entire organism according to its etiology and severity. The aim of this study was to investigate plasma AOPP levels before and after treatment of second- and third-degree thermal burn patients and determine the changes in this parameter, and also, to find out the relationship between AOPP level and hospitalization period and total body surface area (TBSA). The study material consisted of pediatric patients with the complaint of second- and third-degree thermal burns aged between 1 and 18 years, with a burn area exceeding 10%. Blood samples were taken twice before and after treatment. AOPP level in blood plasma was measured in ELISA. It was observed that in the second-degree thermal burn group, AOPP level was 25.85 ± 2.82 ng/ml before the treatment decreased to 22.16 ± 3.62 ng/ml after treatment, whereas in the third-degree thermal burn group before the treatment AOPP was 25.96 ± 3.49 ng/ml, and after the treatment dropped to 21.70 ± 3.79 ng/ml, decreases were significantly important (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of AOPP levels (P > .05). Correlation analyses in the second- and third-degree thermal burn group did not show any correlation between AOPP levels and burn area and length of hospitalization period. As a result, AOPP level has been studied, for the first time, in burn cases. In both groups, the level of AOPP increased due to oxidative stress before treatment and decreased after treatment.
A botanical collector abroad: contextualizing Thomas Penny’s travels in Switzerland and France, 1565–1568
Authors: Addyman Marie
Published: October 2020

Between 1565 and 1568 Thomas Penny travelled in Switzerland and France. The material he gathered and recorded served as annotations to Conrad Gessner’s plant records. The intention to publish these edited notes as a collection was never realized, but Penny’s journey clarifies many of the material circumstances under which collecting was undertaken.
Current status and perspectives of immune checkpoint inhibitors for colorectal cancer
Authors: Hirano Hidekazu , Takashima Atsuo , Hamaguchi Tetsuya , Shida Dai , Kanemitsu Yukihide ,   the Colorectal Cancer Study Group (CCSG) of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG)
Published: October 2020

Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, has revolutionized the standard-of-care of multiple types of tumors. For colorectal cancer, the clinical development of immune checkpoint inhibitors is mainly separated according to the status of microsatellite instability or mismatch repair in a tumor. High-level microsatellite instability/deficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer generally has a tumor microenvironment with infiltration of T cells, associated with a favorable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1 inhibitor) and nivolumab (anti-PD-1 inhibitor) with or without ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4 inhibitor), have been integrated into the standard-of-care for high-level microsatellite instability/deficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer. Conversely, limited T-cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment of microsatellite stable/proficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer, which constitutes the majority of metastatic colorectal cancer, is assumed to be a major resistant mechanism to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Currently, clinical trials to improve the clinical activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors by immunomodulation are ongoing for metastatic colorectal cancer. Furthermore, immune checkpoint inhibitors are under development in neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant setting. Here, we review the existing clinical data with ongoing trials and discuss the future perspectives with a focus on the immunotherapy of colorectal cancer.
Subcapsular double-J stent following ureteroscopy: unique complication
Authors: Aljuhayman Ahmed , Balaraj Faisal , Ghazwani Yahya , Hamri Saeed Bin
Published: October 2020

Double-J (DJ) ureteral stent is a standard procedure in daily urological practice performed to relive ureteral obstruction or as a part of other endourological procedures. Although it is a common procedure, the widespread use of ureteral stents has corresponded to the increase in possible complication. We report a unique complication for a patient who presented with a renal subcapsular complete misplacement of DJ stent postureteroscopy for a distal ureteric stone. This challenging complication of ureteral stents is rare and organ threatening.
Chromosomal introgressions fromOryza meridionalisinto domesticated riceOryza sativaresult in iron tolerance
Authors: Wairich Andriele , de Oliveira Ben Hur Neves , Wu Lin-Bo , Murugaiyan Varunseelan , Margis-Pinheiro Marcia , Fett Janette Palma , Ricachenevsky Felipe Klein , Frei Michael
Published: October 2020

Iron (Fe) toxicity is one of the most common mineral disorders affecting rice (Oryza sativa) production in flooded lowland fields. Oryza meridionalis is indigenous to northern Australia and grows in regions with Fe-rich soils, making it a candidate for use in adaptive breeding. With the aim of understanding tolerance mechanisms in rice, we screened a population of interspecific introgression lines from a cross between O. sativa and O. meridionalis for the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to Fe-toxicity tolerance. Six putative QTLs were identified. A line carrying one introgression from O. meridionalis on chromosome 9 associated with one QTL was highly tolerant despite very high shoot Fe concentrations. Physiological, biochemical, ionomic, and transcriptomic analyses showed that the tolerance of the introgression lines could partly be explained by higher relative Fe retention in the leaf sheath and culm. We constructed the interspecific hybrid genome in silico for transcriptomic analysis and identified differentially regulated introgressed genes from O. meridionalis that could be involved in shoot-based Fe tolerance, such as metallothioneins, glutathione S-transferases, and transporters from the ABC and MFS families. This work demonstrates that introgressions of O. meridionalis into the O. sativa genome can confer increased tolerance to excess Fe.
Analytical model for the local vertical structure of thin accretion discs
Authors: Fukue J
Published: October 2020

We derive several analytical relations and approximate solutions for the local vertical structure of viscous thin accretion discs. Under the alpha prescription, when the viscous heating is proportional to the gas pressure p, we derive the analytical relation between the radiative flux F and the radiation pressure P: (F/F0)2 = [1 − (P/Pc)5/4]/[1 − (P0/Pc)5/4], where the subscript 0 means the value at the surface and the subscript c is the value at the disc centre. Both F and P are approximately integrated to yield the well-known uniform heating model. In this case, furthermore, the height z and density ρ are approximately fitted as a function of the optical depth τ. When the viscous heating is proportional to the radiation pressure P and the disc is almost isothermal, the flux F is proportional to z as F = (3/2)αΩPz, where α and Ω are the alpha parameter and angular speed, respectively. In this case, moreover, the height and density are analytically solved and expressed as $z=(\sqrt{2}c_{\rm T}/\Omega) {\rm erf}^{-1}(1-\tau /\tau _{\rm c})$ and ρ = ρcexp { − [erf−1(1 − τ/τc)]2}, cT being the isothermal sound speed, and erf−1 the inverse of the error function.
Seismic analysis of the double-mode radial pulsator SX Phoenicis
Authors: Daszyńska-Daszkiewicz J , Pamyatnykh A A , Walczak P , Szewczuk W
Published: October 2020

We present the results of complex seismic analysis of the prototype star SX Phoenicis. This analysis consists of a simultaneous fitting of the two radial-mode frequencies, the corresponding values of the bolometric flux amplitude (the parameter f) and of the intrinsic mode amplitude ε. The effects of various parameters as well as the opacity data are examined. With each opacity table it is possible to find seismic models that reproduce the two observed frequencies with masses allowed by evolutionary models appropriate for the observed values of the effective temperature and luminosity. All seismic models are in the post-main sequence phase. The OPAL and OP seismic models are in hydrogen shell-burning phase and the OPLIB seismic model has just finished an overall contraction and starts to burn hydrogen in a shell. The OP and OPLIB models are less likely due to the requirement of high initial hydrogen abundance (X0 = 0.75) and too high metallicity (Z ≈ 0.004) as for a Population II star. The fitting of the parameter f, whose empirical values are derived from multicolour photometric observations, provides constraints on the efficiency of convective transport in the outer layers of the star and on the microturbulent velocity in the atmosphere. Our complex seismic analysis with each opacity data indicates low to moderately efficient convection in the star’s envelope, described by the mixing length parameter of αMLT ∈ (0.0,  0.7), and the microturbulent velocity in the atmosphere of about ξt ∈ (4,  8) km s−1.
G133.50+9.01: a likely cloud–cloud collision complex triggering the formation of filaments, cores, and a stellar cluster
Authors: Issac Namitha , Tej Anandmayee , Liu Tie , Wu Yuefang
Published: October 2020

We present compelling observational evidence of G133.50+9.01 being a bona fide cloud–cloud collision candidate with signatures of induced filament, core, and cluster formation. The CO molecular line observations reveal that the G133.50+9.01 complex is made of two colliding molecular clouds with systemic velocities, $\rm -16.9$ and $\rm -14.1\, km\, s^{-1}$. The intersection of the clouds is characterized by broad bridging features characteristic of collision. The morphology of the shocked layer at the interaction front resembles an arc-like structure with enhanced excitation temperature and H2 column density. A complex network of filaments is detected in the Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array 2 850 $\rm \mu m$ image with 14 embedded dense cores, all well correlated spatially with the shocked layer. A stellar cluster revealed through an overdensity of identified Classes I and II young stellar objects is found located along the arc in the intersection region corroborating with a likely collision induced origin.
Clustering of the resonant triads induced by vertical-shear instability in astrophysical discs
Authors: Shtemler Yuri , Mond Michael
Published: October 2020

Clustering of resonant triads that are induced by vertical-shear instability (VSI), driven by the combined effect of the vertical speed shear and small temperature gradients, is studied for vertically isothermal thin unmagnetized Keplerian discs. The authors’ recent study of isolated VSI resonant triads is extended to illustrate their clustering. The coupling conditions for two VSI resonant triads with one common mode are derived and generalized to higher dimension clustering. The clustering of two, three, and four triads connected via one common mode is numerically simulated. The numerical simulations demonstrate the chaotization of non-linear oscillations about the prototypes of the linearly stable modes with a growing cluster’s dimension that is accompanied by a decrease of the characteristic time of chaotization and an increase of the characteristic frequency of perturbations. The chaos associated with the VSI resonant clustering is believed to precede transition to sustainable turbulence in astrophysical discs.
Identification of a new ultraluminous X-ray source in NGC 1316
Authors: Allak S , Akyuz A , Aksaker N , Ozdogan Ela M , Avdan S , Soydugan F
Published: October 2020

In this study, we report identification of a new ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) named as X-7 in NGC 1316, with an unabsorbed luminosity of 2.1 × 1039 erg s−1 using the two recent Chandra archival observations. The X-7 was detected in the Chandra 2001 observation and was included in the source list of the NGC 1316 as CXOUJ032240.8−371224 with a luminosity of 5.7 × 1038 erg s−1. Present luminosity implies a luminosity increase of a factor of ∼4. The best-fitting spectral model parameters indicate that X-7 has a relatively hot disc and hard spectra. If explained by a disc blackbody model, the mass of compact object is estimated as ∼8 M⊙ which is in the range of a stellar-mass black hole. The X-7 shows a relatively long-term count rate variability while no short-term variability is observed. We also identified a unique optical candidate within 0.22 arcsec error circle at 95 per cent confidence level for X-7 using the archival HST/ACS (Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys) and HST/WFC3 (The Wide Field Camera 3) data. Absolute magnitude (MV) of this candidate is −7.8 mag. Its spectral energy distribution is adequately fitted a blackbody model with a temperature of 3100 K indicating an M type supergiant, assuming the donor star dominates the optical emission. In addition, we identified a transient ULX candidate (XT-1) located 6 arcsec away from X-7 has a (high) luminosity of ∼1039 erg s−1 with no visible optical candidate.
Long-Term m5C Methylome Dynamics Parallel Phenotypic Adaptation in the CyanobacteriumTrichodesmium
Authors: Walworth Nathan G , Lee Michael D , Dolzhenko Egor , Fu Fei-Xue , Smith Andrew D , Webb Eric A , Hutchins David A
Published: October 2020

A major challenge in modern biology is understanding how the effects of short-term biological responses influence long-term evolutionary adaptation, defined as a genetically determined increase in fitness to novel environments. This is particularly important in globally important microbes experiencing rapid global change, due to their influence on food webs, biogeochemical cycles, and climate. Epigenetic modifications like methylation have been demonstrated to influence short-term plastic responses, which ultimately impact long-term adaptive responses to environmental change. However, there remains a paucity of empirical research examining long-term methylation dynamics during environmental adaptation in nonmodel, ecologically important microbes. Here, we show the first empirical evidence in a marine prokaryote for long-term m5C methylome modifications correlated with phenotypic adaptation to CO2, using a 7-year evolution experiment (1,000+ generations) with the biogeochemically important marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium. We identify m5C methylated sites that rapidly changed in response to high (750 µatm) CO2 exposure and were maintained for at least 4.5 years of CO2 selection. After 7 years of CO2 selection, however, m5C methylation levels that initially responded to high-CO2 returned to ancestral, ambient CO2 levels. Concurrently, high-CO2 adapted growth and N2 fixation rates remained significantly higher than those of ambient CO2 adapted cell lines irrespective of CO2 concentration, a trend consistent with genetic assimilation theory. These data demonstrate the maintenance of CO2-responsive m5C methylation for 4.5 years alongside phenotypic adaptation before returning to ancestral methylation levels. These observations in a globally distributed marine prokaryote provide critical evolutionary insights into biogeochemically important traits under global change.
Tethering-facilitated DNA ‘opening’ and complementary roles of β-hairpin motifs in the Rad4/XPC DNA damage sensor protein
Authors: Paul Debamita , Mu Hong , Tavakoli Amirrasoul , Dai Qing , Chen Xuejing , Chakraborty Sagnik , He Chuan , Ansari Anjum , Broyde Suse , Min Jung-Hyun
Published: October 2020

XPC/Rad4 initiates eukaryotic nucleotide excision repair on structurally diverse helix-destabilizing/distorting DNA lesions by selectively ‘opening’ these sites while rapidly diffusing along undamaged DNA. Previous structural studies showed that Rad4, when tethered to DNA, could also open undamaged DNA, suggesting a ‘kinetic gating’ mechanism whereby lesion discrimination relied on efficient opening versus diffusion. However, solution studies in support of such a mechanism were lacking and how ‘opening’ is brought about remained unclear. Here, we present crystal structures and fluorescence-based conformational analyses on tethered complexes, showing that Rad4 can indeed ‘open’ undamaged DNA in solution and that such ‘opening’ can largely occur without one or the other of the β-hairpin motifs in the BHD2 or BHD3 domains. Notably, the Rad4-bound ‘open’ DNA adopts multiple conformations in solution notwithstanding the DNA’s original structure or the β-hairpins. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal compensatory roles of the β-hairpins, which may render robustness in dealing with and opening diverse lesions. Our study showcases how fluorescence-based studies can be used to obtain information complementary to ensemble structural studies. The tethering-facilitated DNA ‘opening’ of undamaged sites and the dynamic nature of ‘open’ DNA may shed light on how the protein functions within and beyond nucleotide excision repair in cells.
The mouse Gene Expression Database (GXD): 2021 update
Authors: Baldarelli Richard M , Smith Constance M , Finger Jacqueline H , Hayamizu Terry F , McCright Ingeborg J , Xu Jingxia , Shaw David R , Beal Jonathan S , Blodgett Olin , Campbell Jeffrey , Corbani Lori E , Frost Pete J , Giannatto Sharon C , Miers Dave B , Kadin James A , Richardson Joel E , Ringwald Martin
Published: October 2020

The Gene Expression Database (GXD; www.informatics.jax.org/expression.shtml) is an extensive and well-curated community resource of mouse developmental gene expression information. For many years, GXD has collected and integrated data from RNA in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, northern blot, and western blot experiments through curation of the scientific literature and by collaborations with large-scale expression projects. Since our last report in 2019, we have continued to acquire these classical types of expression data; developed a searchable index of RNA-Seq and microarray experiments that allows users to quickly and reliably find specific mouse expression studies in ArrayExpress (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/) and GEO (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/); and expanded GXD to include RNA-Seq data. Uniformly processed RNA-Seq data are imported from the EBI Expression Atlas and then integrated with the other types of expression data in GXD, and with the genetic, functional, phenotypic and disease-related information in Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI). This integration has made the RNA-Seq data accessible via GXD’s enhanced searching and filtering capabilities. Further, we have embedded the Morpheus heat map utility into the GXD user interface to provide additional tools for display and analysis of RNA-Seq data, including heat map visualization, sorting, filtering, hierarchical clustering, nearest neighbors analysis and visual enrichment.
MolluscDB: an integrated functional and evolutionary genomics database for the hyper-diverse animal phylum Mollusca
Authors: Liu Fuyun , Li Yuli , Yu Hongwei , Zhang Lingling , Hu Jingjie , Bao Zhenmin , Wang Shi
Published: October 2020

Mollusca represents the second largest animal phylum but remains poorly explored from a genomic perspective. While the recent increase in genomic resources holds great promise for a deep understanding of molluscan biology and evolution, access and utilization of these resources still pose a challenge. Here, we present the first comprehensive molluscan genomics database, MolluscDB (http://mgbase.qnlm.ac), which compiles and integrates current molluscan genomic/transcriptomic resources and provides convenient tools for multi-level integrative and comparative genomic analyses. MolluscDB enables a systematic view of genomic information from various aspects, such as genome assembly statistics, genome phylogenies, fossil records, gene information, expression profiles, gene families, transcription factors, transposable elements and mitogenome organization information. Moreover, MolluscDB offers valuable customized datasets or resources, such as gene coexpression networks across various developmental stages and adult tissues/organs, core gene repertoires inferred for major molluscan lineages, and macrosynteny analysis for chromosomal evolution. MolluscDB presents an integrative and comprehensive genomics platform that will allow the molluscan community to cope with ever-growing genomic resources and will expedite new scientific discoveries for understanding molluscan biology and evolution.
Genetic diversity, phylogeography, and evolutionary dynamics of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N6) viruses
Authors: Zhang Jiahao , Chen Yiqun , Shan Nan , Wang Xiaomin , Lin Shuxia , Ma Kaixiong , Li Bo , Li Huanan , Liao Ming , Qi Wenbao
Published: October 2020

From 2013 onwards, the spread of novel H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in China has posed great threats to not only poultry industry but also human health. Since late-2016 in particular, frequent outbreaks of clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 HPAI viruses among wild birds have promoted viral dissemination in South Korea, Japan, and European countries. In response to those trends, we conducted molecular genetic analysis of global clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 viruses in order to characterize spatio-temporal patterns of viral diffusion and genetic diversity among wild birds and poultry. The clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 viruses were classified into three groups (Group B, C, and D). During the cocirculation of Group C/D H5N6 viruses from 2013 to 2017, viral movements occurred between close or adjacent regions of China, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan. In addition, viral migration rates from Guangdong and Hunan to multiple adjacent provinces seemed to have been highly supported by transmission routes (Bayes factors >100), suggesting that southern China was an epicenter for the spread of H5N6 viruses in poultry during that period. Since the introduction of H5N6 viruses originating in wild birds in late-2016, evolving H5N6 viruses have lost most previous genotypes (e.g. G1, G2, and G1.2), whereas some prevailing genotypes (e.g. G1.1, G1.1.b, and G3) in aquatic birds have been dominated, and in particular, the effective population size of H5N6 originating in wild birds dramatically increased; however, the population size of poultry-origin H5N6 viruses declined during the same period, indicating that wild bird migration might accelerate the genetic diversity of H5N6 viruses. Phylogeographic approaches revealed that two independent paths of H5N6 viruses into South Korea and Japan from 2016 to 2018 and provided evidence of Group B and Group C H5N6 viruses were originated from Europe and China, respectively, as regions located in the East Asia–Australian migration flyway, which accelerated the genetic variability and dissemination. Altogether, our study provides insights to examine time of origin, evolutionary rate, diversification patterns, and phylogeographical approach of global clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 HPAI viruses for assessing their evolutionary process and dissemination pathways.
Access to Healthcare and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic for People Who Use Drugs
Authors: Stowe MJ , Calvey Tanya , Scheibein Florian , Arya Sidharth , Saad Noha Ahmed , Shirasaka Tomohiro , Dannatt Lisa , Ghosh Abhishek , Yee Anne , Ratta-apha Woraphat , Vadivel Ramyadarshni , Siste Kristiana , Shah Bigya , Ramalho Rodrigo , Narasimha Venkata Lakshmi , Delic Mirjana , Peyron Eric , Onoria Joy Louise Gumikiriza- , Pant Sagun Ballav , Boujraf Saïd , Grandinetti Paolo , Morgan Nirvana
Published: October 2020

Globally, there are concerns about access to healthcare and harm reduction services for people who use drugs (PWUD) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Members from the Network of Early Career Professionals working in Addiction Medicine shared their experiences of providing treatment to PWUD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on these qualitative reports, we highlight the similarities and discrepancies in access to services for PWUD in 16 countries under COVID-10 restrictions. In most countries reported here, efforts have been made to ensure continued access to services, such as mobilising opioid agonist maintenance treatment and other essential medicines to patients. However, due to travel restrictions and limited telemedicine services, several Network of Early Career Professionals working in Addiction Medicine members from lower-resourced countries experienced challenges with providing care to their patients during periods of COVID-19 lock-down. The insights provided in this commentary illustrate how the COVID-19 lock-down restrictions have impacted access to services for PWUD.
“Babywearing” in the NICU
Authors: Williams Lela Rankin , Gebler-Wolfe Molly , Grisham Lisa M. , Bader M. Y.
Published: October 2020

Background:

The US opioid epidemic has resulted in an increase of infants at risk for developing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Traditionally, treatment has consisted of pharmacological interventions to reduce symptoms of withdrawal. However, nonpharmacological interventions (eg, skin-to-skin contact, holding) can also be effective in managing the distress associated with NAS.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to examine whether infant carrying or “babywearing” (ie, holding an infant on one's body using cloth) can reduce distress associated with NAS among infants and caregivers.

Methods:

Heart rate was measured in infants and adults (parents vs other adults) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) pre- (no touching), mid- (20 minutes into being worn in a carrier), and post-babywearing (5 minutes later).

Results:

Using a 3-level hierarchical linear model at 3 time points (pre, mid, and post), we found that babywearing decreased infant and caregiver heart rates. Across a 30-minute period, heart rates of infants worn by parents decreased by 15 beats per minute (bpm) compared with 5.5 bpm for infants worn by an unfamiliar adult, and those of adults decreased by 7 bpm (parents) and nearly 3 bpm (unfamiliar adult).

Implications for Practice:

Results from this study suggest that babywearing is a noninvasive and accessible intervention that can provide comfort for infants diagnosed with NAS. Babywearing can be inexpensive, support parenting, and be done by nonparent caregivers (eg, nurses, volunteers).

Implications for Research:

Close physical contact, by way of babywearing, may improve outcomes in infants with NAS in NICUs and possibly reduce the need for pharmacological treatment.

See the video abstract for a digital summary of the study.

Video Abstract Available at:

https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx?autoPlay=false&videoId=38
Preterm Infant Incubator Humidity Levels
Authors: Glass Laurie , Valdez Anna
Published: October 2020

Background:

Numerous scholars have reported that inconsistent levels of incubator humidity in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) require attention. Evidence synthesis was needed to identify optimal incubator humidity levels and duration to decrease transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and the potential for infection.

Purpose:

The purpose of this systematic review was to appraise and synthesize the evidence of preterm outcomes related to incubator humidity. The primary aim of this study was to determine how patient outcomes were impacted by incubator humidity levels and duration in premature infants born before 320/7 weeks cared for in the NICU.

Methods/Search Strategy:

The foundation of this systematic review was the Joanna Briggs Institute method for systematic reviews. Mefford's theory of health promotion for the preterm infant was used to address the wholeness of the preterm infant's body system. Evidence was classified using the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice levels and quality of evidence.

Findings:

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. The evidence demonstrated that the practice of incubator humidity is warranted; however, it does not come without risks. Microbial growth was increased in high levels of incubator humidity. Unnecessary TEWL was prevented by lowering high levels of incubator humidity after the first week of life, improving skin barrier formation.

Implications for Practice:

Incubator humidity of 60% to 70% in the first week of life was effective in preventing TEWL in infants born 26 weeks or more.

Implications for Research:

Future incubator humidity research is needed for infants born before 26 weeks.

Video Abstract available at
https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx?autoPlay=false&videoId=39.
Improving the Quality of Nursing Care for Late Preterm Infants
Authors: Lohr Kimberly A.
Published: October 2020

Background:

Late preterm infants in the Maternal Child Services Department at a Midwestern medical center were cared for in 3 separate nursing units. Standardization of care was a performance goal for the Department.

Purpose:

A quality improvement process was implemented that included planning, teaching, performance application, and evaluation of evidence-based practice guidelines for care of the late preterm infant.

Methods:

A web-based teaching module was developed to introduce nursing care guidelines for late preterm infants to the nursing staff.

Results:

Analysis of the pre-and posttest scores embedded in the educational video showed a statistically significant increase in the nurses' knowledge about potential complications of infants born between 34 and 36 weeks' gestation.

Implications for Practice:

Quality improvement process increases nurses' knowledge about care of the late preterm infant and can lead to standardization of care.

Implications for Research:

Ongoing quality improvement monitoring is needed for sustainability.
Long non-coding RNA X-inactive-specific transcript contributes to cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer by sponging miR-let-7b
Authors: Han Xiao , Zhang Hai-Bin , Li Xue-Di , Wang Zi-An
Published: October 2020

X-inactive-specific transcript (XIST) is a 19 kb noncoding RNA which is oncogenic in many cancers including gastric cancer. It is reported that XIST contributes to gastric cancer cells resistant to cisplatin, but specific mechanisms governing this resistance remain unclear. We firstly examined the XIST level in gastric cancer cells and tumor specimens. We confirmed that XIST is overexpressed in gastric cancer cells and tumors, which further contributed to the poor prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. We also confirmed that high XIST level contributes to the cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells. Subsequently, we predicted microRNAs that have the potential to interact with XIST and found that Let-7b-5p may directly interact with XIST. We confirmed the direct interaction between XIST and Let-7b-5p and identified a negative correlation between the level of Let-7b-5p and XIST in gastric cancer tumors. Meanwhile, Let-7b-5p inhibitor treatment can partially rescued the effect of XIST-specific small interfering RNA on cell proliferation and apoptosis by regulating Aurora kinase B expression. XIST functions as an oncogene in gastric cancer which contributes to the cisplatin resistance by interacting with Let-7b-5p.
A three-microRNA panel in serum as novel biomarker for papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosis
Authors: Zou Xuan , Gao Feng , Wang Zhi-Yan , Zhang Huo , Liu Qing-Xie , Jiang Lin , Zhou Xin , Zhu Wei
Published: October 2020

Background

Accumulating evidence has revealed that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in serum which might become potential biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods

The experiment was carried out between 2015 and 2017. In the screening stage, the Exiqon miRNA quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) panel was applied to select candidate miRNAs. In the following training, testing, and external validation stages, the serum samples of 100 patients and 96 healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed to compare the expression levels of the identified miRNAs. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated to assess the diagnostic value of the identified signature.

Results

Three miRNAs (miR-25-3p, miR-296-5p, and miR-92a-3p) in serum were consistently up-regulated in PTC patients compared with HCs. A three-miRNA panel was constructed by logistic regression analysis and showed better diagnostic performance than a single miRNA for PTC detection. The AUCs of the panel were 0.727, 0.771, and 0.862 for the training, testing, and external validation stage, respectively. Meanwhile, the panel showed stable capability in differentiating PTC patients from patients with benign goiters, with an AUC as high as 0.969. For further exploration, the three identified miRNAs were analyzed in tissue samples (23 PTC vs. 23 HCs) and serum-derived exosomes samples (24 PTC vs. 24 HCs), and the altered expression in the tumor also indicated their close relationship with PTC disease.

Conclusion

We identify a three-miRNA panel in serum which might serve as a promising biomarker for PTC diagnosis.
Microscale endometrial sampling biopsy in detecting endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in a population of 1551 women: a comparative study with hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy
Authors: Zhang Guo , Wang Yue , Liang Xu-Dong , Zhou Rong , Sun Xiu-Li , Wang Jian-Liu , Wei Li-Hui
Published: October 2020

Background

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common malignancies of the reproductive system. Effective and cost-effective screening method for populations at high risk is not available. This study aimed to investigate specimen adequacy and the influencing factors in microscale endometrial sampling biopsy and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and medical cost of biopsy in endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia screenings in comparison with hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy.

Methods

A total of 1551 patients at high risk for endometrial lesions who required hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy from November 2017 to August 2018 were included. Microscale endometrial sampling biopsy was performed, followed by hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy. We evaluated the specimen adequacy and influencing factors of microscale endometrial sampling. Diagnostic consistency between microscale endometrial sampling biopsy and hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy was evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of microscale endometrial sampling biopsy in screening for endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia were analyzed, and the medical costs of the two procedures were compared.

Results

The specimen adequacy was 81.2%. Patient age, menopausal status, endometrial thickness, and endometrial lesion type were correlated with specimen adequacy. There was good consistency in distinguishing benign and malignant endometrial diseases between microscale endometrial sampling biopsy and hysteroscopic biopsy (kappa 0.950, 95% CI 0.925–0.975). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of microscale endometrial sampling biopsy were 91.7%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 99.3% for endometrial cancer screening, respectively, and 82.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 99.4% for atypical hyperplasia screening. The medical cost of endometrial sampling biopsy was only 22.1% of the cost of hysteroscopic biopsy.

Conclusions

Microscale endometrial sampling biopsy is a minimally invasive alternative technique for obtaining adequate endometrial specimens for histopathological examination. It has the potential to be used in detecting endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia with high efficiency and low cost.
Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea: a unique sleep-disordered breathing
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wang Le , Guo Heng-Juan , Wang Yan , Cao Jie , Chen Bao-Yuan
Published: October 2020

Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TECSA) is a specific form of sleep-disordered breathing, characterized by the emergence or persistence of central apneas during treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of this review was to summarize the definition, epidemiology, potential mechanisms, clinical characteristics, and treatment of TECSA. We searched for relevant articles up to January 31, 2020, in the PubMed database. The prevalence of TECSA varied widely in different studies. The potential mechanisms leading to TECSA included ventilatory control instability, low arousal threshold, activation of lung stretch receptors, and prolonged circulation time. TECSA may be a self-limited disorder in some patients and could be resolved spontaneously over time with ongoing treatment of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, central apneas persist even with the regular CPAP therapy in some patients, and new treatment approaches such as adaptive servo-ventilation may be necessary. We concluded that several questions regarding TECSA remain, despite the findings of many studies, and it is necessary to carry out large surveys with basic scientific design and clinical trials for TECSA to clarify these irregularities. Further, it will be vital to evaluate the baseline demographic and polysomnographic data of TECSA patients more carefully and comprehensively.